Roots

In answer to your question, Julie J, I was born and raised in Twin Falls, Idaho, just about the farthest opposite of your California roots there could be. My pedigree is about as pure as a mongrel on the street, having descended from just about every country in Europe. But I'm very proud of my ancestors, who came from all walks of life to share a bit of themselves in my blood and even more important, to bless me with the Gospel in my life.

Leland A. Hansen Family (my grandparents and aunt and uncles)

. Photo taken at Falls Avenue home in Twin Falls, Idaho, sometime around 1947 (notice home in background - it was a basement house)
Above: L-R, Rear: Gordon, John D., Leland Junior, Vernon
L-R, Front: Bill, Grandma Bertha Mae, Jim, Grandpa Leland A., Veon

Friday night there was a Cousins' Reunion for my Dad's side of the family. This one was up in Rupert at my brother Arnie's home. Last November there was one in Utah for the cousins who lived in that area as well. Since most of the cousins descending from the brothers and sister above either live in the Magic Valley area of Idaho or Wasatch Front area of Utah, the reunions should catch just about everyone. But, of course, they don't. Sometimes life just gets too busy. And immediate family always takes precedence over extended family.

Vicki and Arnie (my brother and his wife)

I missed the Utah reunion - it was a dark and stormy night and the trip over the Point was treacherous. I stayed home. But Friday dawned bright and beautiful (almost) in Utah county and I decided I just needed to go back to Idaho, needed to join the cousins who were joining at Arnie's home that night. And besides, Heather said she's be willing to come, too. Which was pretty good incentive to take the 3 1/2 hour drive to Rupert.
Except for David, we found all my siblings there and even a few of their spouses. Also a fair smattering of Heather's cousins as well. (Bob Barnes and Lori Michaelson, above)

My cousin Richard is the celebrity of the family. He's the one who is leading the archeology team in El Mirador, Guatemala, and served as a consultant on set to Mel Gibson when Gibson created his movie about the natives there. He's John's oldest son and the one cousin on the Hansen side that is somewhere near my age. I think he's just a few months younger than me. (My father (Leland Junior) was the oldest and so the older children in our family also ended up being the older grandchildren.) Richard's wife Jodee is sitting next to him in these pictures.

And Emma Jean (yellow top), Vernon's oldest daughter, is sitting on the floor in front of Richard and Jodee in the picture below.
Below are Steve (Vernon's oldest), Charles (see Susie poking her head over the couch above), and Gary (John's second). It was just a small group of us who gathered there, but it was fun to visit with them. There are 36 grandchildren in all who descend from Bertha and L.A. I am embarrassed to confess that I could probably bump into a lot of the youngest ones and not even know them. They weren't at this reunion either.

Heather confessed after we left that she was expecting it to be a very boring night. In fact, she was hoping to go to a movie while I went to the reunion. I'm glad she didn't. She said she was glad she didn't, too. She thought it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Family, even extended family, is that way, I have found. Even if they don't even know you, never met you, or don't remember you, somehow when people find out they share common ancestors, that blood link is so strong there is an immediate acceptance and love that just cannot be denied. We just belong together.

I am so lucky to come from a large family - three boys and three girls - who all love each other and speak to each other and care about each other. I'm learning sadly that in today's society, that is actually not a real common thing. I watch families torn apart with bitterness and jealousy and realize just how blessed I am to have my and Brent's families in my life. We struck gold twice. Now I've just got to convince Brent that reunions are important, too.