Valentine's Dance

My little brother is sooo cool. Ok, he is really not my "little" brother anymore. He is taller then me now and has been for a couple of years. Anyways, I wanted to go to a dance last friday. It was a Valentine's Dance so a date was required but Talmage was out of town. He went to Nevada for his Airforce training. So Jacob drove more then a hour to my house and was my date. We had a good time. Jacob is a good dancer. We had such a good time dancing and being goofy, all the time shooting inside jokes. We went around the building and critiqued all the paintings. He has cool insight and commentary. Afterwards I cute his hair, which took forever because I made a mistake and it took me forever to blend it in (I have a fettish when it comes to hair being cut perfectly). But it was fun because we got to talk the whole time. I also tried to help his pick out music for his voice class. He is so interesting first of all his is really into math, science and engineering but at the same time he is very artistic singing, drawing, dancing and critiquing paintings etc.
Point of this posting: I had a good time all thanks to my wonderful younger brother that is why he is sooo cool in my book.

Amanda's 21st Birthday

Today is my sister and bestest friend, Amanda's birthday. And so I am going to say five things that I like about her, which won't be hard because she pretty much is AMAZING (sang)!!!!
1. Amanda can laugh. She is one happy person. We have spend so much time just laughing and having fun together! She is a riot! ... in a good way.
2. She is interesting, she has so much depth to her. I have known her for about two decades and I still cant really encompass all of her character. She is like that flavorful dish that you just have to keep tasting and tasting to finally understand all the flavors. Okay, I just compared you to a dish, just think of it in a good way.
3. She has an undieing interest in just about everything. I can't begin to tell you all the things that she has been involved in, learned or interested in throughout her life. She seems to live life to the fullest.
4. She doesn't have to have it perfect to make it good. She isn't what I would call a perfectionist or has to have things an exact way but what ever she does has her Amanda stamp on it.... basically "[you] make this look goood."
5. She expects a lot out of herself and has amazing tenacity and desire to become better. She is quite the go-getter.
6. She makes people feel wonder, special and amazing. She has a way of uplifting people and making them feel great!
7. She is so beautiful. Everyone loves her dark hair, dark eyes and wonderful features.
8. She will tell you what she thinks. She will speak her mind and tell you exactly were she stands. There is no guessing game with her. She is so truthful.
9. She is spiritually uplifting but doesn't rub it in your face as if she knows something you don't.
10. She is basically the coolest friend ever. Time and distance have no bearing on her friendship.

You are wonderful and I am glad that I got to have my best friend be my sister also! I am blessed!
PS: Amanda is in the mission field, St. Louis, Missouri, and will gladly except packages, letters, pictures and love. (If you want her address, just let me know)

The Faster You Go, the Older You Get. I Mean the Older You Get, the Faster Time Goes

For some reason this decade seems to be going by so fast. The 90s seem so much longer than this decade. So here is a theory. When you are ten, a year is one-tenth of your life. When you're fifty, one year is just a fiftieth of your life. So that one year seems a whole lot longer when you're ten, than when you're fifty in comparison to the rest of your life. So the older, you get the more time seems to speed up. .... Just a theory.

[This was brought about by the following posting not by my sister's birthday]

We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet

This last week my beloved prophet, a man who I adore immensely, passed away. To tell you the truth at the news of his death I could only feel joy and peace. I knew that he was with his sweetheart, Sister Hinckley. I could tell that he loved and adored her so much and put her on a pedestal. He must be so happy to see her again.
I was able to go to general conference for the first time this last October. My friends and I were sitting there chatting when instantly I felt something. Not a moment later everyone was standing up, then President Hinckley entered the room. It was so powerful seeing him and his countenance shine. I could fill the spirit so strong. I already had this confirmed to me before, but it was reconfirmed in my mind and heart that this man is the prophet of God. That he is the mouth piece of my Lord.
Gordon B. Hinckley was an example of great optimism, friendliness, endurance, leadership, kindness, humility and joyfulness. A man that has been a great influence on my life. For this and more, I pay tribute to this wonderful man.

My Personal Commedian

You may not know this side of Talmage because he is generally well behaved in public but Talmage is quit the character. I realize this more and more as time goes on. He seems to always have me laughing! He is so funny! This is one thing I love most about him!!!

"Girls Like Guys with Skills... Numchuck Skills, Computer Hacking Skills, [Mad Blogging Skills]"

So here is a few questions for all you bloggers out there:
1. How do I put frames around my pictures?
2. How do I put a power point on a blog?
3. How do I customize the background without having to pick one of those generic templates?

Grand Hansen

So I am still getting used to my name. I often say, "Rachel GraaaHansen." I still haven changed my name officially at school or work so all my paperwork, login names, and official stuff still has Grandy on it. Basically everytime I get on a computer, which is a lot, I have to put in grandy. It is making it difficult for me. So this question is for all you married women out there: How long did it take you to get used to your new last name after you were married, to the point that it came out naturally with out having to think about it?