Hansen Dispatch
March 2016
Dad
I am really glad to be here. Last Monday, February 29, at about 5:30, BJ and I closed up the law office and headed out to watch a Jazz game at Mike and Vanessa's.
The plan was that BJ would stop at Little Caesars to pick up some pizza. Apparently, as I headed west past Wells Fargo Bank, the sun was bright so I put down my visor. We rounded the corner and proceeded past Smith's to the light at 800 South. BJ turned into the Little Caesers driveway and I followed the car in front of him into the intersection where...I immediately discovered I was running a red light! I swerved to miss one on-coming car coming up the hill on 800 South, but a young girl (later I learned she had her learner's permit) with her mother, T-boned me, totaling the Buick. My airbags deployed. Luckily no one was injured, just shaken up and bewildered at how something so wrong could have happened. I replayed the incident in my mind over and over. The nearest I can put together is that my visor being down kept me from seeing the light and I must have turned my head to watch BJ go to Little Caesars. The perfect set up for disaster. I am passing it along so that it never need happen to you.
On a brighter note...I received my Special Operations Mission Call. I will be working at the Joseph Smith Building being trained to do special Family Search projects. I believe my first assignment is records from the War of 1812. I think we have a missing ancestor from that time period. Should be interesting.
Mom and I have seen a couple of great movies lately, Risen and Zootopia. I won't spoil the plots for you but you might want to consider seeing them.
I miss you all and pray for your protection and success every day.
love Dad
The plan was that BJ would stop at Little Caesars to pick up some pizza. Apparently, as I headed west past Wells Fargo Bank, the sun was bright so I put down my visor. We rounded the corner and proceeded past Smith's to the light at 800 South. BJ turned into the Little Caesers driveway and I followed the car in front of him into the intersection where...I immediately discovered I was running a red light! I swerved to miss one on-coming car coming up the hill on 800 South, but a young girl (later I learned she had her learner's permit) with her mother, T-boned me, totaling the Buick. My airbags deployed. Luckily no one was injured, just shaken up and bewildered at how something so wrong could have happened. I replayed the incident in my mind over and over. The nearest I can put together is that my visor being down kept me from seeing the light and I must have turned my head to watch BJ go to Little Caesars. The perfect set up for disaster. I am passing it along so that it never need happen to you.
On a brighter note...I received my Special Operations Mission Call. I will be working at the Joseph Smith Building being trained to do special Family Search projects. I believe my first assignment is records from the War of 1812. I think we have a missing ancestor from that time period. Should be interesting.
Mom and I have seen a couple of great movies lately, Risen and Zootopia. I won't spoil the plots for you but you might want to consider seeing them.
I miss you all and pray for your protection and success every day.
love Dad
Rachel & Michael
This past month I was able to attend a writers’ conference called Life, the Universe, and Everything. I went to the same conference last year, but this time it feels like I’ve kind of outgrown the classes in a way; I’m ready to move on! I did get to hear a keynote address by Shannon Hale, author of The Princess Academy, The Goose Girl, and lots of other novels. She talked about how our society makes boys think they can’t read books with a girl as the main character, or that if they did it wouldn’t be interesting to them, and how she wants to prove society wrong. Pretty cool stuff.
I’ve signed up for an LDS Storymakers’ conference in May, and I’m hoping to have the second draft of my fairytale retelling done by then so I can pitch it to some agents!
Our whole family got sick this month at different times, but when I got sick Vanessa was kind enough to watch Jane for me, which was a huge blessing (thanks again, Vanessa!). After that day of rest, I was able to get back on my feet again. And, speaking of Vanessa, I hosted a DoTerra party for her, and it was so much fun! It got me excited about essential oils again, and I’m really excited to learn more about them.
Michael is excited for General Conference in April because he gets to be one of the guys that makes the broadcast happen. It means he doesn’t get to be home for any of the sessions, but it does mean he gets to be a part of the magic behind the scenes.
Lottie is officially rolling from her back to her tummy, and she now screeches at me instead of crying when she’s hungry or tired. She doesn’t sleep through the night yet, but I’m hoping the night she does will come sooner rather than later. She loves Jane so much, and I never get enough of watching the two of them play together.
Jane is such a smart little grown up! She asks us if we're feeling happy, tired, stressed, or sad, and she tells us she loves us all the time. Now, if I could only get her to sleep in past seven in the morning….
I’ve signed up for an LDS Storymakers’ conference in May, and I’m hoping to have the second draft of my fairytale retelling done by then so I can pitch it to some agents!
Our whole family got sick this month at different times, but when I got sick Vanessa was kind enough to watch Jane for me, which was a huge blessing (thanks again, Vanessa!). After that day of rest, I was able to get back on my feet again. And, speaking of Vanessa, I hosted a DoTerra party for her, and it was so much fun! It got me excited about essential oils again, and I’m really excited to learn more about them.
Michael is excited for General Conference in April because he gets to be one of the guys that makes the broadcast happen. It means he doesn’t get to be home for any of the sessions, but it does mean he gets to be a part of the magic behind the scenes.
Lottie is officially rolling from her back to her tummy, and she now screeches at me instead of crying when she’s hungry or tired. She doesn’t sleep through the night yet, but I’m hoping the night she does will come sooner rather than later. She loves Jane so much, and I never get enough of watching the two of them play together.
Jane is such a smart little grown up! She asks us if we're feeling happy, tired, stressed, or sad, and she tells us she loves us all the time. Now, if I could only get her to sleep in past seven in the morning….
The videos are of Jane smiling & frowning, and Lottie being adorable
Mom
Maggie & Brandon
February Highlights:
I'm attaching a few videos. One is of her telling me what her plans are for the day. Another one is of Quincy and Brandon's super-mature conversation.
- We got some bedroom and living room furniture! Yay for looking homey!
- Ella and Coraline slept over at our house! Since we are a little bit boring, we had some neighbor girls come play, too. They are Olivia and Eliza Gilberg, the Bishop's kids. And, interestingly enough, the Bishop is Scott Gilberg, who grew up a block away from Vanessa! So we made a big deal about how their parents knew each other when they were little
- Quincy is all about hiding and exploring. And the words she makes up just crack me up! 1) "The sand is wiggly and woggly!" 2) This food tastes hoggledy! Plus, when she's trying to emphasize a point, she says, "yes, I REALLY DO!"
- Lisa Bushman Ashman and her husband Alan came and visited. We did a little dog- and baby-friendly hike to a place called Three Falls
I'm attaching a few videos. One is of her telling me what her plans are for the day. Another one is of Quincy and Brandon's super-mature conversation.
It snowed down here!
We used all our front yard snow to make this snowman, Pierre
But then it warmed up and we celebrated by watering the garden in the nude
Ella, Coraline, Olivia, and Eliza
Quincy and Coraline at the little girl table
Cousin Bath!
The last time we ever painted nails. Never again.
Quincy likes to sleep on my back outside in the sunshine
Quincy and her little friend Ashleigh Peterson sharing snacks and running through the sprinklers
Me and Lisa
Melanie & Jack
This bird is Jack. The sand is school. This is what Jack has been up to this month. Plus he still reads a lot and watches movies and is a wonderful husband.
Me & Brittney on the skinniest street in Gamla Stan in Stockholm
Me on that street