Happy Birthday Annelie!

Annelie is 16 today! I can't believe it! When she was born I took her to see my great grandma, Clella McLaws, she told me "Well, you've got all of Joseph City wrapped up in one kid". I'm sure in her minds eye she was seeing all of the ties this little baby girl had to the founder's of this town. Let me just clear one thing up before I go any further, I am only related to Derron through marriage, OURS! We both happen to be descendants of two of the founding fathers of the town, John McLaws & Joseph Christian Hansen who were good friends, not relatives.

Annelie has loved growing up here. In fact she has often told me that she never wants to leave. I know she feels that way because she has had a happy childhood here, where kids can be kids. They can build a tree house & play for hours acting out anything that the imagination can conjure up, build forts in the wash & play in the irrigation ditch. Now she talks to me about what college she wants to go to & what would look good on her college application. I am so happy for her, her future is so bright, If I could only stop crying whenever I think about it. This watching your kids grow up & leave you is tough stuff.

She recently wrote this beautiful little poem. It's, as she says, "from the point of view of the wooden steps to the trampoline", she's quite clever.

Though I'm old & worn.

I feel as a newborn.

Popsicle sticks attract ants,
bare feet & grass stained pants.

Now I'm a secret trash bin

for those nights with the sleep ridden.

I am a sock covered entrance

to a giant mushroom, pirate ship, castle for a prince.

Toys, giggles gleefully borne

are replaced with shoes & a cell phone.
As a youth a mood of overwhelm,

jumps, flips & relaxes under that elm.

Years pass, birds still singing,

four feet hang o'er, two hearts on a wing.

Soft words, a gentle touch

a ring exposed, to eachother they clutch.

Time flies by me slow but silent.

My wood is rotting and my nails are bent.

But what is that? More laughter?

I straighten up - it's me thier after!

Though I'm old & worn,

I feel as a newborn.

Written by Annelie Hansen

(jan. 16, 2010)

I don't know what inspired her to write it, but it comforts me. I can relate to those old wooden steps. I think this poem could also be from "the point of view of the Mother".

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I will continue to keep this blog. I will always love writing about life hear in good ole' Joe City, but like Sears I have a softer side. I love to make pretty things. I will be adding other creations later on, so I hope you'll peek in every once in awhile & see what's new.

Have a fabulous day!

Go Wildcats!

How I love basketball season! I am a Phoenix Suns fan, as are most of my friends & loved ones. I loved watching my brothers play all through their jr. high & high school days. The last few years I've been enjoying watching my nephew Justin play. He is senior this year & will be moving on to bigger & better things, (is there anything bigger & better? Well, I guess, he's preparing his mission papers as we speak). Well, it has finally come...

I finally get to watch my own son play basketball! Jr. high basketball, sometimes painfull to watch, but it's all about learning right now & I am loving watching him learn.

To update those of you who have moved yourselves far away, our Joe City Wildcats Varsity Basketball team won the Regional Tournament last weekend & are going into the State Playoffs. Very exciting!

My Playlist

I've wondered, since creating it, what might my play list says about me. I realize that it is an unusual combination so let me explain,

"Drive" by Alan Jackson: The message in this song is important to me. It's about creating memories with our children while they are growing up that they can draw on later in life when they need them. He also sings of the way his father made him feel & his desire to give that to his own children.

"Treat Me Nice" by Elvis Presley: OK, so anyone who knows me well knows that I am an Elvis fan. I love this song because it takes me back to days of my dad listening to his old records & my sister & I taking turns standing on his feet & dancing in the living room.

"A Little Less Conversation" also by Elvis Presley: This songs speaks to my personality. I'd like to sing it to all the "shovel leaners" out there. I am quite aware that Elvis is singing about something completely different, but the message is important, "Quit talking & get to work!"

"Crying In The Rain" by The Everly Brothers: This was my first "favorite" song. I pretty much grew up on Elvis, the Beatles & the Everly Brothers, they were my dad's favorites. I can't really say why it was my favorite, I guess I just liked the tune.

"Dream"also by The Everly Brothers: I love this song because of the idea that your mind can take you somewhere for awhile to remember someone or something that you miss.

"The Devil Came Down To Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band: First of all let me apologize for the cursing in this song, I should have implemented some kind of warning in case there were children present (hope that hasn't happened). To me "Joe City" people are kinda brassy & I think we're not afraid to get in the devil's face & say, "nice try, now get outa here!" This is my Joe City version of this song,

The devil came down to Joe City, he was lookin' for a soul to steal. He was in a bind cause he was way behind & he was lookin' to make a deal, when he saw a young man dribblin' a ball down the court & shootin' it HOT. The devil jumped on a concrete block & said "Boy let me tell ya what, now you may not know it but I'm basketball player too & if you'd care to take dare I'll make a bet with you. Now you shoot a pretty good 3 point son but give the devil his due, I'll bet a rim of gold against your soul cause I think I'm better than you." The boy said, "My names' Justin & it might be a sin, but I'll take your bet & your gonna regret cause I'm the best that's ever been!"

"Pocket Full Of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield: I started this Blog to write about the Life & Times of this town that I love to call home. This song describes Joe City to me. "do what you want but your never gonna break me, sticks & stones are never gonna ever shake me...take me away, a sweet escape..." The world is not in your face here. Life here is about family & faith, friends, neighbors & growing a garden. I love this town & the people in it. I'm proud of it's pioneer heritage & the spirit that they left us. Joseph City is my "Pocket Full of Sunshine".

More fun Christmas Sing-a-long memories.

You can pick your nose...

You can pick your friends...

But you can't pick your friend's nose.

A Good Old Fashioned Christmas Sing-a-long.

Twas the fourth night before

Christmas

& into my house,

all the carolers were coming, none were as quiet as a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that

Suzy Snowflake

soon would be there,

I don't have a kerchief, but Annelie & Niclaas each had a cap,
and we were all settling in to hear

Steven's RAP!
A few years ago Auntie Julie aka "Suzy Snowflake", decided that my parlor would be a perfect place to have an old fashioned Christmas Sing-a-long. That first year was magical, after singing for awhile, we looked out the window & snow had started to fall. It was as if our caroling had "brought" Christmas. We agreed that we needed to make this a new tradition. Anyone with talent at the piano takes a turn or two or three, & the rest of us sing & play the bells. Steven always brings his ukelele which is a real treat. This year Steven & Alicia played several rousing, impromptu duets that were real crowd pleasers! Auntie Julie teaching Lacy the art of playing the bells.
Thanks Julie for starting this tradition.
It has created some great memories for all of us & just adds that much more to
"Christmas Time".

Christmas letter 2009

I've decided to blog my Christmas letter. I've barely had time to write it, let alone anything for this poor neglected blog. It goes along with my new blog title which is the picture that I'm sending out with this letter. After several failed attempts to take a current family photo, I decided, why not just take pictures of what goes on everyday, so here it is.

Merry Christmas everyone.

“The best Christmas gift of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other”.

We hope
this letter finds you all “wrapped” up!
Merry Christmas!

Happy Hansens are we!
Annelie can be found playing her piano by the Christmas tree.
Niclaas is curled up with his video games by the fire,
Seth’s excitement for Santa couldn’t be any higher!
Every hunting tag was filled but one.
poor Nissan’s hunting days are done!

Love,

Derron, Cat, Annelie, Niclaas & Seth