Car Accident

Janika was driving to school this morning with three other friends and was in a car accident.   Luckily they were all wearing seat belts and no one was hurt.  She was turning left on to Snow Canyon Parkway from Tuweap on the way to Tuacahn.  So she got a ticket for failing to yield on a left turn -- we won't find out how much until next week.  She said that visibility on that turn is always difficult with the bushes on the side of the road and with the morning sun.  The whole bumper of her car came off and it left a flat tire and big dent in the front right corner of the other car.  

Janika called and I met her at the scene (with Josh and Jenna still in their PJ's). Janika and Kiara were late for school and said that the word had spread throughout the whole school by the time they got there and everyone kept asking them if they were okay.  It was an emotional day for her! Josh was late for school too (the girls had already gone early for choir practice before school).  I was stressing about making it to my interpreting appointment at 9:30 across town and barely made it on time.    

It could have been much worse.  I remember how traumatic it was when I had my first car accident just two weeks after having my license -- but it did help me to be much more cautious after that.  Janika has a busy day today with a dentist appointment right after school and then dance auditions for their musicals from 6:00 to 9:00 tonight.  As soon as this play is over she will need to get a job to help cover the ticket and expenses!  

Later On:  We found out that Janika's car will be $1300.00 to fix --out of pocket since insurance on hers is liability only.  Our Insurance will cover the other car which will probably be about that much.  (Hope it doesn't make our insurance go up too much).   That's almost as much as we paid for it ($1500.00) just two months ago (which was a good deal, getting it from Rick's sister).  We also just barely sold the white station wagon around the same time for $1600.  Makes me wish we hadn't sold it!   I was hoping 2013 would be better for cars than 2012 was!  

Fancy!!

Jenna's best friend, Clarissa, was over playing and I found them like this!  They had gotten in to the hair bows/flowers and were putting them all over their heads.  They looked so cute!  And it entertained them for quite a while and so I just let them go at it!  They also ate some gummy worms after this.  Jenna said, "Heavenly Father knew that kids wouldn't like to eat real worms, so he made candy worms!"

Daddy Daughter Date

Rick and Janika went to the Young Women's "Daddy Daughter Date" tonight.  This is their pathetic attempt at dressing "Western!"

No More Braces!!

Happy Birthday, Gerilyn!!

Whew!  That is A LOT of candles!!  Happy Birthday, Gerilyn!  We love you!

 

 

Jase Eagle Court of Honor

We decided to do our own Court of Honor for Jase's Eagle with a few family and friends over at our house.  Jase's just wanted a pizza party but we wanted to make it special and memorable.  I told Rick that he was in charge of it (after all, I was the one who helped Jase through his entire project and so I figured it was his turn)!   Anyway, he did a fabulous job putting it together.  Rick had each of the kids write up a paragraph of qualities they liked about Jase and that was really sweet (I will include their comments later on in this post).  I talked about the requirements of getting an Eagle and then shared qualities about Jase as well.

Rick had a couple really nice power points that outlined the Eagle as a symbol and also the colors in his award and what they represented.  Rick also put together a slideshow of pictures of Jase through the years highlighting Scouting events and honors.  I spent several hours finding all of the pictures (it took a while because we have different years of pictures on different external hard-drives and so it took some effort to find them all) and then Rick did the slideshow.

Curtis told a really neat story of a true experience of a man he knows (now 92 years old) who was saved in World War II by an Eagle Scout who was prepared and knew what to do.  The scout who saved his life died in combat the next day.  This man was so grateful to him that he devoted the rest of his life to scouting and eventually earned the Silver Beaver award -- the highest award in scouting.
Gerilyn presented Jase with an Eagle Trophy from Grandma and Grandpa Jensen and Jase read the nice letter that they had written.  He was excited!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!  

Rick gave some very touching comments and so did President Caplin, our Branch President.  President Caplin called all of the Eagle Scouts to come up for the "Eagles Nest" and had Jase repeat the "Eagle Scout Pledge."  Rick's sister, Gerilyn, was able to come down from Ogden to spend the weekend and attend, Rick's sister Julie and her family were also in town and able to come.  Our good friends, the Healeys, were coming down this weekend too and so they were able to attend.  We had Jase's best friend, Ky, come and our Branch President and his wife.  There are numerous other people we could have invited but Jase wanted to keep it small.  Afterwards everyone had Papa Murphy's Pepperoni Pizzas!

 

 

 

Tributes from Jase's family:

Janika:  Jase is seriously one of my best friends. He’s soooo smart when it comes to math and stuff and sometimes he even asks if he can do my homework. What a nerd. He’s started to take my advice when it comes to clothes and girls and it is just taking him far in life. I’m pretty sure all the ladies love him. Jase is such a good example to me, I don’t even know what I’d do without him. Jase I’m so proud of you for all your hard work in getting your eagle!! I love you so much!!

Jared:  Jase is one of my best friends. I don’t know what I would do without him. He is always the person to talk to. He is really smart and I feel like sueing success academy for not letting him in. he is really good at math and whenever I need help on my homework, I can count on Jase. Jase is a 4.0 student. Me and Jase always hang out and do parkour, even though he can’t really do any! I am so glad that Jase got his eagle. It’s the first person to have an eagle in the family. I am glad you got your eagle Jase. Congratulations. (but remember, I helped you get your eagle so I get credit!).

Janelle:  Jase is a wonderful brother. He has a funny personality and a strong testimony. Jase is always willing to help others and always makes us laugh and smile. Jase is very smart and kind. I am very glad that Jase is my brother.  We all love Jase!  

Jaiden:   These are some things I like about my brother, Jase.  First of all, he is great at math and a great singer.  He is also great at piano.  He is very helpful.  Jase is a great brother.  I LOVE JASE! 

Josh:   Jase is my brother.  He plays store with me.  I buy quarters from him by giving him dollars.  Sometimes he will even let me jump on the trampoline with him.  He makes me peanut butter bars and he would make me top ramen, but I don’t like top ramen.  Sometimes he even lets me clean his room!  I love him.  He is a great older brother and a great example!  I’m so glad Jase is getting his eagle scout.  Maybe one day I will be able to get mine!

Jenna:  Jase fixes me lunch and plays with me and helps me with my homework  (I had to edit Jenna's because I didn't know if her comments about Jase having stinky feet and tooting a lot were really appropriate here).

Gerilyn:  I am so proud of Jase for his good choices and his good example to me of what an older sibling should be.  Jase, you are such a good example to me in choosing the right, and showing the respect that children of God should receive.  You are such a hard worker, and I know that you will go far in life because you always accomplish the righteous objectives you set for yourself.  I am so honored to be your favorite aunt.:) And I am grateful I was able to come down to St. George and help you celebrate your receiving your Eagle Scout award.  I love you Jase!

Grandma and Grandpa Jensen:  Dear Jase,  Wow, you have made your grandma and grandpa proud.  Why you may ask?  Well, it's because you are the very first one in our family to become and EAGLE SCOUT, and that is such a huge accomplishment.  

You are an incredible young man who sets goals, and then you work on them until you reach each particular goal.  This award is just one among many, and we're sure that countless more awards will follow.  Meanwhile, congratulations on this BIG one!! 

We love you Jase and wish so much that we could be with you today to celebrate.  Even though we are miles apart, you are in our heart and thoughts today and always.