Rachel and Lisa's First Halfie!!

So, for the past 3 months or so, Rachie and I have been training to run in the SLC half-marathon. We picked a training schedule off of the internet, and followed it as best we could. Each weekend, we got together for our long runs--which ended up to be the best runs of all. It was a great excuse to get together, and get caught up for a couple of hours.

The night before the race, I made t-shirts since the race fell on our Grandpa LaTulippe's 75th birthday. When morning rolled around, we were both really anxious-- we got caught in road blocks, and then Trax was late!! Luckily, we made it to the start line just as the gun went off. The race started up at the Eccles bridge, with a gospel choir cheering us on.

Next thing we knew we were almost to Sugar House Park-- I called my dad from my cell phone to let him know we would be there soon. We arrived to find him and Dave rushing down a side street to see us go by. Mile 5 and feeling good!

By mile 10, our bodies were a bit achy, but we managed to hold our pace and finish in 1 hour and 55 minutes. HURRAY FOR US!! Crossing that finish line was so cool, and all in all, the race was totally fun. Thanks to all the early birds who got up with us to cheer us on throughout the race. Stay tuned for possible marathon news......

In her own words

In an attempt to support the "Comes in Handy" blog, we thought we would post a link to Grandma June's personal history. We know that Steve sent copies to all the aunts and uncles, but we wanted to let people know you can buy more copies at lulu's website.

{After I found the link, I was embarassed to realize that it says "By Nicole Handy." Obviously lots and lots of people contributed and my name is just there because it was my account that uploaded the files.}

We also have a copy of the history in a pdf form. If you would like the file so you can print it yourself, just email us and let us know.

--Garrett & Nicole

Lars and Sidse Family Reunion, June 28, 2008

Grandma June was very, very proud of her Danish heritage and it would be a great tribute to her if as many of you as possible could attend this first, extended family reunion on her birthday, June 28, 2008. See below for comprehensive information and let's do it.



Lars Larsen Family Organization

April 2, 2008

TO: All Descendants of Lars and Sidse Larsen

(Including Descendants of Niels and Hans Larsen)

RE: Family Reunion—June 28, 2008
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Park Bowery

FROM: Mary Gleason Petty, Reunion Chair

Dear Family and Friends:

Almost two years ago, some of us conceived an ambitious plan to identify descendants of Lars and Sidse Larsen, who immigrated from Denmark to the United States in 1866. The second part of the plan was to hold a first-ever family reunion. The date was set for June 28, 2008 at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Utah ( www.thisistheplace.org for directions and information). This is the 140th anniversary year of Niels’ and Hans’ arrival into the Salt Lake Valley when they were 16 and 10 years old!

Their’s is an incredible story of sacrifice, tragedy and ultimately, faith, as they played a small part in the Mormon migration of the mid 19th century. We know a lot about the sacrifice and tragedy of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies of 1856, and although the Larsen story isn’t perhaps as epic, it is nevertheless our story and just as great!. Sidse lost her life at sea; Lars died at Wards Island in New York City. Their daughter was lost but their two boys, Hans and Niels, ages eight and 14, were told by their dying father to “go to Zion and finish the work.”

How they made it to the Utah Territory and what they sacrificed along the way is astounding. They became upstanding men of their communities and produced a prodigious progeny.

The purpose of the reunion is to get acquainted, remember Lars, Sidse, Hans and Niels Larsen and share their stories. We will also share the database and begin compiling a family health history.

REUNION PLANS AND DEADLINES

Steve Larsen has been compiling the database and will provide a CD to each person or family who attends. Please e-mail Steve at slarsen@iupui.edu by June 1. You will need to download the LDS Church family history program, PAF5 from www.familysearch.org It is critical that you do this, it’s free and easy.


Lars Larsen Family Organization
Page 2
4/2/08


Reunion Costs

$15 per person, 3 years old and up.

Some of you have understandably had concerns about the cost for children and what it includes. We apologize that we haven’t more clearly communicated the fact that we’re trying to build a family organization and to cover other costs beyond admission to This Is The Place Heritage Park.

The reunion fee of $15 per person, 3 years and up includes:

Park admission from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Three Park Activities including train, living history, etc.
Liability Insurance (require by the park for group gatherings)
Family History CDs
Bowery Rental
Danish Dessert
Nametags
Historic Larsen Family Display
Bandana (Red for Hans’s descendants, Blue for Niels’s)
Group Photograph
Slush fund

We do not want to prohibit young families from attending and will welcome your feedback. There are certain fixed costs we need to cover, however.

We are planning on attendance of approximately 200!

Registration Deadline—June 1, 2008 URGENT!!!!

It is critical that you send your registration fees by this date. Please make them payable and send to:

David B. Larsen
122 W. 200 N.
Centerville, UT 84014

As of the date of this notice, we have received $1,085 or 72 attendees.



Lars Larsen Family Organization
Page 3
4/2/08

Please include for each person attending:

Name
Age Date of Birth
Address
Phone
E-mail Address
Relationship to Niels or Hans (describe as best possible)

Agenda—2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The family reunion meeting will begin at 2 p.m. in the park bowery and will include the following:

Welcome
Larsen Pioneer Story
Niels and Hans Grandchildren Comments
Q and A
Distribution of CDs
Family Health History
Assess Interest in Trip to Denmark
Refreshments
Set Next Reunion Date
Socializing

What You Can Do
]
Please plan to join us by sending in your registration today and please don’t procrastinate!

Please share this information with your family and provide their e-mail address to Steve Larsen at slarsen@iupui.edu

If you have questions, please contact the Larsen Family Reunion Chair, Mary Gleason Petty at mary@heirlines.com 801-572-4049


We look forward to seeing and meeting you on June 28, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah!

Welcome Family!

Welcome to the “Comes in Handy” Blog. Here are the instructions on how to access our new Handy Family Blog:

There are two ways to access the Handy blog:

1. Copy and past this link: http://comesinhandy.blogspot.com/ in your browser window and sign in at the top right hand corner where it says “sign in.”
2. Log on to: https://www.blogger.com/start and “sign in.”

By clicking on the “Comes In Handy” link and signing on, you will remain on this web page until and if you log out. If you want to begin posting a message(s), you click on “create post” in the upper right corner and follow the same steps as above. If you want to only access the page just for a look, click on the “Comes in Handy” link and you will be able to view this.

If you sign in by going through the blogger’s home page, you will be taken to the dashboard. Once here, you can click on “new post” and begin to create your own post (message). Just begin typing; if you would like to add an image (photo), click on the “add image icon” and browse through your hard drive where your pictures are stored and select (like attaching a file). Once you are finished with these steps, choose “publish post.” Voila’!

After we begin using this and we think we’ve gathered all the family’s emails, we may choose to make this a private log. In order to do this, each and every one who desires to access our blog must have a gmail account; this blog spot domain is owned by google. Before making it private, I would have to have everyone’s gmail account to post this as private. So, if you don’t have a gmail account, just get busy and create one.

It is truly our hope and wish that this can be a way for all of to keep touch whenever, from wherever, as often or as little as you desire. We could post those wonderful happenings in our families, and the regular happy events that happen from day to day It doesn't matter what you choose to share, we just want to hear from all of you!

With Love,
The Big S ix Handy Kids