Angel of Lost Keys

 Mom encouraged the siblings to share a "prayer story" and so here is one from Wendy.

The sharing happened Dec 2020. The memory happened in 2019...

I went to bring Jaiden to tumbling after school, but couldn't find my car keys anywhere. Luckily Rick was home and so I was able to use his spare key temporarily, but I knew that I needed to find mine. 

When I returned I said a prayer that I would find them. The whole family joined in the search but with no success. I was getting nervous because the key fob costs about $200.00 to replace. I checked all of the usual places several times. A few hours later I decided to try again and said another prayer mentioning the cost of replacement and even threw in a reminder of how I had paid extra tithing all last year, ha ha! I explained that I would really love to find my keys and we could really use this little tender mercy! 

Anyway, after dinner I thought that maybe I should check the garbage can. Although, why in the world would they be there, right? I took out a garbage bag and started pulling out the garbage piece by piece, putting it in the bag. I had gone through the entire day's garbage and was moving on to the garbage from the day before. I was about to give up when I saw a round black thing. I pulled it out and sure enough, there were my keys near the bottom of the garbage can! I was so grateful!! I gave several "thank you" prayers expressing gratitude at God's tender mercies! If I hadn't received an impression to check there the keys would have been thrown away and lost forever! 

Rick joked that there was probably an angel in heaven whose sole responsibility was to help people find their lost keys -- in fact maybe there was one specifically assigned to the Jensen family, ha ha! He then shared his own miracle experience of when he had lost his keys at Tuacahn. He had been in the costume room getting a costume together for a seminary assignment. He was nervous because he was in a hurry and only had ten minutes before he had to get to his assignment. He knelt down and said a prayer asking for help to find his keys immediately so that he could get to his appointment on time. He then looked over and there was a basket of boots. He reached into one of the boots and there were his keys! 

I am grateful that God is aware of the tiny details of our lives and blesses us with tender mercies even when it is something as inconsequential as missing keys!

Calder's Baptism

Another eight-year-old Westra grandkid! 

 ... in the "to be scanned and put into family box"  pile, the program from the baptism. 

Army Pictures and Paperwork

Thank you to our Veterans! 

There has already been a post about Grandpa Rex Norman's military service (In the Army Now) which showcases some family furlough photos and portions of his written history. As we continue to research, additional photos and documents have been uncovered. So here's a few more peeks into Grandpa Rex's military service. Two new photos (above) and some paperwork (below, click on any image to enlarge).

This record shows the duties/positions, work experience and prior education 

as well as dates entering and leaving the service.

We found it interesting to note on the discharge papers, that Grandpa Rex was only 5'7" and 151 pounds. This also includes "Decorations and Citations" and we are grateful he didn't need to go into action overseas!

Certificate of Appreciation 

This was the pouch that Grandpa kept these papers in.

History of Marjorie Norman Westra

1st 20 years (growing up)

I was born on Saturday, Nov. 7, 1942.  The address listed on my little newspaper birth announcement was 140 Gerard Ave. in S.L.C.   My parents didn't live here for very long. Gerard Ave. was just barely on the North side of downtown S.L. I remember my dad saying that Gerard Ave. was torn down and Social Hall Ave. replaced it. Social Hall Ave. was where Rex worked in his career a few years into their marriage and then for the rest of his working career (when we lived on Boxelder street in Murray). So Dad said he worked on the same street where they used to live when I was born! We moved to Mt. Pleasant soon after my birth, by my Dad’s parents, when he went off to serve in World War II (he never did combat, but stayed in the states). Merrill was born in Mt. Pleasanton May 3, 1944, when I was 18 months old.

I can’t remember exactly how old I was when we moved to 4568 Boxelder Street in Murray, but it was before kindergarten. When we first moved there, the trains just west of us were so loud, in the night it was scary for me as a child because it sounded like they were heading right for the house. But soon you never even noticed the noise. 

I went to the movies at Murray Theater a lot as a child (It is still there on State Street in Murray, but not used as a theater). As I remember it, I would have 20 cents. It would cost 12 cents for the movie ticket and I would buy 8 cents worth of penny candy at a little store by the theater. We also went to a theater in downtown Salt Lake (Utah Theater I think). I can't remember if we took the bus or someone's parent took us. I remember there were black and white newsreels of what was going on in the world and lots of cartoons. Later, when I was teen, my friends and I would go to Murray Theater a lot on Friday or Saturday nights----no so much for the movie, but to see friends from school, especially boys, who might be there. I remember I could often tell who was there as they walked up the aisle in the darkened theater, just by the way they walked, and size and shape etc.:-).

We lived at the Boxelder house through my sophomore year in high school. I attended Arlington Elementary, Murray Jr. High and Murray High School. In 8th grade, my friend DeAnne Webb and I were cheerleaders, song leaders, and would lead the school in the school song after each assembly. We did a lot of lip sync acts on assemblies. I was elected Sophomore Secretary in 10th grade and was one of the nominees for prom queen, but didn't get chosen. 

My first job was as a carhop at the A & W Rootbeer Drive-in at 4500 South and State Street. We moved to 2665 E. Spring Hollow Drive, in East Millcreek, in the Fall of 1959, after Nelva got married on March 20, 1959, on her 20th birthday. My mom’s brother, Berthell Howell, built our house. Merrill and I started school at Olympus my Junior year and I had to drive from Murray for awhile. We were in the new house before my birthday in Nov. I went from being “a big fish in a little pond” to being “a little fish in a big pond.” Olympus was a very big school, with 720 in my graduating class in 1961, so I didn’t get well acquainted in my two years there. I was #20 academically. Skyline started the following year, so Olympus was divided. Nelva worked as a secretary at a law office in the Sentinal Insurance Co. building about 21st South state Street and got me a job there. She was married and had a baby and worked mornings and I worked after school. I received a full-tuition scholarship to Henager’s Business College, so I went there and graduated in 1962, shortly before we got married. I was voted by my classmates at graduation as “The Secretary most likely to Succeed.” LaMar graduated from the University of Utah in Chemistry 1962 also.

While at Henager’s, a chapter of Lamda Delta Sigma (the Church fraternity/sorority at the U.) was started—Omicron. I joined. As part of joining, you had to memorize the names of the Inter-chapter officers, of which LaMar was one. I thought Westra was a nice name. I met LaMar at the first “conjoint” party between Omicron and Delta chapter (which LaMar was in). It was a Halloween party. The day before meeting LaMar, I sent off the missionary I was planning on marrying. We were “pinned” for Valentine’s Day and became engaged at the U. of U.’s Junior Prom at the UnionBuilding in April.

First 20 years of marriage~

We were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 29, 1962. I was 19 and LaMar was 25. We had our wedding breakfast at the Maxfield Lodge up the canyon. Our reception was held at our Church bySkyline High. Our first apartment was in a new 8-plex in Sugarhouse on McClelland Street. LaMar did a year of post-graduate work at the U. to avoid the draft, which ended at age 26. I worked as a secretary in the Radiobiology Dept. at the Cancer Research Center at the U. 

Around the time of our first wedding anniversary, we moved to Richland, Washington. LaMar had 3 job offers, one in California, one in Denver, and the one in Richland. He visited Denver to interview, we both made the trip to California to interview----then accepted the Richland job offer from General Electric without even visiting there. I was 3 months pregnant with Scott. It was difficult to find a place to rent. Apartment complexes didn’t want people with children or expecting one. We finally found an old house to rent on Rainier Street. LaMar had to start work, so I had to spend the days in the empty house, waiting for the moving truck to arrive. I had morning sickness and ate barbecue-flavor potato chips while waiting at the house----I haven’t been able to stand them for the next 50 years! 

We had some nice young couples as neighbors and enjoyed life there. LaMar was a stake missionary and took classes a couple times a week, so I got tired of being alone a lot. Scott was born on Monday, Dec. 16, 1963, just before midnight, at the Kadlec Methodist Hospital. It was a fast labor and delivery. My parents came up for a visit after he was born. After they returned to Salt Lake, I developed a fever and weakness on my left side and was re-hospitalized. They did a spinal tap, etc. to check for meningitis, etc. Our pediatrician arranged for baby Scott to be admitted also, so I could nurse him, and so LaMar didn’t have to care for him. The doctor put the bump on Scott’s ear as the reason for the hospital admittance.

I had a couple more episodes of the fever and weakness over the next few months and my doctor had me go to a neurologist in Seattle. I was never really diagnosed—just “an inflammation of the brain.” It hasn't reoccurred but has left me with a slight weakness on my left side.

LaMar had appendicitis and had it removed (I think while I was pregnant with Chris). Chris was born on Sept. 5, 1966. Chris was a long labor and was born on Labor Day. We purchased a new home at 726 Saint Street before Wendy’s birth on April 29, 1968. Since I was sent home from the hospital when I first went in for Chris’s birth, I almost waited too long when in labor with wendy and was only at the hospital a half-hour before she was born. Jeni was born Nov. 10,1970. We moved back to Salt Lake in August 1972 and bought a newly built home at 1677 Hermitage Circle. We lived there for 23 years. Shane was born on May 3, 1976. Kellie Sue was born April 17, 1979, and died of a congenital heart defect at Primary Children’s hospital on April 25, when she was 8 days old. Cory Matthew died in utero two weeks before his due date, and was born on Nov. 5, 1980. Derek was born May 5, 1982. Scott was 18 ½ and graduating from Cottonwood High School. After one year at BYU, Scott left for his mission to Tampa, Florida, May 1983.

School Daze

Scott (and kindergarten Chris) would have started school up in Washington, but for the majority of Westra school life ... it was Woodstock, Bonneville and Cottonwood.

I wish we had a better picture/more pictures of the Woodstock we grew up in. Right there on the corner of 13th East and 6400 South. Just like our forefathers, the Westra kids had to walk to school, uphill both ways. Just kidding - it was a pretty straight shot, but the walk seemed long to little legs. The school was torn down in 2011 and a new Woodstock was built on the same spot.

Jen's memories of Woodstock

On to Junior High ...

Bonneville is still standing ... I've been back for boy's basketball games. Always interesting to walk into your old stomping grounds after many years have passed. I contributed to that 1986 District Girls Track championship! I remember that Chris and Wendy had run track, so that coached Faircoff and Hughes (spelling??) didn't really give me a choice. I recall their office in the gym always smelled so strongly of coffee, and they were super tan. My locker was up the stairs my 7th grade year. My choir and history class was there as well. My friends and I were super silly at times and brought bowls, milk and boxes of cold cereal to have at lunch. I was in the school musical "Teen" and performed my winning Reflections song for the school during an assembly. We technically weren't eligible for the bus, which was CRAZY because there really wasn't a walking route to the school, and the bus stop was right at the end of our street! I think we all managed to sneak onto the bus. I remember the huge dips, and our bus driver often wouldn't slow, sending kids bouncing almost to the top of the bus!

Next up ... High School

All of the Westra kids graduated as Cottonwood Colts. Black, White and Gold will be victorious ... that was the school song, but that's all I know :) We'd experienced part of the school before going there ... swimming lessons and tennis lessons. I was in the high school production of Annie as a 9th grader, which really eased my transition as a sophomore.

... and a SCHOOL DAZE post wouldn't be complete without School Pictures ...

Scott

Chris

Wendy

Jeni

Shane ... missing high school shots!

Derek

WW2 Westras - Remembering Rationing

 Word War 2 ended September 2, 1945

When Covid-19 came on the scene - there was a sudden rush for products. Toilet paper was gone from the shelves. Bottled water was nowhere to be found. Antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, masks, gloves ... and later on basic staples like yeast, flour and sugar. All either impossible or very hard to find. Similar shortages have happened in certain areas before big storms. This perhaps can give us a small glimpse into why rationing was important in 1942.

Here are a couple great websites explaining rationing ... 

NationalWW2Museum and Ames History Museum

During the Second World War, you couldn't just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. All these items were in short supply. The US government’s Office of Price Administration established a system of rationing that would more fairly distribute these limited products. Every American was issued a series of ration books during the war. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Once a person’s ration stamps were used up for a month, no more of that type of food could be purchased. 

Going through boxes of memorabilia from Granma Lucille's estate, 

some of these old ration books were discovered and scanned in to share here. 

First page of a book, and several examples of different ration stamps.

Information (name/address/age/height/weight/sex/occupation) had to be filled out.

This gives us a unique look at this information for our family!

... as mentioned, gasoline was rationed as well as food, 

so there were separate stamps and books issued for necessary transportation. 

This was Dad/Lamar and his family ... Dad was six years old. On Mom/Margie's side of the family, Grandpa Rex had been drafted and Grandma Zada was on her own with three small children. She doesn't mention the war much, but did make this statement " I will never forget the day President Roosevelt died, or the rationing that went on during the war."  (In The Army Now). 

What was rationed and when? Check out the chart below.

... at least toilet paper is back in stock now, right?

Father's Day 2019

The Westra Way blog started in 2020 ... I don't know if Scott had any idea that his clever email invites from past years would be saved and showcased. Will this inspire him to write something even wittier this year, or will he become shy and standard. Does Scott even know there is a blog? *Ü*

He kept it fairly simple for 2019 ~

From Scott: Dear family, it is once again time to celebrate all of the fathers at the annual Draper Westra Father’s Day Spectacular! We have arranged for Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri to cater dinner and Cirque du Soleil to provide entertainment. Festivities will begin at 5:00 pm. We hope to see everyone there.

From Mom: I'm embarrassed to admit that I only know one of the three famous names:-[  We will be there! At least you won't have to do your yard prep this year!

From Wendy: The Jensens will be there!!! I haven’t heard of the two famous chefs either mom -- but I have heard that there is this guy named Grayson Blackham who also has the gift! Maybe we could enlist those services along with the rest of the foodies in the family!

From Shane: We really wish we could come to the Father's Day party, but my schedule has me in California that day so that my family can shower me with gifts and praise. Tell Emeril and Guy hello for me, it's been a while since I've hung out with them.

Derek had written that a few days before, Layla had suddenly turned very sad. He asked her what was wrong and she replied  "I just miss my cousin Jaiden so much and I really want to see her!" :) Happily, the Jensen's were able to make it this year, and Wendy and Jaiden and Jenna slept over at Derek's house so the cousins could hang out a little more before heading back the next day.

There were the usual outdoor games, and inside, Landon had set up a customized Jackbox game set. There were lots of funny questions about all the family members. Lots of funny answers about the Westra clan. What do you see when you look down from a hot air balloon?