From the Family to Nick
Dear Nick;
I get to be first again! not much new to tell you, granddad and I and
2 friends went to visit a lady in the hospital,--does not look fun to
get old. The Dr. put granddad on steroids for a while and he is
feeling better, moving better, and talking a blue streak. We went to
Sacrament with Galen and Cindy today and he wanted to know why Casey
wasn't there. They had your letter in the bulletin today, so know you
are remembered. There are so many new people I can't keep up with all
of them. Weather is getting better, nothing else exciting I can think
of. Love You, Grandma
Dearest Big Guy:
I have glad tidings of great joy! I got my Mission papers Thursday at
3 o clock. I turned them in today and it was excellent. Kevin found
out that Bryce comes home on January 17th. Pretty cool stuff! I also
went on a date last night and it was excellent. Julie Whipple is a fun
date. Stuff is just changing. Now I'm off for my interview. Take care
bro- Alex
Hey Nick,
This week has been all about finishing up stuff on the to do list.
We've finished painting cabinets in the garage. I hung drapes and
pictures in my bedroom, and I finally finished the baby quilt for
Jerah. Not too much else going on. The corn is about a foot tall
now. I knew you were wondering.
Matt and Sam
Dear Elder,
Well my son I am trying the exercise routine again. I hope to stay the
on routine, because I hope to go on a backpack trip with Matt in the
spring. Life is still going along okay with a few bumps. Keep the path
Nick - know that you will not always be able to meet your
expectations, but the true test is getting back up and trying again.
Love, Dad
Hello Nick,
Alex gave me a snotty cold. Not too happy about that. I've started
going to the hospital with the students on Monday and Tuesday. Much
more fun than just practicing with manequins in the lab at MCC.
However the days are longer. We went with Sam and Matt over to
Matthew's new apartment. Everyone else had been there but me, so I
wanted to go see how he's doing. He's settling in well and seems
happy. Hopefully not too comfortable with the bachelor life though.
So, just wondering, how do you do your laundry? Do you have a
Laundromat? Ty told me last night that they only have a washer - no
dryer. He has to hang up all of his stuff to dry. Even underwear
etc. That would drive me crazy. I'm spoiled.
Ok, birthdays, Mine is April 25. Sam's is June 20. Grandma E's if
Nov. 9, Grandma O's is Aug29. Since you know the boy's, you know that
Matt's is coming up shortly. He's coming back to watch conference
with us this weekend. Well, I need to get ready to go to the hospital
now. Love you a ton, Miss you lots too, Love, Mom
From Nick to the Family:
Wahoo!! Always good to read letters from the family. Always makes me chuckle. This week was fairly good. I've sure got a lot of work to do. I'm starting to think I just need to do it. There is importance in a plan, a goal. But it is pretty well dead in the water without the work. We worked fairly well this week. We had another baptism of a little girl, 10 years old. Her mom is a less active member who doesn't appear to want to reactivate, but her grandmother is the primary president. So we finally got it all sorted out, got the signatures needed, the interviews, and were able to baptize her. She's pretty cool. Sofia is the name. She was totally ready for it. She was actually the one that asked to be baptized. A good experience.
My spiritual thought for this week comes from the talk from President Eyring, "Mountains To Climb." I enjoyed the talk when I heard it in conference but I didn't really connect all the dots or remember it very well. The only part I really remembered was that he asked for mountains to climb and was humbled. But I really enjoy his analogy with laying a foundation. We want to lay this foundation of faith. So we start by preparing the ground, setting the form by living with integrity. We pour the foundation around the framework of the gospel and all that it includes, then help it cure by persistently performing good works. It's a process, that's for sure. I feel like I only understand this talk to a certain extent because I haven't really lived through any big challenges. But I'll be keeping it in mind.
Along with my spiritual thought comes an unfortunate fact which is a bit funny too. The shoes here are measured like in Europe, I believe it is. So my shoes measure in 47 and 48, sizes 13 and 14, or something close to that. But the problem here is that nowhere has a shoe size about 45, about size 12. Pretty unfortunate. So when my shoes finally pass on, I'll have to get em from the States. It's a bit weird because there are various people my size here, just their feet are smaller.
Also, I've been baking this last week. On the bags of flour I buy, there are generally recipes to make things. I made bread last week which has some potential for a good bread bowl combo with potato soup. There's also something called bizcochitos dulce, which are like a type of little cookie. The recipe I made turned out remarkably similar to sugar cookies. Which leads to the next request. Frosting!!!! I know how to make whipped cream, even though it is super hard with just a fork and handpower. But the basic frosting. I remember that there's butter and sugar and vanilla but I don't know quantities. It'd be appreciated. Also appreciated would be a recipe for brownies. I have one but it's a bit different than brownies from the states. And today I'll be making pizza!!!! With barbecue/ranch sauce, although it's hard to obtain ranch. It'll turn out well.
Good to know everyone's doing well. Grandpa's doing a bit better, I'm remembered. Alex got his mission papers and has them all filled out and turned in, which is crazy. Seriously, it's crazy. My companion has an older sister and a younger brother on missions as well as him, which is crazy. He leaves in seven weeks, though. Right around my birthday. Sam and Matt's corn is actually growing. Dad is being awesome. And to answer Mom's question. In my last area there was a member who washed clothes and dried them for us. Here, there is nothing. We have a kitchen sink and a bucket. And detergent. It's a bit more time consuming. And when they're washed we hang them up on the little patio thing we have to dry. That's one of the things I miss about the states... A washer and dryer.
So I'll leave you with this quote which I read today. "Indecision mars all success: there can be no good wind for the sailor who knows not to what port he is bound." -Oliver Wendell Holmes
Love you all!
Elder Hansen
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
From Matt to Nick 09/30/2012
So I'm going solo. I know Sam and Matt miss me loafing around their house, but they'll just have to learn to cope. I am now living in north Phoenix going to nursing school at Chamberlain. It's going well so far. In fact, I think I'm getting good at it. I must be because I keep learning amazing things. For example, I can now relay to you the fact that it is no longer a matter of debate or speculation, but that I have been able to confirm through rigorous review how much better the figure shaped macaroni and cheese is over the normal elbow macaroni. Muy better. Muy mas better. I also tried Velveeta shells and cheese, which costs more, and discovered that stuff is junk. So don't waste your money.
I've noticed that I laugh more now that I live on my own. To myself. Alone in my apartment. I realize how that sounds and have considered the potential that I may be going crazy. I have, however, decided that that is just pure nonsense. What I am is witty and humorous and freed from the uncomprehending judgments of others as I spontaneously laugh and chuckle to myself in the openness of my apartment. Yes, all 810 square feet of it. Besides, laughter keeps you healthy. I win.
The other thing keeping me healthy is the $600 worth of shots I had to get to go to nursing school. I thought it was covered under insurance, but they were kind enough to send me a bill recently. MY MONEY IS DISAPPEARING! It's rather annoying. Gonna have to get me a part-time job soon.
Sam, Matt, Mom, and Dad came out to visit me yesterday. We played games and I learned that the capital of Tunisia is Tunis. And also that Leonardo da Vinci was from the town of Vinci (go figure). Good ol' Mommy brought me a plant as a housewarming gift too. I'm starting to like my new ward. We are going to go play Ultimate tomorrow night for FHE. That's what's happening in the life of Matthew.
Are you able to speak the language like a pro yet? Are you going to come home and sing to Shakira in the shower? Hope the work is going well. Enjoy the experience and the people!
-Matt
P.S. I've attached a wanted ad I recently posted to craigslist. If you know anyone down there who could help me out with it that'd be great.
I've noticed that I laugh more now that I live on my own. To myself. Alone in my apartment. I realize how that sounds and have considered the potential that I may be going crazy. I have, however, decided that that is just pure nonsense. What I am is witty and humorous and freed from the uncomprehending judgments of others as I spontaneously laugh and chuckle to myself in the openness of my apartment. Yes, all 810 square feet of it. Besides, laughter keeps you healthy. I win.
The other thing keeping me healthy is the $600 worth of shots I had to get to go to nursing school. I thought it was covered under insurance, but they were kind enough to send me a bill recently. MY MONEY IS DISAPPEARING! It's rather annoying. Gonna have to get me a part-time job soon.
Sam, Matt, Mom, and Dad came out to visit me yesterday. We played games and I learned that the capital of Tunisia is Tunis. And also that Leonardo da Vinci was from the town of Vinci (go figure). Good ol' Mommy brought me a plant as a housewarming gift too. I'm starting to like my new ward. We are going to go play Ultimate tomorrow night for FHE. That's what's happening in the life of Matthew.
Are you able to speak the language like a pro yet? Are you going to come home and sing to Shakira in the shower? Hope the work is going well. Enjoy the experience and the people!
-Matt
P.S. I've attached a wanted ad I recently posted to craigslist. If you know anyone down there who could help me out with it that'd be great.
09/23/2012
From the Family to Nick
Dear Nick;
I get to be first again! It's fall, and it's only 105 today. I'm ready
for winter, got all kinds of ideas for where to plant flowers this
year. it seems that the back patio with my beautiful raised planter is
where all the Aboos settle and I can't keep up with the dust . We are
being encouraged to plant cactus along the back wall to discourage
"robbers" from coming over the fence. our neighbors on both sides are
moving and putting their homes up for sale. guess they couldn't stand
how loud our TV was. oh well more parking space!. I'm looking forward
to women's conference next week. that is all my news. Love you,
grandma
Well hello nick, sam is making me write to you. I do so under great
duress, you know how vicious your sister can be Not because I don't
want to right you, but because I despise writing in general. However I
hope things are going well. Things continue here, we planted our corn
and it is growing. I am still working. We have been working on the
garage a litte. Soon I will plant a couple gardenia and a plumeria,
and maybe a few more veggies. Anyway have fun,
Matt and Sam
Hi! I really don't have much to say unfortunately. I went on a great
date on friday. It was a fun bit of social interaction in this cold
barren waste if loneliness that I am coming more adapted to slowly.
Then kevin came over and we played smash against 2 comps. I got 60
damage and gave 640 damage. Only you will know that that’s impressive
due to the inherit lack of interest these people who call themselves
mom and dad and sam and matt -the-brother-in-law. Other than that I
slowly wait the return of saturday and sunday. Till then my firend.
Asta la vista.
-Zander.
Nick,
You created a bad situation last week when you did not know your
mother's birthday, because Matt called and asked for it later that
week and I had to pay the price when she went ballistic about
ungrateful children……. She has really been concerned about the turtles
lately, so I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't put a king size
mattress out in yard for them.
Taught HP today it was good - It was on Elder Hallstrom Saturday
morning address. Ty is flying to South Africa early October and the
thought popped into my head how he will probably freak a lot of people
out when he sleeps with his eyes open.
Momma says she loves you - She has a bad headache and is leaving me
to mail this to you.
Pictures were a nice touch.
Dad
From Nick to the Family
This last week was pretty good. It didn´t reach perfect but it finished well. It was a little bit rainy and cloudy this week. Not bad, though. Just waiting to start cooking with the summer coming up. Technically it became spring here last week. This last Saturday we had two baptisms, two siblings. Their mom was a less active member, but she has re committed and is changing, coming to church. She has three kids, the oldest boy being twelve, then a daughter of 9 and another boy of 6. It was pretty cool to see her reactivate. Also, the bishopric and the ward mission leader here are pretty darn good. The ward in general is struggling a bit, but the bishopric and the ward mission leader are bomb. So we were able to teach the kids and prepare them for baptism. Our ward mission leader is a preparing missionary, and he was able to baptize the kids. His first time baptizing, so he was a bit nervous, but it turned out perfectly. It was the best baptism I've been in yet. Well organized, the bishopric and ward helped out. I hope that all turn out like it. I also wanted to explain better a custom that they have here. I don't think I've explained yet. There's a drink here, a type of tea, called "mate." (To properly say the word, start saying the word "mom" and cut off the final m, then say "tay.") It is drunk from a certain type of cup, also called a mate. It's made out of mate wood as well, generally, or occasionally the hoofs of the cow. They drink it from a special straw that is also a filter. The cheap straws are stainless steel, but the better ones are of silver. Drinking mate is a big custom here. To drink mate, you fill the cup with yerba mate, the herbs, then add sugar, then hot water. You drink the mate, which is usually just like one big sip from a straw. Then you add a little more sugar, more hot water, and pass the cup to the next person. People, especially old people, will just drink mate for a few hours and chat. They all use the same cup and straw. They say drinking mate makes you less hungry, but I don't believe it. As missionaries, we aren't allowed to drink any form of mate. (There's also mate cocido, which is just like a normal tea that you'd make in a mug or cup or whatever.) However, I tried mate once before the mission, in seminary with Bro. Huso. Looking back he went to Argentina, because he gave us mate cocido and dulce de leche once. It tastes like grass and twigs in hot water. Also, as missionaries we aren't allowed to drink any form of cola. Or water from the tap. Mainly whenever we visit people they give us soda that isn't cola or juice made from the flavor packets, generally Tang. It's pretty cool, yup. So hopefully you enjoyed that large tidbit. I am grateful we aren't allowed to drink mate. That would be a very large amount of time spent.
Grandma - Cactus along the back wall, huh. Here, all the houses minus a few have fences all around them. Then 95% of these fences have pointy things on top of them to keep people from jumping over. In the poorer places, broken glass bottles. In the richer areas, barbed wire, pretty pointy metal designs, or razor wire. So instead of robbing from houses the people are generally robbed more in the streets, but only in the worse areas, generally at night. So we're safe.
Matt & Sam . things are still moving along, eh. I do know how kind and loving my big sister can be when she wants to. Hope you enjoy your pretty flowers and vegetables.
Alex - The ratio is good. I'll accept that. It's a start. But you have to get the damage up to 1000 to be really admirable. Then you are a Super Smash brother. I also just got reminded of rampage, which I want to play again. Matt would probably appreciate it a bit more, this old desire. Ah, rampage.
Dad - In the end I didn't end up with the birthdays of either Mom or Sam. Ugh. I wanted to try to get the date now so that when it comes up I'll be able to say happy birthday. Now I'll have to ask the question again, perhaps various weeks in a row. Good to know the turtles are still moving along. Hopefully they are still growing. I want to be able to use them as roller skates. With general conference coming up I've gotta study up on the last conference a bit more. I've been studying other things lately. South Africa, huh. That's pretty cool. A good experience for Tyrel. Hope that Mom recuperates. I've recently found out that allergies attack me in the season. Spring is allergy time, whether it be in the northern or southern hemisphere, in September or in February and March. But I live still.
Well, I'll leave you with a quote. I would send pictures but as always I'm on a time limit, as well that my comp is currently using my SD card reader. I was charitable this week. I thought of Alex and his choir abilities when I first read this. Big on starting something and then improving it. It reads:
"Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except the best. " -Vincent Van Dyke
Love you, family and all others,
Élder Hansen
Dear Nick;
I get to be first again! It's fall, and it's only 105 today. I'm ready
for winter, got all kinds of ideas for where to plant flowers this
year. it seems that the back patio with my beautiful raised planter is
where all the Aboos settle and I can't keep up with the dust . We are
being encouraged to plant cactus along the back wall to discourage
"robbers" from coming over the fence. our neighbors on both sides are
moving and putting their homes up for sale. guess they couldn't stand
how loud our TV was. oh well more parking space!. I'm looking forward
to women's conference next week. that is all my news. Love you,
grandma
Well hello nick, sam is making me write to you. I do so under great
duress, you know how vicious your sister can be Not because I don't
want to right you, but because I despise writing in general. However I
hope things are going well. Things continue here, we planted our corn
and it is growing. I am still working. We have been working on the
garage a litte. Soon I will plant a couple gardenia and a plumeria,
and maybe a few more veggies. Anyway have fun,
Matt and Sam
Hi! I really don't have much to say unfortunately. I went on a great
date on friday. It was a fun bit of social interaction in this cold
barren waste if loneliness that I am coming more adapted to slowly.
Then kevin came over and we played smash against 2 comps. I got 60
damage and gave 640 damage. Only you will know that that’s impressive
due to the inherit lack of interest these people who call themselves
mom and dad and sam and matt -the-brother-in-law. Other than that I
slowly wait the return of saturday and sunday. Till then my firend.
Asta la vista.
-Zander.
Nick,
You created a bad situation last week when you did not know your
mother's birthday, because Matt called and asked for it later that
week and I had to pay the price when she went ballistic about
ungrateful children……. She has really been concerned about the turtles
lately, so I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't put a king size
mattress out in yard for them.
Taught HP today it was good - It was on Elder Hallstrom Saturday
morning address. Ty is flying to South Africa early October and the
thought popped into my head how he will probably freak a lot of people
out when he sleeps with his eyes open.
Momma says she loves you - She has a bad headache and is leaving me
to mail this to you.
Pictures were a nice touch.
Dad
From Nick to the Family
This last week was pretty good. It didn´t reach perfect but it finished well. It was a little bit rainy and cloudy this week. Not bad, though. Just waiting to start cooking with the summer coming up. Technically it became spring here last week. This last Saturday we had two baptisms, two siblings. Their mom was a less active member, but she has re committed and is changing, coming to church. She has three kids, the oldest boy being twelve, then a daughter of 9 and another boy of 6. It was pretty cool to see her reactivate. Also, the bishopric and the ward mission leader here are pretty darn good. The ward in general is struggling a bit, but the bishopric and the ward mission leader are bomb. So we were able to teach the kids and prepare them for baptism. Our ward mission leader is a preparing missionary, and he was able to baptize the kids. His first time baptizing, so he was a bit nervous, but it turned out perfectly. It was the best baptism I've been in yet. Well organized, the bishopric and ward helped out. I hope that all turn out like it. I also wanted to explain better a custom that they have here. I don't think I've explained yet. There's a drink here, a type of tea, called "mate." (To properly say the word, start saying the word "mom" and cut off the final m, then say "tay.") It is drunk from a certain type of cup, also called a mate. It's made out of mate wood as well, generally, or occasionally the hoofs of the cow. They drink it from a special straw that is also a filter. The cheap straws are stainless steel, but the better ones are of silver. Drinking mate is a big custom here. To drink mate, you fill the cup with yerba mate, the herbs, then add sugar, then hot water. You drink the mate, which is usually just like one big sip from a straw. Then you add a little more sugar, more hot water, and pass the cup to the next person. People, especially old people, will just drink mate for a few hours and chat. They all use the same cup and straw. They say drinking mate makes you less hungry, but I don't believe it. As missionaries, we aren't allowed to drink any form of mate. (There's also mate cocido, which is just like a normal tea that you'd make in a mug or cup or whatever.) However, I tried mate once before the mission, in seminary with Bro. Huso. Looking back he went to Argentina, because he gave us mate cocido and dulce de leche once. It tastes like grass and twigs in hot water. Also, as missionaries we aren't allowed to drink any form of cola. Or water from the tap. Mainly whenever we visit people they give us soda that isn't cola or juice made from the flavor packets, generally Tang. It's pretty cool, yup. So hopefully you enjoyed that large tidbit. I am grateful we aren't allowed to drink mate. That would be a very large amount of time spent.
Grandma - Cactus along the back wall, huh. Here, all the houses minus a few have fences all around them. Then 95% of these fences have pointy things on top of them to keep people from jumping over. In the poorer places, broken glass bottles. In the richer areas, barbed wire, pretty pointy metal designs, or razor wire. So instead of robbing from houses the people are generally robbed more in the streets, but only in the worse areas, generally at night. So we're safe.
Matt & Sam . things are still moving along, eh. I do know how kind and loving my big sister can be when she wants to. Hope you enjoy your pretty flowers and vegetables.
Alex - The ratio is good. I'll accept that. It's a start. But you have to get the damage up to 1000 to be really admirable. Then you are a Super Smash brother. I also just got reminded of rampage, which I want to play again. Matt would probably appreciate it a bit more, this old desire. Ah, rampage.
Dad - In the end I didn't end up with the birthdays of either Mom or Sam. Ugh. I wanted to try to get the date now so that when it comes up I'll be able to say happy birthday. Now I'll have to ask the question again, perhaps various weeks in a row. Good to know the turtles are still moving along. Hopefully they are still growing. I want to be able to use them as roller skates. With general conference coming up I've gotta study up on the last conference a bit more. I've been studying other things lately. South Africa, huh. That's pretty cool. A good experience for Tyrel. Hope that Mom recuperates. I've recently found out that allergies attack me in the season. Spring is allergy time, whether it be in the northern or southern hemisphere, in September or in February and March. But I live still.
Well, I'll leave you with a quote. I would send pictures but as always I'm on a time limit, as well that my comp is currently using my SD card reader. I was charitable this week. I thought of Alex and his choir abilities when I first read this. Big on starting something and then improving it. It reads:
"Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except the best. " -Vincent Van Dyke
Love you, family and all others,
Élder Hansen
09/17/2012
From the Family to Nick
Dear Nick;
I turned off the caps lock, so if it happens again you'll know that I
do know how to turn it off and on. guess that makes me computer
literate. just been to funerals this week, that's what you get when
you live in a senior citizen community. however they do keep the pool
at 90 degrees to keep us happy so I guess it evens out. I just cannot
think of anything to write about, Cindy and I rode around on the golf
cart this morning and picked out the color we want to paint the mobile
home, so your dad has set things up to paint on the 19 of Oct.
Between that we have the women's conference and general conference so
maybe I will have more to say next week. Love you, grandma
Nick,
Life has continued on. Matt's been training still and is starting to
get bored just listening to others phone calls. I've been working ten
hour days at the daycare. Pretty busy. We planted corn and it's just
starting to shoot up. It’s a sweet bicolor variety and a sweet red
variety. Should be interesting. You know how Matt likes to find
funky vegetable colors (YEAH, the way nature made it. Silly people
think food has to be a specific color).
Matt and Sam
Coramoor ,
I know where the tab button is at unlike sam and matt. The uncouth
hooligans… I have been doing good things. Les Miserables was
awesome!!!! Except some bits and pieces. I like my own made up version
better. But the music and the voice was nothing short of incredible. I
have paid off my slave dues. Mowed the yard weed-eated it used the
blower to make it all beautiful and dishes unloaded and reloaded and
then I made waffles and set the table. Just kinda busy around home.
when I get back from my mission the first thing I want to do with you
is play supersmash brothers on the wii though. I really don't have
much of a challenge with a pathetic level 9 comp anymore. Anywho life
rolls on like a steam roller. The wheel weaves as the wheel wills.
-paladin
My dearest Nicholas,
This is your greatest admirer Kevin "Came From" Hale. I'm sorry we
haven't mailed you anything, But I guess we haven't really haven't
mailed anything to Bryce either. Anyway, how's mission life? I've been
going to mission prep and have been getting super excited and I want
to hear some of your awesome stories so that I can get even more
excited! And I'm also interested to see how much you have changed.
Alex is still a big weirdo and still doesn't like to follow any of the
rules. For example, we were playing cities and knights and I was
starting to look up some rule until Alex ripped the rules out of my
hands and tore them in half…. Just like he would…. And also, SCBG
isn't the same without you. Also, college is crazy!!! Nothing like
High School. How did you manage? Anyway, I would love to hear some of
your awesome stories and did you also know that Jeanette is married??
Crazy huh? Yeah that's what I thought too. Best of luck and may the
spirit always be with you.
With my deepest admiration and love, Kevin
Good Morning Nicholas,
I'm sending this on Monday morning because Alex thought Kevin should
write and I was in bed before he even came over to play games. It was
a busy week. Found out that my abscessed tooth in actually fractured
and they need to take it out and put in 2 implants since it's part of
a bridge. Yeah. great fun. Lots of money. Haven't even seen that
specialist yet. See him on Weds. Les Mis was really fun. Alex and I
dressed up a bit. Love people watching at these things. Some of
them in all out evening wear, and others in church clothes, still
others in casual and others in grungy shorts. Only in Arizona.
Taught my lesson yesterday. Went over really well. After women were
hugging me and making comments that I didn't even know. Unfortunately
Dad is having lots of back pain. Came home from church and has been
taking percocet since. I think it might be kidney stones, but he
won't go to the hospital yet. Thinks if it's not better by Tuesday he
might. I don't get thinking like that. Why suffer if you can get it
taken care of. Why postpone the inevitable. Maybe he thinks it will
just go away. I give up.
Grandma O's email is hansonmary@cableone.net. Her snail mail is 794
Dickson, Idaho Falls, ID, 83402 It would be good if you wrote her.
You still have an adequate amount of $$$ in your account should you
run short on occasion.
To make French Toast for about 4 guys, crack 4 eggs, beat them up, add
about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of milk, cinnamon to taste. Mix it all up and dip
for french toast.
To make potato soup, chop and boil about 5 potatoes (skins or not) ,
add in 1 chopped onion. In separate pan melt 1/2 cube of butter,
quickly stir in 5 tablespoons of flour, then about 4 cups of milk.
Cook it until it comes to a boil and gets thick, stirring constantly.
Add potatoes and onions, about 2-3 tsp of salt, bacon or ham bits if
you have them, and I like to add cheese. American slices melt the
best, but whatever usually works. To make clam chowder, drain the
clams and add them to the end (without the bacon). You get the
picture.
Do you still want any more old pictures? What specifically? I don't
know what Dad send because I was in Idaho. Is there anything else you
would like from here? Let me know. Love you lots, hope you are
improving your Spanish tons with the native comps. Be good. Mom
From Nick to the Family:
I feel like I start these letters out the same way sometimes. So by starting it out this way I have successfully avoided that. Wahaha. That isn't the crying noise, if you were wondering. The crying one is waaaa. But either way. This week has been going pretty swell. It is so interesting having companions. It changes so many things. You want to do one thing when they want the other, they think different. I'm figuring out how to better comunicate, that's for sure. And not just in Spanish, though that is an added benefit. Good experience. Something funny about here, but also about some other places, is recent converts. Where I'm at, the people are usually Catholics or Evangelists. Evangelicals. La iglesia evangelica. But because of this, the recent converts usually keep some of their old customs that aren't necessarily bad, just a bit weird. The prayers are always fun. I hadn't been in the situation before where someone is whispering their own prayer or repeating mine as I'm praying. Then just some of their thoughts. It's good. We have to help them correct the ideas that are a bit askew, like thinking we are all prophets. I'm learning to enjoy all the different kinds of people there are. Because oh boy is there a lot.
Grandma - I know you're computer literate. You're pretty smart like that. I also feel like I'll start missing swimming pools. Summer is coming along here. It will get pretty hot, from what I'm told. Really humid, to boot. Gotta wish you luck with painting. And also with conference. It snuck up on me. I better get preparing for it.
Matt & Sam - They only have the most effective training, I see. Corn sounds pretty cool. Reminds me of Secondhand Lions, even though no one seems to like that quote as much as me, or really even think it was funny. It would be interesting eating red corn.
Dander - You weird choir kid. You gotta enjoy the story as well, eh. And I think once you are on your mission you'll be able to better determine that that will be what you do when you get back. One thing you're not allowed to do on the mission is not change. That is when you know something is wrong. But yeah, I will be looking forward to playing it when I get back and refining my skills in such a way to be able to subdue any abilities you might still have after two years of unuse. Tell Kevin it's nice he wrote. Apparently when I wear my glasses I look older. In the big event we had for the rededication of the temple I met with Devin Carroll. The Clouses' cousin. He was in school the same year as me, a wrestler. He looked different. I think he got some kind of bug though because it looked like he'd lost 30 pounds. Really cool though. Too bad we could only talk for like 5 minutes. He's been out for about 14 months or so. And I can imagine the SCBG is a far cry from what it could be lacking the key element of me. Super crazy that Jeanette got married. But looking back I can see that it was pretty probable. Cool beans.
Mom - Your teeth seem to be having some small issues. But they'll pass. I can verify for sure that I have met several people with teeth that are in worse shape though. Good to know you're rocking the lessons still. There's a guy in our ward who was the Area Seventy for Argentina down here at one point, and he gave an impromptu lesson on Sunday. It was really good. Stay on the Lord's side. There are commandments we should follow. And if we cross the line, Satan will make it seem like we didn't really cross the line. It was a good lesson. Hmmnnggh. Back pain. Not a fun type of pain. Kidney stones don't sound fun either. Also, thank you very much for the recipes. I'll be utilizing them this week, for sure.
To terminate, I would love to share one of the inspirational quotes I read some days past. It reads, in the context of serving your fellow man, "Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses." Ain't that right.
So, family, that is that. Happy belated birthday to Dad, which slipped my mind. I also missed Ty in August, but he already knows. Matt is coming up in October. Alex is easy to remember. Now I feel bad because I don't remember the birthday of either of the female members of the family. Mom is in one of those beginning to middle months. March to May. Sam is in... A mystery. But she'll have a good birthday when it comes around, for sure. So keep doing well, family.
With love,
Elder Hansen-
Dear Nick;
I turned off the caps lock, so if it happens again you'll know that I
do know how to turn it off and on. guess that makes me computer
literate. just been to funerals this week, that's what you get when
you live in a senior citizen community. however they do keep the pool
at 90 degrees to keep us happy so I guess it evens out. I just cannot
think of anything to write about, Cindy and I rode around on the golf
cart this morning and picked out the color we want to paint the mobile
home, so your dad has set things up to paint on the 19 of Oct.
Between that we have the women's conference and general conference so
maybe I will have more to say next week. Love you, grandma
Nick,
Life has continued on. Matt's been training still and is starting to
get bored just listening to others phone calls. I've been working ten
hour days at the daycare. Pretty busy. We planted corn and it's just
starting to shoot up. It’s a sweet bicolor variety and a sweet red
variety. Should be interesting. You know how Matt likes to find
funky vegetable colors (YEAH, the way nature made it. Silly people
think food has to be a specific color).
Matt and Sam
Coramoor ,
I know where the tab button is at unlike sam and matt. The uncouth
hooligans… I have been doing good things. Les Miserables was
awesome!!!! Except some bits and pieces. I like my own made up version
better. But the music and the voice was nothing short of incredible. I
have paid off my slave dues. Mowed the yard weed-eated it used the
blower to make it all beautiful and dishes unloaded and reloaded and
then I made waffles and set the table. Just kinda busy around home.
when I get back from my mission the first thing I want to do with you
is play supersmash brothers on the wii though. I really don't have
much of a challenge with a pathetic level 9 comp anymore. Anywho life
rolls on like a steam roller. The wheel weaves as the wheel wills.
-paladin
My dearest Nicholas,
This is your greatest admirer Kevin "Came From" Hale. I'm sorry we
haven't mailed you anything, But I guess we haven't really haven't
mailed anything to Bryce either. Anyway, how's mission life? I've been
going to mission prep and have been getting super excited and I want
to hear some of your awesome stories so that I can get even more
excited! And I'm also interested to see how much you have changed.
Alex is still a big weirdo and still doesn't like to follow any of the
rules. For example, we were playing cities and knights and I was
starting to look up some rule until Alex ripped the rules out of my
hands and tore them in half…. Just like he would…. And also, SCBG
isn't the same without you. Also, college is crazy!!! Nothing like
High School. How did you manage? Anyway, I would love to hear some of
your awesome stories and did you also know that Jeanette is married??
Crazy huh? Yeah that's what I thought too. Best of luck and may the
spirit always be with you.
With my deepest admiration and love, Kevin
Good Morning Nicholas,
I'm sending this on Monday morning because Alex thought Kevin should
write and I was in bed before he even came over to play games. It was
a busy week. Found out that my abscessed tooth in actually fractured
and they need to take it out and put in 2 implants since it's part of
a bridge. Yeah. great fun. Lots of money. Haven't even seen that
specialist yet. See him on Weds. Les Mis was really fun. Alex and I
dressed up a bit. Love people watching at these things. Some of
them in all out evening wear, and others in church clothes, still
others in casual and others in grungy shorts. Only in Arizona.
Taught my lesson yesterday. Went over really well. After women were
hugging me and making comments that I didn't even know. Unfortunately
Dad is having lots of back pain. Came home from church and has been
taking percocet since. I think it might be kidney stones, but he
won't go to the hospital yet. Thinks if it's not better by Tuesday he
might. I don't get thinking like that. Why suffer if you can get it
taken care of. Why postpone the inevitable. Maybe he thinks it will
just go away. I give up.
Grandma O's email is hansonmary@cableone.net. Her snail mail is 794
Dickson, Idaho Falls, ID, 83402 It would be good if you wrote her.
You still have an adequate amount of $$$ in your account should you
run short on occasion.
To make French Toast for about 4 guys, crack 4 eggs, beat them up, add
about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of milk, cinnamon to taste. Mix it all up and dip
for french toast.
To make potato soup, chop and boil about 5 potatoes (skins or not) ,
add in 1 chopped onion. In separate pan melt 1/2 cube of butter,
quickly stir in 5 tablespoons of flour, then about 4 cups of milk.
Cook it until it comes to a boil and gets thick, stirring constantly.
Add potatoes and onions, about 2-3 tsp of salt, bacon or ham bits if
you have them, and I like to add cheese. American slices melt the
best, but whatever usually works. To make clam chowder, drain the
clams and add them to the end (without the bacon). You get the
picture.
Do you still want any more old pictures? What specifically? I don't
know what Dad send because I was in Idaho. Is there anything else you
would like from here? Let me know. Love you lots, hope you are
improving your Spanish tons with the native comps. Be good. Mom
From Nick to the Family:
I feel like I start these letters out the same way sometimes. So by starting it out this way I have successfully avoided that. Wahaha. That isn't the crying noise, if you were wondering. The crying one is waaaa. But either way. This week has been going pretty swell. It is so interesting having companions. It changes so many things. You want to do one thing when they want the other, they think different. I'm figuring out how to better comunicate, that's for sure. And not just in Spanish, though that is an added benefit. Good experience. Something funny about here, but also about some other places, is recent converts. Where I'm at, the people are usually Catholics or Evangelists. Evangelicals. La iglesia evangelica. But because of this, the recent converts usually keep some of their old customs that aren't necessarily bad, just a bit weird. The prayers are always fun. I hadn't been in the situation before where someone is whispering their own prayer or repeating mine as I'm praying. Then just some of their thoughts. It's good. We have to help them correct the ideas that are a bit askew, like thinking we are all prophets. I'm learning to enjoy all the different kinds of people there are. Because oh boy is there a lot.
Grandma - I know you're computer literate. You're pretty smart like that. I also feel like I'll start missing swimming pools. Summer is coming along here. It will get pretty hot, from what I'm told. Really humid, to boot. Gotta wish you luck with painting. And also with conference. It snuck up on me. I better get preparing for it.
Matt & Sam - They only have the most effective training, I see. Corn sounds pretty cool. Reminds me of Secondhand Lions, even though no one seems to like that quote as much as me, or really even think it was funny. It would be interesting eating red corn.
Dander - You weird choir kid. You gotta enjoy the story as well, eh. And I think once you are on your mission you'll be able to better determine that that will be what you do when you get back. One thing you're not allowed to do on the mission is not change. That is when you know something is wrong. But yeah, I will be looking forward to playing it when I get back and refining my skills in such a way to be able to subdue any abilities you might still have after two years of unuse. Tell Kevin it's nice he wrote. Apparently when I wear my glasses I look older. In the big event we had for the rededication of the temple I met with Devin Carroll. The Clouses' cousin. He was in school the same year as me, a wrestler. He looked different. I think he got some kind of bug though because it looked like he'd lost 30 pounds. Really cool though. Too bad we could only talk for like 5 minutes. He's been out for about 14 months or so. And I can imagine the SCBG is a far cry from what it could be lacking the key element of me. Super crazy that Jeanette got married. But looking back I can see that it was pretty probable. Cool beans.
Mom - Your teeth seem to be having some small issues. But they'll pass. I can verify for sure that I have met several people with teeth that are in worse shape though. Good to know you're rocking the lessons still. There's a guy in our ward who was the Area Seventy for Argentina down here at one point, and he gave an impromptu lesson on Sunday. It was really good. Stay on the Lord's side. There are commandments we should follow. And if we cross the line, Satan will make it seem like we didn't really cross the line. It was a good lesson. Hmmnnggh. Back pain. Not a fun type of pain. Kidney stones don't sound fun either. Also, thank you very much for the recipes. I'll be utilizing them this week, for sure.
To terminate, I would love to share one of the inspirational quotes I read some days past. It reads, in the context of serving your fellow man, "Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses." Ain't that right.
So, family, that is that. Happy belated birthday to Dad, which slipped my mind. I also missed Ty in August, but he already knows. Matt is coming up in October. Alex is easy to remember. Now I feel bad because I don't remember the birthday of either of the female members of the family. Mom is in one of those beginning to middle months. March to May. Sam is in... A mystery. But she'll have a good birthday when it comes around, for sure. So keep doing well, family.
With love,
Elder Hansen-
09/09/2012
From the Family to Nick:
cw,
wE'VE JUST BEEN PRETTY BORING. mATT FINALLY STARTED HIS NEW JOB ON
fRIDAY. iT TOOK LONGER THAN THEY EXPECTED TO GET HIS BACKGROUND
CHECK. wE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PLANT OUR GARDEN BUT IT'S BEEN SO MUDDY
FROM ALL THE RAIN WE'VE BEEN GETTING. mAYBE WE'LL VENTURE OUT THERE
TONIGHT OR TOMORROW IF IT DOESN'T RAIN AGAIN. oUR NURSERY THOUGHT OF
THE DAY, I HAD ASKED WHAT WE NEED TO DO SO WE CAN GO LIVE WITH
hEAVENLY fATHER AGAIN. tHE LITTLE BOY PROMPTLY ANSWERED , "HAVE A
STRIP PARTY". I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT HE MEANT TO SAY BUT I
COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE REALLY MET. kEEP AT IT.
mATT AND sAM
DEAR NICK;
IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONGTIME SINCE I WROTE YOU I'M NOT SURE I REMEMBER
HOW. I THINK YOUR MOM TOLD YOU ABOUT OUR QUICK TRIP TO IDAHO FOR MY
COUSINS FUNERAL, WE WENT IN CINDY'S NEW LITTLE RED CAR. NOW GRNDAD IS
COUNTING RED CARS AS WE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. I TOLD HIM HE COULD BUY
ME ONE FOR MY BIRTHDAY BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN! THEN
WE DID A 3 DAY TRIP TO SAN DIEGO TO SEE BILL AND JEANNE, THEN THE TRIP
UP TO CALDER'S WITH YOUR MOM TO AIRPINE. MOSTLY WE HAVE BEEN SITTING
IN THE HOUSE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER GOING, BUT THIS WEEK WE HAVE HAD
A LOT OF RAIN AND THINGS HAVE COOLED DOWN. IT FEELS SO GOOD, GRANDAD
IS ASKING FOR SOUP TO WARM HIM UP.WE HAVE ONLY BEEN GOING TO SACRAMENT
MEETING, AND SOMETIMES NOT THAT SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE AND "INACTIVE",
BUT THIS MORNING I GOT CALLED AS A VISITING TEACHER SUPERVISOR SO I
CAN MAKE CALLS FROM HOME BUT STILL FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE WARD.
GRANDAD AND I WENT TO THE "RASMUSSEN" FUNERAL, JANETS DAD TALKED ABOUT
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND LAYING UP YOUR TREASURE IN HEAVEN. I'M
SURE ANNIE MUST HAVE BEEN COMFORTED WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AND
KNOWING HER TREASURE WAS IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR HER. TO ME THAT WAS
EVEN BETTER THAN BUILDING MANSIONS. CAN'T THINK OF ANY THING ELSE TO
SAY, LOVE YOU---GRANDMA
Nick,
I'm going to endure to the end. If you keep up your end of the deal
that means an eternity of calling me father. Do you have it in you?
Heeeelllllllooooooooooooo Nikcolas! You can probably guess which
brother it is already. I got my face chopped to pieces a couple days
ago. I don’t remember much of the experience except that I took your
advice and went straight to sleep. I remember walking to the car and
then kevin brought me a chocolate shake and a spoon. I then proceeded
to whomp on him in super smash bros. I gots work tommorrow an then Les
Miserables tickets for me and mom this thursday! Yea. Life should be
good. It is good. Anywho keep on keeping on.
-Zander
Morning Nicholas - or is it afternoon there? Whatever…
Things just seem to keep falling into place for me work-wise. I had a
pow wow with my hospital boss. She wants me to come back to nights -
apparently they have had a really tough time with short staff this
summer, but she said she will probably have a part-time dayshift job
by December sometime. I'm so happy. That will help so much this next
semester.
So, Matt wins the fun prize with the teeth, although Ty was probably
affected by it the most. Alex did just fine. I discovered one of my
teeth that was just starting an abcess the day before I took Alex in.
They were able to see me and order my antibiotics when I was there
with him. Now I just get to look forward to the endodontist this
Thursday. I hate root canals. At least this is one that has already
been done before and shouldn't be that bad.
The bishop asked me to teach RS every third sunday now. I'm happy!!!
They are looking for a person to go to the cannery every 1st tuesday
to replace me since I will be teaching then. Next week I'm teaching -
it's title is keeping on the right side of the line.
Sent a blurb of email excerpts out to the Southern Estates Ward. Even
though our ward now has your info in the bulletin that ward still
claims you too. Hope you've had a great week with the temple being
re-dedicated and such. Proud of you. Love you, Mom
From Nick to the Family:
Just thought I'd let you know how funny this email was. I found it incredibly good. Matt or Sam, whichever it was, put it in Caps lock, but never took it off. This led to Grandma keeping it in Caps and typing still, haha. Then Dad's comment was also quite funny. And it took me a while to figure out what Alex meant when he said his face got chopped up. I forgot about his wisdom teeth and thought he'd fallen from a palm tree during work or crashed a bike again and happened to use his face to land again. Oh goodness. What a letter. So this week went by pretty swell. The highlights would be the big events for the rededication of the Buenos Aires temple. Argentina has a temple again! All three of the Buenos Aires missions and the MTC met together on Friday and we had a special meeting with President Eyring, Elder Ballard and Elder Christofferson. The three gave wonderful talks. Elder Christofferson is the only one that speaks Spanish, which he did pretty well. Elder Ballard talked about his grandfather, Melvin J. Ballard, who gave the dedicatory prayer to open all of South America to missionary work. Actually, on our first day here our mission president took us to the site, more or less, the park where it was offered. There were only three members in Buenos Aires when they arrived, and all three were immigrants from Germany, who spoke only German. It's grown a bit since then. President Eyring talked about recognizing the power of God, more or less. Talked about how he got his patriarchal blessing. Said that his parents drove from where they lived, in New Jersey or something like that, dropped him off in front of his great uncle's house, who was a patriarch, and left. He had never even seen his great uncle before. His great uncle just beckoned him in, sat him down and gave him his patriarchal blessing. But he was able to recognize the power and influence of God in his blessing. It was quite good. Then Saturday there was a huge cultural event which went well. A ton of youth performed the dances they had been practicing for various months, the missionaries stumbled out there and we sang Llamados a Servir. Called to serve has four verses in Spanish, by the way. Then Sunday the rededication was great. Good talks. It gets better as I think back on it, even. This week'll be good, I can tell.
Matt and Sam - Good he'll be off to working again. Thank you very much for the wonderful insight from church. It was enlightening. I'll continue trying to discern what the little boy actually wanted to say.
Grandma - Dear Grandma, you are wonderful. I am glad to have a grandma like you. I'm glad you were able to have a good time and enjoy yourselves. Good that you were able to receive a calling to keep on working with the ward. I know you can do good things.
Dad - Oh goodness. I hadn't quite thought that far. I think I can do it, though. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it'll happen.
Alex - Good you were able to get that little bit of business out of the way. It isn't too bad though. Make sure you thoroughly enjoy Les Miserables. It will be wonderful. I enjoyed it when I went in eighth grade. I would enjoy it even more now.
Mom - So who wins the least trouble prize with the wisdom teeth? I need to win one prize at least. Glad to see things seem to be working for your good. Good to hear. You should send me the email of Grandma O. Or perhaps the regular mail address. I could go snail mail variety. That'd be better. Thanks for keeping the people updated on me.
Well, as I say every week, almost, time is up. I still wanted to send photos, but I lack time, I believe. You are great people. Really, to read a letter from home each week just picks me up even more. Makes me good. Me hace bien. So perhaps a better translation would be that it makes me well. Either way. Keep doing things well.
Love,
Elder Hansen
cw,
wE'VE JUST BEEN PRETTY BORING. mATT FINALLY STARTED HIS NEW JOB ON
fRIDAY. iT TOOK LONGER THAN THEY EXPECTED TO GET HIS BACKGROUND
CHECK. wE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PLANT OUR GARDEN BUT IT'S BEEN SO MUDDY
FROM ALL THE RAIN WE'VE BEEN GETTING. mAYBE WE'LL VENTURE OUT THERE
TONIGHT OR TOMORROW IF IT DOESN'T RAIN AGAIN. oUR NURSERY THOUGHT OF
THE DAY, I HAD ASKED WHAT WE NEED TO DO SO WE CAN GO LIVE WITH
hEAVENLY fATHER AGAIN. tHE LITTLE BOY PROMPTLY ANSWERED , "HAVE A
STRIP PARTY". I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT HE MEANT TO SAY BUT I
COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE REALLY MET. kEEP AT IT.
mATT AND sAM
DEAR NICK;
IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONGTIME SINCE I WROTE YOU I'M NOT SURE I REMEMBER
HOW. I THINK YOUR MOM TOLD YOU ABOUT OUR QUICK TRIP TO IDAHO FOR MY
COUSINS FUNERAL, WE WENT IN CINDY'S NEW LITTLE RED CAR. NOW GRNDAD IS
COUNTING RED CARS AS WE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. I TOLD HIM HE COULD BUY
ME ONE FOR MY BIRTHDAY BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN! THEN
WE DID A 3 DAY TRIP TO SAN DIEGO TO SEE BILL AND JEANNE, THEN THE TRIP
UP TO CALDER'S WITH YOUR MOM TO AIRPINE. MOSTLY WE HAVE BEEN SITTING
IN THE HOUSE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER GOING, BUT THIS WEEK WE HAVE HAD
A LOT OF RAIN AND THINGS HAVE COOLED DOWN. IT FEELS SO GOOD, GRANDAD
IS ASKING FOR SOUP TO WARM HIM UP.WE HAVE ONLY BEEN GOING TO SACRAMENT
MEETING, AND SOMETIMES NOT THAT SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE AND "INACTIVE",
BUT THIS MORNING I GOT CALLED AS A VISITING TEACHER SUPERVISOR SO I
CAN MAKE CALLS FROM HOME BUT STILL FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE WARD.
GRANDAD AND I WENT TO THE "RASMUSSEN" FUNERAL, JANETS DAD TALKED ABOUT
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND LAYING UP YOUR TREASURE IN HEAVEN. I'M
SURE ANNIE MUST HAVE BEEN COMFORTED WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AND
KNOWING HER TREASURE WAS IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR HER. TO ME THAT WAS
EVEN BETTER THAN BUILDING MANSIONS. CAN'T THINK OF ANY THING ELSE TO
SAY, LOVE YOU---GRANDMA
Nick,
I'm going to endure to the end. If you keep up your end of the deal
that means an eternity of calling me father. Do you have it in you?
Heeeelllllllooooooooooooo Nikcolas! You can probably guess which
brother it is already. I got my face chopped to pieces a couple days
ago. I don’t remember much of the experience except that I took your
advice and went straight to sleep. I remember walking to the car and
then kevin brought me a chocolate shake and a spoon. I then proceeded
to whomp on him in super smash bros. I gots work tommorrow an then Les
Miserables tickets for me and mom this thursday! Yea. Life should be
good. It is good. Anywho keep on keeping on.
-Zander
Morning Nicholas - or is it afternoon there? Whatever…
Things just seem to keep falling into place for me work-wise. I had a
pow wow with my hospital boss. She wants me to come back to nights -
apparently they have had a really tough time with short staff this
summer, but she said she will probably have a part-time dayshift job
by December sometime. I'm so happy. That will help so much this next
semester.
So, Matt wins the fun prize with the teeth, although Ty was probably
affected by it the most. Alex did just fine. I discovered one of my
teeth that was just starting an abcess the day before I took Alex in.
They were able to see me and order my antibiotics when I was there
with him. Now I just get to look forward to the endodontist this
Thursday. I hate root canals. At least this is one that has already
been done before and shouldn't be that bad.
The bishop asked me to teach RS every third sunday now. I'm happy!!!
They are looking for a person to go to the cannery every 1st tuesday
to replace me since I will be teaching then. Next week I'm teaching -
it's title is keeping on the right side of the line.
Sent a blurb of email excerpts out to the Southern Estates Ward. Even
though our ward now has your info in the bulletin that ward still
claims you too. Hope you've had a great week with the temple being
re-dedicated and such. Proud of you. Love you, Mom
From Nick to the Family:
Just thought I'd let you know how funny this email was. I found it incredibly good. Matt or Sam, whichever it was, put it in Caps lock, but never took it off. This led to Grandma keeping it in Caps and typing still, haha. Then Dad's comment was also quite funny. And it took me a while to figure out what Alex meant when he said his face got chopped up. I forgot about his wisdom teeth and thought he'd fallen from a palm tree during work or crashed a bike again and happened to use his face to land again. Oh goodness. What a letter. So this week went by pretty swell. The highlights would be the big events for the rededication of the Buenos Aires temple. Argentina has a temple again! All three of the Buenos Aires missions and the MTC met together on Friday and we had a special meeting with President Eyring, Elder Ballard and Elder Christofferson. The three gave wonderful talks. Elder Christofferson is the only one that speaks Spanish, which he did pretty well. Elder Ballard talked about his grandfather, Melvin J. Ballard, who gave the dedicatory prayer to open all of South America to missionary work. Actually, on our first day here our mission president took us to the site, more or less, the park where it was offered. There were only three members in Buenos Aires when they arrived, and all three were immigrants from Germany, who spoke only German. It's grown a bit since then. President Eyring talked about recognizing the power of God, more or less. Talked about how he got his patriarchal blessing. Said that his parents drove from where they lived, in New Jersey or something like that, dropped him off in front of his great uncle's house, who was a patriarch, and left. He had never even seen his great uncle before. His great uncle just beckoned him in, sat him down and gave him his patriarchal blessing. But he was able to recognize the power and influence of God in his blessing. It was quite good. Then Saturday there was a huge cultural event which went well. A ton of youth performed the dances they had been practicing for various months, the missionaries stumbled out there and we sang Llamados a Servir. Called to serve has four verses in Spanish, by the way. Then Sunday the rededication was great. Good talks. It gets better as I think back on it, even. This week'll be good, I can tell.
Matt and Sam - Good he'll be off to working again. Thank you very much for the wonderful insight from church. It was enlightening. I'll continue trying to discern what the little boy actually wanted to say.
Grandma - Dear Grandma, you are wonderful. I am glad to have a grandma like you. I'm glad you were able to have a good time and enjoy yourselves. Good that you were able to receive a calling to keep on working with the ward. I know you can do good things.
Dad - Oh goodness. I hadn't quite thought that far. I think I can do it, though. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it'll happen.
Alex - Good you were able to get that little bit of business out of the way. It isn't too bad though. Make sure you thoroughly enjoy Les Miserables. It will be wonderful. I enjoyed it when I went in eighth grade. I would enjoy it even more now.
Mom - So who wins the least trouble prize with the wisdom teeth? I need to win one prize at least. Glad to see things seem to be working for your good. Good to hear. You should send me the email of Grandma O. Or perhaps the regular mail address. I could go snail mail variety. That'd be better. Thanks for keeping the people updated on me.
Well, as I say every week, almost, time is up. I still wanted to send photos, but I lack time, I believe. You are great people. Really, to read a letter from home each week just picks me up even more. Makes me good. Me hace bien. So perhaps a better translation would be that it makes me well. Either way. Keep doing things well.
Love,
Elder Hansen
09/02/2012
From the Family to Nick:
Hi. It is me. Mom is threatening to beat me to a bloody pulp. I have
good news Nick. Next week I start school on Tuesday, and I move in to
my new place on Wednesday. Bring on the debt baby!
Anyways, I am ready for it. If this doesn’t work out I’m moving to
Nicaragua. I’ll get a job harvesting bananas or something and make
friends with the local drug lords. They will find me amusing and I’ll
beat them in Scrabble or checkers. Just kidding, I don’t play
checkers. Luckily, Sam and Matt won’t miss the rent money I’ve been
paying them since he is getting a new job at Charles Schwab the same
day I move out.
Right now we are in Flagstaff at the timeshare. It is quite nice. I
went mountain biking and it was awesome. I took an awesome panoramic
shot of Schultz Creek and even learned how to change the camera
resolution on my phone. The only down side is that my tush is tender.
I also had prime rib, cotton candy, and a smoked turkey leg. Not too
shabby eh?
I bid you adieu as I now embark on the journey back to the valley.
Keep teaching it up! Hope you have found some awesome investigators.
- Matthew the Seafaring Champion of Catan
Hello Nick,
So, last Tues. afternoon Dad and I came up to Flag. Weather has been
almost perfect. A few afternoon thunderstorms and wind. Perfect
temperatures. Dad relaxed whilst I quilted a bit and watched the
Republican National Convention – Just the big speeches. We also did a
little shopping – lots of eating and lots of driving around Flagstaff.
Traffic pretty much sucks here though. Dad even played several games
of Carcassonne, one of the few games we can play together. Matt came
up Friday afternoon and Sam & Matt & Alex that evening. Played games
that night, slept in a bit Sat. morning and the whole clan went to the
driving range. I’ll try to send a couple of pics. Matt went
adventuring on his own and the rest of us checked out the Coconino
County Fair. They grow some huge pigs and amazing turkeys up here.
The food was pricey but out of the ordinary – tornado fries and turkey
legs the best.
We came back and played some more games and went over to Amy & Mikes
to have pizza and play games. Sam and Matt and Dad left to go back to
the land of heat and humidity. Matt stayed another day – and although
he said he was going to go home, it’s almost 10pm and he hasn’t made
it out the door yet. He’s watching Dumb & Dumber, Prince Caspian, and
Iron Man between constant channel switching with Alex. Totally
relaxing week. Not looking forward to packing up and going home
tomorrow. I could stay here for another week easily without being a
tiny bit bored. Yeah.
Dad bought another notebook. I think it’s for me unless I want a
smaller one – Dad is hoping that happens I think. I downloaded
Carcassonne. It’s not quite as fun that way, I win almost all the
time, but it’s not bad. And since people don’t want to play with me
much a good substitute. Checked for ticket to ride, but not for
android yet. Also downloaded a fun pinball game – Dad was annoyed.
Oh well…
Only 1 day of teaching this week. Have lots of annoying errands and
business to take care of Weds. and then on Thursday Alex gets his
wisdom teeth out. I’ll report on that next week. Hope all is
flourishing in your life. Love you lots, Mom
Nickolias: This is a crazy thing. I’m going to be wisdom-toothless!
Holy snot. Maybe not snot, but probably some less putrefying thing.
Yea. I have been working and that was good and fun. But now I have
been relaxing here in this timeshare in flagstaff. I have played 1
game of ticket to ride Asia and then teams in Asia and then monopoly
deal as well as 3 games of settlers of catan with seafarers. I figured
up a sweet setup for it. Yea its going to be great! But also I have
found that I can’t sleep more than 9 hours in a row. Welp today’s
adventure is over. Next is wisdom teeth!
-Alezander da good
From Nick to the Family:
Well howdy do. This last week was exciting, and this next week is even more exciting! Just this last week we had transfers, so of course things changed around a bit. My comp stayed in the area yet another transfer, probably two because he is training again. I got shipped off to Ciudad Evita II, in the zone Aldo Bonzi. The temple is about a thirty minute walk from the apartment. Pretty cool. Excited to be here. Hoping I can get some work done. My new comp is a Latino! Elder Perez, from Mendoza Argentina. He has been out for 21 months, so it's getting close to him dying. He's good though. This area is a bit nicer than La Ferrere was. Well, I'll explain a bit more. There is a good chunk of the area that is basically like living in the states where we live. The streets are paved, more than less clean, the houses are more individual. The individuals are a bit more well off, have better jobs. It's an interesting contrast with what I saw before. However, there is also a good chunk of our area called the monoblocks. They are basically clusters of big apartment buildings. The less inviting type of apartment buildings, yeah. But it is really good. The ward is really good. The bishop is as tall as I am, but bigger. He reminds me of one of my seminary teachers, Elder Huso. I am excited to work here. There are four missionaries in our apartment, so it's a bit different. They are three native spanish speakers, so I'll get speaking some real good Spanish. Also, I received the package. Very well appreciated. I just opened it this morning. The muddy buddies recipe will be well used. Even if I can't find chex, I'll try it with corn flakes and report on the success. The CDs are very much appreciated. More so than you might think! The books were good as well. All the other trinkets are currently finding their uses as well.
Matt - Reading the first few lines of your letter, it sounded like Alex was writing. Was a pretty weird experience. Pretty crazy step you're taking there. But it's all good. Funny you mentioned Nicaragua, because one of the elders in the apartment is from Nicaragua. If you were wondering as well, a person that harvests bananas is called a bananero. Pretty cool. Learned it from a random cardboard box being used as a doormat outside an apartment. Nice to know you're still figuring out how to use our phone as well. Keep figuring out new things.
Mom - Sounds like you all had a little party up there. Traffic is bad up there though, I remember. The fair would be a cool experience. And when you said Dad bought another notebook the first thought that came in to my mind is that he bought a normal paper notebook. Was a little confused until it clicked. It's a notebook though? Not a tablet? Just from what you said I wasn't quite sure. Wisdom teeth eh. Pretty exciting prospect there. I'm quite grateful for all the recipes you've sent so far. They work well. I haven't quite been able to do the ranch one because I haven't really tried finding buttermilk. A little harder to locate. But if you decide to send other recipes, some possibilities are potato soup, french toast, and that cinnamon twist recipe. That one would be a little daring, but the results just might be worth the effort.
Alex - No more than 9 hours in a row huh. I quite seriously believe I could sleep for twelve hours without a problem right now. This area is smaller than my last, but we still walk. The wisdom teeth experience is coming. How exciting. Just remember, when they put the mask on to put you out, just go straight to sleep. Yes, it is possible to continue awake for at least some time, but just let yourself sleep. And don't be dumb and eat the stuff they tell you not to eat. And only pull out the stitches if they really really really really are bothersome. Otherwise they do dissolve within a month.
And so it is, dear family. To bid you adieu, I will share two choice quotes from the book I got earlier today. I actually read about 45 pages of it, but these are some of the best ones.
'If you cannot win yourself, make the one ahead of you break the record.' -Anonymous This one makes me laugh. A fun viewpoint.
'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.' -Not anonymous, but the name was diabolically French and difficult to pronounce, much less remember. This one makes me think as well. Just think.
Well, that was fun. Hopefully you can continue doing good things. This week will go very well. Meeting of all three Buenos Aires missions as well as the MTC here with President Eyring and others, and then a big culture event in a soccer stadium, then the temple dedication. Woo hooo!! Keep on doing good works. Let that light so shine!
Love,
Elder Hansen
Hi. It is me. Mom is threatening to beat me to a bloody pulp. I have
good news Nick. Next week I start school on Tuesday, and I move in to
my new place on Wednesday. Bring on the debt baby!
Anyways, I am ready for it. If this doesn’t work out I’m moving to
Nicaragua. I’ll get a job harvesting bananas or something and make
friends with the local drug lords. They will find me amusing and I’ll
beat them in Scrabble or checkers. Just kidding, I don’t play
checkers. Luckily, Sam and Matt won’t miss the rent money I’ve been
paying them since he is getting a new job at Charles Schwab the same
day I move out.
Right now we are in Flagstaff at the timeshare. It is quite nice. I
went mountain biking and it was awesome. I took an awesome panoramic
shot of Schultz Creek and even learned how to change the camera
resolution on my phone. The only down side is that my tush is tender.
I also had prime rib, cotton candy, and a smoked turkey leg. Not too
shabby eh?
I bid you adieu as I now embark on the journey back to the valley.
Keep teaching it up! Hope you have found some awesome investigators.
- Matthew the Seafaring Champion of Catan
Hello Nick,
So, last Tues. afternoon Dad and I came up to Flag. Weather has been
almost perfect. A few afternoon thunderstorms and wind. Perfect
temperatures. Dad relaxed whilst I quilted a bit and watched the
Republican National Convention – Just the big speeches. We also did a
little shopping – lots of eating and lots of driving around Flagstaff.
Traffic pretty much sucks here though. Dad even played several games
of Carcassonne, one of the few games we can play together. Matt came
up Friday afternoon and Sam & Matt & Alex that evening. Played games
that night, slept in a bit Sat. morning and the whole clan went to the
driving range. I’ll try to send a couple of pics. Matt went
adventuring on his own and the rest of us checked out the Coconino
County Fair. They grow some huge pigs and amazing turkeys up here.
The food was pricey but out of the ordinary – tornado fries and turkey
legs the best.
We came back and played some more games and went over to Amy & Mikes
to have pizza and play games. Sam and Matt and Dad left to go back to
the land of heat and humidity. Matt stayed another day – and although
he said he was going to go home, it’s almost 10pm and he hasn’t made
it out the door yet. He’s watching Dumb & Dumber, Prince Caspian, and
Iron Man between constant channel switching with Alex. Totally
relaxing week. Not looking forward to packing up and going home
tomorrow. I could stay here for another week easily without being a
tiny bit bored. Yeah.
Dad bought another notebook. I think it’s for me unless I want a
smaller one – Dad is hoping that happens I think. I downloaded
Carcassonne. It’s not quite as fun that way, I win almost all the
time, but it’s not bad. And since people don’t want to play with me
much a good substitute. Checked for ticket to ride, but not for
android yet. Also downloaded a fun pinball game – Dad was annoyed.
Oh well…
Only 1 day of teaching this week. Have lots of annoying errands and
business to take care of Weds. and then on Thursday Alex gets his
wisdom teeth out. I’ll report on that next week. Hope all is
flourishing in your life. Love you lots, Mom
Nickolias: This is a crazy thing. I’m going to be wisdom-toothless!
Holy snot. Maybe not snot, but probably some less putrefying thing.
Yea. I have been working and that was good and fun. But now I have
been relaxing here in this timeshare in flagstaff. I have played 1
game of ticket to ride Asia and then teams in Asia and then monopoly
deal as well as 3 games of settlers of catan with seafarers. I figured
up a sweet setup for it. Yea its going to be great! But also I have
found that I can’t sleep more than 9 hours in a row. Welp today’s
adventure is over. Next is wisdom teeth!
-Alezander da good
From Nick to the Family:
Well howdy do. This last week was exciting, and this next week is even more exciting! Just this last week we had transfers, so of course things changed around a bit. My comp stayed in the area yet another transfer, probably two because he is training again. I got shipped off to Ciudad Evita II, in the zone Aldo Bonzi. The temple is about a thirty minute walk from the apartment. Pretty cool. Excited to be here. Hoping I can get some work done. My new comp is a Latino! Elder Perez, from Mendoza Argentina. He has been out for 21 months, so it's getting close to him dying. He's good though. This area is a bit nicer than La Ferrere was. Well, I'll explain a bit more. There is a good chunk of the area that is basically like living in the states where we live. The streets are paved, more than less clean, the houses are more individual. The individuals are a bit more well off, have better jobs. It's an interesting contrast with what I saw before. However, there is also a good chunk of our area called the monoblocks. They are basically clusters of big apartment buildings. The less inviting type of apartment buildings, yeah. But it is really good. The ward is really good. The bishop is as tall as I am, but bigger. He reminds me of one of my seminary teachers, Elder Huso. I am excited to work here. There are four missionaries in our apartment, so it's a bit different. They are three native spanish speakers, so I'll get speaking some real good Spanish. Also, I received the package. Very well appreciated. I just opened it this morning. The muddy buddies recipe will be well used. Even if I can't find chex, I'll try it with corn flakes and report on the success. The CDs are very much appreciated. More so than you might think! The books were good as well. All the other trinkets are currently finding their uses as well.
Matt - Reading the first few lines of your letter, it sounded like Alex was writing. Was a pretty weird experience. Pretty crazy step you're taking there. But it's all good. Funny you mentioned Nicaragua, because one of the elders in the apartment is from Nicaragua. If you were wondering as well, a person that harvests bananas is called a bananero. Pretty cool. Learned it from a random cardboard box being used as a doormat outside an apartment. Nice to know you're still figuring out how to use our phone as well. Keep figuring out new things.
Mom - Sounds like you all had a little party up there. Traffic is bad up there though, I remember. The fair would be a cool experience. And when you said Dad bought another notebook the first thought that came in to my mind is that he bought a normal paper notebook. Was a little confused until it clicked. It's a notebook though? Not a tablet? Just from what you said I wasn't quite sure. Wisdom teeth eh. Pretty exciting prospect there. I'm quite grateful for all the recipes you've sent so far. They work well. I haven't quite been able to do the ranch one because I haven't really tried finding buttermilk. A little harder to locate. But if you decide to send other recipes, some possibilities are potato soup, french toast, and that cinnamon twist recipe. That one would be a little daring, but the results just might be worth the effort.
Alex - No more than 9 hours in a row huh. I quite seriously believe I could sleep for twelve hours without a problem right now. This area is smaller than my last, but we still walk. The wisdom teeth experience is coming. How exciting. Just remember, when they put the mask on to put you out, just go straight to sleep. Yes, it is possible to continue awake for at least some time, but just let yourself sleep. And don't be dumb and eat the stuff they tell you not to eat. And only pull out the stitches if they really really really really are bothersome. Otherwise they do dissolve within a month.
And so it is, dear family. To bid you adieu, I will share two choice quotes from the book I got earlier today. I actually read about 45 pages of it, but these are some of the best ones.
'If you cannot win yourself, make the one ahead of you break the record.' -Anonymous This one makes me laugh. A fun viewpoint.
'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.' -Not anonymous, but the name was diabolically French and difficult to pronounce, much less remember. This one makes me think as well. Just think.
Well, that was fun. Hopefully you can continue doing good things. This week will go very well. Meeting of all three Buenos Aires missions as well as the MTC here with President Eyring and others, and then a big culture event in a soccer stadium, then the temple dedication. Woo hooo!! Keep on doing good works. Let that light so shine!
Love,
Elder Hansen
8/27/2012 - Ty & Nick
From Ty to Nick:
Nicholas Hansen. I am one quarter of a century old. Next time this happens I will be through my mid life crisis and mother will want to be a great grandmother by then. That is a little crazy. Like really crazy. Not quite sure what to do about it. But my birthday yesterday was quite awesome. I just didn't care about anything, relaxed, went to church, enjoyed my calling, chatted with friends, had some dinner. I mean it was just really nice. I've also decided I'm going to grow up a bit and be responsible. Have less fun and be more responsible. We'll see how it goes. And Saturday was great too because I woke up at 10, went to the temple, went shopping, and then went out to Walden with some friends. One of them taught me how to swim properly so I can practice before my triathlon. Walden is also simply beautiful so it was nice being there. And then they took the car and I rode my bike home, about a 15 mile ride. It was really relaxing and beautiful. It did get dark faster than expected so the ride was a bit scary at times, but I made it through alive. So yeah. Good stuff. And now here I am at work again. I'm going to get something done today. Many things. And that is an exciting prospect.
Well that is all. I hope you are happy. You should be because the combination of hard work and faith lead to happiness. I've been thinking a lot since yesterday about the principle of stewardship. It just kinda hit me how real that is, the idea that I am just a steward here over this body, this time, these activities. If I weren't here then there would be another here to do them, but God has called me and put me here in this time and this place for a reason and I want to live worthy of His trust in me. What kind of person would I want my steward to be? How can I be a better steward? Those were my questions of the day and I anticipate they will be my questions for the next little while.
Life is good Nick. I hope by the end of your mission you know that and never forget it.
-Tyrel
From Nick to Ty:
Haha! I was right. Whenever people ask how old my older brothers are I tell them 25. Sounds like a pretty nice birthday. By the way, happy birthday. I'm really quite bad with birthdays. A telling fact. Crazy how time flies. About swimming properly, it was a good idea. My seminary teacher my senior year was also starting to do triathlons and he said that that was one part he was able to improve on a lot as well. I sure could. It is just one of the harder parts to learn how to do if you haven't really been taught it. Sorry if I can't really write all that much. It changes every week, all the stuff I have to send and write and it's extra crazy at the end of the month with the temple open house just ending. So I'll try getting something good out sometime. But continue enjoying your life. Hard work and faith certainly are good ingredients to be happy. I really like the principle of hope as well. Elder Wirthlin´s 'Come What May and Love It' talk helped me with it. So be happy and remember that eternal perspective! Siga bien!
Ciao, Your brother Élder Hansen
Nicholas Hansen. I am one quarter of a century old. Next time this happens I will be through my mid life crisis and mother will want to be a great grandmother by then. That is a little crazy. Like really crazy. Not quite sure what to do about it. But my birthday yesterday was quite awesome. I just didn't care about anything, relaxed, went to church, enjoyed my calling, chatted with friends, had some dinner. I mean it was just really nice. I've also decided I'm going to grow up a bit and be responsible. Have less fun and be more responsible. We'll see how it goes. And Saturday was great too because I woke up at 10, went to the temple, went shopping, and then went out to Walden with some friends. One of them taught me how to swim properly so I can practice before my triathlon. Walden is also simply beautiful so it was nice being there. And then they took the car and I rode my bike home, about a 15 mile ride. It was really relaxing and beautiful. It did get dark faster than expected so the ride was a bit scary at times, but I made it through alive. So yeah. Good stuff. And now here I am at work again. I'm going to get something done today. Many things. And that is an exciting prospect.
Well that is all. I hope you are happy. You should be because the combination of hard work and faith lead to happiness. I've been thinking a lot since yesterday about the principle of stewardship. It just kinda hit me how real that is, the idea that I am just a steward here over this body, this time, these activities. If I weren't here then there would be another here to do them, but God has called me and put me here in this time and this place for a reason and I want to live worthy of His trust in me. What kind of person would I want my steward to be? How can I be a better steward? Those were my questions of the day and I anticipate they will be my questions for the next little while.
Life is good Nick. I hope by the end of your mission you know that and never forget it.
-Tyrel
From Nick to Ty:
Haha! I was right. Whenever people ask how old my older brothers are I tell them 25. Sounds like a pretty nice birthday. By the way, happy birthday. I'm really quite bad with birthdays. A telling fact. Crazy how time flies. About swimming properly, it was a good idea. My seminary teacher my senior year was also starting to do triathlons and he said that that was one part he was able to improve on a lot as well. I sure could. It is just one of the harder parts to learn how to do if you haven't really been taught it. Sorry if I can't really write all that much. It changes every week, all the stuff I have to send and write and it's extra crazy at the end of the month with the temple open house just ending. So I'll try getting something good out sometime. But continue enjoying your life. Hard work and faith certainly are good ingredients to be happy. I really like the principle of hope as well. Elder Wirthlin´s 'Come What May and Love It' talk helped me with it. So be happy and remember that eternal perspective! Siga bien!
Ciao, Your brother Élder Hansen
August 26, 2012
From the Family to Nick:
Hey we are still alive and kicking I got a new job starting Sept. 4th
with Charles Schwab. Sam is thinking about starting her own day care
at home. Otherwise not much else going on.
Keep kicking it.
Matt and Sam
Nick,
Nothing has changed. Still trudging along with work and then partying
on the weekends. But everyone one who moved to utah or idaho for byu
is finnally gone. That is a sad sad thing in some cases. Oh well. I
just am going to keep working at perfection. You know. Other than that
there isn't much to say.
Carry on,
-alehandro.
Hey Nick,
So, Dad drug me to a stake high priests fireside. I felt really old
going to one of those meetings. Then saw Chris Hale there and if he's
old enough to be there, then I'm really old. I started at MCC. Have
an office and a phone number there. Don't have a computer yet though.
That will come. Now I'm trying to decide how to decorate my office.
Any suggestions? Took Grandma and Grandpa E to the Calder's cabin up
north. It's about 1/2 hour from Snowflake. Weather was great. Old
people don't eat the same as normal people. Rations were a little
slim. Won at rummikub though. Working on typing up Grandpa O's life
history. Some amusing stories. I will send you a few eventually.
It's hard getting used to getting up and going to work by 7:30.
Requires preparation the night before. Have you learned any of that
yet? I imagine you have.
I have sent 2 packages since you left. One should have arrived while
you were still in Tennessee. It had a tie hanger. The other package
I sent per instructions on the website about 6 weeks ago. Hopefully
you will still get it. Music was included. I will also send some
pics. Some were taken today. Some of Dad when we were coming back
from Utah, and a bunch of other random stuff. Also, since we don't
seem to be very good at answering questions, Ty didn't pass his test.
He was understandably very unhappy and disappointed about it. Don't
ask again. He is now studying again for next year. He's had a lot to
learn with a new job. It hasn't all been easy. Yeah, a lot of life
is like that.
I guess I need to now go to bed. I'm leaving Matt to finish this
letter. He will even need to copy and paste it into my email. But
he's probably able to do that. He needs to finish his book before he
is able to concentrate enough to write. You know Matt, on Yapese
standard time.
Love you lots Nick, Be faithful, Be happy! Mom
P.S. you could also send us some pics in return.
Nick,
Heard a quote that I thought was interesting. I t was in the Sunday
School lesson and goes as follows: "The Prophet Joseph Smith made the
following statement to a man who wondered why those who had left the
Church often fought so fiercely against it: “Before you joined this
Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached good
and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither.
There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you
joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you
left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should
you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve it will be by the
instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be
his servant” (in “Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” Juvenile
Instructor, 15 Aug. 1892, 492)."
I do have some other thoughts , but I'll save them for next week. Good
thing you have a mom or you would have very crappy letters from home.
Love, Dad
Nicholas,
Finished my book. I'm reading the Wheel of Time series. It started
poorly and slow, but the books are getting better as he goes. I just
finished reading the fourth one. Anyways, tomorrow is our Monday and I
am going to go get myself a fingerprint card to show I'm not a
criminal, and also find a place to live. I hope to move in towards the
end of the week or beginning of next.
Since I know missionaries don't like to be reminded about all the
awesome meals they miss out on I'll be sure not to tell you about
eating three cheese potatoes, parmesan garlic chicken, cheesy
biscuits (like Red Lobster), watermelon, corn, etc. for Sunday dinner
today. We had Tyler and Gina and also Grandma and Grandpa over. We
even played team ticket to ride after and Alex and my own self kinda
dominated. In fact, we had 121 just from routes. It was particularly
amusing when Gina noted that I used Alex as my napkin after eating one
of the aforementioned cheesy biscuits. She didn't even know and
agrees Alex is a napkin. Better than toilet paper….
Oh, and an update on the toenail. It is almost fully recovered! It
tried to pull a quick one and give me an ingrown nail. I wasn't about
to tolerate any such nonsense and fixed it up with a good soak in some
hot salt water and expert toenail trimming.
Hope you don't have worms - Matt
From Nick to the Family:
Holy cow. What a good week. Regretfully, time is already short. Lots of things this week. A month ending, a transfer is ending, the temple open house closed, and more. It's quite possible that my companion or I will be transferred this week. But the good part regardless is that there is a lot of cool stuff happening this week. There will be a meeting of all three of the Buenos Aires missions - North, South, West- with President Eyring and others. Then we'll be in one of the soccer stadiums celebrating the re dedication the next day, then the next day is the rededication. I'm quite excited. So woohoo!!!!
Matt and Sam - That is wonderful news. I believe. Sounds pretty good. Her own day care huh. That'd be pretty crazy, but I'm sure she can figure it out somehow. I will continue kicking it.
Alex - That is just how it goes. What ever happened to Kevin? I'd imagine he's at school, but I don't know which one. You keep working at that perfection.
Mom - Sounds like you're going good. And preparation the night before? I'm still improving on that part, for sure. It's a process. It'd be a good habit to find. I did get that wonderfully awesome package with the tie hanger in it. It was very much appreciated and is being well used. I still have space for a few ties on it. Like one or two, I think. It is a wonderful thing. Sorry I haven't sent many pictures. I sent some last week, but this week I won't have time.
Dad - That is quite the interesting thought. I always like hearing thoughts like that. Makes me think a bit more, and reminds me of President Monson's quote I always remember, that it's easier to be 100 percent obedient than 98 percent.
Matt - Perhaps the series is a little bit long, but I still enjoy it very much regardless. Just have to read it faster. Thank you so much for your wonderful food description. Our funds are running a little low this week as inflation is in effect here - prices have raised since I've came, even. So we're living on noodles with flavor cubes for our dinners. Pretty sweet. We get to go and clean the temple today and they said they'll be feeding us, so I'm excited. P day is when we pay for our own lunch, which'd be a bit tough this week.
Woohooooo! That is my shout of exclamation. Glad to see you're all doing well. Just keep being happy and laughing and succeeding and doing those good things you do.
Ciao,
Elder Hansen
Hey we are still alive and kicking I got a new job starting Sept. 4th
with Charles Schwab. Sam is thinking about starting her own day care
at home. Otherwise not much else going on.
Keep kicking it.
Matt and Sam
Nick,
Nothing has changed. Still trudging along with work and then partying
on the weekends. But everyone one who moved to utah or idaho for byu
is finnally gone. That is a sad sad thing in some cases. Oh well. I
just am going to keep working at perfection. You know. Other than that
there isn't much to say.
Carry on,
-alehandro.
Hey Nick,
So, Dad drug me to a stake high priests fireside. I felt really old
going to one of those meetings. Then saw Chris Hale there and if he's
old enough to be there, then I'm really old. I started at MCC. Have
an office and a phone number there. Don't have a computer yet though.
That will come. Now I'm trying to decide how to decorate my office.
Any suggestions? Took Grandma and Grandpa E to the Calder's cabin up
north. It's about 1/2 hour from Snowflake. Weather was great. Old
people don't eat the same as normal people. Rations were a little
slim. Won at rummikub though. Working on typing up Grandpa O's life
history. Some amusing stories. I will send you a few eventually.
It's hard getting used to getting up and going to work by 7:30.
Requires preparation the night before. Have you learned any of that
yet? I imagine you have.
I have sent 2 packages since you left. One should have arrived while
you were still in Tennessee. It had a tie hanger. The other package
I sent per instructions on the website about 6 weeks ago. Hopefully
you will still get it. Music was included. I will also send some
pics. Some were taken today. Some of Dad when we were coming back
from Utah, and a bunch of other random stuff. Also, since we don't
seem to be very good at answering questions, Ty didn't pass his test.
He was understandably very unhappy and disappointed about it. Don't
ask again. He is now studying again for next year. He's had a lot to
learn with a new job. It hasn't all been easy. Yeah, a lot of life
is like that.
I guess I need to now go to bed. I'm leaving Matt to finish this
letter. He will even need to copy and paste it into my email. But
he's probably able to do that. He needs to finish his book before he
is able to concentrate enough to write. You know Matt, on Yapese
standard time.
Love you lots Nick, Be faithful, Be happy! Mom
P.S. you could also send us some pics in return.
Nick,
Heard a quote that I thought was interesting. I t was in the Sunday
School lesson and goes as follows: "The Prophet Joseph Smith made the
following statement to a man who wondered why those who had left the
Church often fought so fiercely against it: “Before you joined this
Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached good
and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither.
There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you
joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you
left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should
you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve it will be by the
instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be
his servant” (in “Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” Juvenile
Instructor, 15 Aug. 1892, 492)."
I do have some other thoughts , but I'll save them for next week. Good
thing you have a mom or you would have very crappy letters from home.
Love, Dad
Nicholas,
Finished my book. I'm reading the Wheel of Time series. It started
poorly and slow, but the books are getting better as he goes. I just
finished reading the fourth one. Anyways, tomorrow is our Monday and I
am going to go get myself a fingerprint card to show I'm not a
criminal, and also find a place to live. I hope to move in towards the
end of the week or beginning of next.
Since I know missionaries don't like to be reminded about all the
awesome meals they miss out on I'll be sure not to tell you about
eating three cheese potatoes, parmesan garlic chicken, cheesy
biscuits (like Red Lobster), watermelon, corn, etc. for Sunday dinner
today. We had Tyler and Gina and also Grandma and Grandpa over. We
even played team ticket to ride after and Alex and my own self kinda
dominated. In fact, we had 121 just from routes. It was particularly
amusing when Gina noted that I used Alex as my napkin after eating one
of the aforementioned cheesy biscuits. She didn't even know and
agrees Alex is a napkin. Better than toilet paper….
Oh, and an update on the toenail. It is almost fully recovered! It
tried to pull a quick one and give me an ingrown nail. I wasn't about
to tolerate any such nonsense and fixed it up with a good soak in some
hot salt water and expert toenail trimming.
Hope you don't have worms - Matt
From Nick to the Family:
Holy cow. What a good week. Regretfully, time is already short. Lots of things this week. A month ending, a transfer is ending, the temple open house closed, and more. It's quite possible that my companion or I will be transferred this week. But the good part regardless is that there is a lot of cool stuff happening this week. There will be a meeting of all three of the Buenos Aires missions - North, South, West- with President Eyring and others. Then we'll be in one of the soccer stadiums celebrating the re dedication the next day, then the next day is the rededication. I'm quite excited. So woohoo!!!!
Matt and Sam - That is wonderful news. I believe. Sounds pretty good. Her own day care huh. That'd be pretty crazy, but I'm sure she can figure it out somehow. I will continue kicking it.
Alex - That is just how it goes. What ever happened to Kevin? I'd imagine he's at school, but I don't know which one. You keep working at that perfection.
Mom - Sounds like you're going good. And preparation the night before? I'm still improving on that part, for sure. It's a process. It'd be a good habit to find. I did get that wonderfully awesome package with the tie hanger in it. It was very much appreciated and is being well used. I still have space for a few ties on it. Like one or two, I think. It is a wonderful thing. Sorry I haven't sent many pictures. I sent some last week, but this week I won't have time.
Dad - That is quite the interesting thought. I always like hearing thoughts like that. Makes me think a bit more, and reminds me of President Monson's quote I always remember, that it's easier to be 100 percent obedient than 98 percent.
Matt - Perhaps the series is a little bit long, but I still enjoy it very much regardless. Just have to read it faster. Thank you so much for your wonderful food description. Our funds are running a little low this week as inflation is in effect here - prices have raised since I've came, even. So we're living on noodles with flavor cubes for our dinners. Pretty sweet. We get to go and clean the temple today and they said they'll be feeding us, so I'm excited. P day is when we pay for our own lunch, which'd be a bit tough this week.
Woohooooo! That is my shout of exclamation. Glad to see you're all doing well. Just keep being happy and laughing and succeeding and doing those good things you do.
Ciao,
Elder Hansen
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Nick/Ty 8/20/2012
Hi Nicki-poo!
I wanted to include today for your reading pleasure a short experience that I had yesterday that I wrote to a couple of friends about. It was a neat experience about a kid that got baptized into my ward yesterday and it was pretty instructive to me.
Because of this experience I went home and talked with a roommate of mine who is a member of the church but is going less active because he's scared of actually committing to live the gospel. If he lived it he would live it 100% and he's scared of that. I ran through some of his concerns with him and found that the real concern is that he just doesn't want to commit. He has the faith required to get an answer, he is just scared to get one because of what it would obligate him to do. It was really good talking to him and helping him understand why sacrifice is worth the effort of living the gospel and all the blessings we get in return.
So life has been good but busy lately. I often feel that I'm not good enough at work, but I am working through that. Momma and Papa are praying for me and give me good advice. I just need to stick with it. I don't know that there has ever been something that has challenged me quite like this job. It's difficult. But I believe I can work through it, and I'm really going to give it my all.
Stay well little bro. I prayed for you last night and this morning that you will be happy and effective in your work. I believe in you.
That's all. Tyrel Hansen over and out.
FROM NICK:
Dear Tyrel, that was a wonderful account you rendered about that experience. One of the things that I hope I can keep with me is that I can recognize situations and blessings, the hand of the Lord in our lives and in the lives of others and take away from them learning experiences and more desires to grow and improve. When I was in the MTC Landon Finter was there as well, I think as a teacher or perhaps something else. Never really talked to him, but another missionary in my district had a brother who was friends with him. Hopefully his younger brother chooses to go on a mission as well. Riley is a bit distanced right now though. I really enjoyed what you shared about committing 100 percent. It is one thing that I most definitely need to improve. Thinking back, it's hard for me to say when I've really poured effort into something. School was occasional bursts. Tennis was a vague effort. Drafting was probably the closest thing I got to really focusing and learning. I really need to start taking more advantage of the mission to really give it the most complete 100 percent I can give. It'll be a great blessing to me if I do. It is an amazing learning opportunity, a mission. I can see more and more everytime I think about it how huge of a blessing it really is. The circumstances are all here. I can take advantage of them, if I start working. Good advice you gave. I'll keep you in mind as well. From what you're writing me I can tell that you are striving to do what you can. Just keep praying earnestly. One thing I noticed this week is that I can get such a good relation with my Heavenly Father through prayer. I am starting to depend more on this relation. It is wonderful.
Continue having good days. I still need to learn what you got on your big fancy test that you received results for!
Elder Hansen
8/16/2012
Dearest Nick:
Not much has changed since last week, but I still figure some words
from home can be appreciated for a missionary. I have thought a lot
about the fact that I'm going soon. I am excited, but scared. When I
get back there may be nothing to come back to. I am enjoying life
thoroughly right now, but I know it won't be the same on my own. So I
guess I will enjoy it while I got it. I find myself watching the sun
rise and set and I just enjoy the show. Give the most skilled painter
in the world the best paint the best brushes the best paper, the best
motivation, and it still cannot match the beautiful scene that I see
twice daily. Anyway just my thoughts. Keep on keeping on bro.
-Alex
*****************
Nick,
So back home to the grind – at least a little. Spent the first part
of the week cleaning and doing laundry and cooking. I guess they
missed me a little at least. Monday I got the official offer from
MCC. It is a full-time job until May only. It may be converted to a
permanent position, the temporary position renewed or discontinued
altogether. Who knows? They seem hopeful that they will actually
receive 4 full-time positions. Hopefully I’ll be one of them. So,
this semester teaching clinicals only (which begins tomorrow at the
nursing lab on campus). Next semester teaching in the classroom also.
Not sure what I’ll be doing at the hospital after this semester. Not
sure where the money will all fall out either. Still seems like what
I need to be doing.
Had the missionaries drop by yesterday. Elder Flake from Tennesee,
and Elder Gomez from Argentina. Told them you had or were currently
spending time in both of their areas. Nice guys. Didn’t stay long
but left us with a prayer.
I’ve been called to be the “Provident Living” person – or the cannery
lady for a while. But I’ve been gone a lot and hadn’t even had time
to be set apart. Today we went in with Alex to be set apart for the
primary and the Bishop realized I hadn’t been set apart and did so.
Wow! I’m so continually amazed by this bishop. He remembers all
sorts of little details – is great at names, and gave me the most
comprehensive and flowing blessing I’ve had for a long time. I love
to be set apart. I love priesthood blessings. It makes me feel so
special. I’d like one every month or so. But I guess that’s not the
way it is supposed to be. I’m not sure how this calling is going to
work out with the anticipated busyness of my life. We’ll see.
Sam and Matt went to his family reunion this week. Their cars are
even less reliable than when you were here and they took my car. I
guess your dad was feeling their absence at the dinner table and
invited Tyler and Gina to dinner. Tyler is going to be going to ASU
for some specialized degree and they moved here last week. We played
a very unexciting game of Ticket to Ride. Alex kept playing just to
block me. Didn’t need to go that way – just random blocks. Very
annoying. Very. I didn’t even count my score. It was that bad.
Grandma called me yesterday and said that Marilyn Calder had invited
them and us to their cabin up north. I offered to take them up on
Weds. and home on Fri. I’ll take a good book, with my laptop and try
to work on my Dad’s life history some more.
Friday night Dad came home and did a little shopping on Craig’s List
and before the night was through, he had bought a newish washer and
dryer and armoire for the computer stuff. We had the computer stuff
on a tableish desk and it was cluttered and messy. Looks so much
better to have it enclosed.
Well, probably need to be getting my beauty sleep. Have to get up
early in the am. Love you a ton, Mom
Nick,
I am in need of pondering and a little action. If I did an excellent
job I could then send you a message of profound inspiration. Are you
inspired yet? Well know that I love you and am thankful for you. I've
been thinking that your mom has written the news.
Dad
FROM NICK:
Bum bum bum! This last week there was quite the amount of rain. It wasn't really a crazy amount, I guess. But it was just constant and persistent. The streets got super muddy and I got wet. Pretty exciting, if I do say. But Sunday payed off. It was perfect outside all day. Wonderful. Because of the rain it was a bit hard to talk to people around here. When it rains people stay in their houses and sleep. A little harder to work like that, but we make it through. So Sunday we did a lot of walking and talking with people, and it turned out wonderfully. It was really great. Regretfully, last night the water at our apartment building cut off, so we weren't able to shower or shave today. Thankfully, it is P day. We're hoping it comes back within today. But that is less important than the awesome visit we had to the temple! We went with an older gentleman who will be baptized and confirmed this Sunday, Oscar, and his son-in-law. It is good. They renovated it, but extensively the past two years. It went from 1600 sq feet to 2600, the baptistry was enlarged a bunch, and it is overall just better. It looks picture perfect. We went on a drizzly Tuesday morning, and we went on the tour with less than ten people in our little group. But last Saturday there were around 8000 people who visited, with an hour and a half long line. A good day. This week is the last week and we're hoping we can go one more time with another family we're teaching. Going through really impressed on me the importance of this work, the great blessing it is to do temple work as well. As missionaries we focus more on the living, but temple work is just as necessary to help those already passed on. Everyone we asked who had went to the temple, who wasn't a member, when asked which room was their favorite, where they felt something different, always said the celestial room. Pretty humbling to be part of this great work, I'd say.
Not much has changed since last week, but I still figure some words
from home can be appreciated for a missionary. I have thought a lot
about the fact that I'm going soon. I am excited, but scared. When I
get back there may be nothing to come back to. I am enjoying life
thoroughly right now, but I know it won't be the same on my own. So I
guess I will enjoy it while I got it. I find myself watching the sun
rise and set and I just enjoy the show. Give the most skilled painter
in the world the best paint the best brushes the best paper, the best
motivation, and it still cannot match the beautiful scene that I see
twice daily. Anyway just my thoughts. Keep on keeping on bro.
-Alex
*****************
Nick,
So back home to the grind – at least a little. Spent the first part
of the week cleaning and doing laundry and cooking. I guess they
missed me a little at least. Monday I got the official offer from
MCC. It is a full-time job until May only. It may be converted to a
permanent position, the temporary position renewed or discontinued
altogether. Who knows? They seem hopeful that they will actually
receive 4 full-time positions. Hopefully I’ll be one of them. So,
this semester teaching clinicals only (which begins tomorrow at the
nursing lab on campus). Next semester teaching in the classroom also.
Not sure what I’ll be doing at the hospital after this semester. Not
sure where the money will all fall out either. Still seems like what
I need to be doing.
Had the missionaries drop by yesterday. Elder Flake from Tennesee,
and Elder Gomez from Argentina. Told them you had or were currently
spending time in both of their areas. Nice guys. Didn’t stay long
but left us with a prayer.
I’ve been called to be the “Provident Living” person – or the cannery
lady for a while. But I’ve been gone a lot and hadn’t even had time
to be set apart. Today we went in with Alex to be set apart for the
primary and the Bishop realized I hadn’t been set apart and did so.
Wow! I’m so continually amazed by this bishop. He remembers all
sorts of little details – is great at names, and gave me the most
comprehensive and flowing blessing I’ve had for a long time. I love
to be set apart. I love priesthood blessings. It makes me feel so
special. I’d like one every month or so. But I guess that’s not the
way it is supposed to be. I’m not sure how this calling is going to
work out with the anticipated busyness of my life. We’ll see.
Sam and Matt went to his family reunion this week. Their cars are
even less reliable than when you were here and they took my car. I
guess your dad was feeling their absence at the dinner table and
invited Tyler and Gina to dinner. Tyler is going to be going to ASU
for some specialized degree and they moved here last week. We played
a very unexciting game of Ticket to Ride. Alex kept playing just to
block me. Didn’t need to go that way – just random blocks. Very
annoying. Very. I didn’t even count my score. It was that bad.
Grandma called me yesterday and said that Marilyn Calder had invited
them and us to their cabin up north. I offered to take them up on
Weds. and home on Fri. I’ll take a good book, with my laptop and try
to work on my Dad’s life history some more.
Friday night Dad came home and did a little shopping on Craig’s List
and before the night was through, he had bought a newish washer and
dryer and armoire for the computer stuff. We had the computer stuff
on a tableish desk and it was cluttered and messy. Looks so much
better to have it enclosed.
Well, probably need to be getting my beauty sleep. Have to get up
early in the am. Love you a ton, Mom
Nick,
I am in need of pondering and a little action. If I did an excellent
job I could then send you a message of profound inspiration. Are you
inspired yet? Well know that I love you and am thankful for you. I've
been thinking that your mom has written the news.
Dad
FROM NICK:
Bum bum bum! This last week there was quite the amount of rain. It wasn't really a crazy amount, I guess. But it was just constant and persistent. The streets got super muddy and I got wet. Pretty exciting, if I do say. But Sunday payed off. It was perfect outside all day. Wonderful. Because of the rain it was a bit hard to talk to people around here. When it rains people stay in their houses and sleep. A little harder to work like that, but we make it through. So Sunday we did a lot of walking and talking with people, and it turned out wonderfully. It was really great. Regretfully, last night the water at our apartment building cut off, so we weren't able to shower or shave today. Thankfully, it is P day. We're hoping it comes back within today. But that is less important than the awesome visit we had to the temple! We went with an older gentleman who will be baptized and confirmed this Sunday, Oscar, and his son-in-law. It is good. They renovated it, but extensively the past two years. It went from 1600 sq feet to 2600, the baptistry was enlarged a bunch, and it is overall just better. It looks picture perfect. We went on a drizzly Tuesday morning, and we went on the tour with less than ten people in our little group. But last Saturday there were around 8000 people who visited, with an hour and a half long line. A good day. This week is the last week and we're hoping we can go one more time with another family we're teaching. Going through really impressed on me the importance of this work, the great blessing it is to do temple work as well. As missionaries we focus more on the living, but temple work is just as necessary to help those already passed on. Everyone we asked who had went to the temple, who wasn't a member, when asked which room was their favorite, where they felt something different, always said the celestial room. Pretty humbling to be part of this great work, I'd say.
Alex - Just as the excitement part overruns the scared part, it's good. Make sure the confidence part is in there as well. You might think you'll be coming back to nothing but I'll fix that when I get back. There'll be something. At least one decent game of Ultimate Frisbee. Glad you can enjoy the sunsets and sunrises so much. I'll need to try it sometime. Enjoyed your keep on keeping on sentence. Classy.
Mother Dearest - Good to know you're looking forward to this new opportunity. Happy to know you can find some pleasure in your work. Makes things better. Pretty funny, that the two missionaries are both from places I've been or that I'm at. The bishop of your ward sends out a weekly email to all the missionaries which I started getting a few weeks back, and he had mentioned last week there was an Argentine elder there. I forgot to ask about it. Next time you'll need to ask from which part of Argentina he is. And on that note, how well is his English? Nice you invited Tyler and Gina to dinner. Still nice he got married eventually too. Some specialized degree, huh. Sounds pretty special. Enjoy your little bit of thinking time when you take Grandma up there. Enjoy the newish washer and dryer that every Argentine elder envies.
Dad - That whole thing about doing more than just thinking, by acting. Pondering time is very important. Too many times I'll get back to the apartment and just bum around, but it is the time when I should be doing my daily review, my pondering to a large extent. I'll have to institute something similar when I get back. On a different note, would it be possible to get a few more pictures? Of the family, of whatever good thing you'd think I'd like to share with these nice Argentine people.
Family, you are great. I'll start writing even better because I've been slacking off the past few weeks. Gotta keep getting better. Enjoy your days, with their beautiful warmth. Until next week!
With love,
Elder Hansen
PS - Tell older brother Matt he needs to start shaping up and writing me. Mmmhmmm.
8/5/2012
Hello Nick,
I'm so glad you aren't there as an illegal alien. It is good to know
you were able to receive instruction from your mission president and
not feel it as criticism. You are growing up. So, a couple of weeks
ago I received a call from an MCC nursing instructor telling me about
a job offer and asking (almost begging) me to apply. It's an
interesting position. MCC is increasing their program and have a
temporary job position that they need filled. This semester it's
mostly helping out in the nursing lab for 5 weeks (8 hr. days) and
then being a clinical instructor in the hospital on Mondays and
Tuesdays (12 hrs.). Pretty much what I've done before. However, I
may be able to actually teach in the classroom after this semester.
The position is considered temporary for this year, these positions
usually become permanent. For this semester at least, I'd be working
at the hospital again in October and essentially have 2 full-time
jobs. 5 12-hour shifts a week won't be much fun, but if it's only for
2 months I can survive. Then after that I'll decide what to do with
the Banner job and whether to go part-time there. I am waiting for
them to do a background check and then I negotiate my salary with the
HR department. Ty wants me to designate him my representative and do
the negotiating for me. He probably could do a better job but that
just seems weird. It does mean I'm cutting the Idaho trip a bit
short. They'd like me there for a group staff meeting on August 16th,
however they are so anxious for me to work for them they said they
could probably get along until the 27th. I'm not doing that much here
now, and Dad will probably come get me sometime this week.
So, on Weds. evening, Grandma and I went to Logan to stay with Aunt
Ronda. The three of us went to Bear Lake. On the way, we stopped at
a place called Tony Grove. It's a really pretty lake. I put my toes
in the water for a while and was surprised how warm it was. There was
a guy fishing from a tube in the lake. I was a little jealous. We
ate our lunch there and I taught Grandma and Ronda to play Quiddler.
We then went to Bear Lake, spent some time relaxing. Grandma even
spread a blanket on the grass and took a little nap. Ronda and I were
going to read our books, but just gabbed. Then we went to dinner and
a melodrama at the Pickleville playhouse. It was fun. Had a bunch of
references to other movies and shows. I probably didn't catch half of
them, but did better than Mom. Slept that night at Ronda's again,
then the next day went to a matinee production of My Fair Lady. I
don't know if you have ever heard of Michael Ballam. He did a bunch
of Mormon music. He was in it. It was excellent. I want to come
back next year for Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph. We'll see. That
night we went to dinner in Brigham City at a place called Maddox. My
parents used to stop there on the way to SLC when I was a little kid
to eat. They have excellent beef (the farm is right behind it). Mom
had lamb. She grew up eating lamb and mutton since her dad was a
sheep farmer. She loved it. I had prime rib. We took a fresh
strawberry pie home and ate it while watching the Olympics. All in
all, a great time. Saturday we went to fill up at the gas station
before we went home, and I got back in the car and the car wouldn't
start. Asked a guy to help us jump it, and it was just a loose cable.
We started the car and didn't turn it off until we came home.
Karen went back to her house while we were gone so we came home to an
empty house. So peaceful. It's great to be here with mom for now.
Earlier in the year I typed and updated my Mom's life history. Now
I'm going to do the same with my Dad's. Then we'll plan to put
pictures with them and have books made. I want to do this by
Christmas. I guess I need to get busy with it or else I won't have
time once I start 2 jobs.
I hope you are having a great week. Love you so very much. Mom
FROM NICK:
I'm so glad you aren't there as an illegal alien. It is good to know
you were able to receive instruction from your mission president and
not feel it as criticism. You are growing up. So, a couple of weeks
ago I received a call from an MCC nursing instructor telling me about
a job offer and asking (almost begging) me to apply. It's an
interesting position. MCC is increasing their program and have a
temporary job position that they need filled. This semester it's
mostly helping out in the nursing lab for 5 weeks (8 hr. days) and
then being a clinical instructor in the hospital on Mondays and
Tuesdays (12 hrs.). Pretty much what I've done before. However, I
may be able to actually teach in the classroom after this semester.
The position is considered temporary for this year, these positions
usually become permanent. For this semester at least, I'd be working
at the hospital again in October and essentially have 2 full-time
jobs. 5 12-hour shifts a week won't be much fun, but if it's only for
2 months I can survive. Then after that I'll decide what to do with
the Banner job and whether to go part-time there. I am waiting for
them to do a background check and then I negotiate my salary with the
HR department. Ty wants me to designate him my representative and do
the negotiating for me. He probably could do a better job but that
just seems weird. It does mean I'm cutting the Idaho trip a bit
short. They'd like me there for a group staff meeting on August 16th,
however they are so anxious for me to work for them they said they
could probably get along until the 27th. I'm not doing that much here
now, and Dad will probably come get me sometime this week.
So, on Weds. evening, Grandma and I went to Logan to stay with Aunt
Ronda. The three of us went to Bear Lake. On the way, we stopped at
a place called Tony Grove. It's a really pretty lake. I put my toes
in the water for a while and was surprised how warm it was. There was
a guy fishing from a tube in the lake. I was a little jealous. We
ate our lunch there and I taught Grandma and Ronda to play Quiddler.
We then went to Bear Lake, spent some time relaxing. Grandma even
spread a blanket on the grass and took a little nap. Ronda and I were
going to read our books, but just gabbed. Then we went to dinner and
a melodrama at the Pickleville playhouse. It was fun. Had a bunch of
references to other movies and shows. I probably didn't catch half of
them, but did better than Mom. Slept that night at Ronda's again,
then the next day went to a matinee production of My Fair Lady. I
don't know if you have ever heard of Michael Ballam. He did a bunch
of Mormon music. He was in it. It was excellent. I want to come
back next year for Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph. We'll see. That
night we went to dinner in Brigham City at a place called Maddox. My
parents used to stop there on the way to SLC when I was a little kid
to eat. They have excellent beef (the farm is right behind it). Mom
had lamb. She grew up eating lamb and mutton since her dad was a
sheep farmer. She loved it. I had prime rib. We took a fresh
strawberry pie home and ate it while watching the Olympics. All in
all, a great time. Saturday we went to fill up at the gas station
before we went home, and I got back in the car and the car wouldn't
start. Asked a guy to help us jump it, and it was just a loose cable.
We started the car and didn't turn it off until we came home.
Karen went back to her house while we were gone so we came home to an
empty house. So peaceful. It's great to be here with mom for now.
Earlier in the year I typed and updated my Mom's life history. Now
I'm going to do the same with my Dad's. Then we'll plan to put
pictures with them and have books made. I want to do this by
Christmas. I guess I need to get busy with it or else I won't have
time once I start 2 jobs.
I hope you are having a great week. Love you so very much. Mom
FROM NICK:
What a week. Ooph. Today was even tiring, and it is P day. Today we went to get my DNI, so I am almost legal. It should arrive within a few weeks. But the trip was so slow. We took the train, then we were going to take another train, but that one was broken down, so we had to guess which bus to take next which was fairly confusing, and we got off early because we didn't know what was happening. Then we walked fairly unsurely for a few blocks, asked some more directions, and eventually found out where we were and got there. But the line there was super long, so we took our numbers and had time to grab some lunch and do a tiny bit of sightseeing, then go back and listen for our number and do that. With that all worked out, we then tried to figure out how to get back, which after questioning several people, brought us to the right bus after which we crammed into the train and squeezed out successfully. We did some more stuff before all that, but it was more simple. I don't really notice how much taller I am than just about everyone else here, but there it is. My comp is only 2 inches shorter though, so it isn't so bad. We ate at Burger King. It costs a good amount here, but boy are the restaurants more fancy. McDonald's is fancier even. Like 3 times the size of the ones in the states, well cleaned (minus bathrooms), spacious and modern looking. Pretty interesting. We are pretty beat right now. Today was going to be our day to rest a bit, but because of the broken train and such it took around 2 hours more than it should have. So P day is basically over. So be it. We did some good work this past week. More specifically, we walked a ton the past few days. We even ran a few times. Once we ran for about a half mile to get back on time. But we had some good lessons. We are teaching a family. Technically they´re part member but the wife, who is 23, hasn't been to church for probably 12 years or so. She has a cousin who has also been listening to us. A member miraculously had a waffle iron, which I feel I probably said last week, which we borrowed. We made waffles with them. The best part about this family is that they have questions and they ask them. It means they are interested. They aren't the annoying questions, thankfully. More sincere, just wondering questions, rather than probing, pointed, with the purpose of contending. Our mission president is sure whipping us into top shape. Since I've arrived in the mission the mission has changed how they keep our numbers, what our goals are, and keep them important. He has been giving very specific messages to us on what to do, to practice it in our meetings, in our companionships. It is something. I am enjoying it, even if it isn't always fun. Thursday to Saturday was pretty rough, but Sunday payed off and we talked to a bunch of people and did quite well. So overall things are going well over here. In fact, our whole zone is starting to pick up the pace. Now we just need to pick up the few areas that aren't quite doing so well and refine it even more. Woo hooooo!! And one more thing. I have been very much wondering. Whatever happened to the TV in the loft? Did it come down in pieces, did it remain, or did it come down whole? I was pondering over that a few days ago. And one more question, for Tyrel. Whatever became of that wonderful exam he took? The results were supposed to have been revealed this past week. Yet I received not the reply. And so I am left in wonder. Mmmmhmmmm.
Mom - That is very interesting. It sounds a bit closer to what you wanted to veer to, I believe, teaching. It sounds pretty cool, even if I can't fully understand it. Your little excursions up there in Idaho seem very nice. The weather would be pretty perfect, I would imagine. Food sounds good. I need to really try lamb sometime. I've had it once, I think, but I don't really remember. It always seems so good. The book idea sounds pretty cool. Work, but possible.
Alright. I've got to get going. Got work to get doing, after a bus ride. You people are quite wonderful. Please continue as such. It makes it easier to continue saying that. And until next week, take luck.
With those feelings that dwell within the heart,
Elder Hansen
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