Greg and Cindy

Greg and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary in December. It is amazing that time has gone by so fast! We have been in Houston now for 16 1/2 yrs. Although we hate being so far from family, Houston is a great place to live and we have had a wonderful life here. Greg is still working for HP, and I believe he enjoys it most days. I got a new job in May as a reservations agent with Continental Airlines. It is a great job which gives me a lot of flexibility, allows me to work from home and comes with great perks! So Greg works to pay the bills and I work so we can travel. It is a system that is really working out well!

In December Greg and I were made the nursery leaders for our ward. It is a lot of fun to be with the little ones on Sunday. We definitely have some of the cutest kids in our ward. Greg is also serving as the Scout Committee Chairman and the Emergency Preparedness Specialist for our ward.

A family Christmas

This year we were blessed to have all of my family come to Houston for Christmas. It was the first time we have all been together for a couple of years. It was wonderful to be with extended family during the holiday season. Although it wasn't a white Christmas, it is hard to complain when you get to wear shorts in December.

Welcome to my blog

After reading a couple of friends' blogs, I have decided to try blogging out. My goal is to find a way to be better at journaling and keeping in touch with friends and family. Hopefully I can be better at this than scrapbooking. ;-)

2006 Christmas letter

Once again the holiday season has moved faster than we have. By the time you receive this card, Christmas will be over. But we still wanted to let you know we have been thinking about you and give you an update of our lives this past year.

Greg is still working at HP and is closing in on his 16th year with the company. He is enjoying working with the young men in our ward, although they do tend to rough him up a bit on the basketball court. He picked up a couple of new hobbies this year and got a new set of golf clubs, his ham radio license and a fancy new radio. Cindy keeps busy taking care of the family and keeping track of everyone's activities. She loves working with the young women in our ward, and enjoyed being at girls camp this year will all of our girls. She is still building her travel business and was able to travel to Cancun on a training trip this spring. Greg and Cindy also traveled to Scotland, Ireland and Wales this fall with Greg's parents and brother. These are three beautiful countries we would love to visit again--although the driving was very, very scary.

Our kids are all doing really well. Melissa will turn 20 in February and is in the middle of her second year at the University of Texas. She loved her job this summer as a mentor at the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in Austin. She considers this the best job every because it allowed her to make some good money and be able to dance with professional dancers. She is on UT's Varsity rowing team this year, has a very active social life and is getting very good grades.

Joe just turned 18. The highlight of his summer was a backpacking trip to Big Bend National Park with his dad and the young men in our ward. This fall he was named a National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalist. Due to some health problems, he is being home schooled and is preparing to get his GED next month. He is looking forward to taking some college courses and preparing to serve a mission.

Rachel is a sophomore and recently turned 16. She is hoping to get her driver's license very soon. She loves marching band and is still the world's coolest tuba player. Rachel dog sits and babysits to make money, which she needs to support her very busy social life.

Erin is 12 and in 7th grade. She plays the bass clarinet and was just promoted to the Symphonic band. She made the spirit squad this fall and cheered at 7th & 8th grade football games. Erin loves talking on the phone, hanging with her friends and shopping.

We hope everything is well with you and that your holidays have been full of happiness. May the Lord continue to bless you and the ones you love.
Love,
The Jensens

March, 2006 Family Letter

As they say--better late than never. So instead of our usual family Christmas letter, here is our spring-time family update:

Last year was full of many new adventures for our family. We experienced our first hurricane evacuation when Rita hit the gulf coast. Luckily this only meant a weekend in Austin with friends. Although we didn’t suffer any damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, they did give us new opportunities for service. We participated in food and clothing drives for Louisiana evacuees. Greg also worked several days at the Astrodome and was responsible for organizing our ward’s work crews for clean-up trips in Louisiana and Texas This gave him a great excuse to buy a new chain saw—something he has wanted for a very long time. Greg also received a new calling as Young Men’s President.

Cindy started a new business making and selling stepping stones and custom-made bricks. She also got a new job as a home based travel agent, which gave her the opportunity to go on a cruise to the Panama Canal.

Melissa got a new address and roommate as she moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. This has allowed her several new sporting experiences including watching her football team become National Champs and becoming a coxswain on the UT Women’s Novice Rowing Team. She also just found out that she will be getting a new letter jacket next month. Yes, it’s true, we have a collegiate letterman in our family!

For Joe, last year brought him a new business mowing lawns with a friend and three new scars as he had to have his appendix out in November. He also took the PSAT and learned he should be a National Merit Semi Finalist next year.

Rachel was a new high school freshman and started playing her tuba in the Cypress Creek marching band. This gave her the new experiences of summer band camp, after school marching practices and performances at football games. She is also our newest driver’s ed. student.

Erin moved to a new school as she entered 6th grade and began playing a new instrument--the clarinet. (She is hoping be promoted to the bass clarinet soon.)

So that is what’s new with the Jensens. We hope you are well and happy!