Randy's Thanksgiving Thoughts

Dear Family,

I have spent quite some time this month thinking about Gratitude.  If fact, I have taught several of my coaching sessions this month on the subject of Gratitude.  All the research shows that in order for people to understand what Gratitude is, we have to get them to talk about it.

I would like to challenge the Jensen family to watch the following video and then share on our family blog your thoughts on gratitude.  Talk about why you are grateful.

If this video doesn’t make you cry or at least get a lump in your throat, I don’t know what will.

Here is the link.  It is the story of Derek Redmond in the 1992 summer Olympics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZlXWp6vFdE

Now, name someone who has influenced your life for good.  Who has shaped or molded you into who you currently are?  Who has performed some kind act of service in your behalf?  Share with us how you have been influenced for good because of someone else.

I remember when Grandma Elsie had her surgery in October of 1985, and we all knew on that day that we were going to lose her.  The pain of the moment is still quite real.  Grandpa Reed was with Grandma Elsie at the hospital that day,  and Larry, Lloyd, and I carried on in the harvest.

We didn’t have cell phones in those days so Lloyd was the one who would call into the hospital from the sugar beet receiving station and keep us updated as to mom’s progress during the surgery.   I can still remember the expression on Lloyd’s face as he got out of his truck to come and tell me the final news.  I knew before he said a word that the news was not good.

What I remember that has shaped my life is what happened the next few days following her surgery.  I still marvel how our neighbors and ward members gathered together an army of people and equipment and pulled into our fields and helped us finish our harvest.  Within 2 days our harvest was complete.  I am so grateful to those people for allowing us to spend precious time with Grandma Elsie before her passing.  I know that act of service has shaped my life for good.  I will be forever thankful.



Randy

Casey and Tonya BLOG

Tonya is fantastic about updating her blog! Please check it out since its too much for me to paste it all over to this one....I'm not kidding, she is really, really good at keeping it updated.

http://tonyajensen.blogspot.com/

Here is a random video to watch...very inspirational!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/da5QQSxSsGY

Brad's Reunion Run-down

I tried to create a Top 10 List from the reunion, but I can't narrow it down to just 10. So, I decided to go with highlights from each day that either make me laugh (still), or that were really cool/special:

Thursday

• Baptisms with Becca and Adi
• Dad whistling for the server to bring more water at the restaraunt (that's funny right there...)

Friday

• FORE! Golfing was a blast with everyone!
• Watching Griff out-drive Troy and Eileen...twice.
• Daxton driving through the staked rope with the cart (nice job Aunt Leenie)
• Listening to Junior giggle on the drive home
• The waterslide in general was fun, but listening to Lisa bust on Jeff for not waiting long enough was the hightlight for me! ;-)
• Holy Talent Show
• Casey Tyler - You're funny!
• Judge Dan (Yo, Yo Dawg...)
• Emma Swift - you angel
• Adele, I mean Alexis - WOW
• Troy's pose and The Randy Jensen Family Entertainers

Saturday

• Rappelling with Jeff Cheney, Maddie, Greg Rich, Austin, Ian, Alli, Brogan, Adi, Griffin and Daxton (Cheney and Rich...cough up the pics!)
• Joe and Casey going yard after calling it (I'm not jealous...I think Joe's ball is still going)
• Playing "Signs" (Right Dan and Teague??)
• Kristi and Kylee's duet
• Family History

What a great reunion! I'm so grateful to Eileen and Pam for your hard work and preparation! You pulled off a great event that filled us all with amazing memories and renewed relationships. Thank you to everyone for making the effort to be there and making it special. I asked my kids what their favorite memories were and they simply said, "just being with everyone." It doesn't really matter what the Jensen's do...we have fun doing it. Looking forward to it again in 2 years!

Brad

From Grandpa and Grandma

Finally, I have a moment and will send you some thoughts.   You can word it like you want.  Family reunions are so important to have and to attend.  Memories are made and kept through blogs and many pictures.  This particular event in 2012 will be so interesting to read 20-30 years from now.  Many will laugh and say "did I really look like that?".  This particular reunion brought six families together.  Bad feelings were forgotten and done away with.  Love and friendship renewed.
 As grandparents, who had little to do with planning and preparation, it was pure joy for us.  As we sat back and watched brothers and sisters exchange happy words, in law's fit in so perfectly, cousins happy to see each other, babies that bring joy to all, we knew that eternal families have their purpose.  It was like everyone was dressed in white and totally equal.
 The reunion began by many of us serving in the temple together.  That was special and set the tone for the remaining days.  The dinner after was filled with laughter, stories and fun.  The meals on Friday were so delicious and well done.  The talent show was so fun.  We enjoyed the personalities of so many family members, from Pyper reciting the First Article of Faith at age 2, Emma filling our hearts with tearful emotion as we listened to her sing her song, seeing the great potential in Alexis with her music, to the crazy dance of Randy and his family who hit You Tube.  Each talent gave us a great memory. 
Saturdays breakfast was superior to what any restaurant could put out.  The ball game was fun to watch in the afternoon.  Jensen's are still very good at swinging that bat for a home run.  The conclusion of the reunion was perfect with the thoughts returning to family, those who lived before and their influence in our lives.  The beautiful song by Kristi and her daughter Kylee set the mood for the rest of the evening.  The testimonies that were given by Larry, Randy, Joyce, Lloyd, Eileen and Bradley about family and their trust in Heavenly Father will long be remembered.  It was very touching.  Grandpa and I have spoken often about special moments that occurred during this time together.  We are so proud of each family member, and the way they conduct their lives.  Grandpa had a great time talking about the past a well, I had the best time just visiting with everyone and especially rocking the five great grand babies.  May we repeat this great event in two years.  Love you all.  Grandma Laurie

Thank you Nickell!

Some highlights from the reunion. Thanks to Nickell for taking AND sending these photos

More family photos

Learning how to make the perfect pie crust

Julie and her girls taught us how to make the perfect pie crust! 

Reason to do the Happy Dance!!

So 9 times out of ten I leave Emma's diabetes appointments fighting tears, sometimes i cry the whole way home and sometimes i cry all day. It just builds and builds you know. I usually receive bad numbers on an important blood test that clues us in on how bad her diabetes is and her doctor scares the crap out of me when he does the math on how long we have now until the scary/ life threatening complications set in. Pretty depressing to go through that every 1-2 months when I spend 24/7 fighting this nasty disease and trying so hard to get her sugar in control. But this time we had our breath of fresh air and got not only good news but great news. Numbers came way down and it took great power to not bust into the happy dance right there in the office. I didn't do anything diff so I got more proof it's just the disease and not me! Me and em, we jammed the whole way home. Best day ever.......

Lisa Cheney

2 Cute Toothless Cousins!

Thank you to Nickell for sending this darling photo!

More Photos of Larry and Pam and family

Larry and Pam and family

Calling all recipe requests!

OK I got a response to my email last night and Kristi Rich requested my recipe for Spinach Salad. I will eventually make a recipe page but for now I will post all recipes right here! Any other requests for recipes? Any recipes you want to share? Come on, don't be shy...bring it on!!

This recipe is actually a mixture of spinach salads I have tried over the years. So don't be afraid to tweek it and make it your own. 

Mandarin Poppyseed Spinach Salad

1 bag of Spring Mix
2 bags baby spinach leaves
1  can of mandarin oranges, drained
1 diced red onion
1/2 lb grated monterey jack cheese
Sugared Almonds (see below)
Dressing (see below)

Mix all together right before serving as it gets soggy quickly

Sugared Almonds
1/2 pkg sliced almonds
1/4 c white sugar
Add sugar to a dry frying pan and cook over medium heat until the sugar melts and browns slightly. Add almonds and quickly toss until fairly well coated. Pour onto foil and allow to cool then break apart.
Please keep in mind that this scorches very easily and you must watch constantly. Once the sugar starts to melt the whole process goes super fast so keep on your toes :)

Poppyseed Dressing
1/4 cup oil--  I use vegetable
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
1 T poppyseeds


The end! Enjoy

Waterslide

The waterside at the park was so much fun. It was a welcome break from the heat. You can see how much fun the kids (and adults) had sliding down the hill. 

Photos from the reunion

Grandpa and Tadd

Randy and his girls family performed an extremely memorable dance routine!

Here we go!!
This is the blog we talked about. PLEASE please please send me things to post. Updates from your family, photos, memories...whatever you want to post. I will make it look pretty soon enough, just wanted to get it started for now so don't get distracted by the lack of creativity on the page. It will get there. We will have a recipe section also but I NEED your recipes. Everyone is invited to post anything and everything. 
In 2 years, at the next reunion, we will have a copy of the blog printed and bound into a nice book that we will add to our family history. In order to do that we need everyone to fill it with current and past history. Ready, set, GO...