Sweet subject title, eh? Coincidentally, last Thursday night we got our travel plans. So I had to wait until Preparation day today to write you about them. All appears well. Visa is a go. I'll be going on Delta, flight 80, from SLC at 9:40 am to ATL Georgia, where I'll arrive at 3:25 pm their time. Then, a 4 hour layover until 7:45 pm, where I'll board Delta flight 101 going to Buenos Aires Argentina (EZE), in which I'll arrive at 6:55 am. Woo hoo! I'm planning on calling from Atlanta, some time after I arrive. So keep those four hours relatively free. If you want me to call at a different time, just say, but say it to me before Saturday at 2pm, because that's the last chance I'll have to get mail from you. I don't really want to leave a long phone message. I only keep five minutes of talking available at a time.
Here is good. Last gym yesterday. No gym on P-day. Friday is in-field orientation. Saturday is the day, to pack and get everything ready. Monday at 6 am we'll leave. That's nice because that's around when we usually wake up instead of 2 am or 4 am.
It'll stink to say goodbye to the district. At 3 weeks you already talk to them all the time and know them well, so at 9 weeks it just gets harder. I'll be with my companion and another member of my district, who's going to Cordoba instead of Buenos Aires for the flights. But we go where we go, and we can meet up afterwards if we want. It's exciting. It's true, basketball will be missed as ultimate frisbee has been. We might play basketball down there, but for sure I'll be a soccer star when I return. Leo Messi for sure.
So basically, this week is to prepare to leave. We're training the new zone leaders, the sister in our district, who is the coordinating sister, is training the new coordinating sister. It's good. Things are happening.
Alex - That'd be nice. Good job performing. I'm not sure why I wrote that'd be nice either, but you can check your last email and infer. But about that play, like I started to say. Good job. Although those scenes are so cheesy I more or less want to curl up and cry. And shudder, as I just did. But yup, I thought you'd like them. And with school and all? Keep going. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Finish high school and then keep going. Get a job. Or more than one. Just do work. It's a good thing. If I could I'd poke you with a cattle prod to make you.
Sam & Matt - It'd be cool to have hummingbirds. Also, I'm not calling it a hibiscus anymore, but Bunga Raya. Far more regal. And I'll always remember the five Rukun Negra. And if you're hungry, or performing a science experiment... You can test your pool with them! Free pH indicator! You people are geniuses. Well thought through. I'm not sure, but I think it's spelled genii. Weird, I know. Maybe I'm just wrong. I'm excited for your nebulizer, dear sister. I imagine it's some kind of space weapon. Just makes you disappear if you're hit by it. I think it's a bit weird to use it on yourself, but maybe it's fine tuned. What's the name of the expansion for Ticket to Ride? I very much miss playing partners in the Asia one. I didn't burn myself out on it before I left. Oh, woe is me.
Mom - How dare they! If you'd like a I can write you a letter telling them to stop stiffing me. About Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Bill, I think it's funny they came from San Diego, a large city, to Mesa, and still spend a day shopping. I was going to ask you to send me info on how Courtney is doing, but she decided to do that herself. Very nice of her. Sumamente so. That's Spanish, but there is an English word on the tip of my tongue that's basically the exact same thing. Bleh. We, one of the elders in my district and I, wondering what it was when a person has both Allomantic powers and Feruchemical powers. No Hemalurgy involved. There's one name, a general one. So if anyone can answer it, or even google it, please do it. And about the play. Beauty and the Beast had to be better than Joseph, if only for the inherently poorer quality of the music of Joseph. I mean, goodness. Beauty and the Beast is a good movie, which I really want to watch here. Please feel free to send me the lyrics to some of the songs in it. Like seriously. It'd be cool. Nice to know that you're still quilting away. I miss my nice blanket. And oh, the glory of yardwork. I would enjoy it much more than the service here, which I still enjoy. It's actually fun to do yardwork. Especially taming the villanous Bougeanevillea. I'm so close. Incredibly so. Ty sent me the right spelling, but I only looked at it once, and I'm not sure if I have it quite there. But it's really close. Good to know things are moving at the house. It'll be a relief once things settle down, but as it is now, just read your scriptures, pray, pay tithing, and do what's right. It's good to have a few constants in your life, neh? And about the truck, it's awesome. Splendiferous.
And about your lesson. I'll kind of connect it to your paragraph, because it's your lesson. And it looks good for my mom to have the hugest paragraph out of the bunch. Hugest likely isn't a word, but you know. Back to it. 2 Nephi 26-30. How in the world are you going to teach 5 amazing jam packed awesome chapters in only fifty minutes. I could just study those chapters for hours. But I'll focus on one thing right off, and that thing is prophecy from prophets. Nephi is there, 2600 years ago, prophesying events that will occur in 600, 850 about, 2400, 2600 years. Even into these days. Into the future. The coming of Christ, the falling away after the fourth generation, the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith, missionary work spreading the Book of Mormon to the descendants of the Lamanites, and what hasn't happened yet, the Millenium. And even some more that I'm not completely sure about. Crazy. This teaches me that the value of a prophet today is nigh insurmountable. He has the ability to receive revelation as Nephi did, for us. And we know that Nephi's vision came true, which definitely gives some backing. We need so much more to give heed to General Conference. Read the BoM daily, and listen to General Conference. When driving is a good choice. All the talks are given for our benefit. Even the ones from the sisters with the bothersome voices that only talk about Primary. If I need to, I'll only read those ones, without a picture of the sister. But find a way to make yourself read them, listen to them. We have sustained these people to teach us. So we need to back up our hands with our actions. God has given us the opportunity to listen to these talks. Write down what this reason is. Then pray about it. Make it something you can do in your daily life. Making goals to become better is a form of repentance, changing who you are to become more in accordance with Him. I accidentally typed Jim at first. That'd be awkward. Value your prayers, say them at least twice a day, hopefully more like ten times or so.
I love you all. I need to hear more about this mysterious blog you created for me. Just tell me something about it, or everything.
Elder Hansen
Letter from the Family 3-6-2012
Yea yea so you didn't get transferred. That was bryce's letterin which he told of how he was transferred and such. It sounds like he is doing well. I forwarded his and your letters to kevin. So He knows about stuff and might actually write you once or twice. So i performed the musical from tuesday to last night. Pretty crazy. We sold out every night and then we oversold some nights. Which hasn't ever really happened before. Performing was legit. Standing ovations and such. it really was a great show. The last night they added some funny stuff to it like they made the beast's (Joeseph Speakman) voice from a low rumbling voice to a high pitch mickey mouse voice and he had to clear his throat and mumbled 'Hairball..' Or when he was showing belle the castle he gave directions to the bathroom and told belle its clogged up and that she could thank Cogsworth for that. Over all it was the best experience at Mesa High school
so far. It was wonderful . Anywho it sounds like your having fun. Keep it up little bro.
-The Best looking Hansen.
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Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known colloquially as the Chinese hibiscus, China rose and shoe flower, is an evergreen flowering shrub native to East Asia. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics. The flowers are large, generally red in the original varieties, and firm, but generally lack any scent. In the subtropical and temperate Americas, hummingbirds are attracted to them on a regular basis.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was named by Carolus Linnaeus. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia, called Bunga Raya in Malay. Introduced into the Malay Peninsula in the 12th century, it was nominated as the national flower in the year 1958 by the Ministry of Agriculture amongst a few other flowers, namely ylang ylang, jasmine, lotus, rose, magnolia, and bunga tanjung. On 28 July 1960, it was declared by the government of Malaysia that the hibiscus would be the national flower. The word bunga in Malay means "flower", whilst raya in Malay means "big" or "grand". The hibiscus is literally known as the "big flower" in Malay. The red of the petals symbolizes the courage, life, and rapid growth of the Malaysian, and the five petals represent the five Rukun Negara of Malaysia. The flower can be found imprinted on the notes and coins of the Malaysian ringgit.
Hibiscus flower preparations are used for hair care. The flowers themselves are edible and are used in salads in the Pacific Islands. The flowers are used to shine shoes in parts of India. It is also a pH indicator. China rose indicator turns acidic solutions to magenta/dark pink and basic solutions to green. It is also used for the worship of Devi and especially the red variety takes an important part in tantra. In Indonesia, these flowers are called "kembang sepatu", which literally means "shoe flower". Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is considered to have a number of medical uses in Chinese herbology.
I hope that is a sufficiently descriptive plant portrayal. We actually planted four varieties of hibiscus, orange, yellow, red, and white. So far the white and orange are not looking so hot. I'm excited because all the bulbs we planted in the front flowerbed are starting to pop up.
We haven't been up to too much. I visited the lung doctor and I should be getting a nebulizer so I can give myself breathing treatments at home. Otherwise I get to go back at the end of the month and breathe for the computer so it can analyze everything.
Matt and I both got Friday off for Matt's birthday. We didn't go mini golfing like we planned but we did run around and get him some more plants and Matt used his birthday money to get doodads for the air compressor I gave him and he also got a Ticket to Ride expansion (similar to the Asia one) that is for two to four players so Matt and I can play without having to try to find other people to play with us. Sadly, Matt did not win any of the times we've played, Dad won once, I won once, and I think Bill or Jeanne won once.
We finally posted the hot tub on craigslist and we've had a couple calls but haven't sold it yet so Matt will probably drop the price and see if we can get rid of it. Anyways, enough from me.
Matt and Sam
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Well Nicholas,
It seems you were stiffed by a couple of people this week. Sort of a boring letter for you I guess. Sorry. We had Bill and Jeanne here this weekend. Didn't really do much with them. They got here Friday night after I had left for the play, and on Saturday they were gone shopping most of the day. Saturday night they had a wedding and we went to the play. We did play come ticket to ride both nights though. It was fun. Jeanne and I didn't win the partners Asia game, but we did well communicating and getting lots of cities.
Although I didn't think the play was as good as Joseph, it was very well done. Especially Kier Ashby as Lumierre. Be our guest was amazing. Used everyone in the play sort of like the GoGo Joseph scene last year. Lots of energy and really fun.
Sunday Dad and I went out to John and Allison's house. They blessed their baby. Matt made it to that, but we didn't. We just went to the open house thingy - and didn't stay too long either.
I came home and helped Sam with her denim circle quilt. I've now safety-pinned over 500 squares onto the circles and my fingers are still a little sore. I also finished Sam's quilt that I unpicked over Christmas. It looks so much better this way. I mailed it off yesterday to the quilt lady.
Matt took over your favorite job of spraying the weeds. Took him most of the afternoon. Alex will be mowing lawns later today. Also cleaning the fireplaces. I know how much you miss the chores. We're hoping that the next place will be minimalist in that way. Another family is coming through today. They went to church on Sunday and are planning on making an offer. Hamilton Crocketts parents came through last week twice and they have placed an offer. Plus there is another one already. So, things are moving along. It will be good to finally have this settled. Dad has been really weak lately and having to go to bed as soon as he gets home. I'm convinced it's stress.
So, we teach our lesson this week. It's 2 Nephi 26-30. I'm just glad the Isaiah chapters skipped us. Love teaching about Nephi.
Not sure how it came about, but Matt & Dad got some diagnostic computer from one of the auto stores and they replaced a fuse in the truck, and after it's driven and certain maneuvers are done, it should pass inspection. No more money needed. Now, that is a huge blessing. Dad and Alex have had a hard time juggling cars for the past couple of weeks. If Alex starts working it will just get harder and harder.
So, your time there is getting pretty short. I can tell from your letters that you are anxious to be off and running on the next stage. Still so happy for you and praying for you. Have a good week. Love Mom (and Dad)
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