An email to the family

A little update on the Jensen household.   Pretty much our life is revolving around 4 things: 

Homeschooling--we may or may not do it again next year.  We have them registered at a charter school called Wasatch Waldorf (it seems pretty amazing) for next year just in case we decide to go that route. We have all been praying to know what we should do.  I love how much the kids learn and ask questions and all the things we've been able to do and learn--but I do worry about the discipline aspect of school that is just not a part of homeschooling (thats the whole point) but that I think one of our children in particular really needs. 

Ryan's job search--about 3 weeks ago his company let him go (it ended as good as we could've hoped)--he got a few months severance and lots of referrals from his boss and co-workers.  Still a shock.  It's a part time job searching/talking to people/interviewing/answering emails, etc. 

Remodeling: With Ryan being home and with the (hopefully slim) possibility that we might have to move, we decided to get new garage doors, put up baseboard, moulding and casing all over the main level and remodel our main bathroom too.  It's put a lot of strain on Ryan and I, but hopefully it was the right decision to do now. Helaman has helped two different times with electric especially. 

Skiing: We (I use we liberally) have spent a lot of time skiing too.  Ryan and the four oldest have been going twice a week for the last month.  And the kids have gotten pretty good because of the consistency.  We all love ski days.  I love the time with just Clara and to have a quiet house--its the two days I attempt cleaning because I have lots of time to be able to go slow. And we don't do formal school those days either. And after the first day, they all were able to ski together which Ryan loves--I think Robbie and Aubrie and Hallie have already passed him up in ability so its fun for Ryan because he gets to actually ski instead of teach.  Three different times Anna has drive one of her boys to come up and ski for the day with them--SO fun!

Our neighbors have been so good to us to come over and help me do laundry and clean bathrooms, or help with school.  I don't know what we would have done without that extra help.  

We are hopefully headed to Texas this Thurs (pending any job interviews) fora  few weeks--we even get to see Wes' Mr. Marcus beauty pageant, I seriously CANNOT wait.  Anna is flying in that weekend for it too!!  We are pretty excited to see/be around more family for a bit. 

A Great Sunday...

February 7, 2016

Today was a great Sunday, one of those "payoff" days for parents. We have been encouraging the kids to share their testimonies in fast and testimony meeting for several years. Aubrie had done it once or twice in New Hampshire but none of the other kids. Well, today after both Amber and I got up to bear our testimonies (we both largely focused on thanking the ward for all the help they have provided to our family for the past two months and also about the strength that comes from dealing with adversity when the Gospel is there to put an eternal perspective on things), Aubrie and Hallie got up at the very end of the meeting to bear their testimonies. They both did such an awesome job sharing what was in their hearts and what the Spirit spoke to them.

A few comments of Hallie's that were so cute after church:
-"Mom, is it bad to be proud that I bore my testimony?"
-"When Aubrie and I walked up and were sitting by the Bishop I said to myself 'there' no turning back now Hallie!'" "I had two choices, walk back down and be embarrassed or just stand up and do it."
-"Mom, I just felt so happy all day today--I kept thinking this was one of the best days of my life"


We talked about sharing your testimonies can help you be forgiven of sins, and that it engrains the things you share on your heart so you remember them forever.  She just was positively glowing.



Here is Hallie's journal entry from today:

todays best day ever because I did my first talk in front of the whole
ward it was about.....when we went skiing with the
family except Clara & Mom  why Mom
why my Mom couldn't come because she broke her ankle.But the family that came we split up and me and Aubrie accidentally got split up and I got stuck and Aubrie went ahead.I didn't recognize were I was.Then this skier skied on this pathway I had a feeling I should go on the same path that the skier went on.So I followed the skier and I still didn't recognize were I was so I decided to say a prayer to help me to know where to go.  I saw another path and felt like I should go on it.  Soon I started recognizing where I was and when I came out of the trees I met up with Aubrie.  We can pray to have Heavenly Father be able to help us find someone.  

Rewind to Thanksgiving.  We can't forget the turkey.

We really wanted to be with some cousins for Thanksgiving, and Pareieras were up for it.  Jordans and us headed on up to Woodruff, UT (the church owns a 7500 acre cattle ranch up in Northern Utah).We have to go through WY--its about 2 hours away.  Literally in the middle of nowhere--obviously.  Their driveway alone is 7 miles long.  The kids always say "oh teh cousins with the long driveway?"  

It was an absolutely amazing place.  We headed up early WEdnesday to get there early enough to help with food and set up etc.  The church has a nice office/guest area that had a kitchen and plenty of room to set up for a 35 people Thanksgiving dinner.  Russ, Spencer, Bode and ReAnn came to UT last minute for THanksgiving and Pareieras were gracious enough to let them join us for dinner and football for the day.  They also had some neighbors that joined us.

Our three families have 15 kids alone--the oldest being 13.  It was a magical weekend (besides Ryan's ongoing sickness --poor guy).  It snowed that morning driving to the ranch and it snowed alot, so we had LOTS of snow to play in and that's what the kids did all day for the 3 days we were there.  They are just surrounded by land, so they built forts, played in the snow in the ditch, played tackle football in the snow, Thad got the snowmobile and Razor out for rides, they got to do skeet shooting, and Trina, Anna and I did a few long walks whenever we could.  When we were inside they played piano, board games (especially with Spencer), we did a lot of cooking (We had planned to take turns with meals and all contributed to the meals (WAY too much food!), LOTS of talking, leg-wrestling, Knex building, teasing:), and video games and watching football.  

THe pictures can speak for themselves of the beauty of the ranch.  Just WOW!

Our kids all got along so well and I'm so glad for any close relationships our kids can develop with their cousins--who are all such good grounded kids.