Jensen Update -- April 2021

*Shane and Alicia's family came down for Easter Break/General Conference. The cousins had a great time together and it was fun to visit and spend time with family! We also had lots of great food. Alicia did a nice photoshoot of the girls and videotaped Jaiden's talent for Distinguished Young Women. Thanks, Alicia!! 

*Josh was busy with HS soccer all month long and made several goals. JV is now finished, but the State Tournament for the Varsity team starts tomorrow. He is still struggling with parosmia (where taste and smell are distorted). 

*I got my second Covid Vaccine. Janika and Brandon got theirs and Jase just got his first one. I will take the kids in as soon as school gets out. 

 *Jaiden got her ACT scores back a couple weeks after taking the test and got a 28. We were happy with that! All three of our girls got the same score! She is considering taking an ACT prep class to try and boost it a little. 

*Jaiden sang the National Anthem at the high school boys' soccer game and went to the Junior Prom. Janelle didn't get asked, which was a bummer, but she was asked to Senior Ball (and we heard wind of two other boys who were also planning on asking her). She was also nominated to be on the Senior Ball Royalty. So that made up for it! She had tons of fun doing all of that and was partnered with a good friend of hers. 

 *Josh celebrated his birthday. He had a soccer game on his birthday, but had an injury due to a collision with another player at a previous game and was only allowed to play ten minutes at this one, which was a bummer. He missed some playing time in a few games before his knee finally started feeling better. He had all of his friends over the next day/evening for a party at our house. 

 *Rick's good friend from his mission, Michelle Robinson, passed away. She had a stroke a few years ago and has had a lot of health problems ever since and so I am sure she is happy to be healthy again! He put together a neat slideshow of pictures for her and posted it on Facebook. I also posted it on my blog.

*Jaiden performed in her school play and that was fun to watch! Janika and Brandon came down from Pleasant Grove to see her show and so that was nice of them! The rest of the kids all came too (except for Jared). Jared was a groomsman for his friend's wedding and went to a Bachelors' party in Vegas. He is also going to be a groomsman for another friend next month. 

*Jaiden ran for Executive Council as the Activities Rep and got in, so she will be a Student Body Officer next year! I am excited for her, but also nervous, because it is a time consuming position and she is already SO busy!

 *Jaiden did her interview and self expression for Distinguished Young Women on April 24th (she had already turned in her academic records, talent number, and fitness routine video). They announced the winners later that night. She won in every single category and won the overall title of Distinguished Young Woman of Southern Utah!! So that was pretty exciting and she got some cash scholarships. She will go on to compete in the State Competition in October. 

*Brandon is doing well and enjoying his job at JobNimbus. Janika is looking for an internship for next year. She will graduated with her Master's degree in December. They look forward to moving into their townhome next month! 

*We all went and watched Jase and Ellen speak in church in their ward. They did a great job. For my birthday. Rick and I went out to dinner and to see the Dixie High School play, Clue. It was good! On Sunday we had everyone over for dinner (like we do every Sunday) and sang Happy Birthday with a chocolate Pie.

*We went and saw “Comedy of Errors” at our local Shakespeare in the Park. They started this a couple of years ago (cancelled in 2020 due to Covid). It is right across from the town hall and everyone just brings blankets and lawn chairs. They do a great job, and it is free!  

*I have been busy interpreting. My hours at Dixie Tech went from four hours a week to sixteen hours a week. Plus I have been doing medical interpreting jobs too. Rick has been really busy with his new job responsibilities working with the Deaf Seminaries across the nation. He put together a big Fireside with all of the deaf youth across the country over zoom. It was well attended and turned out really well! He is really doing a great job! 

*The girls had a great time at Senior Ball last Saturday. I will write more about that later. 

*Jase and Ellen are busy with school and work. Ellen's pregnancy is coming right along and she is finally starting to show! She is working a lot of hours and taking 21 credits -- all while being pregnant! Jase is considering applying to Medical School after he graduates next year! 

It was a busy month!!  

 

Jensen Update -- February 2021!

*Jase and Ellen publicly announced their baby news!! We are excited!! 

 *We had several Zoom meetings -- interpreter workshop, Stake Conference, Dual Language Immersion meeting, Stake Young Women's training -- Rick also had several other training and meetings over zoom.

*Janika and Brandon are busy with their house plans as well as Brandon's job and Janika's practicum as an elementary school counselor.

*Jenna did the Geography Challenge for the 6th grade and was one of the top three winners. All three will compete at the District Level next month.

*Jaiden and Janelle had fun performing singing valentines with the Madrigals.

*Jaiden was asked to sing with a lady from our former ward at a funeral and also in church the next day. Jaiden, Janelle, and their friend, Emily, sang in church last week and will sing again in the other ward in a couple of weeks.  

* Visit from the Westra cousins! We were able to watch Adria play soccer and the cousins had a blast together! They shared in our Valentine's breakfast and went on an ABC driving scavenger hunt! 

*Family History Scavenger Hunts from Chris and Grandma Westra. The kids had fun with those! Thanks for putting those together and for the incentives!! 

*I did lots of interpreting and Rick did lots of work as part of his new responsibility as ASL coordinator. He is trying to persuade the "powers that be" to allow for a Deaf Youth Conference this summer. 

*Josh refereed a few games at the soccer tournaments. He tries out for the high school soccer team tomorrow! Wish him luck! 

*Josh spends WAY too much time online chatting with a certain girl from his school over email. He doesn't have a phone yet and this makes me not in any hurry for him to get one! They hang out a lot, but only in groups of friends. But still...I am not ready for this!

*Jaiden and Janelle finally were able to go to Sadies and had a fun time with their dates and group. (More on the blog).

*Jared got in a car accident bringing Josh to school and totalled his car! (Jared was at fault). He had "liability only" insurance on his car and so he didn't get any replacement money from the insurance company. Sad! (More on the blog)

*Rick and I went car shopping and ended up buying a 2014 Subaru Outback for me and selling my car to Jared. The car had low mileage and was owned by an older couple who were the only owners. I love it! 

*Janelle had a Madrigal Concert. Jaiden was supposed to go too but couldn't miss dance again.  

*We finished up our "LOVE CD!" 

*Jaiden applied for the Governor's Honors Academy at SUU. It is competitive, but those who get accepted go to a 9 day academy in the summer (which is a leadership conference kind of like EFY). It is fairly expensive, but those who get accepted and attend get a full tuition four year scholarship at SUU. 

*Jaiden is also (probably) applying for the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Competition (involving talent, interview, fitness...)  It sounds like a lot of work, but I think she would do great! These are both new things that I hadn't heard about until this past month.

*I was released from my calling from the Young Women's Presidency. They changed the whole YW and primary presidencies. I have been in YW for several years now and so it is time, but I will miss serving with them -- especially since I was able to go with my three girls! 

*Jared and his friends were able to find an apartment across from DSU campus and they moved in last night! It is already clear that he is going to love it! They will have a lot of fun! 

First Week of June Highlights!

Happy "Sweet Sixteen" Birthday to Jaiden!!

We had a full day today! We sang "Happy Birthday" to Jaiden and she opened her presents (the ones that had arrived -- there are a few more packages arriving this week). Rick gave her a dozen roses for her birthday and a sweet poem (see next post) asking her out on her "first date." (This was the note that caused the fire -- see next post!!)

Jared taught the lesson for Come Follow Me and did an awesome job! We had a great discussion and took lots of notes in our scriptures. Then we had the sacrament administered by the men in our family.

Rick then attended another ward's sacrament meeting (first time back since the quarantine) as part of his High Council responsibilities. He is not thrilled about returning to church, but had somewhat of a change of heart after hearing the speaker in church. He said church was very different! There was no singing -- the organist just played the organ for the sacrament. There was a 15 minute talk given by a single lady. He said it was very good and opened his eyes towards people who are alone during the quarantine and really need the blessings of being able to attend church meetings with other people. We practiced the musical number that we have been working on and went and sang it for a few people in the ward. They got emotional and really appreciated the gesture.

Jaiden's friends, Mariposa, Emily, and Lizzie brought over a bunch of gifts for Jaiden -- a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a big package of "Crumbl Cookies," a pre-dating pampering kit, and several treats and little surprises. Emily had a whole box of hand written "open when" notes. So sweet!

Rick fixed a delicious meal of shisk-a-bobs. We haven't had that in years and it really tasted wonderful! We had home-made ice-cream for dessert. It was a bit runny but still very yummy! We then all played "The Resistance." Between the flowers from dance concert, the roses from Rick, and the flowers from her friends, Jaiden had three beautiful bouquets to brighten our home!!

After our family games I worked on putting Jaiden's birthday collage together! Here is what I posted on Facebook/Instagram:

Jaiden Jensen is sweet sixteen today!! Jaiden is beautiful inside and out! She is intelligent, optimistic, compassionate, energetic, athletic, talented, and a wonderful friend to others. Jaiden loves to be involved in everything and is always up for a challenge! She is a talented dancer and singer, a straight A student, and a member of the student council at SCHS. Jaiden brings so much joy to our family! Happy Birthday, Jaiden! We love you!!