Dear Family,

I loved getting so many newsletters today!  It motivated me to get mine
out!!  There has sure been lots of good news to share.  Sometimes I feel
down thinking that so much around me is depressing, especially when I'm
listening to the news on the radio.  But there is so much more good and
happy things all around--thanks for sharing all of your good news!  It's
especially fun to have a new generation beginning in the family.  I hope
that Grandpa Alexander feels the significance of his and grandma's part in
all of our blessings--especially of having the gospel be such a part of our
lives through their faithful lives that's now carrying on into the 5th
generation!

Saturday we finished the wrestling season!  Whew!!  Stephen started
practices in October and had Saturday tournaments most Saturday's since
December as well as Wednesday matches.  He's pumped about his goals for
next year already.  After his last match on Saturday his coach told
him:  "You had a good season.  You learned a lot.  Next year you'll get to
wrestle your own weight class.  Feel good about your year."  Coaches make
such an impact on the kids they work with--for good and bad.  Stephen's
coach isn't the ideal role model, but he's been really good about
encouraging Stephen to not give up and to be a good team member.  Stephen's
record was about 50% wins / 50% losses.  He wrestled the 130 weight class
most of the time when he should have been wrestling 119.  It was either 130
varsity or 119 JV.  He wanted to letter so did varsity.  He felt
embarrassed to have us go when he'd lose.  It was hard to convince him that
we were equally proud of him when he won or lost.  Of course it's most fun
to see him be happy and successful with a win--especially a pin!  But he
always did his best and put in 100% effort, so we were pleased to watch
him.  I'm confident that Heavenly Father is equally proud of us when we do
our best.  He doesn't expect us to be #1--just to give our very best
effort.  Now Stephen will get back to his job, and homework.

Dan is working a lot at Arby's.  His girlfriend got a job working at an
Italian restaurant so they see each other less--but have more money to
entertain themselves when they do get together.  Dan's doing well at
school.  He especially likes a Graphic Arts class he's taking.  It's great
that he is getting some experience in something that he thinks could be a
good career for him.  He used to dislike computers, but now he's pretty
fluent in some pretty interesting software.

Jim went with 34 guys on a 3 day golf trip the last weekend in January at
Jekyll Island.  Some of the men fly in from all over the country.  Next
year will be a big 20 year anniversary bash.  He's hoping to actually be
good by then!  I doubt that he'll be able to pick up on the skills AND the
conversation though!  He said that when they'd eat, the only things the men
talk about are: professional golfers, tournaments, their puts from the past
years, courses in the area, clubs, etc. etc.!  He did a LOT of
listening!  He enjoys being with the guys, and the challenge of a new
sport.  He plans to take some more lessons if he can rearrange some money
allocations!

I've had a lot of jobs lately.  I never know when I'll get a call from the
2 ladies I work for.  When I do, I rarely turn it down because I can go a
couple of months with nothing.  When I get many days in a row like I did
last week (about 10 days), I feel like, "Wow, this is out of control--I
need to get some other things done!"  Then there's a drought of work
again.  printing jobs--mostly taping folders with a tape gun.  It's
interesting.  I'm currently saving for our family vacation to the Nauvoo
area in the summer.  We hoped to go to Europe while Sarah is there, but at
$11,000 for the 5 of us, we're thinking probably not!

Sarah is very busy in France.  She gets in to Paris a couple of times a
week on the mass transit system.  She's living in a very nice house in Le
Vesinet.  She likes the family a lot.  They answer the phone "hollow" with
an accent on the last syllable!  It sounds really different.  She's keeping
up with her history correspondence classes.  She thankfully found another
girl in her ward from CA who is also a nanny and can hang out with her when
their schedules work out.  They both have arranged to go on splits with the
sister missionaries in the area.

I'll quit writing.  Before I had to chop up my letter so it would fit on
one page, now I can babble forever!  :o)

We love you lots.  Can't wait to see each one of you!

the Jett's

February 2002