Thankful #15

Today I'm thankful for banana walnut chocolate chip cookies. Brenton picked some up last night for his celebration party on his paper. They are delicious! Go get some!

Thankful #14

We received Brenton's hospital bill today... the total (so far) of all the charges was $30,722.41. Thanks to insurance, we owe $1,565.81. That's still a lot of money for us to pay, but I'll take it over the 30 grand any day. So, I'm thankful for insurance even though sometimes I complain about it.... guess it's a necessary evil :)

Thankful #13

Today I'm thankful for Family Home Evening. I love having the chance to get together with my family every week and have a short lesson and do an activity together. I'm especially thankful for the lessons that Brenton prepares. He is so smart and spiritual, and I enjoy having the spirit brough into my home by my dear husband. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have asked families to set aside Monday night as Family Home Evening night. When Mondays are not available, I know families substitute another night. This is a great blessing to not only learn and feel the spirit together, but just to spend time and have fun together. (If you are interested, here is a cool article by Pres. Hinckley on FHE).

Thankful #12

Today, I'm thankful for the time I have to spend with my family. We've been especially lucky this semester, that Brenton's schedule has allowed him to spend a lot of time at home. I LOVE IT!!! I know it's going to change and he's going to end up having a job where he's gone all day long... and when that time comes, I'll understand. But, for now, I enjoy Brenton being able to be home with us a lot during the day. It makes for great family time, extra help with the house and Bryson, and just fun time with my husband! I LOVE YOU, Brenton!

Thankful #11

Today was AWESOME!!!! I'm thankful that we were all able to stay for all 3 hours at church.... Lately, Brenton and I have been trading off coming home with Bryson after Sacrament meeting (the first meeting where we all meet together). This is the FIRST time in probably 2-3 months that we've all been to all 3 meetings. Today, the primary president had Bryson go to Nursery (he's 16 months today). He was running all around at the beginning of Sunday School, and she approached me and said we could try to take him. It worked! He stayed in for the full 2 hours.... it was a GREAT, Much-needed break for Brenton and I!!!!

I'm thankful that I was able to enjoy all of my church meetings.... I love them!!! They refresh and renew me for the week.

Thankful #10

Today we got snow!!!!!! Lots of it!!! We did go out in it for a while, but I must say today that I am thankful for a warm, heated house to come home to!!!!!! I love being able to come inside and be warm... I can cuddle up in a blanket with some Hot Cocoa if I want... it's great. Here comes winter!!!!

Thankful #9

Today has been rough!!!! I didn't sleep so well last night... it was effected my whole day, in a not-so-good way! Therefore, today I am thankful for the nights when I actually do sleep good!!!! I hope tonight is one of those nights, though I doubt it 'cause I've been sleeping all day!!! (Thanks to my husband for getting everything done today, since I was no help!).

***Sroll Down!!!

Go to November 7th to read about Brenton's wonderful amazing conference and paper!!!!!!

Thankful #8

I'm so lucky!!!! I get to play with this little guy all day long.... He's such a joy! He has the cutest smile and most contagious laugh.
Today, I'm thankful for precious moments like I've had today. This morning, I heard him in his room say "HI!!!!" and so, I went to go get him out of his crib. As I walked in his room, I saw him just sitting there with a big smile for mommy. I LOVE THIS BOY!!!!

Pure Bliss

Can life get better than this? No way.... I enjoyed watching Brenton and Bryson play together today for a good hour or so. As I watched, I couldn't help but think that this is what happiness is.... Daddy and son playing together with a box. I loved watching them interact and hearing Bryson giggle. I love these two boys!!!!

Thankful #7

Being Veteran's day, I would be unappreciative if I didn't say I was thankful for all those service people in the armed forces that have fought/fight/will fight for our freedoms! Thanks for your sacrifice, your family's sacrifice too!

Thankful #6

Today I'm thankful for a GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP!!!! yes!!! Last night, i still woke up like 5 times, but I slept for hours in between compared to minutes... it was fabulous! I woke up earlier than usual, ready to go. I'm thankful for this little burst of energy I have today! Hopefully I will use it to my full advantage and get everything done I need to....

Thankful #5

I'm grateful today that Heavenly Father answers prayers... maybe not when or how we want them, but he gives them! I'm thankful for that peace, calmness he can give in the middle of a storm. He does hear us!

Thankful #4

Today I'm thankful for family.... We have so much support and love, it's the best!
It's nice knowing that in a life full of uncertainty... some things are certain.....
one is family!

Thankful #3

I'm thankful today for modern conveniences in travel... like the airplane. Brenton comes home today, and a trip that would probably take him 20 hours each way has turned into about 6 (with layovers). Hooray for being able to go where we want to go- faster!!!

Brenton's Research Conference Report

As many of you know, I've been working for the past year with a group from my research methods class for my major and our professor on a project and paper. We submitted our paper to a conference and got picked to go present it! Here's the update on how the conference went:

We presented at the Southwest Symposium at the University of Texas Arlington on November 6, 2009. It was put on by the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communications.
Thursday night we all flew into Dallas and had dinner at a restaurant right by our hotel. Friday morning before the conference we went and took the tour at the new Cowboy Stadium. It was so huge and it was a pretty cool tour. We got through a little later t han we thought and had to hurry to get to the conference in time to present.
Our presentation went great! I presented our introduction and a little background, then Shiree presented our methods, and then Stacy presented our results and conclusion. We were the first paper of the first session. We were pretty nervous, but it was a lot of fun.
At the end of the session there were questions and answers and they really grilled us, but I think we did great and it was cool to hear their ideas and their feedback. It was a good thing that Professor Thomsen was there to help us field some of the questions.
Apparently no one knew that we were undergraduates and when they found out, they were even more impressed! It was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed participating in the other discussions and sessions that we attended. We were the only undergrads at the conference. Everyone else were masters or PhD students or professors.
That night there was a dinner and awards banquet. We won the award for Top Paper of the conference! We were so excited! Stacy and I were about to cry! It was such an honor and a great way to end the day. Then we went back to our hotel and celebrated by hanging out in Proferssor Thomsen's hotel room and then toasting with hot chocolate.
I flew home Saturday morning to get back to Adree and Bryson! I missed them. Apparently the others stayed for another few sessions that morning, but missed the shuttle so they weren't able to go anyway.
So now we will be published in the Council's next journal. I'm not sure when it comes out, but I'm so excited for it! We were all amazed to think soon we'll be published authors.
This was such a great experience and I'm so glad I got to be a part of this class, this research group, and this conference. It has taught me a lot. Thanks to everyone who worked on it! It was so great to work with you all! And most especially thank you so much to my amazing wife for supporting me! She came early on to help us practice our tracking and survey, she put up with me being gone sometimes for group meetings and other work on the project. She let me spend money we didn't have to get down there, and was so supportive of me going to the conference even though we were both sad that she couldn't come with me. Thank you so much, honey!

Thankful #2

I'm thankful for Bryson. He is such a sweet boy! I love him so much, and am so blessed to be able to stay home with him every day. He's got a strong personality and sometimes he's a little stinker, but I sure do enjoy him. He makes me laugh at least 100 times every day. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father knows what special spirits need me, and what I need.

Being Grateful...

Since November is the month of being thankful... Well, really we should be thankful ALL the time.... I guess now is a good time to start....
I am grateful for a WONDERFUL AMAZING husband who works so hard for our family!! He is off to TX today to present a paper he worked on... we are so proud of him!

Good Luck, honey!!! You will do great!!!!

Catch-up

I'm playing Catch-up on the blog! So much to post about.... so I will update this list with the updates I make.... I'm trying to put the blog posts them in Chronological order so when I go to make a book out of this blog, it will already be set up!!!
Scroll down to the 31st to see our Halloween blog post!
Scroll down to the 20th to see our AZ trip (cut short)!

Soon to come :
Brenton's illness and recovery....

Baby Blanket

I started a baby blanket the end of September. I was so excited to try to make something for our baby girl. I spent some time doing it, then left for AZ. I took it to AZ with me, but didn't work on it at all... then I flew home quick to be with Brenton during his hospital stay/recovery. I've been dying to finish it, and tonight, with Brenton's help, I did!!!
It's definitely not perfect in any way (not very square, etc), but I'm semi-proud of myself and this small accomplishment. I am not a crafty person, so this was a big stretch. I can't wait for my baby girl to lay on it!!!

AZ Baby Shower

My sisters in law and mother are throwing Baby Girl Jensen and me a baby shower on Tuesday, November 24th, in the evening (in AZ). If you would like an e-vite, please send me your email address :) If you don't want to post it, email it to bajensen07@gmail.com.
Hope to see you all there!!!!