Basement.

When we first looked for housing here in Salt Lake, we were surprised that our budget wasn't going to cut it if we wanted to be less than 20 miles from Scott's work.  But somehow the stars aligned and we ended up with this place.  I feel so lucky that we found our duplex here in Salt Lake.  We love our neighborhood and you can't beat the location in relation to the hospital and the school Brielle and Braden go to is a wonderful one.  I feel like we were led to this place and I'm so grateful everything worked out the way that it did. 

When I looked at photos online that the landlord sent, the one big downer for me was this ugly wooden paneling in the basement.  But Scott and I felt so lucky to have found this much square feet and the location for the price, we quickly put a deposit on it and decided I would live with that hideous wall.  

When we moved, back in June last year and we went to the basement, it felt like a dungeon, that wall made everything down there look dark and ugly.  I hardly wanted to spend time down there.  

It was definitely not inviting! 

I lived with it for two months.  I asked the landlord if she would let me paint it, she said, her parents who are the owners, like that paneling and it probably wouldn't be a good idea, but if it were her she'd paint it.  They are super laid back people so I painted it anyway!!! I'm a rebel I know.  But I mean, seriously what are they going to say? I'm making this place better.  Who is going to want that hideous paneling in their basement? I feel like I'm doing them a favor!:) 

After A LOT of work...priming twice and two coats of paint...I was able to make our basement not a dungeon any more.  

I started this transformation back in August and it is still a work in progress! 

Since I had to use so much paint on the wall with the panel, I ran out of paint as you can see on the right wall and still haven't finished painting.  

I've been lacking motivation these winter months and with Scott 'living' at the hospital and no help from him at all, this project is all left up to me.  My husband is always so good at helping me finish projects I start but like I said with him being gone all the time, I'm still not done.  

There's still a lot I'd like to do in that basement, like a little reading area...but I think it looks so much better than it did when we first moved in.  

Like I said, it is still a work in progress...

But now, at least my kids want to go down there to play and that space is being used and it is more inviting.  

Amazing what a little bit of love can do for a space. 

Legacy.

A while ago, Facebook and I broke up as I wrote about it HERE...well...since then, as you may have noticed, Facebook and I got back together.  I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook.  I had to break up with Facebook around election time last year for a few months, because I couldn't handle some of the comments shared there.  I went back around December to gather some addresses for Christmas and I couldn't deactivate my account once I was there.  

As most of you know, I immigrated to the U.S. back in the early 90's.  I have spent most of my life here and have established a life in this country.  It will be 20 years this June 24th since I arrived to Miami.  But I left a lot of fond memories in my birth country of Perú.  My roots come from there.  As I deactivated my Facebook account last year, it almost felt as if I was disconnecting myself from those roots, a past of which I am so proud and fond of and love and remember dearly.  You see, Facebook is in some instances, my ONLY connection to family who still lives there, including my own father.  

This family is so dear to me.  I spent so much of my childhood with them and they influenced the person that I am today.  Aunts and uncles, first cousins, distant cousins, distant aunts and uncles...there is something in me that yearns to be connected to these people, whom perhaps don't know me well any more and I don't know well either, but with whom I share a consanguineous connection. 

My connection to my family has always been important to me.  

My parents were both, very close to their parents.  Because of their close relationships with them, I have always felt close to my grandparents.  I have loved them all, all of my life.  I have a deep respect for the lives they led while in this mortal life.  

But, I feel a special connection to my maternal grandfather.  

This man was out of this world, he was a remarkable man.    

I often marvel at who he was, how he came to be who he was and how he viewed this mortal experience.  

I am in awe of him and the legacy he left.

 He was and continues to be one of my heroes.  

I have seen many photographs of him in his older age, but I had never seen him as a young man.  

As I browsed through Facebook one evening, after I put my children to bed, I encountered this photo of him.  One of my mother's cousins, had posted it on Facebook   

When I saw this photo, I felt like I had won a million dollars! 

I couldn't believe that I had found a priceless treasure on Facebook of all places!

This photo was taken when he was at the Escuela Militar de Chorrillos (military school).  My mom tells the story and says that while he was attending there, he got involved in politics and secretly became a political activist.  Back then, if you were in the military, you couldn't have any political affiliation whatsoever.  My grandfather, however, believed in the political ideology which he had joined (which was basically democracy) and would meet up with leaders of the party clandestinely.  Word spread and one night, police came and arrested all those involved in this political party and sent them to the Frontón, which was an island used to imprison all political prisoners.  

He was innocent of any crime, except for the fact the he believed in democracy. 

He later got out of the Frontón, fell in love with Lydia Flor (my grandmother), got married and started a family. He couldn't resume his education at the military school but became a man of many trades, as my mother puts it.  He worked very hard to support his family.

I wish he were here to tell me details of what happened during that time of his life.  

But one thing I know for sure, he always stood up for what he believed and he passed on a legacy of standing up for justice in a world of injustice.  He was an honest, hard working man who loved his family and his main purpose became to teach his children to be productive individuals. 

He gave all of his children an education and believed that an education along with hard work were the answer to a productive life. 

He had 5 daughters and 5 sons (2 died in childhood, 1 died in his 20's) but he made sure that all of his living children got some kind of trade or profession after high school.  I am amazed when my mom shares with me how hard he worked to send them all to the capital, Lima, to study and the vision that he had.  He would often encourage and empower his daughters especially, by saying, "A husband is good to have, but a husband can leave or a husband can die, but your profession/trade stays with you forever." This man was a realist and encouraged his children to have vision.  He didn't mean this, in a 'don't get married' way, but in a 'you need to be prepared, just in case' kind of way.  To him, it wasn't just what was in front of him at that moment, he always looked beyond.  

I remember as a little girl, he and my grandma moved in with us.  My grandmother had cancer and my mom took care of her for many months before she died.  My grandpa would sometimes, help me with my math homework.  I was probably in third or fourth grade, not yet learning about negative numbers.  I was doing some kind of equation and I was having a hard time coming up with the answer.  I kept saying, "this can't be, you can't subtract a bigger number from a smaller number." He very gently explained to me, that you can and taught me about negative numbers.  I didn't understand the concept at that moment, but I loved and appreciated that he wanted to expand my world and look beyond what was in front of me at that moment.  

He loved good, nutritious food.  He always encouraged us to eat healthy.  

He would say, "if you don't eat healthy foods, you won't have muscles to work and your brain won't work!" and then he would proceed to show us his muscles and do push ups!!! 

He loved books and was always reading something.  It was at his house, that I was introduced, to the National Geographic, Reader's Digest and Life Magazine.  He would say, "Cultured people, read!" 

I have dozens and dozens of memories of him. 

I always think of my grandfather, Manuel Alba, Mañuco as my grandmother would call him.  I miss him.  I frequently think of him and the legacy he has left for me and my children.  I often ask my mother to tell me about what she remembers and lessons she learned from him.  

It will be a happy day, when I see him again!

For now, I am glad for Facebook and that it gave me a treasure that is priceless to me!  

Inspiration.

{This 10 week class just ended this last Thursday, but I thought I'd share some of the insights I gained during that time, for anyone who is interested :)}

A few weeks ago my stake started a class taught by Virginia Pearce (Gordon B. Hinckley's daughter) who is in our ward and Bonnie Parkin (Former General Relief Society President).  They are teaching from the book Daughters in My Kingdom.  The class goes for 10 weeks and we are in our fourth week.  

During this cold winter, I look forward to every Thursday, so I can go be part of the discussions and teachings from these amazing women.  I need to be uplifted.  I think we all do, all the time.  

I look back to my BYU-Idaho days as the peak of my spirituality.  I almost see my time there as a mission.  I was so spiritually nourished there.  We were taught at the feet of apostles and prophets.  I will never forget the privilege I had to have those experiences.  It was during those times, that my testimony was strengthened beyond measure.  I realize how easy it was, I could devote all of my time to myself.  The focus of my life, was ME.  I'm grateful I had that time, I cherish it.  

I can find all sorts of excuses now as to why my spirituality is not the same as it was then, and I'm sure some of them are valid ones...I find it so interesting that the life that I always dreamed of (what I have now) has taken a toll on my spiritual well-being...it is a constant internal battle I fight, against the physical and emotional exhaustion that come with being a mother.  

This class is an answer to my prayers and the much needed spiritual boost I have been needing in my life as a young mother and Scott and I trying to build a good future for our family.  Since this class started,  I have been filled with so many thoughts and insights into my life.  There are times when the thoughts (personal revelation) just come, while I blow dry my hair, washing dishes or vacuuming.  Other times, I am inspired by a talk I listen to, or reading the assignment for next week or even a newspaper article.  I become filled with thoughts and solutions as to how to make a better life for me and my family.  Sister Pearce mentioned one thing last week that really hit home and made me reflect on the way that I am.  She said that as women we love to complain, but what does complaining accomplish if we don't find solutions to our complaints? 

I was talking to a good friend of mine about the difficulties residency (and life) bring to marriage, when a husband works 15 hour days/6 days a week, how do you nourish your relationship properly? It can be tricky but not impossible. It is not a question of not loving each other, but the reality is that when exhaustion reigns your physical and emotional being, no one is at their best.  The one day off a week is usually spent with the children as our focus...my good and wise friend suggested that the best thing parents can do for their children is to focus on each other and nurture their adult relationship with each other.
The marriage comes first, everything else follows naturally. Common sense, you say? True.

I was browsing through the New York Times the other day, when THIS article caught my eye.  It takes A LOT of work to have 'that loving feeling' for one another when he has worked his tail off since 5 in the morning and you have been dealing with children's needs all day long and it is 10pm and you and the Mr. are completely and utterly exhausted and your house looks like a tornado came and the dishes are waiting for you in the sink...and then there is this need to nurture your love but you are physically and emotionally incapable of giving each other proper nurturing.  This article gives such good and practical suggestions, one as simple as asking yourself, 'what can I do for five minutes to make my spouse's life better?'  That's all it takes to show love and concern for each other.  We don't have to have an elaborate date and by elaborate I mean expensive (because let's be honest, $20 for dinner, $20 to a movie, $20 to a babysitter and your date turns into a $60 date).

I think I can give 5 minutes everyday and even if we can't have an elaborate date,
we at least feel like we care for each other.

I was reading our assignment for this week and this quote from the Prophet Joseph touched me to tears:

"Let this society [the Relief Society] teach how to act towards husbands, to treat them with mildness and affection. When a man is borne with trouble-when he is perplexed, if he can meet a smile, not an argument-if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul and soothe his feelings.  When the mind is going to despair, it needs a solace...When you go home never give a cross word, but let kindness, charity and love, crown your works."

As I read this, I was once again reminded that God knows me personally and He is involved in the details of my life.  I feel gratitude in my heart that He takes the time to soothe my anxious heart and ready to complain attitude.  

Satisfying relationships take effort, but the rewards are worth it! 

Today, Scott made me the best quesadilla I have ever had in my whole life!
He took the time to do something for me, and that meant the world and more than anything it made his love tangible and not something that we just say to each other.

It's true when they say, that the little things make all the difference! 

Happy Days.

One morning we were walking to school and the kids were being quite rambunctious.  A nice looking lady with a smile on her face looked at them and said, "Oh Happy Days!" She saw what I sometimes fail to see when I get caught up in the commotion of getting kids to do what they are supposed to do.  I told myself,  "she is right, these are happy days!"  

We have been keeping busy around here.  

The days and weeks go by fast.  

I'm glad Spring is just around the corner.  

To wrap up the kids' birthdays, we had a little hot chocolate bar party.  Two of Jana's kids also have February birthdays, so we wanted to have a little celebration with all 4 kids.
  

We had a fun afternoon celebrating that these 4 kiddos are part of our lives.  

They are wonderful children and I'm glad they get to be friends. 

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My mom came to visit us one weekend and we headed to City Creek.  I absolutely LOVE spending time with my mom, we always have interesting conversations and she is a little busy bee when she's at my house.  She always helps with our laundry, washes dishes, helps with my kids and eases my load.  She is amazing and we love the time we get to spend with her. 

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Braden had been begging me to take them to the indoor pool for a while now.  So one afternoon after Brielle came home from school we headed to the pool.  It was the perfect activity on a long winter day.  Brooke LOVED it, although it was a bit stressful for me.  She wanted to do her own thing and be a big girl like her brother and sister.  We swam for a good two hours.  It was a fun active activity, it seems like it is so hard to be physically active during the winter.  I'm glad Braden MADE me take them!:) 

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The days seems to be warming up and this makes me so happy! 

We get to go out to play for at least an hour every day.

I've decided that watching the development of a child is quite amazing.  Brooke is learning so many new things every day, it is such an exciting time in her little life.  I'm glad that I get to watch everything and I don't have to miss anything!   

Winter is almost over! 

Woo hoo!!! 

Jumping for joy! 

Our little neighbor Hazel is a month younger than Brooke and it has been so fun to watch them become such big girls!:) I'm excited that we have a little girl for Brooke to play with. 

We planned a girls' lunch with my good neighbor friends.  My friend Michele recommended this amazing Vietnamese restaurant close by.  I have been craving Pho, that soup you see above.  My brother introduced our family to pho...and ever since we had it in DC I've been wanting to eat it again, and it didn't help that my friend Michele posted a picture of it on instagram.  

So, I mentioned it to my friends and they were in...somehow it worked out that all of their husbands were off that day and I got a babysitter and we were able to go without children! 

It was such a stress-free lunch! 

There is nothing like being able to eat in peace, with no interruptions!!! 

We were all thrilled that it worked out the way it did! 

...and the pho was out of this world!!! 

(Thanks for the recommendation Michele!!! I knew it was going to be good because you know Vietnamese food!) :)

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Scott's older brother CJ and his family came to town and we were glad that we were able to get together and visit with them. CJ came for a dental conference and his family was able to join him. 

We met up with them at Temple Square one day and went to the Church Office Building's observation deck.

I've been really wanting to go there and I'm glad it worked out for us to go.  

Scott finished early and was able to join us! 

The view is amazing and you can see the whole valley from up there.  

Brookie can be a ittle timid sometimes.  She was holding on to Scott's leg and wouldn't let go. 

The Capitol in the background.

It was fun to see everything from all the way up there. 

The cousins had a fun time together, playing and running around. 

Most of the Jensen grandchildren. 

Multiplying and replenishing for sure!

It was a really enjoyable afternoon and we were glad to see family! 

******

Brielle is becoming quite proficient at the piano.  

She LOVES it and I don't even have to ask her to practice every day, she just does it on her own.  

She got her recital piece for their spring recital and she has been practicing very diligently.  

It is not quite mastered yet but she has until May to perfect it.   

18 Months.

Happy Monday!

If looking at this little 18 month old won't brighten your day today, 

I don't know what will! 

But perhaps I am quite biased because she's mine. 

This toddler had a doctor check up on Friday and she was found healthy and strong, 

which makes any parent happy.  

She weighs 21 pounds 5 ounces (32%)

She is 31.1 inches tall (28%)

It looks like she fits right in with the rest of us Jensens.  

Her vocabulary has expanded extensively these last few months.   

She says: 

mom

dad

Brielle

flower

up

bite

ball

baf (bath)

phone

eye

baba (for milk)

nana (banana)

boo!

boo (for book)

vroom (car)

hot

down

jum (jump)

bubble

bravo

She has a good 20 to 30 words. 

I had forgotten how exciting it is when they start talking! 

She is quite mischievous and a total mess maker! 

The older kids are learning what is like to clean up messes that are not theirs. 

It has been good for them. 

She has an obsession with hair, any hair she pulls. 

It is bad, It has proven to be quite the challenge in nursery. 

(Braden was a biter and now Brooke is the hair puller...can I ever get a break?) 

She is a daddy lover and does a happy dance when her daddy comes home from work.

She loves to eat avocados, strawberries, bananas, pears...she is a fruit lover and also a cheese lover. 

She is growing out of her second nap, but could still take one.  

She is a good napper and a good sleeper overall. 

Brooke is essentially a good 18-month old. 

I think we'll keep her!:)