St. George - So HOT it's COOL

June 27, 2009 Ethan Michael Jensen

is baptised and confirmed by his dad.

Nonna introduces cream puffs
as a food group to Adam Michael (6 mo.)

Dan and I went to St. George, Utah to visit Michael & Jani, Ethan (8), Emma (5), Aaron (3), Adam (6 mo.). We always have so much fun when we go to St. George. People say that it is the up & coming place to be, and I must agree that it is so HOT its got to be COOL.

Most days it was 110+ and being a "dry heat" wasn't much of a consolation. We went to a laser game place, a production of Annie in an outdoor theatre and some great restaurants. Dan and Michael played golf at some amazing courses while Jani, the kids and I had quality time at the hotel swimming pool. We met Michael & Jani's friends and family and were impressed by what great people they are and how much Michael & Jani are loved.

The best day was when Ethan was baptised and confirmed on Saturday, June 27th. We are so proud of the special young man Ethan is and the choices he has made. There is another precious joy to see our son with his beautiful family knowing the same joy we have known as parents.

It was a special day, back in Washington as well. Laralei & Brian were about to receive beautiful Aelizia as their first born (see previous blog).

It's hard to believe that 8 years have passed since Ethan's birth. We shared his story with our missionaries many times as an example that the Lord is in the details and blesses us with little miracles to bring us joy.

Jani was due with Ethan June 28th, 2001. This was the same day we were leaving on our mission, so we prayed for a little miracle. We came to Utah a week early so Dan could teach a short seminar there at the Provo Marriot. As we were about to leave for Salt Lake we arranged for someone with a cart to help with our many large suitcases. We waited for almost an hour then called the desk to check...they had forgotten us but someone would come soon. We checked the room one more time as the phone rang. It was Michael! Jani was in labor and in the hospital about to have the baby! The only reason he remembered our room phone number was because it was one digit off his work number! He didn't have any other phone number to reach us with him , so without this miracle we would have missed out! As it was, we drove to the hospital, saw them for a minute and went to the waiting room. Within an hour Michael came out to tell us the happy news and we were able to see Ethan when he was only a few minutes old. The night before we left for Italy we skipped the special banquet and went to pizza with Michael, Jani & her family. I held Ethan several times. Finally, as Dan and I turned and left down that long hallway of the MTC Dan said; "Shall we not go forth in so great a cause". And we did.

We did it knowing that the Lord had blessed us to have this last choice experience. It will always be a testimony that the Lord cares about his children so much that he will oversee phone numbers and memory lapses to work for our good.