Friday, January 29, 2010

This Boy

Is so excited to be out of the MTC!
We have not received any recent pictures from him due to his diligence and hard work
in learning the Hmong language and  recovering from the one flu virus that slipped past
 the myriad  flu vaccines he got before he left.

So these will do for now--you can see that he is charming, adorable and enthusiastic--all good character traits in a faithful missionary. And these have been an integral part of who he is from day one.
So he will hit the ground running, I am sure.
And he will teach and preach and work like missionaries do!

Spencer is serving in the California, Sacramento, Hmong speaking mission.
If you would like to write to him, or send him cookies (he lost 15 lbs in the MTC!!)
Email me and I will give you his address.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

What's That Fer?

Cat fur--to make a pair of kitten britches.
Wanna buy a pair?

Did your mom ever say that to you--when you were innocently inquiring about a new contraption or tool or whatnot?  How about "It won't be noticed from a trotting horse." or "It'll be well before you're married." "She was telling him how the cow ate the cabbage!"

I find myself tossing out these odd little sayings --many are common and part of our shared culture--others that came from the more peculiar culture of my family. "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face"  or "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." always get me a baffled stare from the youngsters as they run the image through their minds.

Once when advising a child: "You'll attract more flies with honey than with vinegar." I got this answer: "Ewww I don't want to attract ANY flies!" Good point.

My Grandma used to say this little gem from the Roaring Twenties: 
"Well, isn't that the bee's knees!"
and my kids love to say that now--it always gets a laugh.



The other day I was having a discussion with Shayla about the importance of her studies and education in her life--maybe it was more of a one-sided discussion--ok-- a lecture. After my welcome and insightful motherly advice, I asked her what she is interested in and how she planned to reach her educational goals. We discussed some options and then I said
"Well, there's more than one way to skin a cat." 
 Her reply: "Now there's something I'd actually like to learn to do; and if there is more than one way I would like to learn them all." So, she found her calling: taxidermy.  She can use any extra fur to make kitten britches--or even cat's pajamas.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

California Dreamin'



If you were tired of the winter weather and thought it might
be nice to go someplace sunny and warm...


Don't come here.
Although we still have our sunny dispositions and our warm welcome,
the weather is quite the opposite!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Slim


So kids, this is your great-grandfather: Irvin Levi Hansen. His nickname is "Slim". I was going to say "was" but I'm sure he still is "Slim" to all the people he hangs out with now on the other side.  He was born in 1900-the turn of the century. He carried a 1900 silver dollar around in his pocket and it came in handy to amuse restless grandchildren when we tagged along with him on his various errands. He could make it disappear and then come out of someone's ear. Or flip it in the air and catch it. It seemed like magic to his adoring audience. He always had a funny story at the ready or a silly song for entertaining purposes as well. He could make a whistle out of a willow stick and he was the go-to guy for a piece of candy.

He was born to Danish immigrants, and lived most of his life in and around Twin Falls, Idaho. He liked to hunt and fish--actually early in his life, he had to hunt and fish if he wanted to eat. He was a heavy-equipment operator and a fireman. He could fix just about anything and he always kept his cars spotless and in tip-top shape. As I got older, I came to appreciate the fact that my Grandpa was a pretty snappy dresser. I was at his house one day when he got a big box delivered. In it were two suits: one green and one orange. Not everyone can pull off those two not-so-subtle colors!

For a time, we lived next-door to our Hansen Grandparents. I figured out that if I were ready a little early on Sunday mornings, I could walk to church with Grandpa. I enjoyed trying to keep up with his long strides, and he would ask me about school and Primary.  On the way home there were a couple of widows that he would stop in to check on. I remember sitting in  their little proper parlors while Grandpa visited with each of them.

He was a powerful influence in my life in ways he may not have realized. He and my Grandma owned an apartment building that was right next to their house. He worked hard maintaining the apartments and cleaning them when someone moved out. There was an old coal furnace so he had to keep the furnace stoked in the winter. But when he was taking a break, and in the evenings, I saw him reading and studying the scriptures. If I wandered in the living room and he was sitting in his chair, he would have his scriptures open and a study guide or book of some kind to help him understand what he was reading. He would tell me what he was learning and get so excited telling me about it.

There were crucial times, at important crossroads in my life, that he took me aside, sat in his chair with me standing in front of him, reached out to put a hand on each of my arms and look me straight in the eye. Once to explain morality to me when everyone else around me was being hush-hush about a teen-age girl who got pregnant out of wedlock. And another time to tell me that he was proud of me and that I would be happy if I stayed close to my Heavenly Father and always said my prayers. And, when I turned 12, he and my Grandma gave me a white triple-combination with my  name engraved on the front--my very own scriptures. He took a long time and painstakingly drew lines with a ruler to write a message for me in the front cover. Among other things he wrote: "Now it is my prayer that when you marry, you marry a good Mormon boy. One who has served two years in the mission field." That line from my Grandpa loomed up in my mind and gave  me the courage to break off an engagement that wasn't right for me--leaving me to marry the returned missionary who has been my husband of almost 28 years.

When my boys saw the above picture of Grandpa Hansen, "the hearts of the children turned to their fathers" in one glance. The tie that binds the generations?
 A cool car and a shotgun.
 Some things never change.

And this is the comment on the back of the picture:




Monday, January 11, 2010

Resolution

It's a new year. And as I look back on the past year, it's kind of a blur. But there are some things that stand out. It was certainly a year of changes for this gal, her guy, the 8 kids--even the two cats. Last year at this time we were living in a cabin, down by the river--in the rainy Northwest. Now we are living in a house, up in the hills--in sunny California. Last year we were jobless, this year we aren't. Last year we were trying to convince our kids that they would somehow survive a move from everything they had known their entire lives. This year they can't imagine living anywhere else. Last year I was in mourning; thinking of leaving behind friends and a calling I loved. This year I am grateful for new friends (and for modern technology to keep in touch with old and new friends!) and loving both callings in my new ward. Last year we were looking ahead to Spencer going on a mission, this year he is in the MTC studying the Hmong language. Last year we were full of gratitude for the tender mercies we were shown through all of the challenges we were going through (and the toughest ones had nothing to do with our employment situation). This year we look back and see the hand of the Lord in our lives in ways we didn't even realize at the time. Last year I placed my trust in the Lord and this year I see how He directed my path. Yes, life is good.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Holiday Leftovers



Out with the old...in with the New!

This year's Family Holiday Project:
Replacing toilets and some painting!
Remember last year's?

Cookies!

Sam!

Organic, vegan Gingerbread Cookies--suprisingly tasty!

Our new Christmas reality!



The Sky-rider at the Zoo!
Angel?

Happy Birthday Scott!

 It has been awhile since I updated this little family scrapbook on the internet. I like to pop over here from time to time and look at our ...