YM/YW Temple Trip (Jenna)

I got to go on a temple trip with the young men and young women. It was so much fun and I’m so glad that I went. It started on Friday morning when I woke up at 4:30 to go to the St. George Temple. We met up at the church and then drove over there and did baptisms. After that we drove home and got ready for school. Me and Clarissa ditched last period and went home to get ready to leave. We drove to the church again and we saw a huge bus. We put all our stuff in it and started to drive up north. The long drives were surprisingly so much fun and me Andrew and Clarissa and Audrey and Sadie and Ethan all sat by each other and kept switching seats. Once we got to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple we went in and did baptisms.

After baptisms I did Audrey, Clarissa, Sadie, Olivia, Adri, Maya, Ellie, and Eva‘s hair. That was a blast, then we drove to the church and ate dinner then drove to the places that we were staying. That night was super crammed with all the girls sleeping on the same floor with one bathroom, but we made it work. That morning we ate breakfast and then left to drive to the Provo city Temple. I did all the girls' hair again and we went to the park to eat pizza and play some games. On the drive back, we watched movies, took pictures or videos and listened to music. Each temple was so different but they all had the same feeling inside of them. I felt such peace. I am so glad that I could go. I love knowing an easy way that I can gather Israel! 

The next day I received this sweet text from one of Jenna's Young Women leaders! 

Youth Temple Trip

The St. George temple closed early in 2019 for a complete renovation. Then all of the temples around the world closed in March of 2020 (just after Jase and Ellen got married) due to the pandemic. They eventually started opening up in phases, with masks and appointments required. It has been difficult to get appointments for baptisms -- especially with the nearest temple (Cedar City) being so small. So we were grateful that our youth leaders were able to get an appointment for all of the youth to go to the Las Vegas temple (two hours away) to do baptisms today. Josh wasn't able to go because of a high school soccer game in Cedar City, which turned out to be awful weather -- hailing and snowing! But Jenna and Jaiden attended with the group. Unfortunately Jenna had come down with a cold a day or two before (and missed school Thursday) so hopefully she didn't get anyone sick! We weren't sure if Jaiden would be able to miss rehearsal, but she and Emily talked with their director who said that they would "make it work." I am so glad that they could go! (And yes, we DID print off family names for them to bring!) 

Spring Break Temple Trip!!

This week was our Spring Break.  Jase and Jared left for their temple trip Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.  They had a good time and did over 800 baptisms!  I have attached a collage of pictures.  Grandma Jensen met them in the Ogden temple on Tuesday and they ate lunch together in the cafeteria and she took them out for ice cream afterwards for Jared’s birthday.  I was hoping the boys would try and get with Grandma and Grandpa Westra on Wednesday but Jared said that their schedule was too tight. 

Rick had a very busy and interesting week interpreting in Las Vegas.  They kept him busy from morning until night.  The first day after working all day they had him interpret at a hospital from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and then asked if he could stay until 6:00 a.m.!  But seeing as he was scheduled to start working the next morning at 6:55 a.m. he said that he had better finish at 1:00.  He had quite a variety of appointments and said that a couple of them were really sad situations.   

 

Meanwhile the kids and I got some fun activities in.  Monday the kids and I worked hard in the morning for two or three hours cleaning the house and then I rewarded them with a trip to the dollar store to pick out a prize.  I had an afternoon interpreting appointment and then we got “The Good Dinosaur” from Redbox and had a movie party.   Tuesday morning I brought the girls in for haircuts.  Jaiden wanted layers and I love how it turned out!  I wished that Janelle had done layers too but she didn’t want to.  Her hair was really long and so she got a good 8 or 9 inches cut off.  Jenna’s too. 

I had trouble doing Jenna’s expander last night (Rick usually always turns the key on it). I had done it for a couple of nights before he left knowing that I would need to do it while he was gone and was able to do it quickly and easily.  But then I must not have turned it a complete turn last night because I couldn’t see the hole and I tried and tried and couldn’t get the little key in the hole and Jenna and I were both getting really frustrated.  So while the others were getting their hair done I ran her over to the Orthodontist a couple blocks away.  I learned that they are closed the whole week for Spring Break!  But the secretary let us in and tried helping me even though she isn’t the one who actually works on teeth.  I thought we finally got it, but then later that night I couldn’t see the hole again and still had trouble.  

 

On my way back to the hair place I got pulled over and got a ticket!  I was so upset about it!  Apparently the cops are on full force during Spring Break in St. George because after that I saw them everywhere!  I didn’t even know what I had done wrong.  He said that I had turned right into the right lane and then slid into the left lane without signaling.  I didn’t even realize I had done that – there were no cars coming in either lane and I had to make a quick left a block away.  Of course I should have signaled but still…it seemed a little nit picky.  I haven’t been pulled over in years and years – I can’t even remember the last time.  I don’t know how much it will cost me until I go in to the courthouse next week.  So frustrating!!!

 

Tuesday our activity was the Spinny Park.  The weather was gorgeous.  The Purdy’s came too and Mari Purdy had texted two other families to see if they wanted to come.  So that was fun for all of the kids to play together and for us moms to visit.  She had also brought ice-cream bars for all of the kids (and a popsicle for jenna).  The girls all went to Purdy’s afterwards for a movie but Josh didn’t want to go.  I went to the church to get my temple recommend renewed and then picked up Jenna and let the other girls stay later.

 

Wednesday I interpreted at 11:00 and then picked up a birthday gift for a party Janelle was going to on Thursday.  I took the kids to the Children’s Museum and they had a blast!  I had never been there before and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.  They kids lasted for THREE HOURS!!  I thought it would be really crowded but it wasn’t too bad – a little at first, but it really slowed down as it got closer and closer to closing time.  We just did quick easy meals all week.  The kids watched a movie tonight and I worked on pictures. 

 

Thursday I had an early interpreting appointment, which ended up being a cancellation.  We did work at home and then I brought the kids to the Splash Pad hear the St. George library since I knew today was supposed to be hot.  It was really crowded!  Janelle stayed home with Layla and Josh didn’t want to go and so it was just Jaiden and Jenna and we had invited the Purdy’s.  Janelle had a birthday party for Carter clear in Diamond Valley.  She went with her friend Layla and so Mari Purdy brought the girls at 4:00 and I picked them up at 9:00.  They had fun at the party playing games and fugitive with a huge group of teenagers.

 

I got an interpreter request for all day Friday and decided to go ahead and take it and let Janelle babysit.  It  lasted for 6 ½ hours and then I had to go back in the evening for almost four hours.  So it was a long day but there wasn’t a lot of interpreting and it was fun. Rick got home Friday night before I did.  The tournament continued Saturday and Rick took over that one (another six hours).  The weather had turned colder and he said that he froze!  I stayed home with the kids and we worked hard cleaning the house for most of the day.  The boys arrived home from their temple trip and Jase went to work Saturday night. 

 

Today was ward council, choir, and church.  Rick fixed a delicious Salmon dinner and it tasted so good to me!  Well, that is our week.  I am NOT ready to get up EARLY tomorrow morning!  It is always difficult jumping back into an early, busy schedule again after Spring Break – especially after the time change!

 

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Roy and Karen Phillips brought Ky, Jase, Jared, and Ben Sellers on an awesome temple trip this week!!