I HEART SNAIL MAIL

These have been a hit in the mission. My little sister Karlee made some stencil and sprayed painted t-shirts and since my background is in Printmaking, naturally, I thought about paper and made my own. Missionaries I haven't formally met have asked their companions to ask me to send them a letter in these fanciful envelopes.

While I was in Arizona, the Mission Office Secretary, which I haven't met, said "OH Sister Hansen! Hello" She had never met me but heard lots about me and was intrigued when she saw these envelopes flowing through out the mission.

Many of you will receive these tonight, if you don't, and you would like one, send me your physical address and Ill send a surprise your way!
I think I'm going to sell them on Etsy!

Praising the Man, Millions shall know Brother Joseph again.

I love Joseph Smith, today is dedicated to him, in remembrance of him.

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation." Joseph Smith

Thank you for bringing us one step closer to our Father!










I'm excited for the card party, but I can't show anyone my cards...yet. I'll post picture at a later time.

You know it's hot outside when your running course is adapted to whoever has their sprinklers on.

When ever you want answers, go right to the source. I feel like I have to re teach myself that every day.

Don't ever eat oranges in the dark or in astronomy class because when you start to choke on them, NO ONE will see the universal sign your making with your hands to your throat, because all the lights are off and everyone is leaning backs to study the ceiling turned sky for constellations. (You must be wondering how I learned this truth)

My Own Left Overs

One of the greatest Dads I have ever met, passed away this week, and it's all I have been able to think about. I've cried everyday since. I'm away in Arizona and feel so helpless. But I do want any blog reader to know the importance of details in one's life. For me it pertains to LEFT OVERS.
This post is dedicated to Rachel's Daddy, the man that always made me feel loved by the Lord. You may or may not know that Rachel and I were inseparable friends through out high school. I spend many hours in the kitchen helping with dishes and then eating all their food. I don't think they minded much, it seemed like a good trade at the time because they always let me come back and they knew they could count on me to eat the leftovers, I'm sure that is how all of you remember me.
My love for Salmon was deepened by Oneal. I always loved fish, but one particular Sunday, a couples weeks home from Alaska, he taught me how to prepare and cook salmon his special way. I think I loved it more than anyone else at the table. I probably ate Rachel's' too(I don't think she like fish). Be not afraid, I ate the left overs too. I prepare it his way when I make it for others.

I have never treasured a recipe more in my life than now.

When Rachel and I were probably 15, the missionaries came over to the Wilcox home for dinner. Remember crushing Elders at that age! gross! I did until I sat by Oneal and he mediated the dinner conversation, using his eyes more than words to describe the reverence he was looking for at the table. If the spirit was out the door he brought it back to the table. I think all of you can picture your own fathers doing similar things.
Another time Rachel and I got this great idea to make a fire pit in her backyard. Okay I am sure it was mostly my idea, hence the fire involved. So we went to work, shovels, maybe gloves and we dug until we were tired, at which point we had barely broken ground and we would go back to it every other day, just to see if the hole maybe got bigger by itself. It didn't. Needless to say, we never finished it and we saw the disappointed look on Sara and Oneal's faces. I am sure they were thinking, these girls can ran a miles in and under 6 miles, do two a days in the summer, multiple soccer games in one day, but can't seem to finish a project they promised they'd finish!
Oneal was the type of dad that sent you out to collect raspberries for jam and ice cream and he knew really well, you'd eat 3/4 of them before returning and he was still happy to see you, I know I'm guilty!
One of my favorite times was after soccer practice they had family scripture study and of course I made myself comfortable, it was a normal reading, in the middle chapters of First Nephi, when we started loosing concentration and our eyes wandered. This usually only happens to the kids but tonight Rachel's mom Sara started it and once she starts laughing, it is so funny. She got us laughing and the spiritual leader had to lay down the law, getting after his wife mostly, without trying to laugh himself.
I already miss him on a level I didn't know existed for me. A Father to even me, by opening his arms, heart, family study and left overs.
I keep going back to that, the left overs I have of the memories of him and the way he always made me feel.
I MAY NOT REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS HE SAID BUT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE WAY HE MADE ME FEEL. Those are the details in our lives that will affect us through out eternity. I hope and pray that I can be rededicated to helping others as Oneal helped me.
Think about it through out the week: People will not remember the things you said as much as they will remember the way you made them feel.

Hoarding+Shopping Addiction= Revelatory Decorating!

Remember the principle about sharing your ideas and you'll receive more!
Well here is one for everyone and I'm wondering why I never thought of this earlier.
This design is a result of hoarding fine clothing shopping bags and a poor college students thinking.




I covered up the Ann Taylor trademark with stickers and scrapbook flowers.




Don't forget the extra ribbon that comes on new towels, blankets and other things!
Okay so I'm tagging everyone that sees this to give this a try. It doesnt have to be a bag, just branch out. I'd love an email with your results, or even better post them, I know that if you do share it, you'll receive more ideas!

P.S. The total cost of this project was ZERO dollars

Prepping for the Sabbath

So I'm giving a talk in the singles ward this sunday and my topic is:
HOW CAN TEMPLE COVENANTS HELP US LIVE RIGHTEOUS DAILY? anyone...? anyone? .....
It's funny I was asked to speak on this topic, a couple days after one of my converts
decided to go to the Temple for the 1st time and she asked me to escort her.

So I'm heading back to my mission.

BELLA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iisH26YNyQY&NR=1



"Don't Worry."
"Oh i don't worry, I used to worry, then I did a little research and I found out that 10 out of 10 people...die. Do you think that this is all there is and that we only live once?"
"Well so far I haven't met anyone that has lived twice."

This is a movie referral and Maren referred it so it's legit. For anyone who knows me, I'm pretty picky with movies, but grab the tissues or use your hand like i did. I learned more about sacrifice, spanish, food, love, and passion.