Tis the Season

It seems that time is going faster and faster. Here is a recap of the highlights for 2013 for each family member:

Adam: Still working at Schlumberger, but has taken a new position. He is now able to be home most nights, and every other weekend. He also has most Sundays off, which is a pleasant change. He seems to be liking the change much better, and seems to be working with some much better guys. He went hunting with my dad again this fall, and was able to shoot a bigger deer this year. He was pretty excited. He's already planning for next deer season.

Me: I have now been at ONG a full calendar year, and love going to work! I work with some great people. My biggest stress about returning to work has been getting the kids taken care of after school. For now, we are settled. Hopefully it can stay that way, till school starts next August, when they will all three be in school and ASP (After School Program.) I have also started using Young Living Essential Oils, and they are really helping improve our families health. We have made fewer trips to the doctor, gotten over colds and illnesses faster, and are doing much better health-wise this year. Yay! This was my third year as coordinator for Bountiful Baskets in Clinton. What a great thing my sil introduced me to! www.bountifulbaskets.org for more info.

Nick: Turned 8 this year! He was baptized in October, and has such a sweet strong spirit. He is in the 2nd grade and knows everything and is quick to tell you so. He is reading at a 5th grade level, and is still at the top of his class. His teacher this year is great, and is really challenging him. He is a student tutor, and a group leader in his class. He started cub scouts in October, and is really enjoying it. We are a lot alike, still, and tend to butt heads a lot. He is my biggest challenge. But, I find great joy in teaching him things and getting to talk about big kid stuff. I love that he comes to me with questions, and he doesn't hold anything back.

Zack: is 6 and in the 1st grade. He has the same teacher Nick had last year, which he thinks is wonderful. He is the quietly smart one. You have to drag info out of him. He loves to read as well, and his favorite is to read to his little sister. His teacher brags that he is always the good example. "Everyone should be doing ___ like Zack." He is still my big eater, and eats more than I do. He is taller than Nick, and is as strong as an ox, but has the sweetest, softest personality. (Unless you are his sibling and you offended him!) Zack is still my cuddler and he loves to crawl up on my lap during story time and family scripture time.

Beth: is 3 and in her last year of preschool at Pop N Tot. She is learning to write her name and shapes. She is recognizing most of the letters of the alphabet, and will randomly say "I see a P, that's for Paisley. I see a S, that's for Scarlett!" Her newest thing is to read to her brothers. She picks a book, and tells the story, picture by picture. It is so cute! She knows all her colors and shapes. In May, she started gymnastics at Gold's Gym, and is loving it! Her favorite things are to hang upside down on the uneven bars, and to bounce on the tramps.

We made two trips this year, one to San Antonio to visit the Bittel's and the other to Branson. Had a great time at each place, and look forward to going back to both. We have a BIG trip planned this year at the end of school, so stay tuned for that!

Hoping you and yours had a wonderful 2013, happy holidays, and have a blessed 2014.
Love,
The Hansens

Thankful

As 2013 comes to a close, I have so much to be thankful for. I've had a lot of emotional stress and self inflicted emotional weight on my shoulders this year. But, I have also tried really hard to count my blessing each day. So, before I write my traditional yearly recap, I want to take a minute to relay all the many things that I am thankful of:

• A loving Heavenly Father, who forgives all of my faults if I will just bow my head and humbly ask.
• The gospel in my life.
• My Savior, the perfect Example, Jesus Christ.
• The wonderful missionaries who knocked on our door 8 years ago.
• Our tireless church leaders, both general and local.
• All of the many church members that have listened, served, and been there for me and our family.
• Extended family.
• My hardworking husband.
• My 3 beautiful, challenging children.
• Our home and the spirit that abides there.
• The handful of close friends that have been there for me through thick and thin.
• The two most amazing women, who have listened to a lot this year, and have never once judged me or not had time for me. Love you girls!!
• My job and the wonderful people I work with, including the best boss one could have.
• Kind teachers and babysitters that have made going back to work an easy transition.
• Reliable transportation.
• A small group of girls in OKC that I can talk to, who understand exactly what I am saying.
• Essential oils, and the girls that introduced me to Young Living.
• Improved health.
• Bountiful Baskets, for so many reasons. The participants, volunteers, founders, and the variety of produce that has entered our home.
• My church calling as Relief Society President. It is a challenge, but I have learned a lot in the past year through it.
• The sisters I am blessed to serve with in Relief Society.
• The Primary program, and the sisters that teach my children every Sunday.
• Cub scouts.
• Visiting Teaching, and especially my visiting teachers and home teacher.

And much more that I'm not remembering at this moment. I am truly blessed.