Rootstech 2016 experience and thank you shoutouts

February 1, 2016 

In one week we were dealing with Rootstech, the funeral, nanny job, my kids and life. Life is good! Here goes nothing. I'll try to keep it in order and short. 

I had to the opportunity to work with Rootstech this year and got to even slip into some of the classes given by awesome leaders.

 RootsTech, the largest family history event in the world, is the perfet place to discover, preserve, and share your family stories and connections across generations. With a line-up of world-class speakers, thrilling entertainment, over 200 engaging classes and a huge expo hall, there's somthing for everyone, no matter the age or skill level. 

 Our Crew for this event was Ray, Dad, Kami, Ammon and myself. 

This event we clocked in 70 plus hours and I was dead every night, I could barley walk. I hardly saw my kids and hardly saw the sun when I was coming home. I knew Ray's head was thinking about the funeral so I would try to get him to get him off early to get things done for the funeral. Ray was in charge of the slide show, music, and his talk. I was in charge of our hala on Thursday, my talk and making sure the kids had their clothes for Sunday and Monday. Somehow we got that all taken care of. All I can say is, check, check and double check!!! We got that all done. 

My mom to the rescue...

Well as you all know there is always that one person who doesn't get much credit, but is really the glue to this masterpiece!!! Gotta give it to my mom for stepping up this week and letting me take on that job and also for helping me tons with the funeral. She also took on my nanny job for the week while I was at Roots Tech. I do have to say, she did a great job. I would come home and my house was clean, the kids did their homework, and they even had their clothes ready for the next day. I know she did a great job with the kid I nanny for because I still have him lol. My last day at Roots Tech she brought the kids down for lunch at City Creek and she just looked like she was ready to fall over and call it a night. I was just laughing and said, "welcome to my world again mom." She said she's getting to old for this kinda stuff. haha!! 

I'm just grateful for her and love her to death. My hero and my best friend!!!!! 

I also gotta give a huge shout out to my ward memebers and neighbors for all the love and support they showed us when we were dealing the death of my mother in law. I serioulsy can't believe how people step into your lives when you need them most and help out in more ways then they know. I had a neighbor Tawna White who made some of the best dinner meal preps, and just countless gifts from all over. Thank you so much!!!!! 

Huge shout out to my Hosea family for coming together on Thursday night when it was my turn to do the hala. You guys don't know how much I appriciate you!!!! I am forever grateful for your examples and for all the love you show to me and my little family. 

Grateful Heart!! 2016

The month of January slipped by us so fast I can't even believe I am just now writting a blog post and its February. I am finally able to sit down and write my thoughts about what happened the last month and a half in my life. I had a hard time wanting to even write a blog post becuase I didn't even know where to start. So here we go.

January has come and gone with the flash of an eye I swear!! Anyways, some of the highlights were we made our vision boards with goals for 2016.

Ray is gonna finish school and work hard to keep his family together forever. 

I have set to eat healthier and take my cell phone business to the next level. 

Sofele has taken on hip hop, sports, good grades and getting ready to get baptised this year. 

Alexis has promised to be nice and read everyday. 

Austin has was going to work on finishing his homework on time and listening in primary.

Kaleb promised to learn more songs and learn how to potty train. 

This year we are working on finishing the Book of Mormon, attending the temple at leaset twice a month and Fasting every first Sunday. We also want to make sure we keep family home evening ongoing and learn songs with the kids, especially because Kaleb loves to sing. 

This year started a Sofele_Fit instagram page where we post videos of some of our workouts and also a ton of throwback videos.Our family is working on taking on health and fitness. My dad has some crazy good drills when it comes to speed and strength. So we are putting together some camps for speed training and getting that going this year. Go check it out, and follow us!!! Instagram: Sofele_Fit 

Back in October 2015 my mother in law Peta Hansen found out she had cancer.We didn't think to much of it because she never made it a big issue because Peta always focused on other things, she was still so happy and focused on taking care of Lopeti who is also sick and in a care center. She kept herself busy by visiting the grandkids, getting her nails done, getting her lashes done and looking out for Lopeti.

It all started on Tuesday January 26th where I had a feeling we should go visit Ray's mom who went into the Huntsman center because she wasn't feeling good. I got a babysitter and right when Ray got off work I told him lets go visit his mom. We sat there for a couple hours watching her in pain and finding something to talk about, super glad I followed my heart and went because things weren't looking good. 

Wednesday January 27th, she called and said the doctors told her she only had a couple weeks left and that she was better off going home to be with loved ones and be compfortable at home. When we heard the news, Ray and I ran over to pick up Peta and met Moana there. I couldn't believe how fast this was all going.

 (Post from Ray's Facebook)
Hours after learning from doctors that there was nothing more they could do to treat mom's cancer we prepped mom's belongings and wheeled her out of her room towards the elevator. By now mom was at peace with the news and had already seemed to have prepared herself for this moment. Her chance to go home and spend what little time she had left with family. As I wheeled her into the elevator tears flowed down my cheeks thinking about what time I had left to spend with mom. We stood in that elevator in awkward silence. I tried to hide my crying. Then mom broke the silence. "Do you want to go to Chuck-A-Rama?". I stood there thinking to myself "Did she really just ask if we want to go to Chuck-A-Rama?". This is one of the last photos I have of mom while eating dinner that night. For whatever reason I thought I would take this picture and be able to laugh about it with her later but it was only 2 days later that mom slipped slowly into eternity. I love you mom!

Super glad Ray was able to get a picture before Peta slipped away. I usually am really good at capturing every moment, but for some reason I couldn't get my phone out and take a picture because I couldn't see Peta gone and I wanted her to stay longer, I wanted her to make it to Sofele's baptism, I wanted her to see her around more, I just wasn't ready either. 

I am blessed to have had her in my life the last 9 years that I have known Ray. I am blessed to know that she was front and center to all my kids baby blessings, I am super blessed that I got to listen to her sweet voice as she loved to sing, I am blessed that she raised such a fine young man who I am married and helps raise our four wonderful kids. Peta was a wonderful, beautiful, kind landy who loved everyone and everyone loved her! Thanks for all the great memories!!! 

The Funeral 

The funeral turned out beautiful. Ray and his siblings did a wonderful job keeping everything together. My favorite part was the musical numbers and the slideshow. The spirit was strong and the family was united. We love you and will miss you so much!!!!!! #PetaWolfgrammHansen 

Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit.

Friday December 11, 2015

"Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the worlds busy life and becomes more interested in people and things To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only to drop the last syllable and it becomes the Spirit of Christ" (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, December 1995, 2)

Scripture: John 3:16

Song: "Hark! The Herald Angles Sing," Hymns, no. 209.

Activity: Read the accounts of the birth of the Savior in the New Testament with your family.

My little bundle of Joy!!

He Lives and Loves

Thursday December 10, 2015

"While the prophets in the old land were receiving revelations from God, the people of Lehi on this, the American continent, were not left without guidance.... He revealed to them also, 600 years before Christ's coming, that he would come, that he was the Savior of the world, that he would be persecuted and crucified, and that he would be resurrected... They were told of the signs which would be shown on this, the American continent, at the time of Christ's birth and crucifixion. Every word which had been revealed to them regarding these events was fulfilled" (N. Eldon Tanner, in Conference Report, Apr. 1964, 61-62).

Scripture: Mosiah 3:5

Song: "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains," Hymns, no. 212.

Activity: Use the Book of Mormon Index to find references to the first or second coming of the Savior.

Focus on the Savior during sacrament

Wednesday December 9, 2015

"Christ suffered for the sins and sorrows and pains of all the rest of the human family, providing remission for all of our sins as well, upon conditions of obedience... As the Apostle Paul wrote, we were 'bought with a price' (1Cor. 6:20). What an expensive price and what a merciful purchase!... "Perhaps we do not always attach that kind of meaning to our weekly sacramental service... Do we see it as our passover, remebrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption?" (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 67-68)

Scripture: Moroni 6:5-7

Song: "As Now We Take the Sacrament," Hymns, no. 169

Activity: Focus your thoughts on the Savior during sacrament meeting and while taking the sacrament. 

Sister Sofele is doing great things out in Australia! We miss and love her sooo much! 

Resolve Differences

Tuesday December 8, 2015

"We need not to wait for Christmas, we need not postpone till Thanksgiving Day our response to the Savior's tender admonition: 'Go, and do thou likewise'" (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 71).

Scripture: Luke 10:30-31, 33-34,36

Song: "Lord, I Would Follow Thee," Hymns, no. 220.

Activity: Try to resolve differences with someone whom you have an unresolved problem with.

The Book of Mormon

Monday December 7, 2015

"The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity... Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those" (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1986,6).

Scripture: 2 Nephi 2: 6-9

Song: "Angels We Have Heard on High, Hymns, no. 203.

Activity: Write your testimony of the Savior in a Book of Mormon and give it to someone not of our faith.

God is good! Thanks for sharing the gospel missionaries. #HoseaFamily