Skip to main content

A Quarter-Century!

Our son Jan turned 25 the other day!  Here are some great things about him:

1.  He graduated from BYU this year!  He actually finished his degree in Computer Engineering the previous June in 2016 but waited to go through the graduation ceremony until his wife Sallie finished her degree in April, 2017.  He was a good student and was diligent in earning and keeping a scholarship so that he completely paid for his post-high school education plus living on his own.



2.  He works hard to support his family.  He got a part-time job/internship at Qualtrics in January of 2016 and they offered him a full-time job upon his finishing school that June.  He works hard every day to be a good employee.  I asked him once what his favorite part of his job was and he said, "Going home."  So obviously it's work and not all fun but the important thing is that he goes and does it.



3.  He is a good husband.  He and Sallie got married on December 29, 2015.  We're glad he took that big step in his life and continues to keep his marriage covenants.






4.  He is good-natured and gets along well with others.  He also likes to have a good time.  He is the second of our nine children and got along well with his siblings.  He shared a room with his brother Garrett for a while down in the basement and they had a good time together.  It's been fun to hear the stories of what happened in the basement when the parents were oblivious (or mostly oblivious).  He and Sallie have also continued to be supportive of the younger siblings still at home.



5.  He is diligent.  He was a diligent missionary and served an honorable mission.  Recently I re-read the last letter he wrote on his mission.  It was a summary of his mission which his mission president had requested and it was an impressive letter.  Missions are really hard and being able to look back on a mission honorably served is something to feel good about.




6.  He was a great kid.  I have some fond memories of Jan as a little boy.  He used to wear this little blue scarf around his neck when he was about 2 years old just around the house.  He loved to go grocery shopping with me and find all the good food.  He loved swimming and ice cream.  He loved to have a good time and was enthusiastic.  He also enjoyed a good meal.  He's gotten a little more serious as he's grown up but he still enjoys lots of different things like music and computer games and vacations.  And a good meal--like all of us.



7.  He is a saver.  He and Sallie have been good at saving their money and recently bought a car with cash.




8.  He's responsible.  He does what he is asked to do and what he says he will do.  He is the ward mission leader in his ward and fulfills those responsibilities.  We're really glad that Jan came to our family 25 years ago.  He was a great kid and has become an even better adult.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our Cousin Drew

 This last week, my brother and his wife lost a very precious son, just 13 years old. He collapsed while running with a cross-country team and passed away before he could be revived. Everyone that knew Drew is broken-hearted at this loss. He was the happiest, most agreeable kid we knew. I remember him being at my house without anyone close to his age to hang out with, so he found our Duplo blocks and started building even though it is a toy that boys his age don't usually enjoy. He was so content. He didn't complain that I ever remember. His mother always called him the perfect child. He will leave a big hole in not only his immediate family but our extended family as well.  Here is a poem my aunt shared that seems fitting: Leave Taking How I would have liked to wave goodbye  and watch until you turned and smiled and disappeared on the horizon. You who taught me to dance  and let me teach you,  who laughed at my stories  and winked at me when I was sad. I can  just see you trav
Post a Comment
Read more

Remembering Drew

 This weekend we celebrated Drew's life. On Thursday night, we gathered as an extended family and had a dinner then sat in a big circle and talked about our memories of him. I took some notes and here is what people said. Grandpa (Gary Hansen):  The last time we saw Drew was last week on the 4th. I remember all the cousins on the trampoline, bouncing up and down and playing basketball. Grandma (Susan Hansen):  I asked Drew to come over last winter to teach my Activity Day boys how to make origami stars. He was very patient in working with them even though they were pretty clueless. Eventually they all went home happily with their stars. Paula: This last winter we invited Bruce and Michelle over for dinner and we didn't have anyone his age for him to hang out with. I remember that Drew found the Duplo blocks on his own and played with them all by himself, quite cheerfully entertaining himself. I asked him if he wanted to play with a different toy--maybe something more sophistica
Post a Comment
Read more

Drew's Funeral

Yesterday was the viewing for Drew and then today was the funeral. There were a LOT of people at the viewing. Bruce and Michelle greeted people for almost four hours yesterday and then again this morning before the funeral. Bruce said that if weren't for Drew's death, it would be the best week of his life with so much love being shown to them. Friday actually began with a family run in Drew's honor. We started at a church by the new Lindon temple and ran to Bruce and Michelle's house with breakfast following. Friday night was the viewing. There was a very nice display of all things Drew. This was one of the pictures displayed and I recognized someone I know: We stood in line and the paramedics who worked on Drew stood in line behind us so we got to talk to them. Here's a fun fact:  They cover both Orem and Vineyard but Vineyard gets a lot more 911 calls than Orem per capita. It's a younger population and they are quicker to call. They said it's hard when the
Post a Comment
Read more