Here Comes the Bride

Here are a few of Naomi's bridal pictures.

I'm biased, but I think she's BEAUTIFUL!

(I'm sorry if you don't like the ones I chose Naomi,

but I can't tell which is best from a thumbnail!)

Ketchup #4

Nick finally received his Eagle Scout award at the beginning of November.

It was the same day that Dane gave his homecoming speech so it was a lonnnggg day.

Because it took so long for the court of honor, Dane was here and was able to present Nick with the award which was really special.

I won't be including a picture of Nick pinning the eagle mother's pin on me, because I was very emotional and looked like a blubbering idiot! Not an attractive picture. But, we are very proud of Nick!

Ketchup #3

I had big plans for our Halloween costumes this year.

Kent and I and the three boys were going to be super heroes.

I bought a pattern online that had capes, boots, belts, bodysuits; or in other words, the works.

Things were so crazy in my life that at the last minute, and I mean last minute (I was still sewing as the ward party was starting) I decided we were going the easy route.

I bought tights and basketball shorts and sewed simple capes.

Katie helped me use stitch witchery to iron on letters onto the capes.

Kent was super bishop, I was super mom, Dane was super RM, Nick was super sports star, and Caleb was super Sky View fan.

I had an interesting conversation with Caleb about the tights. He was looking over the back of the box and said, "Mom, according to this you could have bought me size small instead of medium." Not a conversation I thought I'd ever have with my son!

The next night was Halloween and Katie had planned a really fun party for our family. We played fun games, ate dinner using a weird menu so that we didn't know what we were ordering, and we all went trick or treating together. It certainly wasn't as warm as it was last year! The lovebirds were plenty warm though and danced up and down the sidewalks. Embarrassing! :)

Katie made Aaron's Popeye and her Olive Oyl costumes. Sadly, I didn't get a picture of Braiden who was asleep when we were taking pictures.

Chris had light up eyes, but one of his eyes burned out and so he was comically scary with Nanette:
Ethan (Handy Manny) and Logan (Baby Ninja) didn't really want their pictures taken: The toolbox with the glued on wiggly eyeballs was cute in theory, but useless and even annoying when it came to trick or treating! I think next year Kent and I should be super raggedy Ann and Andy and combine our costumes of the last two years and not worry about coming up with new costumes!

Ketchup #2

Dane's homecoming talk in Sacrament Meeting was on "Righteous Family Traditions" and he did a great job. He could have used another hour to speak because he had so many mission experiences he wanted to share. Kent, Dane, Nick, Caleb, Aaron, Raulon, and two men from our ward sang "Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth", accompanied by Naomi. It was beautiful. I love the sound of men's choirs.

Afterwards friends and family gathered at the senior citizen's center for lunch. Thanks to my good friend Tammy we had delicious pulled pork sandwiches. I'm not a huge fan of pork roast, but when it is cooked like that I love it!

Caleb isn't in any of these pictures because he's my go to guy when I'm too tired to get up and take pictures. Thanks Caleb!

My amazing favorite cousin Lisa took our family pictures when the lunch was over. She was so patient with our growing family and uncooperative (at times) little boys. Here are some samples:

Here's a blooper picture that showed some of the troubles we had getting all three boys to cooperate at the same time since it was nap time:

Sweet little Logan looks so innocent in this picture, but he had just kicked Braiden in the back and knocked him over. I tried to catch him but my reflexes were slow. Kent wasn't aware of what was going on and stayed posed!

Ketchup #1

Wow. (Shake of head).

Just wow.

How did I get so far behind?

Time to try to get caught up.

I just spent a night and two days

in the ICU at Logan Regional Hospital.

Kent took me to the emergency room

on Tuesday because I was having

chest pains like I've never had before.

After five hours in the ER,

a few blood tests and EKGs,

I was told that my heart was unremarkable.

I've mentioned in the past

that I hate being told that.

Now not only is my brain unremarkable,

but so is my heart!

The medical profession needs

a new word for "looks normal".

Anyway, still having symptoms,

they sent me to the ICU to be monitored

and so they could find ways to torture me

with more tests so they could tell me

I was unremarkable but ...

I'm sorry (not) to say there are no pictures

but they did let me keep

my pajama pants on the whole time

I was there which was a relief.

The stress treadmill test was inhumane,

especially for someone having chest pains,

but the cardiologist kept assuring me

that I could do it.

The young, female technician

for the treadmill test was really funny.

She said the test

must have been invented by a man,

because only they would think it okay

to put a woman in a hospital gown,

without a bra, on a treadmill and tell her to run!

Logan Regional now knows

my heart inside and out.

The echo cardiogram was so interesting

and we were able

to see all the chambers

and valves of my heart.

That test finally showed that there

was a small amount of fluid

in the sac around my heart

that could account for the pain.

It is most likely caused by a virus.

Did I mention

that my lungs are unremarkable?

Except for a small nodule

that they'll keep an eye on and retest again.

All in all,

my heart is in good shape

for a 43 year old woman

who is out of shape

and has high cholesterol

and high triglycerides.

And as long as I sleep sitting up,

I can tolerate the pain.

Remarkable!

Home Again

After two LOOONNNNGGGG years Dane returned on October 27th from his mission to spread the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Costa Rica.

We all arrived at the airport early since we left Smithfield in a blizzard and wanted to make sure to get there safely. Then began more waiting. Chris was tracking the flight on his phone so we knew exactly when it crossed into Utah and when it landed.

I enjoyed visiting with Elder Cowan's and Elder Cook's families who were waiting for their sons who were traveling with Dane. We were rookies compared to them since Elder Cook was the last missionary in his family and Elder Cowan has something like 11 brothers and sisters and 36 nieces and nephews.

Katie made some really cool posters and Ethan added his artwork to the back of the red one:

There are no words to describe the feeling of first seeing Dane come around the corner of the corridor and then feeling him in my arms and hearing him say, "I love you mom!"

To Do List

Only 5 days left until Dane is home and I've created a list of things to do before we pick him up at the airport:

• Lose the 20 pounds I've gained in the last 2 years. (I didn't say this was a realistic list !) :0)
• Try and match the hair color I was when Dane last saw me so he'll recognize me.
• Refresh my first aid skills so I can treat Dane for shock when he sees Caleb for the first time. (Caleb has grown at least 8 inches and his voice now sounds like Kent's instead of mine.)
• Collect Dane's belongings from his brothers and sisters and return them to his room. (Mostly dvds, tv, speakers, etc.)
• Finish writing the song I'm going to sing as he comes down the escalator at the airport. (So far no one will agree to sing with me!)

To the tune of "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission"
"I'm glad that you went on a mission,
though it felt like three years instead of two.
You proved that you're a worthy servant,
And oh how the people of Costa Rica love you.

You said that you are now a "Tico",
I was afraid that you would want to stay.
I was ready to come and drag you home,
I'm so happy that you're home and with no delay!

Can you think of any more verses?

The Ringer

My Granny Smith had an old washing machine
with a ringer and a metal tub.
It didn't look exactly like this one but it used the same concept.


I feel like I've been through the ringer lately.
People keep reminding me that trials
are for our good and we're to learn and grow from them.

Some things I think I already knew,
I just needed to be reminded.
Some things I think I needed to feel more deeply
so I could feel more empathy for others.


It is interesting though that most of these trials have come since Kent was called as bishop and the closer to Dane coming home the more they are intensifying. To add injury to insult, Kent's car broke down in Pleasant View today at the church where Kent's nephew was giving his mission farewell speech.
It was almost literally the straw that broke the bishop's back or gave him a heart attack.


Back to learning though.

I have learned that I need to act instead of react.


I have learned that things aren't always as they appear.

I have learned that you have to accept the fact that people are going to misunderstand you and not allow you to explain yourself.


I have learned that the simplest expression of friendship and love
can mean the difference between despair and hope.

I have learned that we can't choose when our trials are over
and we have to allow others their free agency.


Most importantly, I have learned that the
Atonement of Jesus Christ is real
and can heal our pain and grief as well as our sins!

Permission and a Blessing

Last evening I was lying in bed watching a movie when my cell phone rang.

It was Kent who was in Layton (?) visiting his brother Dennis who is in the hospital.

"Caleb just called and told me that Raulon is there to visit me and I think it might be an important visit. Can you go down and cover for me?"

I agreed and went down to the living room to find Naomi's boyfriend standing there.

I asked him if he wanted to sit down.

He did.

I explained where Kent was and he said that the mom usually gets the raw end of the deal in these matters so maybe he'd just go ahead.

He proceeded to ask permission to marry Naomi.

I gave him my blessing.

Naomi Van Tassell has a nice ring to it. :]

Parents

Last night I watched an episode of Oprah about people whose lives were changed in seconds. Stephanie and Christian Nielsen from the Nie Nie Dialogues (I have the link to her blog on my sidebar) were some of the guests. It is an amazing story of trial, faith and healing. One of the things that touched me the most was an interview with her parents and brothers and sisters. Her mom sat there with tears running down her cheeks as she told about Stephanie being in a medically induced coma for 3 months while she recovered from 3rd degree burns over 80% of her body. She would whisper in Stephanie's ear, "You can do it!"



I am in no way comparing myself to Stephanie, but her mom reminded me of mine. Five years ago I had double hernia repair surgery. My mom had a really hard time climbing stairs, but every day for a week she climbed the stairs to my bedroom while I was recovering, to keep me company. She sat in the recliner and watched movies with me (I got her hooked on the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice), or we would just visit. She would help me in and out of bed and cry with me when I cried. While I was in the bathroom she would straighten out the bed and have it all ready for me to climb back in. Meanwhile, my dad would come over a couple of times during the day to check on us and one time he surprised me with a big wooden get well card which I still have.
I have amazing parents and I know they still love and care about me. I am so lucky to be a parent myself. I can't think of any greater privilege (unless it's to be a grandparent!)

P.S. I had trout tonight! Nanette and Chris treated us to Red Lobster. I always get the double portion so I have some for breakfast. Thanks Nanette and Chris for getting me out of the house and cheering me up! Thanks Ethan for eating "trees" with me. Thanks Logan for all the hugs and macaroni and cheese hands!

My DAY

Bad DAY

Sad DAY

Glad to go to bed DAY

mEEk

From the Past

Katie has this picture hanging on her

bulletin board and I couldn't resist

taking a picture of it because I have

to do a double take when I look at it.

Who do you think the kids look like?

I think Ethan looks like Nanette, Logan could be Katie's twin if he had long hair and blue eyes, and I see a lot of similarities between Dane and Braiden.

It's all in the genes.

Is It Spring Yet?

The temperature dropped this week and there is snow on the mountains.

It feels like spring at our house though.

There's a feeling of anticipation in the air.
Dane will be home in a little more than 3 weeks!

There is so much deep cleaning going on as we are changing rooms in order for Dane to have a room when he gets home that it feels like spring cleaning.
My scrapbook room is becoming Caleb's bedroom.
His room will be Dane's room.
The scrapbook stuff is squeezing back into the sewing room.
Not a bad trade for Dane!

Someone at our house is newly "twitterpated".
I won't mention names, but she is my favorite unmarried daughter and sure deserves to be happy and in love.

So, the wind may be howling outside, and my nose is an icicle once again, but there's a feeling of hope and excitement at the Jensen house!

SIGNAGE

I've been collecting pictures of funny signs.

Here's one from a few weeks ago in Rawlins, WY.

"Clean Rooms - American Owned"
(Just in case you're wondering if you've wandered across the border)

This picture isn't a sign, but it was also taken on the trip to Wyoming:

I guess he didn't have a tarp for his trailer!

Slacker

I am a major slacker with my blog

but I plan to try and change that

by blogging every day in October.

Another reason I'm a slacker:

I was watching "18 kids and counting" on TLC

and realized that the Duggars

have been married

the same amount of years

as Kent and I (25)

and Michelle Duggar

is the same age as I am.

She has 3 times the number

of kids as I do.

And she's pregnant

with number 19!

Boy do I feel like a slacker!

My hero Michelle Duggar

cHAngEs

AUGUST was a month for changes.

We had some milestone birthdays.

DANE celebrated his 21st birthday in Limon, Costa Rica. He hasn't sent any pictures yet, but he said he celebrated by having a pretty normal day of missionary work. He did get his birthday package in time this year!

NICK turned 18. He and Caleb were both good sports about their birthday celebrations because of the Martin Harris Pageant being on their birthdays and having to wait until 10:30 at night to have their parties.

Notice the time on the clock on the fireplace. That's pm.

CALEB is now sweet 16. His birthday was a busy day. We all went to his cousin's wedding in Ogden and then to lunch at Chukarama. After mutual and the pageant we finally celebrated. Caleb now has his driver's license and our insurance jumped way up. He was also ordained a Priest last Sunday so I'm looking forward to him and Nick blessing the sacrament together!

KENT was ordained and set apart as Bishop of the Smithfield 8th Ward on August 16th. It has been a big change for our family. So far Sundays haven't been as busy for him as Tuesdays and Wednesdays and sometimes Thursdays have been and our phone rings a lot more often. I have enjoyed walking around the ward and visiting families with him. I have applied for a part time job for the holidays and will find out next week if I've been hired. Caleb also interviewed for a job and will find out soon if he'll have money to pay for his driving privileges.

NAOMI is working full time now at Lee's while trying to recover from mono. Not an easy thing, but she's sure a trooper!

LOGAN'S changing moods. The poor little guy seemed to spend a lot of August sick, part of the time with a mouth full of sores. Luckily he's back to his happy self now!

BRAIDEN'S changing face color and expression. What's he doing Katie?

BOYS changing hair styles: