Merry Christmas From the Jensens 2012!!

During this Christmas Season we want to let you all know how grateful we are for you in our life!  We have had a busy and full year.   

Janika is a Junior in High School and decided to transfer to Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts this past Fall.  She auditioned for and made it into Hyperion (the advanced Musical Theatre Class) and was involved in the Renaissance Feast.  Janika has spent this past year driving, dating, going to proms, hanging out with friends, texting, face-booking, trying new things on Pinterist, and caroling with the “Hands in Harmony Carolers.”  Janika enjoyed EFY again this past summer and is the chorister in our ASL Branch, leading the music in sign language each week in sacrament meeting.   

Jase is in ninth grade and started Seminary and EFY this year.  He is full of energy and fun and is involved with the National Junior Honor Society.  He is also in the Honor’s Program at school and continues to get a 4.0 every semester. His “Math Counts” team won third place this past February and they qualified to compete in the State Competition in Salt Lake.   Jase also earned his Eagle Scout this year!  He has done a great job as a “Hands in Harmony Caroler” this Christmas Season.  Jase just turned 15 and is excited to start learning how to drive!   Jase was called as a Branch pianist and helped his mom by playing the closing song in church every week.

 

Jared is in seventh grade.  He continues to be obsessed with his hair.  Every week he goes to Parkour with all of his friends to learn the latest “free running” tricks.  Jared didn’t want to be in the caroling group and so he often helped babysit Josh and Jenna while the others were rehearsing or performing.  Jared also got a 4.0 in school this year.  He loves to ride his unicycle.  He also loves to show off by doing standing back flips for whoever will watch.   To see some of trampoline tricks, click HERE!

 

 Janelle is in the fourth grade. She continues to play the piano and was a “Hands in Harmony Caroler” again this year.  She was excited to be able to play the bells this year!  This past summer we gave all of our kids a journal.  Janelle is the only one writes diligently in hers every day.  She started writing a book this year and won second place in her grade in the Science Fair.  This past summer Janelle's Aunt Gerilyn took her and Jaiden on a special trip to San Diego!  Janelle loves to read and it can be a challenge pulling her away from her book long enough to get any work out of her!

 Jaiden is in the third grade.  She turned eight years old and was baptized this year!  Last year she had the opportunity to co-star in a commercial that was finally aired this year!  Click HERE to view it!  Jaiden has been  involved with jazz, ballet, and gymnastics but took a break this past Fall for a few months in order to focus on the carolers.  This was her first year as a “Hands in Harmony Caroler” and she did a great job!  She told me that everyone thought she was “adorable.”   She will resume dance again in January.   

 

 

 Josh started first grade in the Mandarin Chinese Dual Immersion Program at his school.  He has done so well in the program and has become fascinated with the Chinese Language and Culture.  I was amazed when I went to his parent teacher conference and listened to him carry on a conversation with his teacher in Chinese!  It has been fun for him to know someone that no one else in the family knows.  This year Josh also got really into puzzles and can easily put together 500 piece puzzles all by himself!

 Jenna recently turned four years old and started two pre-schools this year.  It is a good thing she is so dang cute because she can be feisty and always wants her own way!   This can be summed up in one of her favorite lines from Dora:  “The Queen does not like to wait!” She loves to dress up and play with friends.  She loves to watch (and play) “My Little Pony,” even if it has given her nightmares on more than one occasion!    

Wendy has been extremely busy this year.  She continues to teach an ASL class at Dixie State College and started interpreting at the college along with her regular freelance interpreting.  She has loved serving in the ASL Branch and is a gospel doctrine teacher.   She doesn’t mind teaching since she doesn’t have to voice a single word!   She has been very busy with family responsibilities and is continually driving children from place to place to help them in their various endeavors.  

Rick was moved to a different school this year and is now teaching at Pine View High School.  It is a 20 minute commute as compared to the half mile commute he had before, but he is happy with the change and loves Pine View!  Rick was released this month as Branch President of the Deaf branch after 4 ½ years of serving.  We decided that we have loved serving with the Deaf so much that we are going to continue attending the Deaf Branch a while longer.  Rick also directed the Hands in Harmony Caroling group again this year and four of our kids were involved in the group.   

We were involved as Session Directors for EFY at BYU this past summer which is always a fun and deeply spiritual experience.  We also went on a week-long Northeastern church history workshop to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.  It was busy, informative, and spiritually uplifting!   

This year we have analyzed our priorities and have decided to take more time to focus on our most important relationships – including that of our family and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We feel so incredibly grateful for our Heavenly Father and for the Atonement of His son.  We feel that we have been given specific unique experiences that have helped us learn how to truly apply the Atonement in our life. 

We want to thank all of you wonderful friends and family members who have loved us and been such a wonderful support to us throughout the years.  We have been blessed so abundantly and feel an incredible amount of gratitude.   The Book of Mormon states: “…the way is prepared, and if we look, we may live forever.”  (Alma 37:46)   We are blessed beyond measure when we “look” towards Him.  We love Christmas for that very reason.  And we love Him because He makes it possible to maintain loving relationships with people like you forever!  We hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season this year!

  We wish you all the best in 2013!!