Easter 2000

Westra Easter ... Easter Sunday was April 23 in 2000. There weren't any written records for reference ~ Jen's journal skipped 2000/2001 (ironic as she'd started scrapbooking and journaling is emphasized so much there) and Wendy's family was in St. George (Jared had just been born, March 8, so no info from her about the Westra party either). Email archive doesn't date back that far. Scanned photos, so no digital dating on photo files. Was this Saturday or Sunday? Unknown.

• I wonder if Kellin caught any fish with his little plastic pole?  Thank you Shane for rescuing Kemery before she fell into the pond (there would be children falling into the pond, on Easter even ... see Easter 2006 *Ü*) 
• Not sure why the Blackham boys aren't in the group picture ... little Callahan appears in a few of the photos. Maybe they had run late and missed the hunt and were just there for some socializing afterward. 
• Keaton was coming (end of August). 

Ah, the classic plastic pink basket (Kaden used this year).

Those classics have been around since 1971!

There were four (another green one) and they were used every Easter (see Easter 1982 too).

Grateful to have found a COLOR version of this 1971 photograph!

(Old-Fashioned Photos and Film)

Jen did a photo shoot with Callahan, as he looked so cute on the bridge. Originally she thought these photos were from Mother's Day, but seeing Callahan in the same outfit in a couple of the Easter group shots ... it must have been Easter.

1999 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas 1999 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. Here’s an update on our current family situation:

• 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, 6 ½ ; Alyssa, 4 ½ ; Kellen, 3; and Kemery, 16 months. Scott is in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency and Amy is teaching the 5-year-olds in Primary. 
• Chris and Sandy Westra: Live in Fayette, Utah, where Chris works as a Substance Abuse Counselor at Gunnison Prison. Their three sons are Conner, 7 ½ ; Kadan, 5 ½ , and Corin 2 ½. Chris is Elder’s Quorum President and Sandy is teaching Primary. 
• Wendy and Rick Jensen: Live in St. George area (Ivins). Rick transferred from teaching Seminary at PineView High School (the past 2 years) to teaching at Snow Canyon High School and the new Tuacahn School of the Arts (both of which are close to their home, so that’s nice!) 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 Wendy is teaching YW. They have a daughter Janika, age 4, and a son Jase, age 2, and are expecting another boy in March, which will give us 12 grandchildren--8 boys and 4 girls. 
• Jeni and Grayson Blackham: Live in West Jordan. Grayson is a General Contractor, currently building homes in Heber—a long commute each day! Gray is a Counselor in the Bishopric and Jeni is the Primary Pianist. Their two sons are Landon, 4, and Callahan, 10 months. Jeni has lost interest in her boutique at the Quilted Bear and is totally into her new hobby of Scrapbooking! She does a great job and has won several contests with the cute pages she creates. She also writes columns for an on-line scrapbooking magazine. 
• Shane: is 23 ½. He graduated from the U. of U. this past May and is working at Onyx Graphics in Quality Assurance (Computer work). He is attending a Singles Ward and is chairman of the “Perfecting the Saints” Committee, a member of the service committee, and in a temple sealing group. He built us a lovely pond and waterfall in our backyard, which we and the goldfish enjoy! 
• Derek: is 17 ½ and a Senior at Cottonwood High School where he is serving as the Seminary President. He is planning on attending BYU next Fall. 

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

We hope all of you have a wonderful and healthy and happy year 2000! Write and tell us all about your growing families and what you are all doing. We’d love to hear from you! Or you can e-mail us at: westra@softcom.net (new e-mail address) Homepage: www.softcom.net/users/westra/Margie.htm

Sincerely,
The Westras

Christmas 1999

Christmas 1999 ... a close capture of the stockings (11 little ones), a tree cut from the yard (judging by the shape), the candy bar game, and I believe this was the first year the nativity was introduced. There is video, but there are NO pictures in Dropbox of the kids in costumes (there are flashes during the video, so pictures were taken ... not sure where they are though!)

Conner was Joseph, McKenna was Mary. Alyssa was an angel, Kaden a shepherd. Landon was a wiseman, joined by Chris and Derek (adults had to fill in roles several years) and Sandy was the star. Future years would have larger casts with many angels, shepherds and animals.

https://youtu.be/nJ6-o5ZOW28

... and a few more photos from the party. No Jensens in the photos, so they must have been with Rick's side of the family for Christmas Eve this year. We did have the Normans and the Grandparents though.

... one more picture, Derek and friends, maybe going caroling? There are lights on the trees and everyone is dressed warmly, although there is no snow.  This was taken with Jen's camera, grouped with the other Christmas Eve pictures, and catching a glimpse of Derek in the video, I believe he was wearing this shirt ...so it should be Christmas Eve also. 

1999... Not Only Easter

So everyone had to multi-task a little for Easter this year ... not only was it the Easter holiday, but it was also conference weekend, and the "Spring Forward" shift for Daylight Savings. Whew! Have to appreciate all those other years when it's only eggs to worry about!

The Westra gathering was held on Saturday, April 3. Chris's crew wasn't able to make it up this year, but Scott's family, the Jensen kids and the Blackham Boys came out after the second session of conference. The littles did an egg hunt, then the men went to the Priesthood session.

Sunday it was conference again, and hopefully everyone remembered to change the clocks. There was another gathering that Sunday evening at Merrill and Lorrie's house. Nelva and Arnold and Dale were there too, and Blackham's got to show off baby Callahan. Cousin Emily had picked up a white blanket when she was in Bethlehem for him. The following Sunday would be Callahan's baby blessing.

1998 Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family— 

It’s hard to believe another year has gone by. We hope it has been a good one for all of you. It has been for us. We’ll catch you up on all the Westra Clan. 

• Scott and Amy Westra: are living in Draper. Scott is a CPA working for Workman’s Compensation Fund of Utah. They added a beautiful little baby daughter, Kemery, to their family on Aug. 5. She joins McKenna—age 5 1/2, Alyssa—age 3 l/2, and Kellen—age 2.
• Chris and Sandy Westra: are living in Fayette, Utah. Tired of all the commuting to Provo, Chris changed jobs this year. He now works just 5 miles from home as a Substance Abuse Counselor at the Gunnison Prison. Their 3 boys are Conner—age 6 ½, Kadan—age 4 l/2, and Corin—18 months. 
• Wendy and Rick Jensen: are living in St. George, where Rick is teaching Seminary at Pine View High School. Wendy is teaching Sign Language (ASL) at Dixie College and Rick is teaching Computer Classes there and for an Internet Company for a little extra money. Their daughter Janika just turned 3 years old and their son Jase just turned 1. 
• Jeni and Grayson Blackham: are living in West Jordan. Grayson is a builder and Jeni has a successful booth at the Quilted Bear Boutique in Midvale. Their son Landon turned 3 in Sept. and they are expecting another baby boy in March. They are soooo excited! 
• Shane: is in the Architecture Program at the U. of U., which keeps him EXTREMELY busy! He’s often up there 24 hours a day! He will get his BA degree in the Spring. He did manage to build us a pond and waterfall in our backyard this summer—it’s almost finished anyway. He is our computer expert and tries to keep all our equipment running smoothly. He was our ward’s Webelos Leader for the 16 months since he returned from his mission to Brazil, but has recently switched to the Young Adult Ward. 
• Derek: is 16 ½ and a Junior at Cottonwood High School. He works at “The Store” and has lots of terrific friends--both male and female. He is a great and caring person who always tries to do what is right. He enjoys sports and art and music. 

LaMar is still working at Unisys. Margie volunteers at the Family History Center Wed. mornings and at the Surgical Center at Cottonwood Hospital on Fri. mornings. LaMar is the Stake Family Search Director and Margie is the Ward Family History Coordinator. Margie’s other hobbies are flower gardening and computer. Besides genealogy, LaMar’s other hobbies are genealogy and genealogy! We won’t have to be worried about him being bored when he retires someday. 

We hope you all have a happy and healthy 1999!
Love, The Westras

Happy Holidays ~ 1998

I've noticed that the majority of pictures from family gatherings come from my/Jen's camera. For Christmas 1998, I was pregnant with Callahan and wasn't feeling great. It was a little earlier in December when I'd passed out in Sacrament meeting. Grayson was shifting jobs (had quit K&B, went Pentalon, but then got the Hamlet Homes offer) - so life was a little crazy and I didn't get pictures of Christmas Eve ... or at least I thought I hadn't, as I didn't find the usual ones at the Havenmoor Home. I was keeping a journal at this time (the memories from above and some of the dates below) but didn't mention much about Christmas Eve ... except to say that we were late (as usual). Wendy consulted her journals and was able to add some details. We'll have to check out Dad's journals to see if he has more memories from December 1998.

At the end of November, Jensens were in town, and stayed at the Blackham's. On November 28, we had a belated Westra Thanksgiving at the Havenmoor House.  There were several pictures of the grandkids with gifts in December Dropbox that were labeled "Christmas 1998", but you can see the corner (bottom left), and the tree isn't there. Some years though, the tree was at the base of the stairs instead of in the corner.  Landon and McKenna are holding gifts, so it would be easy to think it was Christmas ...but this was the dinner and "December" birthday celebration (photos of Jase, with a second pink cake for Janika). 

Wendy had a little bit of video from the day ...

https://youtu.be/cQiD_QunEPQ

Thanks to Wendy's journal entry, we now know that Christmas Eve 1998 was actually held at Scott and Amy's house (on Rosewood Park Lane in Draper). Note the different decor and couches in the three photos (Christmas Eve 2012 would also be hosted by Scott&Amy). At the Westra home, I'm sure another little stocking was added to Scott&Amy's with the addition of little Kemery this year.

The picture of the Jensen family (bottom center) is back at the Havenmoor House right around Christmas. You can see the card holder decoration there in the background. The group of grandkids on the stairs?  Another journal entry indicates a belated Christmas dinner at the folks on December 28, so maybe it was from then (found footage ... video from this event below), or another time before when everyone was together (different outfits than any of the other photos). 

THIS video was uncovered after this post went up. All the indications (ages, # of stockings, placement on the video between 1997 and 1999) are that this is Christmas 1998, but if Christmas Eve was held elsewhere, perhaps this is from the post-Christmas party on December 28th.

https://youtu.be/PVj_ZGX1UcQ

Lots of detective work required for this year. What have we learned?

Keep journals. Take photos & label photos. Add personal pictures to the family Dropbox.

A Mother's Day Poem - By Wendy

 

 

... a poem written and shared by Wendy in 1998

MOTHERHOOD

Although I can't remember, the time I was a babe

and relied on you for every need, for food and love and aid.

I feel your love and endless care, and all the sacrifice

that you must have showered o'er me, from the first day of my life.

I feel it when I gaze into the eyes of my dear children,

and comfort them in sickness or play with them in fun.

I feel it during those sleepless nights, when only a mother's care will do

I feel it when I'm discouraged about those terrible twos.

I feel it after a warm embrace when my child has stubbed her knee,

I feel it in the pride that's there, when she says her ABC's.

Although my children are still so small, they've taught me something great;

I've felt the love you had for me, when your own needs had to wait.

So thank you dear mother, for your worry and prayers, for all the time you spent on me 

that has helped me too, become a mother in Zion for all eternity!!