Totally "Fort Worth" It!

Hermana Kelsey 6:1 -email-

Mama!
That’s awesome you are going to do daycare again. You will love that, of course! šŸ™‚
I had a really great week too. On Monday, I found out I was geting transferred, of course. I was super sad, because I love Temple, and we had so many good things going on there. But now that I’m in Arlington it is really awesome here too. Very different, but I like it.Ā Here are just a few of the differences:
-We have a ward instead of a branch, which means a lot more members
-There are 3 sets of missionaries in our ward (two other sets of Elders and us). In Temple, we only had one companionship for a huge area and that was us.
But it is really a great area. Everyone that we have talked to has been commenting about my spanish. They all ask me how long I’ve been learning, and when I tell them they are really surprised, and comment about how well I speak it. They also talk about how I don’t really have a gringo accent, which is cool too, because even people that have been speaking it for a while sometimes have gringo accents. I think that is a good sign that my spanish is improving. šŸ™‚ Hopefully it still continues to get better.
I really did have a good birthday. Nothing really happened in the morning, but then we were visiting some people, and the zone leaders in ourĀ area drove by.Ā They said something aboutĀ President Sagers, and IĀ commentedĀ about how he had texted me that morning. One of ourĀ zone leaders used to be assisstant to theĀ president, and he knew thatĀ President only texts people on their birthdays, so he asked me if it was myĀ birthday. I told him,Ā “Yeah”, andĀ heĀ was like, “Sister, you need a Slurpee.” So I said okay, and he took us to 711 to get aĀ Slurpee. Then later in the day, we were eating dinner with some members, and the Elders that we serve with brought over pan dulce (or sweet bread, {it’s super yummy!}) and they all sang happy birthday to me, in spanish. So overall it was a pretty good birthday.
Oh man!! I miss my sweet Tashers!!! Tell her I love her. Does she even still remember me? I sure hope so.
To answer your question, yes we are living in a member’s home. It is actually a really nice house and the couple, the K’s, are pretty cool. The husband works a lot (in fact, I only met him yesterday, and I’ve been living at their house since Wednesday). But they a pretty cool. I’m not really sure how I like living in a member’s home though. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. It’s definitely different than living in your own apartment.
My companionship is great. Hermana Q is awesome! She is a Lamanite!Ā And she is actually a convert to the church. We get along really well too. We’re gonna do lots of good things in this area.
We have a lot of great teaching experience, but none really that I can pinpoint right now.
The biggest challenge we face is trying to get people to live the law of chastity. Hispanic people in general are not into getting married, so then they can’t get baptized. It’s kind of hard, but every type of missionary work has it’s hard points.
Just pray for all of them. I don’t really know most of our investigators here yet, but everyone that we talk to needs blessings so much. Especially the blessings of the gospel.
How do we receive personal revelation? Well there are lots of different ways. Sometimes, when we pray, and ask a specific question, God tells us in our hearts what the answer is. Sometimes, when we are reading the scriptures, a certain chapter or verse really sticks out to us, and it answers a question that we have been having. Sometimes, someone that we confide in says something, and you know that theĀ thing they said could really have only come from God. And then you know that he isĀ listening, that he cares about you and what is going on in your life, and he wants to help you.
Well, I better go now! I love you lots. Be strong. Thanks for sending my package for me. šŸ™‚
Love, Hermana Kelsey
P.S. Did you ever hear anything more about Cole?
Papi,
Ha ha, thanks for the recipe. I might try that sometime. I really am horrible when it comes to cooking though. We just don’t really have time to do it. We usually eat something we can make super fast and easy. It’s lame, because now I am starting to gain weight. Just a little, but I did so good my first two transfers, so I’m kind of upset that it’s finally starting to stick. šŸ™
Also, sorry about your toe. Maybe you shouldn’t get so crazy in soccer! šŸ™‚ Jk. My other companion, Sister S, was the craziest soccer player ever. She was really violent with me, too. But I could take it. šŸ™‚
Anyway, I better go. Love you!
Love, Hermana Kelsey
Emmysaurus Rex!
I am doing great. Thanks for sending me a card. I still haven’t gotten it yet, but I might as well say it ahead of time. šŸ™‚ That’s awesome you had fun at girls camp. I’m glad that you are such a good example for the other girls and that you take care of the girls that have trouble. šŸ™‚ That is a really good thing.
Anyways, I gots to go. I’ll be talking to ya at another time. Bye!!
Love, Hermana Kelsey

Family History Friday: Pictures!

My Great-Great-Grandpa Andrew Hanson,
is second from the left on the front row. 
My Great-Grandpa Emil Oscar Hanson is on the top left. 
(This picture looks better in person, sorry) 


“Seek out those with photographs 

and records of your family 

and meet your ancestors.

 Like us, you can connect with them 

and learn that everyone’s ancestors 

are more than just names on

 paper.”

-Russell Bangerter


Go here, to read a great article about family photos!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Happy Birthday "Dream Come True"

Happy 22nd B-day to my beautiful Kelsey!!
****** 
22 Things I love about her:
1-She’s mine!
2-She loves me!
3-She’s tiny! 
4-She in respectful!
5-She loves Heavenly Father!
6-She loves our Savior!
7-She loves her fellowmen!
8-She is responsible!
9-She is a wonderful daughter!
10-And sister!
11-And friend!
12-She loves reading!
13-She loves learning!
14-She is smart!
15-She has cute “tootsie roll” toes!
16-She has a great smile!
17-She has a great sense of humor!
18-She is sensitive and kind!
19-She is spunky!
20-She loves to sleep!
21-She loves to get things done!
22-She is a “dream come true”!

Happy Birthday "First Born"!!

Riley, my “First Born” and his daughter Natasha! 

Going swimmin’ together! 
Fun!  
Natasha giving us a little thumbs up! Cute!

I’m glad I’m your mom, Riley! 
You are: Handsome, athletic, strong, loving, responsible, a great dad, brother, son, friend, creative, fun, entertaining, sweet, a good hugger, God fearing, a Jesus lover, helpful to others, an Eagle Scout, a hard worker, an amazing bike rider, smart, in the Army, family, a spray painter!
and  I love you!! oxoxo

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

Hermana Kelsey 5:4 -email-

Dear family,
I am getting transferred. I’m going to A. on Wednesday. I am super sad, because I am going to miss the people we are working with now, and there are lots of great things happening here in T. and also in K. But I know it’s where I need to go. I probably won’t get your package for a while, because it will porbably go to my old apartment. That’s okay though.
Tell people so they can send me letters!!
We had a really great week this week too. We had a competition in our district to see who could get the most new investigators in one week, and we lost, but our district got 37 new investigators. Wow! It is really cool. We had our last p-day for the people who are getting transfered from this area. It was super fun.
I’m sorry to hear about Cole. I will definitely be praying for him. He is such a good guy. I hope everything works out good. Keep me updated.
Dad: Tell Annette that I see Sister H twice a week, because we stay at their apartment when we go down to Killeen. She is a really great missionary. I’m gonna miss that girl. šŸ™
That’s cool that Meg and Jase are in your ward. Where are they living now? Tell that girl that she needs to write me a letter!!!! šŸ™‚
Riley: How is life? How is my sweet niece?! Adorable, of course. I already know that though. You should write me a real letter soon. If I have time to write letters to people than you surely have time to write a letter to me. :)Emmy: Did you get my letter? I hope so. You should send me one back soon. I hope girls camp is great for you. I always loved girls camp. I really do miss it.

Anyways, I love you all. Sorry this is so short. We took too long at p-day activity so now I have to hurry. But thank you for the birthday wishes. I’m not gonna lie, this birthday kind of sucks. I really wanted to stay in T. for another transfer. But it’ll be okay. šŸ™‚ Bye, love ya.
Hermana Kelsey
– Show quoted text –

Howzit-Elder Flexy!


Elder Flexy 13:2 -email-

Make,

this week has been very nice we are working hard with our recent converts. we had eleven people at sacrament meeting. And we are working very hard! we went to a game park today saw some pretty sweet critters we saw elephants, rhinos, springbucks, warthogs, and an oschrich. the oschrich ate our doritos out of our hands it was pretty sweet. im glad to hear that all is going good. well there isnt a scout program here in swaziland but that would be cool. i miss camping and stuff it was so nice to go every month when dad was the scout leader those were good times. but ya Nhlangano is a cool place to be!! well love you
    Love Elder Flexy
   I had to teach Elders Quorum today the lesson was on family responsibilities I did an object lesson using the 25 lbs of lead I bought to weight pinewood derby cars and split it into four grocery bags, then I got four volunteers and told them to hold the bag with their upper arm by their side elbow at a ninety degree angle  which all could do easily. Then I took all the bags and gave them to Jase (Jase and Megan live in our ward now) to hold, he could do it but in a few seconds his forearm started shaking and he was starting to strain. Then we talked about families sharing the many duties that make a household run smoothly. If only one person does everything It gets to be too much, even if you could do it for a while.

Baba,
wow thats a cool object lesson we have to use those all the time when teaching because the people have a hard time understanding. i taught the lesson on preisthood offices to the investigators class at church it was a good lesson. we are teaching this lady named Khanisile and she is powerful she should be baptised on the thirty first of this month. well this computer cut my time short so i better go. love you. And YA!!
    Love Elder Flexy
Riley,
well its ok if you dont have a grip by the time i get there i’ll help you out i love you man. keep your head up!!!
    Love Elder Flexy
M,
 well my little sister im glad your going to camp have fun love you
    Love Elder Flexy

Favorite TV/Movie Quotes! Mr. Holland’s Opus

Mr Holland’s Opus
 
Gertrude Lang: Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn’t rich and he isn’t famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he’s achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.
———————–
 
Continue reading

A friend on the back porch!

We had a special guest at the back door, 
the other morning! 

This is him through the storm door. 

He’s kinda cute!! 

And of course you know, I laughed
and laughed, and then snapped this picture to share with you!

We don’t know if he has a name or not. 

How nice of him to visit!!

There was also a friend of his, on top of my darlin’s truck, too.