News

Mailing List

Happy 2016 and 40th Birthday Thoughts 

Happy 2016 Everyone!

Time just seems to be flying by faster and faster, the older I get. I remember, as a child, over hearing adults say this. It was always a hard concept to grasp because, as a kid, you are always wanting time to go faster. “I can’t wait until I’m old enough to drive”.  “I can’t wait until I graduate from High School or college”. “I can’t wait until I get married”. 

40th Birthday 
Well, on February 1st I celebrate my 40th birthday. WHAT? How did that happen? The actual party isn’t until the 13th and my husband is planning something special. For those of you who know my husband, you can understand why I’m a little nervous about what will happen at this party. I may or may not share what happened in my next newsletter. HAHA! 

Looking Ahead  vs.  Living In The Moment 
This past week I took some time to look back at the last 40 years and what I have done in that time. There are certainly some pretty amazing things that I have been able to experience, and some amazing blessings that God has poured out on my marriage, my music ministry and my personal life. And I am very thankful and humbled. 
  
But I also took a step back and took a real look what I’ve done the last 40 years and what I’d like the next 40 to be like. I came to the realization that I’ve spent most of my life worrying about the future and planning for what’s ahead that I’ve completely failed to live in the moment. My mom told me a few weeks ago that I come by that honestly, because that’s how she lived her life until recently. 
  
It’s so hard to “Live in the moment”, to concentrate on the here and the now. I realize that by not doing these things, I have caused a lot of damage to myself, to my marriage and to friends and family. I have spent my life doing ministry and music and making my JOB my life. I have become a work-a-holic. I have not managed my time well. I have failed to take time to focus on taking care of me, my own spiritual growth, my husband, my family and my friends. I’m not using this as an excuse but I’ve found it very hard to work in ministry because “ministry is your work”. It’s a blessing but also a curse because you feel torn. It’s hard to draw that line and be ok with taking time off because it’s ministry and that’s what we are here to do, right?   
  

Life is more than work. 
(And even though I’ve heard it many times, it took me 40 years to finally figure this out) 

  
When we don’t take time for ourselves, time to grow, time with God, time to play and have fun, then we aren’t as effective in “ministry and work” as we could be. That’s because we are running on empty. I’ve run on empty for a long time. 
  
I am making both a New Year’s and a 40th B-day resolution to take better care of myself (physically, emotionally and spiritually) so that I can be a better wife, daughter, sister, music-minister, and child of God. I challenge all of you who struggle with this as well. We need to give everything our best. Take care of yourself. Be strong spiritually, physically and emotionally and you can better serve those around you. 
  
Thank you for letting me share. I pray you have a blessed month. 
  
I will reach out with a Music News and Update soon. 
  
:-) 
Jaime

Merry Christmas 

I want to wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas. 

Here is a simple music video for Silent Night 
that we recorded last year. 

May it help prepare our hearts and minds 
for the true meaning of Christmas. 
Remember, Christmas doesn't end on Christmas Day.
We celebrate for 12 days beginning on the 25th. :-)


CLICK HERE FOR MUSIC VIDEO - Silent Night by Jaime Thietten 

Thank you so much for your love and support over the years. Blessings to you and your family this Christmas. 

Jaime

Happy November! 

As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays and try harder to focus on what we are thankful for in our lives as well as doing more to share our blessings with others, I thought I’d share this quote with you.
 
Gratitude is the music of the heart,
when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness.
- Author Unknown

I find that it’s a constant battle to stay positive and not complain about things on a daily basis. Don’t judge me. (wink). As I’ve transitioned back into the 9-5 job world again over the last couple of months, I’ve found myself complaining about how much is on my plate each day, when instead, I should be celebrating the fact that I have an incredible job that allows me to still be in ministry and is providing a way for me to help put my husband through school over the next 2 years. While this job is stressful and overwhelming at times and is stretching me to be a better time-manager, there are so many blessings that come along with this job and this letter would be WAY too long if I started listing them. The same goes for other areas in my life. The point I am trying to make is that if we can focus on the good, it FAR outweighs the bad. There is so much negativity around us trying to pull us down and focus on what we are lacking. When we do this we are unable to see the blessings. If we are always complaining and seeing the negative, then we tend to hold on to things much tighter.

CHALLENGE
Together, over the next few days and weeks, let’s have an “attitude of gratitude”. Think about all that is good in your life and the blessings God has given you. When we do this there is a chain of events that unfold.

1. We are able to see how much we actually have and how blessed we are.
2. Which causes us to open our eyes and to see what others are lacking.
3. This opens our hearts and minds to be able to share with those less 
    fortunate than us.  
4. It allows others to experience gratitude. 
5. Starts back at 1 again.

As this is repeated over and over again, from person to person, it makes the world a better place for all. Let’s see how much positive change we can make over the next few weeks.
What are you grateful for? Start making your list.
 
GEARING UP FOR CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Because of my new job at St. John’s, I am limited on how much time I can travel and sing this Christmas. But I am excited to announce that I will be doing 3 events in December and I’d love to see you there if you live nearby.

December  6   2:00pm    Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, ID
December 11  7:00pm    St. John’s,  Pocatello, ID
December 12    TBD        Amazing Grace Fellowship   Twin Falls, ID 
                                        (Singing a few songs with Pastor Lynn Schaal
                                        at his Concert)
 
NEW CHRISTMAS CD to be released 2016 - FUNDRAISING AND I NEED YOUR HELP
I am working on putting together a FANTASTIC Christmas CD to be recorded and released in 2016. LIVE Orchestra, Boys Choir, Duets with a couple of well-known Nashville singers and much much more. I am so excited about this project and what we have in place so far but I need your help to make it happen.

We’ve already raised $14,050 and we have $15,950 to go. If you would like to be part of helping me make this CD a reality you can learn more by going to www.JTmusic.net/donate.  More detailed information about the project is there as well as instructions on how you can make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donation to my ministry for this Christmas Project.

Thank you for prayerfully considering a gift this year and for your continued support.
I hope you have a Wonderful Thanksgiving.

Jaime
  

Goodbye Daisy Lou 

Friends,
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this newsletter update. I keep putting it off thinking it will get easier to sit down and write this, but I found that it is not.
So here it goes, with tears streaming down my face...
 
SAYING GOODBYE IS SO HARD
I want to thank you for your prayers and support this past year as we helped our Daisy Dog fight this disease Degenerative Myelopathy (like ALS or MS in humans). After 1 ½ years of fighting, we let our precious girl Daisy cross the Rainbow Bridge on July 26th. She is out of pain and running again with her big brother Patxi (pronounced Pawchee) who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in July 29, 2012.

 

  Daisy La Bonita (Pretty One) Espil
12-08-04  to  7-26-15

 
Both Pete and I have been a complete mess. The house is very empty and we have been throwing ourselves into work and keeping very busy in order to keep us away from the house (which is very depressing and lonely). We’ve tried not to leave each other alone very often and have been clinging to each other for support and companionship. It’s amazing how much pets feed our hearts and souls. And we don’t realize just how much until they are no longer with us. I am thankful that God knew we needed animals in our lives. I love this quote:
 

Until one has loved an animal,
a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
-Anatole France

 
One of the things that has been rolling around in my mind the past few weeks, since we lost her, is that so many of my friends have lost loved ones (children, siblings, spouses, parents, grandparents, etc.). I kept beating myself up by thinking “I lost my DOG”. These people have lost PEOPLE. I must be CRAZY to be grieving this much and for it to be this hard.
 

I came to the realization that loss, no matter who it may be,
is just plain HARD.


This experience has given me more compassion for those who have recently lost a loved one because over the last few weeks I have felt only a fraction of their pain and feelings from loss. Don’t get me wrong, I had compassion before, but as I’ve grieved over my Daisy, I have thought about each of those friends who are grieving the loss of a loved one and I have offered up my tears for them (That God would somehow ease their pain and fill that empty hole in their heart with peace (a peace that only He can give).
 
I know that so many of you have had us in your thoughts and prayers and have supported us this past year. We appreciate you more than you will ever know.
 
As Daisy’s caretaker this past year (pretty much 24/7), I had a lot of time to bond and spend time with her and I am thankful that my music allowed me to work from home when I was not travelling to and from concert events. I feel blessed to have had that quality time to spend with her, caring for her, and being there for her in her final days. But spending that much time with her made it that much harder to say goodbye. After letting her go, I came home and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had been her mommy, tending to everything she needed. The only thing for me to do now that she’s gone (to keep me from feeling completely empty and rolling up in a ball and crying all day) is to shift my energy into work. Not hard for me since I am a work-a-holic.
 

People have asked us if we will get another dog right away.
We’ve decided to wait awhile and take it one month at a time.

 
FULL TIME JOB for JAIME!
I’ve taken on a full-time job (away from my house, thank you Lord) in addition to doing music (which I have scaled back a little so that I don’t overwhelm myself). When the time is right, we will accept another loving pup into our home and shower them with the same love and affection we poured out on our Daisy and Patxi. Until then, we have a lot of work to do at St. John’s Catholic Student Center on Idaho State University Campus where my husband is the Campus Minister and I am the Administrator (lucky me, I get the bookkeeping and secretarial work. WINK!)  In all honesty, it will be great to work in campus ministry together, alongside my husband, serving the needs of the students at Idaho State. We are turning the page to another chapter.
 
REAL NEWSLETTER COMING SOON

I will be sending out an actual Newsletter regarding the Music Ministry soon. I just need another week or two to get my head where it needs to be in order to do that. Thank you for your continued support of me and this ministry. Blessings to all of you.
 
Love,
Jaime
 

Until we meet again my Daisy Lou. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Spring, Transitions & Continuing the Journey 

I hope you all are enjoying the beautiful Easter Season. We are enjoying some beautiful weather here in Idaho. In fact, as I write this, I am on my front porch in the shade, while Daisy-dog lies in the grass enjoying the sunshine. 

Back to School
Last fall, my husband and I moved to Pocatello Idaho where Pete took the job as campus minister at St. John’s Catholic Center on the Idaho State University campus. It was a tough decision because he had to leave the Master’s Program after only 1 year (3 year program) in order to take this position that God was calling him to. Sometimes doing the things God calls us to do isn’t always easy. But I am reminded, time and time again, that He is faithful!
 
We almost have our 1st academic year at St. John’s completed and it has been an amazing year. We’ve had our share of struggles and frustration, but it has really been a great year of fun, learning, and spiritual growth, for both Pete and I. We are so happy to be in Pocatello and blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people.
 
Over the past year, Pete kept trying to figure out how he could stay at St. John’s and still be able to finish his Master’s degree.  After exhausting most of the possibilities, he finally found a way. Or should I say… “God provided a way”.  Last week Pete was accepted as a transfer student into Utah State University’s MSW program. He will begin classes on May 12th and will graduate in August of 2017. Woohoo! AND… this will not affect his employment as campus minister at St. John's Catholic center. He will be commuting from Pocatello to Utah State's extension Center in Brigham City (hour and 45 min drive) one night a week. And he will be doing his practicum here in Pocatello.
 
Now, this is where it gets exciting, and a little scary for me. I have agreed to partner with Pete in campus ministry for the next two years. Anyone who has partnered with Pete, knows why this is scary. :-)  We are doing this to ensure that the ministry here at St. John's does not lose any steam or momentum. We are excited about this because we enjoy doing ministry together but rarely get the opportunity to do so. We managed to do a few parish missions together each year but so far that has been the extent of our collaboration. It is really neat how things work out and God’s timing in all of this. Pope Francis designated this year (2015) as “The Year of the Family/Consecrated Life” so it would only make sense that Pete and I strive to do more together, as a family, by joining forces and becoming stronger for the Kingdom together in ministry. At our last parish mission a lady told us “You are both amazing and together are greater than the sum total of two”. I thought that was cute at first, but then realized that when two are joined together (with God as the center) it’s not too hard to be greater than the sum of two.  
 
This past year I have stretched myself by heading up the Music team for masses. It has been a wonderful learning experience and I look forward to learning and handling more in the day to day operations at the center. Marriage is all about teamwork and I am excited to be able to spend more time with my husband in ministry and helping him to get through school.
 
Will This Affect My Music?
Yes, and in a good way. I will still be doing concerts throughout the year, I will just need to be a little more pro-active about planning my availability for touring. I believe, the best way to do this, will be to offer my available dates and try my best to stick to that schedule.
 
I will have a list of available tour dates on my website calendar page sometime in May.
 
March Tour Recap
I would have to say Lent and Advent are my favorite times of year to travel and share music. I had such a wonderful time this Lenten season. I want to thank Billings MT (Sisters in Faith Women’s Conference) for inviting me to come share with all of you. What an awesome event. Pat Gohn (author of Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious”) was the Keynote Speaker/co-presenter and we had a blast working together!  I hope we have more event opportunities to share together in the future. Check out her website. She’s awesome! www.patgohn.net. Hire us so we can come to your town and work together again. This lady is a kick in the pants! I Love her. :-)


Julie and Pam (event coordinators) were so amazing to work with and did an amazing job putting on this conference. If you live within driving distance of Billings Montana, you should REALLY try and go each year. They put on such a great event!

After the women’s conference it was on to St. Leo’s in Lewistown, where Pete and I were able to spend some time with the youth on Saturday night, attend weekend masses and then do a 2 day parish mission on Sunday and Monday nights. Thank you Lewistown for making us feel so welcome. We had such a great time and hope to be able to come back.
It was a great and blessed month for this ministry. Happy Easter to all of you. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Jaime
 

Join our mailing list for the latest news

Featured Video

"Ave Maria" (Jaime put this together specifically for the Covid 19 pandemic). It was made to help draw us into deeper prayer for our front-line workers, for each other and for an end to the pandemic. May it bring comfort and hope to those who listen and pray along.