We had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration last Friday – a day later so we could have a break after Becca’s birthday. It was a very nice relaxing evening, since I was able to get all the cooking done by 2pm. After we ate we had a time of singing and Scripture reading. Clara made a apple pie for dessert. (Also noticed the Thanksgiving embroidery Clara finished just in time for the holiday.) We’re so thankful for the many blessings God has given to us – Thank be to God.
We’re studying the Middle Ages, and two weeks ago we had a jousting tournament. The boys really got into it – I’m glad they had helmets with visors to protect their eyes! Maria especially enjoyed being a “pretty lady” at the event.
This week we celebrated Becca’s 16th birthday. The celebrating started two weeks ago with her countdown calendar, which included a night overnight in Ban Lung with me doing a mother/daughter online conference (Seeking Christ), gifts, bike ride with Josh, birthday movie (Fiddler on the Roof), and other things.
Becca decided to go with her Jane Austen countdown calendar theme and have a coordinating cake. She did a great job designing and decorating her brownie cake (which included some peanut butter frosting). For her birthday dinner we had soft tacos and home-fried corn chips.
We decorated our downstairs room for the party, and when it was time, Josh escorted Becca down to see her ballroom. After our meal we tried our hand at square dancing and did some other ballroom dances. Then we had cake, gifts, and ended the evening with a slideshow of Becca’s 16 years. One thing our girls love is making things fancy and another thing is having balls.
Becca is a beautiful young lady who continues to grow in the beauty of Christ. She is diligent in completing her school work. She works hard to communicate in Jarai and is now involved in teaching the Jarai Bible verse to the children at our church a few times a month. She regularly makes time for her siblings. She faithfully serves at home. She looks to include people who are left out. She has a heart of compassion. We thankful for our darling girl, Becca.
This week we celebrated Micah’s 5th birthday! Micah was very excited about his birthday and his siblings were all excited about giving him the gifts they’d bought for him. We started Micah’s birthday 14 days ago with his birthday countdown calendar: lots of little gifts, swimming, movie: Pete’s Dragon, making cookies, etc.
Micah wanted the Queys to come for his birthday, so we had them for lunch (chili and a monkey cake). Becca made Micah a pin-the-tail-on-the-monkey game for the party. She traced Micah. It came out really cute, and the kids enjoyed playing after lunch. The kids had a good time playing together.
In the evening we had another birthday meal: bratwursts (because we couldn’t buy hotdogs – though they were just like hotdogs!), mac&cheese, and baked beans. We had the rest of Micah’s monkey cake with peanut butter frosting, did gifts, and ended with a Micah slideshow. (In the afternoon, Micah fell off his bike and hit his lip – hence the swollen lip.)
Micah is a very energetic little man. He’s quick at figuring out things and quick to notice mistakes in other’s speech. He loves to play outside, and he also loves to be inside being read to. He’ll often come inside during the afternoon and asks me to read to him. We thankful for our youngest Jensen man!
Last week we started Micah’s birthday countdown calendar, and this week we start Becca’s (so the two calendars will overlap about 5 days). We’ll wrap up Becca’s birthday and jump into Advent four days later.
Maria is a hilarious little girl. She is a talker and puts all these little phrases together that cause much laughter on our home. She’s also great at pretend play. For a few weeks now, Maria has been diaper-free (day and night). And I think I can say, she’s finally starting to sleep through the night.
Maria is consumed with “pretty girls.” She loves “pretty girls.” But if we ask her, “Are you a pretty girl?” She replies, “No, I’m Maria.” We’re not exactly sure how she defines pretty girls; in other words, it’s not exactly a compliment if she calls you a pretty girl. For example: we’re currently reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and when Maria saw a picture of Grandpa Joe she said, “Look! A pretty girl.” Grandpa Joe is not pretty at all nor does he look like a girl. Other things she’ll point out as being a pretty girl are also rather perplexing to us. Be as it may – Maria loves anything with pretty girls. Now we just need to refine her tastes!
Last week Josh was also participating at the Ratanakiri Pastor’s Bible School.
Last Friday we celebrated Cambodian Coronation Day in our traditional way. Everyone made his/her crowns the day before. Friday morning we did face painting. Becca helped paint all the boys’ faces, while I did the girls. This takes a long time! By 10am we were ready for our coronation ceremony. The princes and princesses had a procession into the ballroom and were then crowned the new kings and queens of Cambodia. Afterwards there were refreshments served and entertainment…which includes me pretending to sing Rossini’s Figaro (with a speaker hidden under my scarf).
In the evening we did something new; we had a Psalms & Tea evening. We set up the room downstairs with lights, candles, and round table set for tea. Three different kind of store-bought cookies were served with tea and limeade. During the evening, each person got up and recited a Psalm or two of his/her own choosing. You were allowed to use the Bible if you needed it. It was a lovely night and everyone enjoyed it. Maria, of course, was a ham. When Josh got up to recite Psalm 2, he wanted Maria to pay attention, so he said, “Maria……Why to the nations rage?” Maria quickly answered, “Because!”
This week we had a visitor – a friend of a friend of mine – who is doing a 6-month internship in Phnom Penh. When she asked to come up and visit with us, I told her we had nothing to offer her except the big-family experience and attending Jarai church with us on Sunday. She came anyway. 🙂 Kathryn was a very easy guest and interacted well with our family. She was with us Saturday morning through Monday at 5pm when the night-bus picked her to go back to PP. Maybe someday our paths will cross again.
October 28, 2025 we finished our second read-through the Bible. (The last time we finished was June 5, 2021.) This time the kids wanted to read through chronologically, which was a little more complicated to keep track of, but we did it. We do our Bible reading during breakfast, usually just a chapter a day. Sometimes we read a section of a chapter, if there was a lot to talk about. What now….back to Genesis!
The Friday of our vacation, we visited the Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium (which we didn’t know existed). They kindly gave us the resident price, instead of the tourist price. The kids enjoyed the aquarium and the animals outside. We spent about 5 hours there. Maria especially enjoyed the alligator. We were able to see both the freshwater and saltwater fish being fed at different times. The otters were a favorite…they could not wait to be fed! The tiger was active and fun to watch close-up.
Sunday late afternoon we rode the Angkor Eye – an 18 minute ride on an 85 meter ferris wheel. It was a bit frightening at first, but after the kids got used to it, they all had fun! We could see the Angkor Wat from the top of the ferris wheel.
Our drives to and back from Siem Reap were very peaceful. Josh went to PP at the beginning of September to buy our family a van. Now that everyone has his/her own seat, traveling is much easier and shall we say…peaceful. 🙂 Thankful for everything the Lord has and is providing our family.
Last Tuesday we drove to Siem Reap for a family vacation. It’s been over two years since we’ve taken a true vacation with just our family, and it was a wonderful time together. We stayed at a place that had a four-bedroom apartment, which meant we could actually sleep, without worrying about kids waking up other kids; and our kids had an area to play and hangout, instead of being cramped in a hotel room. It was truly a relaxing time for us all. Our kids loved getting up in the morning and having tea or coffee before going downstairs to the hotel breakfast (a highlight). Our main goal was to relax without having to be on top of a schedule. We swam everyday and had real ice cream twice. We played games, read aloud, did some fun shopping, and went to bed at a normal time so we weren’t worn out in the morning. Next week I’ll share pictures from two fun outings we went on.
We’re all thankful for our time away. It was a good break from daily life, from being busy with work and school, and from our normal ministry to other people. Thankful!
Once again our family celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day.Why do we celebrate? Here in Cambodia most every holiday is seeped in Buddhism, and all the activities (whether Buddhist or not) are held at the Buddhist temple, so we don’t go. International Talk Like a Pirate Day is just a fun day we can have together.
We started the day (a week ago Monday) with pancakes for breakfast, and then the kids rehearsed their play in preparation for the evening. Afterwards the older four kids did an acrylic painting project, while the 3 younger kids made cookies. The next activity was a treasure hunt: in succession, each kid received a map which lead them to the next map/clue for the next kid to find. The treasure at the end was Blow Pops and a new game Josh’s parents had brought over: Splendor. Splendor is a game the kids would often play with the Kane kids and haven’t been able to play since the Kanes left in August.
In the afternoon I did a art project with the two younger boys. After dinner the kids performed a play based on The Great Brain books. Becca wrote the script, and the kids have been practicing for weeks. They did a great job. Then we had our traditional pirate dancing and watched some clips about pirates, before turning in for the night. It was a fun, full day for all.
Last Thursday we had the 3 Queys over for 5 hours to help give their mom some time to prepare for a new baby. The kids all did great and had a fun time playing together. We’re thankful for their friendship and thankful our younger kids have kids their own ages to play with. Also thankful for the way our older kids can show love to younger kids.
Last week we had another Preschool/Elementary Music and Art Day for the MKs in Ratanakiri. This month we had a pirate theme. The music lesson was on dynamics and Haydn’s Surprise Symphony. The art lesson was drawing and painting parrots. Becca did a great job preparing and teaching the art lesson – she’s great! After the classes, we ate a lunch of chicken soup together (with only had about 4 spills!).
When lunch was over, the three moms had a prayer time together, while my older kids watched everyone upstairs. It bring me much joy to watch my kids take initiative and do such a lovely job watching and playing with these younger MKs. I’m so thankful.
This week we had a 3.5 day visit from Tom Luttman, the director of Bible Visuals International. On Friday, Josh took Tom and two of the MT Bible translators to visit two different Jarai villages over an hour away. It was a good time of encouragement for all.
Sunday, Tom was able to visit both kids classes at our church and see the teachers using BVI visuals. Sunday afternoon Josh drove Tom to Siem Reap for his Monday morning flight. We enjoyed our visit with Tom.
Things here in the Jensen household continue to move forward. We’re still in rainy season and are looking forward to when the rain peters out and the clothes dry faster. Maria enjoyed playing with her sisters. Playing kickball is a neighborhood favorite right now. The boys enjoyed an afternoon of painting. The middle kids are currently in a complicated session of playing with Little People – they have cities, families, jobs, and an extensive commerce system.
Last week from Monday to Friday we had a delightful visit from the Nhoemvan ladies. Our days here were filled with activities: candle dipping, baking, preparing for the masquerade ball and having the ball, a tea party, and many other things. Preparations for the masquerade ball took all day Wednesday with food, costumes, dance practice, and dance cards.
We had some very elaborate costumes: butterfly, peacock, grapevine. Maria did not enjoy the ball at all, as she was afraid of the masks, so I had to hold her the entire time. The ball began with a procession down the stairs (to the The March of the Siamese Children from the King and I). Next the gentlemen and ladies filled out their dance cards, and then the dancing began. After all the dances were done the entire party retired to the banquet hall to enjoy a feast of desserts. Once they were full, the participants returned to the ball room for more dancing and ended the night with a procession exiting the ballroom.
Becca wrote a great description of the night’s events: The main event was a masquerade ball we had Wednesday night. We spent all day preparing for it, designing our masks, baking, and practicing our dance steps. We have had a few family balls in the past, but nothing so elegant as this. Mommy transformed the downstairs into a ballroom with lamps and Christmas lights, and when we were all dressed in our costumes we paraded down the stairs in style as she announced us. I wore my blue dress and a blue bird mask. Anna dressed up as a grapevine with green yarn hanging down her hair and a string of little purple balloons wound about one arm. Clara was a butterfly, and Isaiah helped her make real cardboard wings which she fastened on her back. Ezra and Micah had dinosaur masks printed out for them.
There was also a taller young man wearing a dreadful face mask with a hole for his nose to poke out of (which frightened and disgusted Maria to no end) who gave his name as Santa Claus. He seemed like an agreeable old fellow, and even took my dance card–yes, we used dance cards!–and engaged my hand for a dance. Unfortunately he failed to claim me when the dance came around, so I was led to the floor by Ez, who happened to be lacking a partner. After the dances we returned upstairs for the refreshments of soft pretzels, apple tarts, and molasses cookies. We were attended by a most dignified, if rather eccentric, young gentleman, who said he was the grandson of the other man (which I suppose accounted for his wearing the same clothes), who explained that, although he was naturally fond of dancing, he had been unable to join us because he always let the servants go to bed at seven, and so he had to bake all the refreshments himself!
Thursday morning there was a tea party. The younger boys made cookies for the tea party to add to the other refreshments. We’re thankful for our friendship with the Nhoemans and for our lovely visit with them.
Last week we held our first Preschool/Elementary Music and Art Day for MKs in Ratanakiri. This year there’s not many kids left in Ban Lung, as many families are on home assignment or no longer have kids at home. I thought it would be fun to have a once a month get-together for music and art.
We had a horse-themed day. The music lesson was about steady beat, and I used William Tell’s Overture. Becca did an art lesson on warm vs. cool colors. Everything went well, and it was targeted just right for the age range. Afterwards we had a picnic lunch, and then the moms had a short prayer time, while the kids played games and with the toys. My girls were all great helpers to the younger girls. After the younger kids went home, the older kids all enjoyed playing Dutch Blitz.
Since Ezra’s birthday, we’ve been chugging along with life and a few guests thrown into the mix. Last week the Williams spent one night with us. We enjoyed our time with them. They brought a strategy game (Wingspan) for the kids to play and left it, so they could continue playing it. Om Puimeng happened to be in country and stopped by to say hi for a little while; it’s been a few years since we saw her.
This is corn season and several of our friends have been giving us corn. It’s a bit tougher than American sweetcorn, but the kids really like it. We’ve continued our Music/Art/History Day on Friday. We recently made a meal of bread and lentil soup so we could eat like European monks.
The boys love helping to count the offering after church.
Maria continues to be a happy little girl. Until just last week there were only a small selection of books she would listen to, including There’s a Nightmare in my Closet. I think we were reading Amelia Bedelia and the Baby several times a day. Last week I convinced her to listen to a Frog & Toad book and some Frances books – and she now loves those characters and is enjoying different books.
Last week we celebrated Ezra’s 7th birthday! Our man was very excited about his birthday countdown calendar. This was his first year to get a bike ride with Daddy, and Ezra did a great job on the ride. He especially enjoyed riding through water and seeing a bomb crater.
Isaiah wanted Jonathan and Samuel to come to his birthday, so we had a birthday lunch so their family could drive out from Ban Lung to join us for the celebration. Jonathan made Ezra a piñata, and the kids had a blast breaking it open.
Ezra requested spaghetti for his birthday meal and a dinosaur cake. In the beginning I was just planning on a 2D dinosaur, but the more pictures I showed Ezra, the more evident it became that he wanted a cake exactly like his stuffed dino, not a flat picture of a dinosaur. It took a bit of creativity.
In the afternoon, Ezra got his “big” birthday present. We had a bed made for him. Since coming back from the States, Ezra and Micah have been sharing a bed, and it’s been fine, but Ezra’s been waiting for his own bed. I found some pictures of a bed I liked, and Josh took the pictures to a metal worker near our house, and the man did an excellent job making the bed! And it comes apart! Ezra was pretty excited when it arrived and he figured out what it was. There’s a desk underneath for the two boys to share.
In the evening we had the same meal (leftovers) and then did gifts, cake again, and a birthday slideshow. So it was like Ezra had two parties.
Ezra is a fine young man. Just this month, he’s started burning our trash, which he loves to do. He also takes our laundry downstairs each morning and starts it going in the washer. Ezra is a good worker and likes to solve problems. He’s a very kind brother to Maria and will take her downstairs to play while I’m teaching school in the mornings with the other kids. We love that Ezra and Micah are such a good buddies! Ezra is advancing in his reading and writing skills and he really likes math. We’re thankful for our second son Ezra. It was great celebrating his birthday all this month!
We are in our third week of school and everything is swinging along – keeping a very steady pace. I often feel like I’m running a marathon every morning, trying to get to each student’s work and keep the younger kids happy. It’s a lot.
This year I’m doing an Music/Art/History Day for the elementary & preschool students. I did this with the older kids a few years ago, and I decided this year was a good time to start with the younger kids. Maria absolutely loves it and is a pretty good student with the others. She especially loves music class. After our second music class, Ezra asked disappointedly, “When are we going to have music class?” When I asked him what he thought music class was, he replied, “Playing trumpets.” I’m planning on teaching the kids how to play the recorder (but I don’t have the recorders yet) – I guess Ezra is anxiously waiting for real music class to begin.
Our first History Day Class included cooking and eating like Roman soldiers. Unfortunately the meat and veggies got overcooked in the fire, but I think everyone had fun. Last week both Becca and Micah were sick. We suspect they both had dengue fever. Becca managed ok; Micah was very weepy and took extra TLC every afternoon. Thankfully by Saturday they were both on the upswing. So far everyone else has remained healthy.
Our spunky, beautiful girl turned 2 last week! Maria was very excited about her birthday. She’s been watching her siblings have birthdays and has been anxiously anticipating her special day. She loved making her cake and was thrilled about the special birthday dress we had made for her. She loves wearing “pretty dresses.”
For Maria’s birthday we had chili for lunch and hotdogs for supper. Two year olds are very easy to please. After dinner we did gifts. Maria is still at that sweet age where she’s excited about each gift and wants to play with everything (rather than throwing down the gift and asking for the next one). Gift opening took a long time. Each of Maria’s siblings were very happy to see how much she liked his/her gifts. (Isaiah was a little worried about Maria kissing him.)
Our Maria is a bunch of fun. She’s a talker and has lots to say. She loves to sing. She loves to do anything that her siblings are doing. Maria often asks to “play cards,” which means she wants to play a game from the game closet. Though sometimes you can hardly set up the game before she’s ready to move onto a new game. Maria loves to be read to and she loves looking at our family blog books. She’s done a great job with potty training. Maria is loved by all and brings joy to all.
Two Fridays ago we had our school orientation day, and we started full-on with school this week. School orientation consists of meeting with each student to go over his/her lesson plan notebook and talk through what they need to do on their own each week. We’re looking forward to an exciting week!
