Running with Angels 2015

Looking forward to the Running with Angels 5K !

Lace up your running (or walking) shoes and join us!

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Looking Forward to February 4th

February 4th has been a day of bittersweet sadness and painful memories for the past 25 years.  It was the day we cuddled our baby Emily for the last time in mortality and sent her home.  I have not looked forward to this day for a long time--until now.  

In a few hours, we will be going to the airport to welcome our son, Stephen, returning home after a two-year mission in Xalapa, Mexico.  Having mixed emotions about his challenging yet wonderful experience there include gratitude for all he has learned and taught, and not wanting all of that to end.  But he is now ready, hopefully, to move on.  I pray he will continue to be influential in the lives of those with whom he associates.  

As painful as February 4th was all those years ago, Emily came to earth and got her beautiful little body, perfectly formed except for her heart.  Her time on earth was not long; my not-so-mixed emotions then were all about not wanting her earthly mission to end.  She, too, has moved on, and I have felt her influence daily, encouraging me to be better, to do better, to "run" a little faster, or at least keep walking in the important aspects of my life.  

I honor the birth of our sweet daughters, Amy and Emily, the life of angel Emily. . .  and now the arrival home of a dear missionary son. . . and a very happy reason to celebrate February 4th! 

Wahoo! It Finally Happened!!

Today I received this text from my 28-year-old son.  I just KNEW if I was patient enough, all those years of teaching and training would finally sink in!!

Worth Considering

At any given moment, you have the power to say "this is not how the story is going to end."                                                     

                                                                              - Anonymous

The Finish Line Project

Day One of the Finish Line Project.  I did pretty well today.  Hooray!

30 years. . .

Hard to believe it's been thirty years since I married this handsome guy.  We've experienced happiness and heartache through years of school, babies coming and going, a few marathons, weddings, funerals, and he has been my rock through it all.

It was difficult to imagine, when I snapped this picture of Elder Hansen and our mission president, Alfredo Meijome, all those years ago, that I'd actually become Mrs. Elder Hansen.

My heart still flutters when he walks in the room.  I'm so grateful we are bound for eternity!!

I miss our kids!

It's been almost two weeks since this last night in Rome.  I keep turning around throughout my days, thinking I see one or two of them, and I think of them all with very fond memories of our time together in Europe.

To our Study Abroad students, I'm afraid I miss you wonderful young people who have touched our lives forever.  I am certain you will go on to fulfill meaningful, service-filled lives.  Don't forget the memories we made!  Although there may be one or two things we'd all like to forget, we hope you will carry the lessons you learned this summer with you forever.  I know we will.

You have etched yourselves into our hearts.  We love you.  Keep in touch!