Feel Good Blogging Challenge #1: Who are you?

         

           making gifts for friends and
          decorating my home brings joy

celebrating 4 years of marriage
with homemade petite fours

 

Before donating 11 " back in
May of this year

      

Who am I?

My name is Danielle Eaton Hart. I am a daughter of God. I am also a wife to my high school sweetheart, stay-at-home mother of a 3 year old princess, and sister to many wonderful siblings and sibling in-laws. I am a lifelong learner, amateur opera singer, retired ballroom dancer, and creative chef. I have a lot of allergies but that's just part of life. I have a great life! I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so that makes me a Mormon. My favorite thing about myself is that I am a nurturer and cultivator of beautiful things. Doing these things brings me close me closer to my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Why did I start blogging? Who is my blog for?

I started blogging as a way to journal my feelings and preserve my family history. It's also a great way to stay in touch with friends and family who live farther away. Many of my friends from college and high school as well as a few distant relatives were already keeping blogs when I began mine; to me it seemed like a fun thing to do even before it became popular.

I want friends and family to know what's going on in my small family, whether it's spiritual experiences or funny toddler quotes. I want to share the joys and wisdom that God sends my way and help others experience similar miracles.

What’s something I have been working on lately that I am REALLY proud of? Through the nearby university, I have been attending a healthy  habits cooking class. I have been working on my diet and getting it balanced. When my husband and I first were dating I struggle with an eating disorder. I still occasionally struggle to get enough calories and to spread out my eating throughout the day. One huge reason for this is that I am an emotional eater: my emotions are generally stronger than the physical sensations they cause. It has taken years of learning and encouragement to hear the different messages my body sends me. Lately, I have been finding balance in my diet and it's led to balance in other things! I am eating a wide variety of nutritious food and it's getting easier to eat the right amounts without worrying all the time. It's also rubbing of on my toddler in positive ways. I love when I can model good behavior for her and she notices not just the good habits but even how they're established.

What’s the ONE MESSAGE that you hope people take away from your blog?

Seeing the hand of the Lord in my life has brought a steadiness to my life and a transcendent peace. His touch defines and molds my character. I hope that sharing various life experiences allows my readers to recognize the hand of God in their lives and inspires them to be better in all they do. It's like King Midas' wish for the golden touch: my prayer is that the lives I touch--whether through blogging or some other way--are turned to God.