Morning Nahptime: dress

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Christmas Dress 2014

This year we swapped trees with different family members, and ended up with a six-footer, which has plenty of room for all of our ornaments above Miss V's reach. She likes the decorations, especially the lights and child-friendly nativity sets. A few presents already under our tree are just tall enough for her to back into them and use as benches.

We played dress-up today, since wearing a dress that gets in the way while climbing isn't what she wanted to wear after church on Sunday. She looks so big in all of the puffy layers, and then I see her in the onesie and ruffle-butt tights, and she appears to be so tiny again. Grandma found such an adorable outfit. It's a little more difficult taking posed pictures now than when she was just a few months old and couldn't even roll away from where I plopped her, but I love watching her explore, running around outside and through the house.

Each phase of her life comes with new experiences and opportunities. Right now I'm enjoying her adorable displays of mimicry as we fold our arms to pray, wave good-bye, or tickle toes. She loves picking up a book, and turning slowly through all of the pages. A few recognizable words are said, but her supposed words bring some interesting guesses. I think more crayon shavings end up in her mouth than on her coloring pages. One of my favorite sights to see is when Zak gets home from work, and V realizes he'll be coming through the door any moment. She sprints toward him with a big grin on her face.

We're excited for Christmas activities and presents this year. She's already made wrapping gifts and decorating the gingerbread house into adventures. She loves putting on necklaces. She is one of God's perfect little creations, and I sure hope I don't ruin that with my parenting. We love her very much.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Reta Waters Jensen

When Zak and I were dating, he told me one of his great-grandmothers was still alive. To me, that is amazing. It seems on my side, V's great-grandparents have all passed away, and she's not even one-year-old. Great-grandma Jensen's daughter was Grandma Rena, who is Dad's mom. Reta Waters Jensen passed away March 1, 2014. We were never able to visit her, but for a few brief months, V and her second cousin, L, had a living great-great-grandmother.

From Grandma Jensen's obituary

"Beloved wife, cherished mother, wonderful grandmother, and revered friend Reta Waters Jensen, passed away on March 1, 2014 in Mountain Home, Idaho at the age of 93. Reta was born in Richfield, on April 12, 1920 to Mark and Nellie Jane Squire Waters. She married Milo Andrew Jensen in the Manti LDS Temple on September 10, 1951. He preceded her in death December 16, 1988. As a high school student, Reta loved to go to dances and play the piano. She gained a strong testimony of God and demonstrated her faith daily throughout her life. She served faithfully in various callings in Primary and Relief Society."Whether out on the farm planting potatoes or filling the kitchen with the warm smells of fresh bread, cookies, and cinnamon rolls, Reta was a true lady. She kept a home filled with tranquility and love. She was totally devoted to her family. They were everything to her. She lived to love and serve them."In her later years she enjoyed going to plays, barbershop shows, and movies. Listening to loved ones sing was such a joy to her."

At the funeral we heard from Grandma Jensen's living children, who spoke about growing up on a farm, and seeing their mom work on every chore from top to bottom. One daughter liked to hide out with a book during chore time. They had beautiful horses. The family adapted when financial circumstances change.

I hadn't realized the Grandma Rena was from a first marriage, but was raised by her mom and Milo, as one of his own. It reminds me of my Grandpa Calvin Hooper, whose stepfather did the same thing. It was a little funny to me that both of Reta Waters' husbands had the last name of Jensen (no relation).