Happiness in family life is...

Family happiness is fun, fun, fun and good food.  Our family reunion was a great success.  My anxiety beforehand was totally unnecessary (like most anxiety is).  Just like I knew it would be, everyone had fun talking, teasing, tearing off on bikes, and toasting a great family.  The reunion was not without its moments of quiet, tenderness, sharing, singing, and mayhem.  I like what the Proclamation on the Family (1995) says about family:  "The family is ordained of God...Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."  While the last aspect was the most obvious at our reunion, ie recreational activities, I believe the other values underlie the good relationships of our family.  We missed the presence of our youngest son and his wife and daughter.  They are an important part of our family too.  Maybe next time.

Literally thousands of photos were taken.  How do I choose what to display?  I'll pick some just a little different.  We have many hams in the family.  Most of these photos were taken by Rebecca and can be seen in the book I created on line at Blurb.  To see a 78 page book of photos and comments of the family reunion of Michael and Carroll Jensen, click on the link below and see, "The Jensen Family Reunion, July, 2011" or translated, "Happiness in family life..."
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/1887126/f489d995e1cadc0fa12c68c3fef4b13254fc18d3

Click on PREVIEW.  Once you have the book, I recommend you click on the bottom right hand corner box with the arrows going four directions for a full screen view.  Enjoy.  So for a little sample.

Havie loves to take pictures.  She is looking at photos Rebecca took while Isabella and Tali look on.

I was glad to see my new ping pong table was a big hit.  We are also a competitive family.

 Amelia is a wonderful aunt.  Just ask Sianne.

A couple of months ago Esther started gathering materials for the TV game, "Minute to Win It", a bit hit.

The photo/video I most regret not having is of about ten of our family who sang in our church meeting on Sunday.  They sang harmony for the hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" so beautifully it brought tears to my eyes.  Jennie organized that.  Darius and his son gave talks/sermons in sacrament meeting as well.  Others offered prayers.  Later a friend of mine said he has never seen so many members of one family participate in one sacrament meeting.  Always nice to receive compliments for the family.  But Darius in his talk told some lies when he gave the impression his parents were perfect.  However, I am glad he remembers the good times.

  Learning to work will be of great value

Glad daughters and granddaughters volunteered to feed us.  Some unsung heroes are the husbands of our daughters who pitched tents and looked after children and washed dishes.  Love them all.

While most of our children weren't interested in learning piano when their mother taught them, they are more into it now, like Sarah.

I am glad Isabella likes my water feature.  Just as the right height too.

Many quiet moments to share.

Hensie brought her Japanese student to see what a Canadian family looks like.  So our family keeps on expanding, one way or another.  Hopefully our influence is for the good as we try to live the values and principles that bring happiness. 

Final thought:  FAMILY is not easy, it does involve sacrifice; but it is rewarding and it is worth it!

Family Reunion Time is Close--July 29 to 31

Don't those cherries look delicious?  Jenevieve and the rest of her family enjoyed this outing.  Jarom, age 14 as of yesterday, said he spent the last 20 minutes of our picking, just filling his tummy.  Nothing like memorable events like this to build family ties.





Jennie immediately climbed the tree.  She probably remembered stories of her mother climbing cherry trees as she picked in her father's orchard.  Of course Jennie's children followed her up the tree; like 7 year old Josie.




Javan, Hensie and Havie came over for dinner on Sunday, like they often do.  Havie is barely 3 but she has the attention of everyone as she demonstrates her gaming skill on her father's i-phone.  Javan loaded some apps for her.  She is very quick to learn, and loves the attention.  But she also let others play on her i-phone too.



Justus turns 5 tomorrow.  He is a beautiful boy.  Looks much like me at that age.  He likes to help too.  Jay is a great father.














Jarom has the Hall genes for height.  Carroll comes up to the bottom of his ear.  He has matured a lot too.





 





I have been anxious about so many family descending upon us next week for the reunion.  Jennie and her family have been a great help loosening me up.  We have had fun together: reading, visiting, playing games, picking, pitting cherries, walking, eating, playing the dish game (don't ask), praying, Family Home Evening (FHE), watching home movies, and even napping.

Bit of wisdom:  Family connections bring joy, both in the present, as memories, and as promises for eternity.  Yes there is wear and tear, but it is worth it.

This is my woodpile. I love my woodpile because in the winter time I love to sit at the computer beside my wood burning stove and enjoy that special heat. Some years I get my wood the easy way and pay a man $150 to dump all I need for the winter at the bottom of my driveway- a cord of dry wood already split. When I want smaller pieces they split easily with my maul. This year I started helping a family who heat their home with wood, to get their supply. Then it was easy to just keep on going for myself. Neighbours are getting some of their large Pondorosa Pines cut down. What they don't want they stack near the road for people like
me to pick up free. However I discovered Pondorosa Pine does not like to be split; hence my justification for buying an electric log splitter. Hefting all this heavy wood is good exercise. Plus I will enjoy burning it this winter. Hopefully it will be dry enough and that is why I am splitting much of it smaller than necessary. What you see in this pile goes three full rows back and more than a cord so it's a little more than I will need this winter. I'll
have some ready for the family reunion so others can have fun splitting and stacking too. How about it Jarom?

How do you like my new mountain bike, well new to me. Neighbour sold it for $20. I took it for a tune up at the local bike shop, cost more than the bike of course, and he kept saying this is an old bike. It is heavy but it runs good; especially on the bike/jogging path by the lake this morning. But a caution to Darius and Micah, I am not ready for your wild rides and jumps by Powers Creek. Rebecca, how are you doing on your bike rides? And of
course David gets the prize for riding his bike to work nearly every day.

This spate of activity is all very well and good. What I don't understand is why I feel tired all the time; whether I exert myself or not. Is that part of aging? No wonder Ponce de Leon, the explorer, was searching for the living waters that would give him energy and long life. One of my motivations to get active is because my children have expressed concern about my sedate lifestyle. So I need to get in a little better shape before the family reunion at the end of the month.

Wisdom:  I get as much or more writing done when I am physically active as when I'm not.