2000 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas 2000 and Happy New Year! 

Dear Family and Friends, 

It’s hard to believe that another year has flown by already! We hope it has been a good one for you. It has been for us. Zion is growing—2 new grandchildren, bringing our total to 13 (9 boys, 4 girls).

• Scott and Amy Westra: Live in Draper. Scott is a CPA, still working at Worker’s Compensation Fund of Utah. Three daughters and one son: McKenna, 7 ½; Alyssa, 5 ½ ; Kellen, 4; and Kemery, 2. Scott is a Stake Missionary and Amy is Primary Chorister. Amy helps at school a lot and in PTA.
• Chris and Sandy Westra: Live in Fayette, Utah, where Chris works as a Substance Abuse Counselor at Gunnison Prison. Their three sons are Conner, 8 ½ (who was baptized in a warm spring in the area—a beautiful setting--a tradition in the town); Kadan, 6 ½ , and Corin 3 ½. Chris is Elder’s Quorum President and Sandy is teaching Primary. They are going to build a new home in Gunnison come Spring. 
• Wendy and Rick Jensen: Live in St. George area (Ivins). Rick teaches Seminary at the Tuacahn School of the Arts. Wendy teaches sign language (ASL) at Dixie College 2 evenings a week and does some free-lance interpreting. Rick teaches occasional computer classes at Dixie College and for an internet company. Rick is in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency and is Choir Director and Wendy is in the Primary Presidency. They have a daughter Janika, age 5, and a son Jase, age 3, and a new son Jared born March 8. 
• Jeni and Grayson Blackham: Live in West Jordan. Grayson is a General Contractor,  building with Hamlet Homes.  Gray is a Counselor in the Bishopric. A new son, Keaton, born Aug. 31 joins big brothers Landon, 5, and Callahan, 1 ½. Jen is still totally immersed in her hobby of Scrapbooking! She’s very creative and has won several contests with the cute pages she creates. She also writes columns for an on-line scrapbooking magazine and is on Provo Craft’s scrapbooking “Dream Team” and teaches classes for a Craft Store. She has been using her singing talent a lot lately in various wards and programs. 
• Shane: is 24 ½ and became engaged this month to Alicia Green from Sandy. They will be married in the Salt Lake Temple on Wed. May 9. He is working at Onyx Graphics in Quality Assurance (Computer work). He is Executive Secretary to the Bishopric in his Singles ward and in a temple sealing group. 
• Derek: is 18 ½ and a Freshman at BYU. He took a trip to New York and will going on his mission when he turns 19 in May. 

LaMar and Margie: LaMar is still working at Unisys, but hopes to retire before too long. He is still serving as the Stake Family Search Director. Margie is the ward Family History Coordinator and mans the FHC in our stake center on Wednesday mornings and volunteers at the Cottonwood Hospital Surgical Center Friday mornings 

We hope all of you have a wonderful and healthy and happy year 2001! Write and tell us all about your growing families and what you are all doing. We love hearing from you! Or you can e-mail us at:
westra@softcom.net 

Gospel Topics and Missionary Helps Homepage: www.softcom.net/users/westra/Margie.htm

Sincerely, 

The Westras

Christmas 2000

 

The Westra Christmas Eve Nativity was featured in the Christmas 1999 post ... but only video, no pictures (although the video shows some camera flashes. Where are those photos?) This year, there was a plethora of pictures of the nativity ... but not really anything else from that night. Video from this year also only showcases the nativity.

No journal entry from Jen this year (her 2000 journal seemed to stop around the time Keaton was born in September ... busy with baby!) Anything in Dad or Wendy's records to remember? Jen does recall that this was Keaton's second time playing the baby Jesus this year. Jen performed in a stake musical showcase. She was Mary and the director wanted a live baby Jesus in the scene. Jen didn't volunteer Keaton as he wasn't newborn, but in the end, she was called and asked if she had a baby and was willing to let him be in the production ... ironically the caller didn't realize Jen was playing Mary, it was just a random request! There had been some concern that a live baby might cry, but Keaton did great. Both times!

Here's video ...

https://youtu.be/DB4ivtgpiEY

Jen created the scrapbook page shown at the top (featuring Provo Craft products, she was working as a brand ambassador on their Dream Team at the time) but there were even more pictures that didn't make it on the page. Some are repeats of those showcased above, and all are in the Dropbox folder (2000/Christmas).

... in the top left photo, you can see Jason and Kiki's little boy in the "sheep costume" for a moment before taking off (was it his parents, or the shepherds, that chased him down as he took off?)