Jensen 2007 Newsletter

In lieu of the usual Jensen Family holiday newsletter, we offer this top-secret communiqué intercepted by our doctors during a recent MRI on Amy’s brain.

FROM: CANCER AGENT X27
TO: ANAPLASTIC ASTROCYTOMA MISSION CONTROL
RE: 2007 YEAR-END PROGRESS REPORT

I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT OUR ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT THE LIFE FORM DESIGNATED “AMY LESTLEY JENSEN” HAS FAILED.

TO RECAP, WE SUCCEEDED AT INDUCING A SEIZURE LAST JANUARY. ALAS, SUCCESSFUL BRAIN SURGERY AND SUBSEQUENT RADIOACTIVE BOMBARDMENT HAVE LEFT OUR FORCES DEPLETED AND ESSENTIALLY IMPOTENT. BUT YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT REALLY KILLED US? THREE THINGS:

1. THIS WOMAN IS TOUGHER THAN STEEL.

2. THE LADY HAS SOME BADASS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THAT LOVE STUFF THEY LAVISHED HER WITH? HEAVY FREAKIN' METAL.

3. SHE’S GOT THAT GOD GUY ON HER SIDE.

IN THE END, WE MADE A COUPLE DENTS, RATTLED HER CAGE A LITTLE, PROMPTED HER AND HER FAMILY TO CONSIDER ANEW THEIR PRIORITIES, THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR LOVED ONES, AND ALL THAT DEEP AND MEANINGFUL BLAH BLAH BLAH. IN OTHER WORDS, ALL WE SUCCEEDED IN DOING WAS IMPROVING HER LIFE (AND THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND HER) AND MAKING CANCER LOOK AS TOUGH AS A HEAD COLD.

YOU KNOW HOW BADLY WE BOTCHED THIS JOB? SHE WENT ON VACATION. TWICE! FIRST, TO SEATTLE AND PORTLAND TO VISIT FAMILY; THEN, TO PARIS WITH HER HUSBAND. AND THEN, IN THE FALL--SHE TOOK A CLASS. IN KITCHEN DESIGN! WHAT KIND OF PERSON WITH BRAIN CANCER TAKES A CLASS IN KITCHEN DESIGN? A STEELY BROAD WITH BALLS THE SIZE OF BOULDERS, THAT’S WHO!

AMID ALL THIS, AMY’S FAMILY STRUGGLED SOME BUT PROVED RESILIENT. HER KIDS (BEN, AGE 6; LAUREN, AGE 4) FLOURISHED, AND HER HUSBAND, JEFF, CONTINUED TO WRITE FOR HIS MAGAZINE, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, WHICH, BY THE WAY, TOTALLY RALLIED FOR HER. WE WEREN’T COUNTING ON THAT. A MAJOR CORPORATION ACTUALLY HELPING ITS EMPLOYEES? WHEN DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN?!

BOTTOM LINE: WE SCREWED UP. THE FEW OF US THAT ARE LEFT ARE HEADING UNDERGROUND. BUT SHE AND HER ARMY OF LOVE AND MEDICINE ARE HOT ON OUR TAIL, AND I WORRY FOR OUR CHANCES. ANYWAY, WHAT DOES IT MATTER? IF THE POINT OF OUR SO-CALLED DEADLY EXISTENCE WAS TO DIMINISH THE VALUE OF LIFE AND CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY ARE SOMETHING LESS OR DIFFERENT THAN THEY REALLY ARE… WELL, WE LOST THAT WAR. BADLY. AND, WORST OF ALL, HER HAIR LOOKS BETTER THAN BEFORE!

ANYWAY. SORRY WE SUCKED.
OH, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AGENT X27—OUT.

Merry Christmas!

We have had a great couple of days with my mom, Rhonda, and step-dad, Matt (they joined us after a "golf getaway" in Palm Desert). The weather in Lakewood has been sunny but chilly and we have enjoyed some great meals together as well as a competitive round of Trivial Pursuit on Christmas Eve (for the first time, ever, Jeff DID NOT win; congrats, mom). The gluttony of gifts were consumed this morning (watch the movie short for highlights). Thank you to all who contributed to our love-pot of gift-giving. My mom and I especially enjoyed the 1 pound box of Rocky Road - yummo!

Love, blessings, joy and peace to all of you,

love, amy, jeff, ben and lauren

Kickball and Birthday Cake

Today was the first annual Family Kickball tournament. Please view our movie.

We had so much fun that we would like to make it a tradition, or at least, play it together more often. I am thankful for all our friends that could come out and play. Thank you for celebrating my 35th birthday with me!

Love and blessings,
amy, jeff, ben and lauren

Amy: Health Update for Dec.

Amy is turning 35 this coming Tuesday - yep, 15 years to 50! Since I, Amy, am writing this blog entry, I have to admit that 50 sounds really good and I am praying to see it, if only to see if Oprah is right, that 50 is the new 20. Anyway, we have some good news besides the imminent life celebration for me. I had an MRI on Dec. 5th and it came back clean. No tumors but the "light mist", which a dear friend refers to as the "Holy Spirit" is still appearing on one of the slices of my brain. Too bad the mist isn't in the shape of the Virgin Mary and then, I could be on the 5'o clock news. Oh well - I guess I'll have to become famous another way.

Some interesting news, besides that another one of Jeff Jensen's classic Christmas Newsletters is on its way to most of your mailboxes, is that we just found out that I have an 8 year-old nephew who lives in Bend, OR. It's weird to think that Jeff and I have been married for as long as this little guy has been in the world. We hope to meet him soon. We will keep you updated on him - he is currently in foster care and we would love if you could pray for him, his name is Justin. My mom, dad, and soon-to-be step-brother went to visit him today. He cried tears of Joy when he heard that he had grandparents and that they were coming to visit him!

We had a great Thanksgiving with Jeff's parents, Uncle Devin and Aunt Jan. Jeff did a fabulous job with the Turkey and Charl and Tom were great helps with the dinner, clean-up and fix-up of our house. Tom is a very handy guy to have around!

We will update again, hopefully soon, so keep checking back.

much love to you all,
amy, jeff, ben and lauren