Merry Christmas 2007 (not finished)

Merry Christmas from the Jensens!  We hope you are enjoying this season as we all reflect on our Savior and the many blessings we have been given.  We have enjoyed catching up on your lives and would like to share an update on our family as well.

Janika just turned twelve and is an absolute delight – I would be tempted to keep her this age for a few more years if I could!  She is a wonderful baby-sitter to her younger siblings and is a fantastic cook.  She LOVES to sing and has sung many solos this year.  She has thoroughly enjoyed school choir and especially enjoys performing as a Hands in Harmony Caroler.  She is a very good student in all her subjects and was one of the winners of the Reflections contest in literature. 

Jase just turned ten. This year he participated in soccer, school choir, piano lessons, and scouts.  This was his first year performing as one of our Hands in Harmony Carolers and he did an awesome job!  He loves friends and video/computer games.  He is a top student in all his subjects and enjoys playing football and basketball with his friends.

Jared is seven.  He is very energetic and LOUD!  This year he was involved with soccer and piano.  He loves to play with friends and with his brothers and sisters.  He is a good artist and writes fun stories with illustrations.  He is also a great performer (when he is willing).  He just sang a duet with Jase for our ward Christmas party and everyone commented on what a little ham he was.  

Janelle turned five in October.  She loves writing her name and has taught herself to write a few words like “go” and “cows.”  After writing pages and pages of “Go Cows Go!” we concluded that we had better start expanding her repertoire of words.  She is sensitive and  always concerned for everyone.  When Josh had his finger pricked at a doctor’s appointment and then put his finger in his mouth she worriedly exclaimed, “Josh just ate blood – is going to turn into a vampire?” She is very imaginative and outgoing and will talk to anyone who will listen.

Jaiden is three and a half and still as feisty as ever.  She goes to pre-school with Janelle.  She and Janelle are very good friends and are constantly playing (or fighting).  Seconds after they get into an argument Jaiden will ask Janelle, “Can we be friends again?”  Jaiden has no fears. One time Wendy saw a spider in the living room and Jaiden shouted, “I will save you Mommy!”  Then she sang, “Super Girl!” as she ran into the room with her Kleenex as a weapon.  The spider was flushed in no time!

Josh is twenty months.  He loves to run around the house, dance in circles to music, and empty all of the spices out of the cupboards.  He loves to play outside and insists on being where all of the action is!  He says lots of words and has a big smile and contagious laugh. When he wants something he points to it and shouts, “I do!”    

We co-taught at a local tri-stake couples’ conference and also taught the youth and family class for a seven-week “Strengthening Families” program in St. George.  We had a little break from the kids by going to Jackson Hole in the Spring and celebrated our 13^th wedding anniversary in July by taking a week-long cruise to the Hawaiian Islands.

 

We also had some fun vacations with the kids including a week long stay at our time-share at Powder Ridge.

Rick was involved with EFY again – session directing in Logan, and teaching in Idaho and Virginia.  This year he was transferred to the middle school for Seminary and absolutely loves it.  He is less than a mile from home and so he walks to work (and Wendy walks with him to keep him company).   

Wendy stays home with the kids but still does a little free-lance interpreting for the Deaf as well.  Last Spring she compiled and wrote the e-book “Celebrating Motherhood: A Tribute To Mothers,” which many of you contributed to (thank you!) 

Rick was taking classes towards his Ph.D. earlier this year, but since we weren’t moved to an area where the program is taught, he couldn’t really continue.  So he decided to go ahead and direct the Hands in Harmony Carolers again this year. We had a great season! 

We feel very grateful for our family and friends and especially for our knowledge of the Savior. We wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and fantastic new year!