Jenna: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

When I found out that Lava Ridge was putting on the play, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I strongly encouraged Jenna to audition. She didn't want to because none of her friends were doing it. I told her that it would be a fun opportunity and that she could make new friends in the play. She went ahead and auditioned and made the part that she wanted -- Rudolph's girlfriend, Clarice. The one who played Rudolph was her childhood friend, Seamus Purdy. Jenna did make a lot of new friends in the show and had a lot of fun. She said that she was glad that she did it. Her friends were very supportive and came to every performance! Some of these friends were boys and Jenna and her friends ended up having several boy/girl get togethers after the play! (The AWESOME costume for Sam the Snowman, played by Alex Muno, was made by his mom! Not only did he look great, it gave the effect of him gliding across the snow!) 

Here is Jenna singing, "There's Always Tomorrow" (https://youtu.be/zuZZcwaOm1k)

 

Santa Claus

Rick got asked to be Santa for a kindergarten Deaf class. Doesn't he look great? The kids were thrilled that Santa knew sign language! There were some older kids there visiting and Rick did such a great job that he actually convinced one of the middle school deaf kids that he was the real Santa! 

Jenna -- Dance Parent Night!

Jenna looked beautiful and graceful dancing tonight! She has had to miss the past two or three dance practices due to her Rudolph rehearsals and was worried that she didn't know the dance for tonight. So I had Jenna call Cortnie to see if she could meet up with her to run through it. Jenna met Cortnie and her sister, Brooklyn, at the church before Young Women so that Brooklyn could teach her the dance! If Jenna didn't know it, I couldn't tell! I thought she looked great! 

Ward Party

Jenna sang, "The Man With the Bag," at our ward party tonight. Here is a video of her practicing her number before we went. She did a great job! 

I had been looking forward to the Ward Party, but then we had a difficult situation come up Friday night and I got very little sleep that night and was emotionally and physically exhausted all day Saturday. But it was still nice to get out to the party. Jase and Ellen came and joined us as well. Jaiden was working and Rick left the party early to bring Josh to work. So it was mostly just me and Jenna!   

Jenna Reflections Winner

Jenna has been teaching herself to play the ukulele and enjoys writing little songs. She really has a knack for coming up with tunes and lyrics! So I really encouraged her to write and submit a song for the Reflections contest. She had to enter something for her Honors' Lit class anyway and so I figured she might as well submit a song also! I had really encouraged our older kids participate in Reflections through the years and they did when they were younger, but then we got so busy that Reflections wasn't really a priority any more. But I really wanted Jenna to take this opportunity. So she wrote a little song that went along with the theme, which was "I Can Change the World By..." and I recorded her on my phone and sent it in. Anyway, she won in the music category for Lava Ridge! Then it went on to the council level and she won there also! Pretty Cool! Here is a recording of her song (thanks to my sister, Jen, who added it to YouTube!)

   

Here are the lyrics: 

 

Verse One:

When you fall down and you feel so small,

You feel like you can’t do anything at all

Just rise up, like the morning sun

Don’t let them think that you are done

You can show them that you’re the one

To Change the World.

 

Chorus:

Be yourself so others can see,

Be the leader you know you can be.

And then finally

 you can change the world with a smile

you can go the extra mile

and then there’s hope again.

 

Verse 2:

When you walk down those empty streets

And you wonder why they’re so lonely

And when you feel like you can’t do a thing

Just listen to me…

 

Bridge:

It doesn’t matter, just a simple thing

But the love that you bring

Will show the light.

It doesn’t matter, just a few small words

To make you heard,

through the loudest noise

 

Chorus:

Be yourself so others can see,

Be the leader you know you can be.

And then finally

 you can change the world with a smile

you can go the extra mile

and then there’s hope again,

you can change the world!

 

 

  

Janelle MTC!!!

Last night was our final night with Janelle before she heads to the MTC! Rick gave her a beautiful Father's blessing and we had everyone write her a letter that we would give her the next day. This morning the kids said their goodbyes and then the three of us headed to Provo! She read the letters on the way there and then Rick had me read some of them out loud. Of course I blubbered like a baby!! I especially liked Ellen's letter -- she had lots of solid advice for Janelle! 

We stopped at the Golden Corral in Orem for lunch and I ran into Mark Tarr, an old friend from my Snow College days! He and I were in the LD Singers together and his wife was in LD's with my sister, Jen. They were there sending their daughter off to the MTC too! So that was fun to visit with them. It turns out that their son when on a deaf mission like me and is currently attending Snow College. Small world! 

We went to the Provo temple to take a few pictures. I would have liked to take more, but we were running a little late by this time and Janelle was anxious to get on her way! She has been waiting for this moment for a long time and she is ready!! She will be such an amazing missionary!! Good luck, Janelle, we love you!!!

Chris sent me this one... (pretty cool!)

Jensen Update -- November 2021

Another busy month!! 

*Janelle continued with her mission preparation and we did a pre-mission photoshoot. 

*Jenna, Josh, and Jaiden went to Youth Conference in Bryce Canyon at the beginning of the month. 

*The middle of the month brought a busy, fun-filled weekend with extended family!! The Westras stayed at a condo and we all met up at the All-Abilities Park (Thunder Junction) on Saturday. We had a pizza party at our house that night and then everyone came to see Jaiden in The SpongeBob Musical! It was so fun!  

*Sunday everyone came to support Janelle for her missionary farewell and then we came to our house afterwards for a luncheon of soups, rolls, crackers, and desserts. We were SO grateful to have so much family support us this weekend! Janelle was set apart that night as a full time missionary!

*Janelle started HOME MTC!! (From November 15 to November 30). 

*Jaiden got her Senior pictures done and they turned out SO pretty! 

*Jared continues to date a ton of different girls and often brings them to our house for various creative activities! 

*Josh had his awards night for United FC and his team was recognized for being undefeated this Fall. 

*Jaiden got asked to Junior Prom (which will be held in January). 

*We celebrated Thanksgiving and cheered Josh on at his Soccer Tournament that weekend. I got some great video footage, which I hope to add here later! 

*Janika and Brandon also posted the news that they are expecting!! Yay!! 

*Jaiden went to Sadies and also had her Sadies day date, which they had on a separate day. They had a lot of fun!