Music Machine Memories

It was April 2015 when Scott discovered a box of records. Probably the most memorable for all Westra kids is the Chip and Dale song "Little Red Caboose" but Music Machine is a close second, especially for Wendy and Jen. Alas, the record itself was NOT in the "box of childhood". Many years ago, the record was left too close to a heating vent on cold winter day. It warped. I remember being SO sad about it! But unlike the "Little Red Caboose" song, which I have been unable to find anywhere online, I was able to locate Music Machine out on the Interwebs. MP3s of all the songs are now in the family dropbox (in the Media/Music/Video folder. Remember Westra grandkids, we have a general login for you if you want to check out Dropbox! Contact Grandma, Chris or Jen for the login and password) and the entire album is online as well (here). 

In all honesty, I don't remember ALL the songs from this album. On side one: Land Called Love, The Music Machine, Whistle Song, Smile, The String Song, Patience, Gentleness.  Side two: Faith, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Love, Self-control, Kindness, Reprise.

It may be obvious from the song titles, this came from a Christian group, teaching "Fruit of the Spirit". It's a little reminiscent of the Young Women's Values (there are songs for all of them too! That would need to be another post).  The main premise (as this is a story, not just random songs) is that in Agapeland, there is a ...

Music machine, music machine

Like no other gadget that you've ever seen.

Whatever you want to sing about,

Put something in and a song comes out ...

The album cover was more than just a cover. It was a little 10-page booklet with illustrations and lyrics. The "Music Machine" song (shown above) was one that we would sing over and over again. It's a melody I remember 40+ years later!

One of the other favorite songs was about Herbert the Snail, about PATIENCE ... I sang a little of this song to Landon and he said "so that's where that came from?" (Cooper and Colton didn't seem to have any recollection of my singing it to them though, I'll have to ask the other boys). The audio is fun, and Herbert's father's voice is SO low and slow!

The other favorite was about self-control ... it's the only way to go!

... as mentioned, there is a YouTube of all the audio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqWVr_U6EfE

Music Machine is at 4:00

Patience is at 13:00

Self-Control is at 29:00

There's even an animated episode with some of the songs (Herbert is in there, at 10:00 minutes in) This looks familiar to me, although I don't have a memory of watching it (would it have been on a VHS tape we had?)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_D67IOdqR0

Here's a few final snapshots of the booklet in full ...

Now ... who remembers the record "Animals"???

Similar idea, songs about virtues, with an animal theme ...

Jen still sings several songs from that album!

Can't find anything online ... but we do have the record (it is chipped on the edge though). 

Coming up next!

Sterling Scholars

Spring of 2016 ... Jase Jensen was named Sterling Scholar in Mathematics for his high school. He was not the first in the Westra line to achieve Sterling Scholar, nor the last, not even just within the Jensen family ... Wendy has created blog posts showcasing her Sterling Scholars (see links below).

• Janika  (FACS) May 2014~ Sterling Scholar Banquet, Awards Night 
• Jase (Math) April 2016 ~ Sterling Scholar Competition, May2016 Senior Awards Night
• Jaiden  (Drama) March 2022 ~ Sterling Scholar Awards Night, Documents, Region!

The Westra Sibling Generation produced two Sterling Scholars ... in 1984 and 1994, Chris and Shane respectively.  Christopher nabbed the position to represent Cottonwood High School in Business. He had some trips, to USU and Atlanta, Georgia, dealing with his business exploits.  Shane was Sterling Scholar for Art, also for Cottonwood High (all the Westra siblings attended there). A couple of his pieces are still on display in the halls of the school (see below). 

We have an ART label here on the blog, as while Shane was the only Sterling Scholar in this area, others in the family also enjoyed drawing and painting (although Wendy says the artistic gene skipped her). 

Jen totally planned on being Sterling Scholar for Drama her graduation year (1989). With many productions and leading roles and a 3.9 GPA, it seemed like a lock. Then Emilie DeAzevado (you may have heard of the DeAzevado name, well known in the LDS music world) moved from California, with even more experience and stellar grades, and the nod went to her. Jen was quite crushed to miss out on this goal ... but the whole Sterling Scholar process IS a lot of work in the preparation of a portfolio, interviewing, etc., and even more competition beyond the school level. So ... she survived (and still made it through college on scholarships to graduate debt free). 

I did some searches in newspaper/yearbook archives, I DID find a Shane showcase ...

He's there in the top left corner ... his quote says "This art stuff is great, but what does it have to do with the Iconoclastic controversy?" Asking Shane what his quote meant, he replied "Haha, that iconoclastic controversy quote was an inside joke that only the best of Mr. Bill’s art students would understand!" 

Here's clippings from the newspaper featuring Chris and Shane and the other competitors.

The Boys of Sanpete County ~ Incident at Green River

 

Delving into family history, Christopher has been taking many of the old text memorabilia (included as images or PDFs) on FamilySearch and re-typing them as word documents/stories ... much easier to read and copy as needed. Chris read about "The Green River Ferry Incident" while converting some documents, and we found that TWO of our ancestors had this story in their histories. James Anderson and Philip Hurst (Grandma Zada's Great-Grandfathers) survived this ordeal.

What exactly happened? LDS emigrants came to America and then traveled on to Utah following the  Mormon trail. A major obstacle was the Green River, which they would have to ford, float or ferry across. In 1868, a number of men from Sanpete County were called upon to meet the emigrants to help them along the way. Our ancestors Philip and James were part of the teams sent to assist.

The Green River was running very high, fast and cold and the oxen refused to cross. It was decided they would load the cattle on the ferry. Tragically, the frightened cattle unbalanced the boat and capsized it. Men, cattle and supplies went into the water together. Most of the equipment was lost, and six men never made it to the shore. Members of the surviving group composed a song "We The Boys of Sanpete County" to tell the story of this tragic event. The lyrics, and a performance on youtube are included below ...

  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVk6T1yuIyI

We the boys of Sanpete County

In obedience to the Call

Started out with forty wagons

To bring in Emigrants this fall

Without fear or thought of danger

On our way we lightly sped

Every heart with joy abounding

Captain Seely at our head.

To accomplish the mission

We were called to fill below

Left our friends and wives and children

On the dreary plains to go.

Over hills and lofty mountains

Through the mud and in the dust

Slowly climbed the lofty mountain

Far above the snows white crust.

With the sun to set declining

glad to welcome closing day.

By some stream or gushing fountain

To refresh all night we stay.

When we reached Green River ferry

On its banks all night we stay

Next morning ferried our wagons over

Thinking soon to roll away

Next to drive our cattle over

But we found they would not swim

Though the boys were in the water

Many hours up to the chin.

While the boat was passing over

The water into it did pour

The Captain cried boys we‘re going under

We shall sink this very hour.

Some to planks and boards were clinging,
Down the swelling tide it flows;
Some by heaven seem protected,
Was driven to shore upon the boat.

Some to oxen horns were clinging,
But to them it was all o'er,
For boys and cattle all went under,
Never more to step on shore.

One had landed on an island

Clinging to the willow green

But with him life soon extinguished

Backwards fell into the stream.

Thus six boys from parents driven

And from friends whom they did love

But we yet again shall meet them

In that better world above.

In letters it was recounted "It was on this trip that Philip was in a boat which capsized in the Green River, when six men lost their lives. He was in the water 15 hours. His clothes were on one bank and he on the other. He and his companions picked up sticks all night to keep a fire going to keep warm and dry out the few clothes they had on. Philip was assistant captain to Wm. S. Seeley"

According to his his history, James was a good swimmer and was able to drag himself out a mile and half below the accident scene.

There is a great write up with additional details HERE

Radio and TV personality Glenn Rawson recounted the story of 

"The Boys From San Pete County" in one of his devotionals ...

  

Who knew that years later, Philip's baby son Walter and James's daughter Hannah Alzada (who wouldn't be born until a year after this event) would meet and marry and that they would have a great-granddaughter named Margie ...

Passing the Buck ~ Dollar Tree

 

In February 2022, Derek's family had a getaway to Moab. Above, you can see a list that little Layla made up of important things to do. On that list ... a trip to Dollar Tree! This was not the first time Layla's love for Dollar Tree made it on to social media. About a year earlier, January of 2021, Derek posted this text conversation between Layla and her Grandpa Taylor ~

On this blog, in addition to family history and more recent family fun, I've tried to include some things beyond family, things affecting the time (the state, the country, the world) as well.  Dollar Tree was one of the first "dollar stores" and has been selling its items for the famous ONE DOLLAR for over 35 years. It made the news (end of 2021, beginning of 2022) when Dollar Tree officially raised it's prices to $1.25. 

It is the end of an era. 

Just as "penny candy" is a thing of the past,

I wonder if Layla & the other grandkids will remember when things at DT actually cost $1 ...

Now - should there be an explanatory post about Ugly Dolls???

Check out Timeless Toys for the favorites of the Westra kids growing up. 

Christmas Eve 2021

Here's a little look at Christmas Eve 2021. This was the final year for the Havenmoor House to host the holiday party for the Westra clan. The Jensen's were visiting the Jensen side of the family this year, but even without their crew, the place was pretty packed. 

There was the traditional soups, breadsticks, Brazilian cheese rolls (for the G/F crew) and oodles of desserts. And if there weren't already enough treats, then there was the CANDY BAR game. It gets a little crazy. 

Jen brought some "photobooth" props, and they were a hit and perfect for poses and helped get some additional pictures. Everyone watched the annual slideshow and looked through the new calendar for 2022. It was fun to get the family together to celebrate Christmas Eve, to eat and reminisce, and make more memories.  

Christmas Slideshow - 2021

 It's tradition ... so once again, here's a peek at the past year ala Westra. 

Soundtrack "To Begin Again" by Ingrid Michaelson, "There's a Place" by Roo Panes, "Missing Piece" by Vance Joy and "Back Where You Belong" by Lindsey Ray ... basically, a portion of the Grey's Anatomy Season 17 soundtrack. Jen was a little under the weather as December started up, and ended up watching the entire season and Shazamming songs she liked. This year, Wondershare was used to create the slideshow instead of Muvee (if some things look just a little different). 

It's always a little interesting how the topics come together ... there's almost always "Snow" and "Water" (NO Blackham water pics, as with the drought, the waverrunners never made it up to the reservoir). School and sports, dating/dances. This year we had "home" features, as well as "travel" and lots of red rock pictures! Animals, Jumping, Eating (sourdough) ... and of course all the families featured. So enjoy the recap, and here's to making more memories next year! 

Christmas Newsletter 2021

The annual Christmas Newsletter ... this year and all previous years are saved in PDF format in the family dropbox (link to 2021) for close up viewing! If you don't have access to the family Dropbox, email/text Grandma/Chris/Jen for the signin/pw!

Text from the newsletter is included below for easy reading ...

McKenna and Spencer Erickson live in Seattle. Spencer received his MBA from BYU last Spring. McKenna works for Microsoft and Spencer works for Amazon. They spend their spare time traveling and preparing fine cuisine. Alyssa lives in Sugarhouse and teaches 5th grade at Spectrum Academy, a school for autistic children. Kellen is attending Utah Valley University and will graduate next Spring in Biology. He took the MCAT and is interviewing at medical schools. He works as an EKG Tech in the Emergency Department at Intermountain Medical Center. Kemery and Mitch Willes both graduated last December from UVU and BYU, respectively and live in Payson. They have a beautiful 7-month-old daughter Letti. Mitch works for a company that supplies software for the insurance industry. Taylee is a freshman at UVU and works two jobs. Amy is busy and loves being a grandma. Scott serves as the Stake Clerk and is the Chief Financial Officer for WCF Insurance. They live in Draper.

Chris and Kim live in Pleasant Grove, and Aaron and Cayson are living with them. Kim is a Medical Assistant for a Revere Nephrology Clinic and Chris works from home. Conner (29) works construction and Amber works from home for Progressive Leasing. Krystal (28) and Boris moved to Texas in order for Krystal to go to Law School. Boris works as a traveling nurse. Kadan (27) and Christine live in Cedar City. He works for Fastenal and she bakes for student dining on SUU campus. They are entrepreneurs also with small businesses on the side. Courtney (27) graduated in May in History and Religious Studies and is doing an internship for the Church. She and Seth live in American Fork and their daughter Integrity just turned four. Seth is in Law School at BYU. Corin (24) and Kylie bought a house in Redmond. Corin works at a gypsum plant. Seth (23) and Aspen bought a house in American Fork and have been renovating it. Seth has moved up to a supervisor at KCI, and Aspen works at Doterra as well as her own art business. Aaron (21) went back out into the mission field and was called to the Seattle, WA Spanish speaking mission. He came home late August and is working with his Dad. Aaron will start at UVU in January. Camden (19) is attending Snow College in Ephraim. Cayson (15) is a sophomore at PG High School and is working at Costa Vida.

Rick and Wendy live in St. George and have 7 children. Janika (26) just finished her Master’s Degree and is working as a middle school counselor. Her husband, Brandon (27), works at JobNimbus. They are new homeowners in Pleasant Grove and are expecting a baby in June! Jase (24) and Ellen (22) welcomed baby Evan to their family in July (8 weeks early)! They will move to Maryland this summer for Jase's internship at the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. Jared (21) is attending DSU and was recently hired as a part time seminary teacher. He loves it! Janelle (19) was called to the Taipei Taiwan Mission (temporarily assigned to the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission) and is currently in the Provo MTC learning Mandarin Chinese. Jaiden (17) is a very involved senior in high school – Executive Council, Madrigals, Distinguished Young Woman of Utah 1st runner up, SpongeBob in The SpongeBob Musical, and the Speech and Drama Sterling Scholar. Josh (15) is a sophomore, playing on his HS soccer team and two club teams. He is an honor student and fluent in Chinese. Jenna (13) also speaks Chinese and is involved with choir, theater, dance, and FRIENDS! Rick teaches seminary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is also over the Seminary and Institute Deaf/ASL program throughout the country. Wendy keeps the family running smoothly full-time and interprets for the Deaf part-time. (Family Newsletter: www.JensenChristmas.Blogspot.com)

Gray and Jen live in West Jordan, with three boys at home (Keaton, Cooper, and Colton) and two married but living close by (Landon and Sol, and Callahan and Kate). It's been a busy year for travel ~ Seattle a few times (once with the full family), Hawaii vacations, two trips to Mexico and lots of other weekend getaways. Kate graduated from the U, Keaton has been jumping out of planes, and it has been a year full of pickleball, ping-pong and Pokemon Go. We added an Occulus, Keaton created a 9-Square set, and Coop has been tearing it up on the treadmill. Grayson got a couple new gadgets in his garage kitchen and added several new recipes to his repertoire (when he's not riding his RZR). Jen started making sourdough, is still teaching Zumba and enjoying endless audiobooks. There is always basketball, Colton (a sophomore) has been playing JV and Varsity. Cal joined a men's league, and Coop is going to give "Senior Jazz" a go. Check out the family blog (blackhamboys.blogspot.com) for more details on all adventures.

Shane and Alicia and their 3 children live in Lindon, Utah. Shane is the Chief Product Officer at SimpleNexus in Lehi and Alicia owns a photography business. They are in the process of building a new home in Highland, which takes a good amount of their extra time and creative energy. Adria (17) is a junior and was a captain of the JV soccer team in the fall. She is taking several AP classes and is looking forward to a trip to France with students from the French program at school. Mirella (15) is a sophomore and on the Contemporary Dance Team at school as well as part of the Dance Company at her dance studio. She loves plants and is currently taking a floriculture class at school where she has learned how to create floral and plant arrangements. Calder (10) is in 4th grade. He loves building with Legos, Parkour, and figuring out how things work. He is always full of questions—thank goodness for the library and Google!

Derek and Danielle and their three girls live in Traverse Mountain in Lehi. Aniston (11) is in sixth-grade. She is on the swim-team and plays softball and piano and was the star of a local musical “Dear Edwina.” Layla (7) loves soccer, gymnastics, and crafting, and stays very busy making home-made gifts for her many friends (the whole school). Noelle will be 6 in January. She is a little clone of her mom and loves baking and helping Danielle with whatever she can. She is doing dance and tumbling and is loving it. Derek works as Director of Reputation Management for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He discovered pickleball this year and plays 3-4 times a week. Derek recorded an instrumental, piano Christmas album (just search for Derek Westra wherever you listen to music). Danielle is an amazing cook and baker and loves to design and create pretty spaces in their home. Derek loves to build whatever Danielle designs, and they run a little design website and Instagram called Functional-Décor.

Margie and Christopher are constantly updating Margie's Gospel Topics website, which has well over 2,000 pages, plus many hundreds of links. Their goal is to help busy family members and friends with material for their church talks and lessons. Check it out at MargiesMessages.com. :)

It has been a busy year as Wendy and Jeni have joined Margie and Chris in expanding a large Westra Family Database of photos and histories in Dropbox for current family and future posterity. Jeni has created dozens of fun family blog pages of the Westra Clan. It has been fun to relive and document memories of years gone by.

We have 32 grandchildren: 17 boys and 15 girls--ages 5 to 29 years old. We were blessed with 2 more great-grandchildren this year---a darling baby girl, Letti Rae, and a preemie baby boy, Evan, 4 lbs. 3 oz., both of whom are doing great! We have 3 great-grandchildren now and two more expected next June!

We now have 12 married grandchildren. We have 4 granddaughters and 8 grandsons that have served missions and returned home and one granddaughter in the MTC now. Our family is growing older (all except us, of course!)

We wish health and happiness to all our family and friends!

Love, Margie and LaMar