Merry Christmas 2016

Dear Friends,

It’s my (Rick’s) turn, to write the yearly epistle of the Jensen family happenings and to wish you all well for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.  However, writing this reminds me of how my family and I have been blessed by our associations with you.  Your smiles, quick letters, texts, and even Facebook posts have brightened up our year and have brought smiles to our faces.  There is a scripture that reminds me of all of you.  It states:  “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).  Thank you for sharpening our countenances and our lives with the outpouring of your friendship.  It means so much to us and we love each and every one of you!

Now then……. Mushy stuff is over, so on with the epistle!

The year has been eventful in our home.  During the year we’ve had another called from our family to serve the Lord on a mission.  For 6 months of the year, we’ve had 2 missionaries out and it has been an exceptional honor to be a parent of not just one, but two servants of the Lord!  We’ve also been involved with plays, choir concerts, sports activities, getting jobs, working as interpreters, and teaching seminary.  So, to summarize our year, I’ve included a couple of high points for each family member:

After serving a full time mission for our church in the Nebraska Omaha mission, Janika recently returned home to us. Highlights for Janika this year was to serve as a sister training leader, working with and teaching other missionaries. Returning home may not have been the highlight of her year, but it certainly was for me!  She has been a great influence on our family!  Click HERE to see Janika coming home! We’ve loved every minute of having her here with us.  She will be returning to Snow College in January where she will finish up her AS this spring and then transfer to another University to receive her Bachelors. You can read her missionary blog at sisterjanikajensen.blogspot.com

This year was a HUGE year for Jase. He graduated from Snow Canyon high school as Sterling Scholar in Math and the next day made some serious covenants with the Lord. He told me that day that after going through the temple, he felt more like an adult than he did at his graduation ceremony.  I’m happy to say he has since acted like one as well.  He received his mission call to the California Arcadia Mission (speaking Armenian) Click HERE to see Jase opening his mission call! The language is tough, but he’s coming along meeting many different people with various backgrounds and stories. Jase served as a Zone Leader in the MTC and has recently been called as the new District Leader where he is serving.  He’s been out 6 months and we feel so lucky to have him serving!  You can read his missionary blog at: elderjasejensen.blogspot.com

This was a big year for Jared as well.  Jared got his braces off AND he also got his driver’s license!!!!  He often reminds me that he is not only incredibly handsome, but he can also drive!!!  He has since taken over Jase’s car and made it his own.  He loves the independence of driving wherever he needs to go. The best part is that he now drives to work at Little Caesar’s Pizza where he can earn money for dates, social activities, eating more pizza, and of course his mission.  He wants to thank Little Caesar’s for providing him with the necessary nutrition requirements to keep his young body strong and athletic. Jared runs track and is currently a junior at Snow Canyon High school.  

  

Janelle’s year has been focused on magnifying her beauty.  She was able to get her braces off and seems to flash her pearly whites often.  Janelle attends Snow Canyon Middle School and is in 8^th grade.  She is involved with Girls’ choir and also the National Junior Honor Society. Janelle loves to read and also enjoys socializing with the other teenagers in the neighborhood. She loves serving in her Young Women’s organization and is excited to be old enough to attend EFY this coming year. 

Jaiden turned 12 this past summer and started Young Women’s just in time for Girls’ Camp! She is in the seventh grade and is serving on student council at Lava Ridge Intermediate School. She is involved in jazz, tumbling, and singing, and put her talents to use by trying out for “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”  She landed the role of Sally and nailed it! Click HERE to see Jaiden's solo as Sally! Jaiden was also a winner in the science fair this year.  

Josh is in the fifth grade and therefore the big man on campus. He played soccer again and has recently begun to branch out and explore different venues as well. He tried out for the school talent show and performed with a juggling act. He is also enjoying school choir and had the opportunity to sing a small part with a quartet. He is involved in the Chinese immersion program and happened to run into some tourists at a gas station who were from China. I encouraged him to go talk to them, but he didn’t want to. After I had met a few of them, I quickly threw him under the bus and introduced him. They were thrilled to meet and speak with this young boy in their native language. Click HERE to see Josh speaking Chinese.

 

Jenna was baptized this year! She now has more of an interest in reading and marking her scriptures. One time when I was her substitute primary teacher I had her class go out and teach people “the gospel” in the hallway.  She did exceptionally well, but later requested from the primary president (her mom) that she never let her dad teach her class again! Jenna is also involved in the Chinese immersion program, jazz dance, and is in the 2^nd grade.  Jenna is lucky enough to have such extraordinary teeth that her dentist requested that she get several teeth pulled and braces put on early to correct her under-bite.  She has worn a metal expander in the roof of her mouth for much of the year and recently started braces. It makes her feel especially grown up.  The head gear starts next year.  Isn’t she lucky?!!!!

Wendy has been busy serving as the Primary President, Interpreting for DSU, and doing other freelance interpreting work.  She keeps our home running smoothly and intact. Though having 7 children can be stressful, she manages to make every one of them feel important and still give her husband all the loving care he needs. She is currently striving to finish reading the Book of Mormon with the rest of the primary before the year ends. This week she will be pulling out the whip and catching us all up to where we need to be.  That’s what mothers do right?

I have been teaching seminary at Desert Hills High School this year and have thoroughly enjoyed all of my classes.  I love my students and teaching the gospel every day!  I learn so much and am reminded throughout the day of the many ways our Heavenly Father shows his love for us, His children.  I have also been interpreting at DSU and doing some freelance work. This year I have had the opportunity to do lots of interpreting work in Las Vegas and it has been a great experience to meet other interpreters and Deaf people from different areas. I’ve learned so much from them!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope your family will celebrate this season in a way that brings you closer to our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.  Their love is real and the Plan that Heavenly Father established provides true and everlasting happiness for us!

Love,  

The Jensens