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!

2004 Christmas Letter

As another year comes to an end, we wanted to take a few moments to catch everyone up on life at the Jensen house. Greg is closing in on his 14th year at Hewlett Packard. Although we never thought we would be in Houston this long, we love it here and are happy that Greg has a good job he enjoys. Greg became an official telecommuter this year and has set up a real office upstairs. He also had the chance travel to Belgium and England to work with new customers. I tried to go on both of these trips, but was never able to work out the details. So instead of getting to stretch these trips into mini vacations, Greg had to focus totally on work. We hate when that happens! Greg also saw changes in his church calling twice this year—going from scout master to ward clerk to second counselor in the Bishopric.

I decided to take a break from school, and have recently started working in early morning receiving at Kohl’s. I love my job, which allows me to see all the new merchandise that comes into the store as well as being one of the first to know what is going on clearance. Greg harasses me about being paid in merchandise and not money since I tend to do a lot more shopping than I used to. What can I say; it is hard to pass up great bargains combined with an employee discount. Besides working in the mornings, I stay busy with the kids and my calling as Enrichment counselor in the Relief Society.

The hardest thing about this year is that it is Melissa’s last one in high school and the last one here at home. It is hard to believe that she is a senior and almost 18. Last year I sent out a very condensed letter, and Melissa was not pleased with the part about her. She was doing so much that instead of highlighting the major accomplishments, I simple generalized her activities. So now I have promised to make up for that mistake. Both 2003 & 2004 were very busy and successful for Melissa. She received her Young Womanhood Recognition award in February 2003—something we hope she knows we are very proud of. Her junior year in high school was extremely difficult. Besides being in French 4, chemistry and algebra II, she had two AP classes which at times stretched her to her limits. But she studied hard, did well in all her classes, and received 5s on both of her AP tests. Melissa was also accepted in the National Honor society, served on our stake youth committee, and had a job babysitting two afternoons a week (a job she still has). In her spare time, Melissa was the varsity mascot for a second year. Although she loved being on the squad she knew she couldn’t handle another year in the cougar costume so she decided to take tumbling lessons in order to try out for varsity cheerleader. She was doing very well and could do a backhand spring with a spotter when she lost her coach when he changed gyms about two months before tryouts. Although she was unable to line up another private lesson coach, she still tried out and attempted the back handspring at the beginning of her routine. Unfortunately she came up short and landed on her head. The trooper that she is, she shook it off and continued her performance, which was understandably very shaky. She knew she didn’t make the squad when she left the floor, but she was proud of herself for trying something so difficult. She later found out that she missed the squad by one spot—kind of a bitter sweet moment because she came so close. But everything happens for a reason, and because she didn’t have a commitment to cheerleading Melissa had the opportunity to take some fun classes this year including photography and PALS—a service oriented class where HS students mentor elementary and middle school students. She is also taking three more AP classes this year as well as Early Childhood Professions, which is her favorite. In this class she teaches 3 & 4 year olds at the preschool which is operated at her high school. Melissa has always wanted to teach dance, but had planned on owning her own studio. However, she loves teaching preschool so much she has decided she would like to teach in a school and is planning on majoring in Kinesiology education when she goes to college. We aren’t sure where that will be—she has applied to several schools, but doesn’t expect to hear from most of them until April. She was originally leaning toward BYU, but after attending a dance conference there this summer she decided she would like to be closer to home. Right now I believe her first choice for college is Texas A&M. She did receive her first acceptance letter last week from Sam Houston State University. This used to be her back up school until she recently attended an honors banquet there and was able to talk with the head of the kinesiology department. Because they have a really good program and have already offered her a scholarship, SHSU has moved up on her list. The hard part now is waiting to see if she gets accepted to her top choices and crossing our fingers that some scholarship offers will come from those schools too.

Joseph is a sophomore and turned 16 last week. We were blessed to have his grandparents here for the weekend to see him ordained a priest on his birthday. Joe is a student trainer again this year and is currently working with the varsity girl’s basketball team. We like basketball because he only has to work two or three times a week. This means he can actually do something other than go to school, work practices and games and do homework. During football season he was busy every day from 6 am when he went to seminary until around 11:00 each night when he finally finished his homework. But he is a hard worker and did what he needed to in order to keep his grades up and meet all his commitments. One thing we had to let slide was finishing up his home-study Driver’s Ed program. But now that it is football season is over and he has a little free time, he hopes to have his license by the end of Christmas break. Joe plays the bass in the school orchestra, and would like to take bass guitar and/or piano lessons.

Rachel is 14 and in 8th grade. She is taking Spanish this year and was just invited as part of a small group of students to go on a school trip to Mexico over spring break. Rachel still loves playing the tuba and can’t wait until marching band next year. She loves to make movies, but her creative juices have had to be put on hold because her camcorder broke earlier in the year. She is trying to save up enough to buy a new one by babysitting and dog sitting. Rachel is still a ferocious reader and recently declared she had read every book in the house and needed some new ones. One of the highlights of her year was receiving a fire bellied toad as a birthday present from her best friend.

Erin is 10 and in 5th grade. I can’t believe that after this year we will be done with elementary school. Erin plays the piano and wants to learn how to play the drums. She can’t decide if she wants to be in the band next year or if she wants to use her acting talents in drama. She really is quite the drama queen. Erin swam on our neighborhood swim team again this summer. She likes being out in the sun hanging out with her friends at the meets. Thanks to Harry Potter she has started reading a lot more lately. She also enjoys playing volleyball and IMing her friends.

As you can see, we have been very blessed. We are especially grateful this time of year for our Savior and his gospel. We are grateful for good friends and family and want you to know that although we don’t see you very often, you are in our thoughts and prayers. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that 2005 is filled with happiness and love for you and your family!

2003 Christmas Letter

Wow, another year has coming to an end! Once again we just wanted to wish y'all happy holidays and catch you up on what has been going on in our family during the last 12 months.

Greg is still working at HP, although he now works mostly from home. He is the scoutmaster in our ward, and enjoys this calling quite a bit despite the fact that he only has two scouts in his troop. Cindy finished her Associates degree this spring and is now working on a BA in history. She also stays busy being a full time mom and serving as the enrichment counselor in Relief Society. Melissa is almost 17 and a junior is high school. Even though she is very busy with school, church and friends, she still finds time to swing every day at the park across the street. Joe just turned 15 and is a freshman. He earned his Eagle Scout in March, plays the bass in the orchestra, is in the sports medicine program in school and is currently a trainer for the girls' varsity basketball team (quite a hardship for a teenage boy!). Rachel is 13 and in 7th grade. She still takes piano lessons, loves to read and was just declared the world's best female tuba player at school (yes, she is the only girl tuba player there). Erin is 9 and in 4th grade. She is also taking piano lessons, loves to play with her friend s and walk our neighbors' dogs (because her parents won't let her have her own).

As you can see we are thriving her in Houston. We hope you are also healthy, happy and enjoying a wonderful holiday season.

Take care, and Merry Christmas!

2002 Christmas Letter

It is hard to believe that another year is over. This one flew by! Since we don't get to see most of our family and distant friends very often, we wanted to take this chance to catch up with y'all. Though we may not live nearby and are very bad at keeping in touch, please know that you are in our thoughts--especially during this time of the year!

2002 has been very good to our family. We are grateful for the many blessings we have been given this year--being able to attend the Nauvoo Temple Open House, moving into a new home, plus being healthy, happy and employed! It really is a wonderful life! Greg is about to finish his 12th year at Compaq, AKA Hewlett Packard, and is the Scout Master in our Ward. Cindy keeps busy going to school part-time, playing chauffeur for our kids and being in charge of the ward activities committee. Our kids keep getting older (which must mean we do too). Melissa is a sophomore and will be turning 16 in February. The highlights of her year were going to EFY in San Antonio this summer and earning her letter jacked for being a mascot on the varsity cheerleading squad. Joe just turned 14 and keeps reminding me that he is now tow inches taller than I am. He played 8th grade football this fall, plays the bass in the advanced orchestra, and completed the requirements for his Eagle Scout. Rachel is 12 and started middle school this year. She is a crazy girl who loves Young Womens, playing the piano and the tuba (which she plans to play in the marching band in high school). Erin is 8 1/2, in third grade and loves being the only Jensen ever to have attended her school. Science and recess are her favorites and she is excited to be taking piano lessons again.

We hope you have also had a wonderful year and that the spirit of Christmas fill your homes and your lives. May the Lord bless you and your family throughout the coming year!