We’ve settled into life at the guesthouse in Phnom Penh and are waiting for baby #7 to make his/her arrival. Things have settled into a good routine – we do a little school in the mornings and have a few afternoons a week visiting with people. Exciting times!
July 4th, 9 years ago, we arrived in Cambodia with three kids. We’re now staying in the same guesthouse waiting on #7 to arrive. Thankful for all God has done these past 9 years!
This week we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Since we’re in PP awaiting the birth of our 7th child, we were able to go out on our anniversary – there was someone to watch the kids and places to go. I can’t remember the last time we actually had the opportunity to go out on our anniversary day.
Josh bought me 15 roses, and we went out to eat and then went to another place for ice cream – we shared 5 scoops. (I’m trying to get my fill of ice cream before I have to abstain if the baby has milk allergies when nursing!) It was nice to having an evening together. Josh also bought me jewelry – blue zircon earrings and a necklace. Blue zircons are supposed to come from Ratanakiri.
So thankful for these past 15 years of adventuring with my man. It really is so much better than it was 15 years ago – to know someone intimately that long and keep on loving and keep on knowing. It’s worth it. Dating and wedding excitement is great, but it can get even better. I’m not saying that everything has always been smooth riding and bliss – but real love just keeps getting better and stronger as long as you choose to keep on loving. When we listened to Andrew Peterson’s Dancing in the Minefields later in the evening, we realized we’d finally made it to where he was when he wrote the song:
We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago.
Thankful.
We celebrated Josh the day before Father’s Day, since Sundays are too full to add anything extra. We’re so thankful for the head of our home – the leader of our tribe. We’re blessed to call him daddy. I’m glad to have him as the man I make and raise our children with.
The kids made Josh a countdown calendar for Father’s Day. It’s based on an experience he had feeding a squawking young bird at work, that then decided it was Josh’s full time to find food for it.
Last week we had Isaiah’s 11th birthday celebration at home. On his actual birthday we were in PP, for an extra check on the baby. We had Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast, went swimming and had lunch at the pool, and had Diary Queen ice cream on the drive back from the pool. But all this did not count as his actually birthday celebration, since we weren’t at home. 🙂
Isaiah’s countdown calendar had quotes from books he’s read, and each day he was supposed to guess which book the quote came from before he opened the door. Several of the days before his birthday we were in PP. His birthday movie was Boys Town.
Isaiah chose tacos for his birthday meal – it’s avocado season, so it’s a great time of year to make guacamole! He wanted a clock cake for his birthday. After gifts and cake, we watched a slide show of pictures and movies from Isaiah’s past 11 years.
Isaiah likes to take things apart and invent things – this past year he’s created a few board games. He like science, math, and reading. He plays outside almost everyday with the neighbor boys. He’s a good big brother to all his younger siblings.
We’re thankful for Isaiah and the gift he is to our family! Looking forward to his 12th year!
This year we’re working through Story of the World Vol 1 again. Last time we did this was March 2018 before Ezra was born, so we’ve added some students and graduated some students to this level of history class. Last week’s lesson was on The Code of Hammurabi, so each student made their own code.
Last week we took a trip to Phnom Penh to find a doctor for delivering the new baby and to do some other errands. The kids were delighted to spend some extra time with their friends the Nhoemvans. Kolianne waited to celebrate her birthday until our family came, and the older kids enjoyed a book-themed birthday party one afternoon.
Ayra and the girls spent two nights at the guesthouse, so we had lots of time together. Ayra helped watch the kids at different times, so they didn’t all have to come to the appointments. Becca, Isaiah, Anna, and Josh had eye appointment that the younger three kids were happy to miss! We went swimming on day while Josh did errands.
Our last evening we made dinner for two young men from our Jarai village, who are down in PP studying at Bible School. It was good to spend some time with them. We had a very successful trip and got done everything we had planned!
My family celebrated Mother’s Day the evening before (Sundays are too full for us to add anything extra or special). The kids made a lovely salad and did baked potatoes, while Josh grilled chicken using a Khmer charcoal clay pot. We had cake for dessert. Then the kids gave me cards and did a play of Stone Soup.
A week before the kids gave me a Mother’s Day Countdown Calendar. Everyday the kids had homemade gifts to give me: postcards, crafts, an original book, etc.
I’m very thankful for the family God has blessed me with. So thankful for the kids He’s given us. Motherhood is a blessing and a gift that comes with many joys, and it’s also exhausting physically, mentally, and emotionally. Being a homeschool mom and missionary mom adds on many more aspects as well. I love my job and it’s a race worth running for the sake of God’s glory.
We had a lovely visit from the Manfreds at the beginning of the month. We’re always delighted with the time we get to spend with them over lunch (it’s always so short). Thankful for this couple and the many years they’ve faithfully served the Lord in Cambodia.
We started our 2023-2024 school year on April 17, 2023. So far we’ve been off to a good start, and it’s like running a marathon everyday for me!
We celebrated Anna’s birthday this month, starting with her birthday countdown calendar (based on The Borrower books). As part of the calendar, Anna’s birthday movie was The Wizard of Oz (a book they’ve heard many times) and she received small gifts, a flute lessons, and flowers as part of her daily calendar surprises. She also made her own chocolate cake with almost no help.
We delayed Anna’s birthday dinner one day so Josh would be finished with teaching at the Pastor’s Bible School out of town. Anna chose tacos for dinner and a panda cake. We had a fun evening of dinner, gifts, cake, and then watching a slideshow of pictures from Anna’s 9 years of life.
Anna is a fun loving girl who loves to play and is very helpful with her siblings. She has done very well with her Khmer lessons this year and is growing in her ability to communicate in Khmer. We’re very thankful for Anna and look forward to this new year with her.
We celebrated Holy Week from Saturday to Saturday this year, since Josh had to leave Easter Sunday to travel to teach at the Pastor’s Bible School from Sunday-Wednesday. We started the week with setting up our tree and starting our nightly Lenten Lights readings.
We did Palm Sunday on Saturday night, since Sunday nights are too busy. And then we took a break Monday to have Josh’s birthday and did our reenactment of Jesus cleansing the temple on Tuesday.
Wednesday night we had our Easter Egg hunt (we like to keep that separate from Resurrection Day). The kids had a blast finding eggs – they each had their own color. It’s always fun to watch the youngest find eggs. Then we had a store where the kids traded their eggs for goods. Prices: water guns & bags of balloons – 3 eggs each; instant coffee, shampoo, face mask, pack of gum, Oreo cookie pack – 1 egg each.
Thursday evening we had our Maundy Thursday service with feet washing and remembered the Last Supper. We have the older wash the younger’s feet – and Micah washed Josh’s.
Saturday morning we did gifts. Then we had a special lunch with some other missionaries from Ban Lung. We ended the week with a short Resurrection service in the evening. We thank God for the resurrection of His Son and what that means for us.
A side note – Sometimes people comment about our traditions and how nice they are – true. But it often comes with whining and complaining – the singing is not always peaceful. It’s hot season, and it’s hot and sweaty. Our younger kids are really tired by 7pm, so adding anything extra is hard. I’m often enduring and not so much enjoying, while I try to keep the youngers happy. The night we had our resurrection both younger boys fell asleep in my lap, and it was so peaceful. Anyway – there’s a little view into what the pictures don’t show. But it’s all worth it. It’s not all easy, so if you want to try things like this….be encouraged. It can be hard and tiring work – but you are planting seeds and giving your kids a way of living life that is so worth it. Thanks be to God.
April 3rd we celebrated Josh’s birthday with homemade hamburgers and all the toppings and baked beans. Dessert was strawberry cake. Afterwards we had a piano recital in honor of Daddy’s birthday. This was Clara’s first time to perform in our piano recital – Becca is teaching Clara piano. All the kids did beautifully. Afterwards the kids gave cards and gifts to Josh, and we ended the evening with the cake.
It was a hot day and evening, as we’re in the swing of hot seasons, but even so we all had a good time celebrating Josh’s birthday. We’re thankful for him and all he does in leading and loving us.
The owner of the Nature Lodge directed us to a waterfall that was not a tourist attraction and a perfect fit for our family. The kids were able to explore and swim, and we didn’t have to deal with being a foreign attraction to the other tourist. There was no one else there both days we went. So relaxing.
The second day we went we built a fire and roasted marshmallow. Josh took the older 4 kids to climb up the waterfall several times. There was also a swimming pond. The little boys enjoyed throwing rocks in the water.
We took a week’s vacation to the Nature Lodge in Mondulkiri (about a 3.5 hour drive from our home). Besides the rats keeping us awake at night in our lodging, it was a wonderful trip. (We asked for traps and ended up catching 3 forrest rats and the last night it was quieter but still a little noisy.) It was great to take a break from people and just get away as a family. The A-frame house we stayed in was a great fit, and we didn’t have to worry about bothering anyone. There was a loft at either end of the house with bed. The kids could play outside while we sat on the steps – it was a nice relaxing atmosphere.
The Nature Lodge had a pool and we enjoyed swimming three days and the other two days we visited a waterfall. Both places we ate at had pool tables, and since there were rarely other guests, our kids got a lot of practice playing. We had lots of good Khmer and western food.
The Nature Lodge had penned sheep and 5 horses that wandered around the property. The kids enjoyed feeding the horses (Cambodian ponies) leftover lettuce and carrots we had brought. The horses were quite friendly and when the food was all gone they came up to our lodging and waiting for more.
We celebrated Clara’s birthday the first two weeks of March, ending with leaving on a family vacation the day before her birthday. Clara’s countdown calendar included a movie night, small gifts, a trip to a night carnival with rides and snacks, a peacock helium balloon, and some other things.
Clara wanted a horse cake for her birthday. She made the chocolate cake, and I decorated it per her instructions. She chose spaghetti as her birthday meal with salad and garlic bread. We had a fun night celebrating Clara’s birthday and she said (after gifts) that is was her best birthday ever.
March 3rd we held our yearly graduation and recital to celebrate the completion of the 2022-23 school year! We’re very proud of everyone’s hard work this year.
Graduation & Recital
Seventh Grade – Rebecca Grace Jensen
Fifth Grade – Isaiah Emil Jensen
Third Grade – Anna Grace Jensen
Fun Grade – Clara Grace Jensen
Preschool – Ezra Emmett Jensen & Micah Ebenezer Jensen
WELCOME
Opening Song – The Son of God Goes Forth to War
RECITATIONS
Clara – Poem
The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Anna – Recitation
John 9
Isaiah – Poem
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Becca – Recitation
The Life of Elisha – selected scenes
Presentation of Diplomas & Certificates
Volcano Experiment
Dessert Buffet and End of Year Slide Show
This is a picture of the kids working on finishing up their Botany Science notebooks. They did some beautiful work on these during the year.
Ages 2, 4, & 10. These boys are a bunch of fun and can be a bunch of trouble. When you hear the younger two laughing hysterically, you can almost guarantee that they are having loads of fun doing something they think they shouldn’t be doing! The other day when I went to investigate this sound, I found one trying to clean the other’s bottom on the toilet. Loads of fun. . . . It’s such a gift to watch them play together, and we’re so happy to have them all!