Law Office of Kevin Jensen - April 2020

Law Office of Kevin Jensen - April 2020

Happy Easter!

April 2020 480.632.7373 jensenlawaz.com

Welcome, Gordon! A Very Tired and Grateful Brandon Yost Welcomes Baby No. 5!

I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since late January, but it’s all been worth it. JoDee and I welcomed our fifth child into our family in early February! Gordon is our second son and a welcome addition for his siblings who want to do nothing more than hold him and love on him. (Frankly, they drive us a little nuts when we’re holding him and all they want to do is play with him and watch him). He’s a lucky little guy, to say the least! I still remember when we discovered Gordon wasn’t going to be another girl. We adore our three girls, but we had all our fingers and toes

misses that attention. Still, I don’t even think she remembers that she originally wanted a “pink baby.”

As for our older son, he was also slightly disappointed when we discovered Gordon was a boy. We think he enjoyed being the only son and having that special bond with me as the two guys in the house, but as we welcome his younger brother to the family, we can tell he is warming up to the idea of some additional masculine energy in the home. The duo will share a room when Gordon is older and can sleep through the night, and our oldest son is already excited to have a brother to share that space with! It’s going to be cool to see how their relationship

crossed that baby No. 5 would be a boy and we could finally give our son some much-deserved respite from his

grows as they do.

sisters. This was the third time we agreed to find out the sex of our baby before they were born. Personally, I like the surprise at the hospital. It’s one of the best feelings in the world! But I think my wife was nervous to discover if it was going to be another girl, so we enlisted her sister to help us plan a reveal party. We asked our youngest daughter, Sophia, who was 3 years old at the time, if she wanted a pink baby or a blue baby. Unsurprisingly, she said pink. When we finally threw the confetti and revealed the balloons, we learned we were going to have another boy! But in the midst of our celebrating and cheers, Sophia broke down in tears! “I wanted a pink baby,” Sophia wailed, as we all giggled. I’m sure in her 3-year-old mind she thought the baby would really be there at the reveal. Since that initial disappointment, Sophia has become a great big sister. It’s been so heartwarming to see her grow from the baby to a big sister. She’s already filling her role so well, even if there are times when she

Gordon’s arrival and first few weeks have been blissful, tiring, and fun, but his birth was harder than most. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tremendous job our labor and delivery nurse did in helping my wife deliver our son. Gordon’s heart rate dropped a number of times, and the nurse was working tirelessly to help us. She guided JoDee into comfortable positions and made the entire process easier on our family. After five pregnancies, JoDee and I agreed that we were done having children — and then we heard Gordon cry for the first time. There’s no other sound in the world quite as beautiful as hearing your child’s first cry as they come into the world. It’s a sound no parent grows tired of hearing.

Welcoming our children into the world is an experience that has yet to get old, but for now, we’re going to enjoy our time as a family of seven.

-Brandon Yost

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The Age of Stress

Helping Your Child Overcome Anxiety

It’s hard to imagine kids as anything but carefree, happy, and eager to explore the world around them. However, children experience stress just like adults do, which can severely impact their typically cheerful dispositions. Since April is National Stress Awareness Month, now is an opportune time to familiarize yourself with tools and information that can help you alleviate your child’s stress. What are their stressors? Any number of everyday factors can lead to stress, and stress can plague anyone who feels overwhelmed. Toddlers and young children going to day care or school for the first time may experience separation anxiety due to being apart from their parents. Older kids and teenagers may feel mounting social and academic pressure. Even something as simple as overhearing loved ones arguing or seeing a sad news report can add to a child’s stress levels. How do I know if my child is stressed? When a kid is stressed, they will exhibit odd behavior and even undergo physical changes. Depending on your child’s age, watch for mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, headaches, trouble focusing, or withdrawal

from the people around them. According to KidsHealth.org, younger children may also pick up habits like twirling their hair or sucking their thumb, while older kids may start to bully others, lie, or rebel. Can I help reduce their stress? According to KidsHealth.org, good nutrition, proper rest, and healthy attention are great ways to help kids manage their stress. Set time aside each day to talk and spend time with your children; talking about worries will reduce or relieve anxieties. If you know about an upcoming stressful situation, like a school exam or a health checkup, prepare your child by studying with them or talking to them about what to expect.

Don’t stop here. For more tools and information regarding stress reduction in children, visit KidsHealth.org or contact your doctor.

How Counseling Can Help You Before, During, and After a Divorce Seeking Guidance?

Counseling is a common steppingstone for many couples. Many seek it out before getting married, and for some, it’s the last effort before filing divorce papers. Regardless of what stage your marriage is in, counseling and therapy can be a powerful tool to help you navigate the waters.

where mental and emotional health professionals come in. Divorce is a long process even when the breakup is amicable. Between dividing your assets, determining visitation schedules, and scheduling mediations, finding a moment to process the complexities of your divorce can be difficult. A regular meeting with a therapist can help you focus on your healing despite the sea of legal work. After It’s Final It’s not uncommon to feel lost in a new chapter. Shame, fear, and sadness are common feelings that can accompany your divorce, and processing these emotions can be complex and difficult. But a divorce can also be a chance for possibilities. A trained professional can help you process your emotions and examine ways you can take advantage of this new chapter. This is your opportunity! Take time to heal and prepare yourself with a little therapeutic guidance. At the Law Office of Kevin Jensen, we believe your divorce is more than just court proceedings and filing paperwork. We know ending a marriage is never easy, and that’s why we provide access to resources to help you through it. Learn more about our partnerships and other resources by giving us a call.

Before You Decide Seeking counsel while you’re still married can either provide the push to mend your relationship or help you understand that divorce is the healthiest option. Counselors and therapists are trained as mediators. Their prerogative isn’t to take sides. They are trained to help you discover the root cause of your emotions and the best ways to communicate that. All you have to do is approach each session with an open mind and find a professional who suits your needs. During Your Divorce While our legal team will walk you through every step of the divorce process, our expertise doesn’t go too far beyond the legal arena. This is

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After the Divorce Is Final Making Changes

career change means you can no longer afford child support or alimony payments. Maybe one of your children graduated high school, and the plan needs to be re-evaluated. Maybe your kids need a new environment in order to thrive or you no longer have a need for the house you once shared with your ex-spouse.

The immediate aftermath of a divorce can be a difficult time. You may feel angry or upset about your marriage. You may even be frightened of what this next phase has in store for you or guilty about how the divorce affected your children. But soon, the storm clouds will dissipate, life will continue, and you can often find a feeling of peace in your new life. After healing and establishing a new life for yourself, you will find that you can live happily after divorce. As you grow in this new stage, your life situation may change, and this could mean the decisions made during your divorce may no longer hold true. Maybe a

It’s perfectly normal to grow out of the decisions made during your divorce, and there is something you can do about it — regardless of how long you have been divorced!

Our team can help you determine what your next steps are. We can guide you through notifying your ex-spouse, outline your options, and provide you with a road map for what your next steps will look like. And this can all be done without having to step foot inside the courthouse. We can help you determine if this action can continue through mediation or if we will need a judge’s interference. This process can dredge up old wounds. There may be hurt feelings or complex emotions to overcome, but ultimately, shifting in the decisions made during a divorce can be a great choice. Your life won’t stay the same forever, and the decisions made during a divorce do not have to be permanent. You deserve a life that best suits you, and we can help you get there. Learn more about how we can help you during and after divorce by giving our team a call or visiting JensenLawAZ.com.

Inspired by AllRecipes.com Easter Lamb Cake

LAUGH BREAK

Impress your family with this festive Easter lamb cake that’s as cute as it is scrumptious!

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups cake flour • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar • 1/2 cup butter

• 1 cup milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 4 egg whites Equipment • 1 lamb-shaped, 3D cake mold

Directions 1. Heat oven to 375 F. Coat lamb cake mold with vegetable oil and wipe clean after a few minutes. Then grease again and flour cake mold. 2. In a bowl, sift cake flour, then sift flour again with baking powder and salt. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter together to form a batter.

4. Add flour mixture and milk to the batter alternately. 5. Stir batter until smooth and add vanilla extract. 6. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

7. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into batter mixture, then fold in the remaining whites. 8. Fill cake mold with batter and avoid air pockets. Place the lid on the cake mold, secure it tightly, and place it on a cookie sheet. Bake for 1 hour. 9. Let cake cool completely before decorating with frosting, candy, and edible Easter grass.

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Celebrating Life as a Family of 7!

Helping Your Child Manage Stress

The Power of Counseling Through the Stages of Divorce

You Can Make Changes After a Divorce Is Final

See Spring Bloom Spring is here, which means beautiful flowers are finally showing themselves after a long winter. Here are some of the best places in the U.S. to see flower blossoms and welcome the season.

In These Beautiful Locations

annual Wildflower Festival in midsummer, which features nature walks, art, photography, culinary experiences, and more. For a truly unique experience, you can even ascend the town’s titular Crested Butte to spot some rare alpine sunflowers next to the picturesque West Elk Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains

Antelope Valley

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches across North Carolina and Tennessee, and while its scenery is beautiful year-round, the park is especially alluring to nature enthusiasts during the spring. Through this season, miles of lady’s-slipper orchids, irises, cardinal flowers, and lilies dot its lush green landscape. It’s dubbed “Wildflower National Park” throughout this time of year, and you can experience it by car or on foot. The park also offers expert-led tours that weave through the flowers during their peak bloom.

The California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, California, is a 1,780-acre park that features sloping hills covered with fields of vibrant orange, yellow, and red poppies in the spring. Warm temperatures and heavy rainfall across Southern California during this time of year create a brief period of thick blooms as far as the eye can see. And while the poppies can be enjoyed from the comfort of your car, the best way to experience them is to walk the leisurely Antelope Loop Trail for a breathtaking, up-close adventure. Spring flora is gorgeous and naturally attracts large crowds of people every year. If you plan to visit any of these destinations, just remember that their ecosystems are delicate. Respect park signs, stay on designated trails, and do your part to make sure these flowers return year after year for future generations to enjoy.

Crested Butte

Crested Butte, Colorado, is best known for its winter sports and summer hikes. But recently it has drawn the attention of flower enthusiasts for its unique pink, orange, and gold alpine wildflowers that appear in the spring. This natural phenomenon even inspired the creation of the

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