Return Back, Home Will Always Be Waiting For You

After church, Zoey and I were heading home.  I felt like I had just gave the worst lesson possible because I didn't plan enough to cover the whole time, my Young Women were so distracted with Zoey and she was teething and didn't want anyone... it was pretty tough.  I think it was an over load day for me because I started feeling very down on myself and so I decided I wanted to go up the canyon for a scenic drive.  Zoey and I drove up the canyon and my mind just wandered.  I thought about the beautiful changing leaves, I thought about Zoey and her teething, I thought about how I need to do better at preparing my lessons, and I thought a lot about forgiveness, and forgiving my self and I thought about my life thus far. My mind wandered and I just cried.

When I just passed the sign for Cedar Breaks my gas light came on.  I don't know why but I freaked out.  It normally wouldn't be a problem because our gas light comes on quite early so I had a good couple miles to go and getting out of the canyon is down hill so little gas was required to leave.  With my thoughts turing to a panic, I decided I really needed to turn around.  I was very stern about it too. It was a single lane road and there was a double line so I couldn't turn around, I legally had to keep going. The feeling continued to push and persist in my mind that I needed to turn around.  I looked forward and back multiple times to make sure no one was there and that no one would soon be coming.  I then made the choice to break the law.  I flipped around and crossed that double yellow line and just as I started headed back south, a car was coming up.  I was glad no one had seen me.  

I then had some of the most beautiful thoughts come over me as I drove back.  As I'm sitting here now writing this, I feel the spirit, again, fill my soul with peace, love and comfort. It was crazy how these thoughts came rushing into my mind and they all seemed to connect dots and match up and I felt so inspired and uplifted. I thought about how the experience I had relates to our life here on earth. Back in the valley of Cedar City was the world, and my beautiful destination of Cedar Breaks to view the beautiful changing leaves was my Celestial Kingdom where I would get to see Heavenly Father.

I was having a really bad, overwhelming day.  I wanted to run away.  I wanted to run away to be with my Father and be with him in Heaven.  I thought about how beautiful it would been and how wonderful I would be to be able to be at His feet when I got there.  However, the feeling inside of me, telling me to turn was because I wasn't ready.  I wasn't ready to be there yet to experience His glory.  I had to finish my time here on earth and go back and fight and live each and every day until my time was up.  My Heavenly Father knew that If I were to make it to the top, I wouldn't want to come back.  I don't think anyone would want to come back after being embraced by our Heavenly Parents.  But because it is so important for me to be here, on earth to finish out my journey I didn't get to go.

What I then began to realize is that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ won't ever let me not experience the joy of being in their presence and that is why we get amazing, beautiful glimpses here on earth. It's to remind me of where I have been and where I want to end up.  I listed off some of these things that I have experienced in my life, but the one that struck me the most was that Heavenly Father gave me my Zoey.  I get to look at her each and every day and know that she is a precious gift from God and that she still has the ability to see through the veil and to see and know that Heavenly Father is still there.  She is my precious gift.  She is why I can't leave.  I have to stay because of her.  Because she needs me each and every day of her life, just like I need her and I especially need her to be that gateway to receive those glimpses of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I believe so much that she is and always will be my "portal" to Them to encourage me when times get tough and to bless me when I feel I've had enough.

As I reached the bottom of the canyon road and hit the light the tears immediately stopped.  I had experienced a wonderful gift and blessing and I am now able to share this with those who read it.  I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for allowing me to experience such joy and helping me realize that the joy that I experienced can always be felt with my family. My wonderful Husband and my beautiful baby girl.

Families truly are the center of my faith and God's church.  How blessed and grateful I feel because I have them.  Now and forever.  This Family is Forever!

Love, us

Eczema and Oils

So, this is very random but I woke up late last night with a itching burn on my neck. I didn't know what  it was or what was happening to my neck but it was quite painful.

When I got up this morning it was still there and I realized after doing some research it was eczema. I had red itchy patches just behind my ears and down my neck and just around the base of my hairline a red patch was starting to blister.  Man, talk about itchy, burning pain. I am obviously having an allergic retain to something I ate. -Raspberries and gluten, mixed, that my stomach is trying to digest and it's causing it to go on over load. So it's secreting through my skin.

These are my pictures. As you can see that I have it on both ears and the bottom part of the left picture is where it is blistering. - this sucks 

So in reference to "oils" in my title I wanted to share with you what I've been using to maintain and reduce my sores.

Lavender has a very calming nature and can be used with every allergic reaction to something.
Melaleuca is a very calm but strong fighter.  So gentle, it's gentle enough for children. But it is a great fighter.

So I'm combining these two oils with a little fractionated coconut oil and put it on almost every 2 hours and so far, it's neutralized the pain and I have kept it from getting worse so now, hopefully I'm on the down hill. I will update this post with my results and hopefully this inspires someone to use these amazing oils. Worth a try- and I have samples. :)

So an update:
It is 10:51p.m. and my blister is not crusted. It sounds gross, but it's golden when your looking for progression.  My results are still looking up. I can't wait for it to be gone but I am so happy for my progress.

Another update:
morning of the 15th of October and like I said last night, my blister is all crusted.  The good thing is that it stayed that way throughout the night which means I AM ON THE UP HILL! yeah, I'm fighting this bad boy off and it's working. :) Here is my pictures this morning.

As you can see my redness is really slowed down and improved in most parts. You can also see what my blister is all crusty and if feels and looks gross but, hey! it's healing :) that's the point.


*In addition to using the oils directly on my skin, I thought that because I had ingested something that I probably shouldn't have and they weren't combining well I thought it would be a good idea to do a detox.  So my version of a detox was 2-4 drops of lemon essential oil in a 16oz water bottle and I drank it.  That helped a ton as well because I used the bathroom so much, which I understand is probably more information then you probably wanted, but I'm just trying to give you all the facts here. Winner winner chicken dinner.

Sorry this update took me a while, but after about a week and a half, my eczema is gone.  It's GONE GONE GONE! These oils are fabulous!

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If you are battling eczema on a constant basis here is a website of great essential oils to use to help. Lots of different stories and doctors post of here for you to see what they have used that work.

Everything Essential - Eczema and Psoriasis

If you are interested in using doTERRA essential oils as well as any of the other products they have click HERE for my website.

Pumpkin Bars

Everything yummy about the seasons in a bar. Super tasty and easy.

1 cup oil

2 cup white flour

2 cup white sugar

2 cup pumpkin, canned
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

In a standing mixer, combined all listed ingredients in that order. Once well mixed pour batter into a well greased cookie sheet pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25-40 mins (check with tooth pick)

Frosting

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened

2- 8oz packages of cream cheese

powdered sugar (the more the thicker the frosting will be)

no more then 2 teaspoons of vanilla (to taste)

Frost when pumpkin bar is completely cooled :) ENJOY!

Chocolate Mint Brownies

This is the BEST brownie recipe I have ever tasted.  I was so skeptical at first because of how it all comes together in the mixture isn't the common way- BUT IT WORKS! Don't forget that :)

Brownies

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup coco powder
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened

Mix together sugar, coco, eggs and vanilla. Mix in a bowl flour and salt and then gradually add this to the coco mixture on low. After it is all well incorporated add softened butter. (this mix will seem very strange and off compared to other mixes but remember Trust It!)

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 35 minutes.  Check with a tooth pick to insure it is done. Tu-Dah!

Mint Frosting

2 cup Powder Sugar

4 Tablespoons Butter, softened

1 1/2 teaspoons Peppermint extract

1-2 Tablespoons Milk -- start with only 1 1/2 first and add as needed

5-10 drops of green food coloring (or however many you like)

Mix with beaters and frost brownies once they are cooled completely :)

Pooh Cookies

Also know as No-Bake cookies. Someone in my family just has a gross sense of humor and well, the name just stuck.

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)1/2 cup coco powder2 cups white sugar1/2 cup milk1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup peanut butter3 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

melt butter in in a medium sauce pan. Once butter is melted add coco powder and sugar and stir. Slowly add milk being careful not to scorch the milk. Once the sugar is dissolved, bring it to a boil. Once at a boil take pan off the heat and turn stove off.  Then add vanilla, peanut butter and stir until the peanut butter is melted in coco mix.  Once everything is finally well incorporated, stir in oats.

scoop into 1-2 inch drops on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Let them cool completely in fridge.

Super Easy Snickerdoodles

So very warm, soft and melt in your mouth gooey. If you like crispy cookies then you will not like these.

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs, large
2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs in a electric mixer. (about 3+ min)

In a separate bowl mix cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

Once your dry ingredients are mixed well together in the bowl (I use a whisk to mix it all together nicely) then you slowly add the dry to the cream while the mixer is running on low.

After all is well incorporated cover with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for at least 10-15 minutes.  While that is chilling mix 3 Tablespoons of white sugar and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon.

Roll the dough into about 1 inch balls.  Roll the balls into the cinnamon sugar mix and place on cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 6-8 mins, depending on how gooey you want them.  Remove from pan immediately.
SUPER EASY!!

White Chocolate Chip & Crasin Cookies

These literally are to die for. Crasins and white chocolate are the perfect mix with old fashioned rolled oats and they are HEALTHY!, mostly.

3/4 cup of blended rolled oats (blender or food processor, dry)
1 cup whole wheat flour or spelt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup oil (canola or coconut oil)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4- 1 cup of white chocolate chips
3/4- 1 cup of crasins

In a med/large bowl mix blended rolled oats, flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.

In standing mixer, cream together butter and oil. Once creamed, add sugars, egg and vanilla. 

Mix these well on low speed add dry ingredients with running mixer. Stir in craisins and white chocolate chips.

Roll in balls on a cookie sheet (3x4 rows) and bake at 350F for 8-10mins or until lightly golden on edges.  Remove from pan to cooling rack immediately.

Tresa's Banana Bread

This recipe calls for about 4 bananas, mashed.

1 cup shortening

3 cups white granulated sugar

4 eggs, beaten until fluffy

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups banana, mashed

1/2 cup of plain yogurt or sour cream

4 cups flour

nuts or 2 dashes of cinnamon: optional

In a standing mixer, beat shortening and sugar together.  While that is beating, beat until fluffy eggs for about 5-8 minutes. Then add to creamed sugar mix.  After all is well mixed, add vanilla, salt and baking soda. Then add mashed banana. Add plain yogurt or sour cream. Once all is well mixed slowly add flour one cup at a time.

Bake at 325 degrees in 2 or 3 greased and floured pans. (I use 3)  Cook for about 40-60 mins.  Check it at the 40 mins mark and if it needs more time bake for 5 min intervals until done.  Done is when a tooth pick can poke the middle almost all the way down and it comes out clean.

Spelt Flour Tortillas

This is a great Spelt flour tortillas recipe.  My mother made it up herself.  The only difference between these and regular white tortillas is that they aren't as friendly when you're trying to fold them.  They don't have gluten in it which is that part of the substance that holds everything together like glue.  No, they won't break and crumble left and right but they just tend to be dry.  Still they are DELICIOUS!  -side note; they workout and taste better if you mix and kneed everything by hand*

Spelt Flour Tortillas

4 cups for Spelt Flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup coconut oil (could be substituted out for regular cooking oil but coconut oils seems to give the necessary moisture it needs)

1 1/4- 1 1/2 cup of warm/hot water

1 teaspoon of Lemon Juice

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in in a med-large bowl with a whisk until well incorporated.

Then add oil mix the oil until it starts looking a little crumbly, if it looks a little to dry for you go a head and add just a tablespoon more of oil at a time until you get your desired look.

Finally put your water in a cup in at a time until dough like consistency.

and finally add lemon juice.

Once everything is mixed- hand kneed for 5 minutes.

Divide into 12 balls for smaller tortillas or in 8 balls for larger

Use a rolling pin to roll and flatten them out, and the thickness of  the tortilla depends on how think you want it but I roll mine out pretty thin. *While rolling tortillas out keep plastic wrap over the bowl so they don't dry out.* About medium/med-high heat bake on each side.

Storage: let them cool completely and store in a plastic bag big enough to zip closed. ENJOY!!

Questions and Comments are welcome. :)

Crepes

It's flour, milk and eggs.  It's so simple but it's crazy how AMAZING they taste.

This easy mess free recipe calls for:

2 eggs; 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk

1 cup of milk; it said for best results to use fat free, but I used that and 1%. It's the same to me

1 pinch of salt

11/2 teaspoons of oil; vegetable, coconut, olive. (I didn't try butter but that's what the original recipe called for.

Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a blender well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  On med-high heat pour 1/4-1/3 cup of mix in a large skillet and move the mix around so it covers the whole bottom surface of the pan. (You want them thin) Flip and cook both sides. It takes them about 3-5 mins to cook each.

We then devoured our crepes with berries and whip cream of course but also tried Nutella which was a dream and make little PB & J wraps with them also! Delicious and doesn't necessarily have to me a breakfast item.

A great read for all women and girls!

25 Things Every Woman Needs To Know. 

I stumbled upon this on Facebook and I love her incite and thought to what is a great focus focus and what we should let go.

Take a look. Again, Great read!

How to Date a mormon Guy 101

I cannot believe that I stumbled on this.  I was trying to find an LDS quote for a previous post and I couldn't find it.  However, I did discovery this awesome info.

1. Check his age.  Is he over 16? If he is not 16 yet, don't date him yet.
2. Get familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
3. Dress modestly.
4. Remember to be yourself.
5. Understand the Mormon lifestyle.
6. Know the Law of Chastity.

LDS or not, it is important to know.  Thanks Wikihow for knowing what is important. Just thought it was nice that the internet is showing positivity towards the church.



Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Date-a-Mormon-Guy

Something for all of Us.

I recently saw this on Facebook.  I watched it and I cried.  I thought of my life and how different it would be if I believed in myself sooner.

I then thought of everyone women in the world. I hope you all, feel an impact of any kind.

Love everyone.

SIX month OLD

My little baby girl turned SIX months old today.  Oh my goodness a thousand times.  I love her with all my heart and I can't believe my little angel is that old.  She's a half a year. She is growing up so fast! Can't you tell how excited I am?

Today is October 8, 2013.  Zoey is six months old. Wow, am I really that repetitive? ahh okay, I will stop.

A little bit about my Zozo:
She has the biggest and most beautiful blue eyes.  They are so wide and it gives me the impression that she is honestly sucking life up to the fullest.  She has her chatty moments, but she honestly will just sit and watch and absorb it all.

Lady Bug costume for Halloween

• She doesn't smile at cameras unless a TON of goofy effort is put in by either mom or dad.  Literally.  And don't even try you strangers, because she will most likely just stare.
• When she is chatty, she is VERY chatty.  She is chatty chatty chatty.  Do I need to say it again? Jabber for a long time.  She has a distinct almost raspy-ness to her voice sometimes.
• She can sit up. It's not her favorite thing because she is vey much her fathers child and loves to lounge.  Her favorite place to lounge is on mom's lap with her legs and/or arms kicking or swing at my body parts.
• She has such a soft contagious smile.  It's almost shy, but it's like she's so happy to express her smile, but doesn't want anyone to see her do it- in a good way.  I don't know if that makes sense.. ha

  

  ahh.. this face. I love her bottom lip

• She loves her Mom.  In all fairness to Justin, she does say Dada and not Momma yet.  However, when anything, and I mean ANYTHING is wrong, between mom and dad, this Momma-sita always wins.
• She isn't a huge cuddlier because she is busy bouncing off everything and throwing herself in her search and explores for anything she can get her hands on. When she does cuddle, I promise it breaks my heart every time.  She just becomes so cozy and snuggles right into my arms and loves on me and I just can never get enough.
• Hands down my most favorite physical feature about my little one is her long, auburn hair.  No other baby has the hair color that she does and she has had so much hair since the day we brought her home from the hospital. If you think I'm lying, take a look. (I'll post her 6 month pictures when I get them). What do you think?

This may seem similar and typical and you are very much probably right.  The only difference is that her name is Zoey and that she is mine. I Love Her. and I love how happy she makes me each and everyday of my life so far.  Thank you so much Zo!

This Family is Forever.

Love, us 

Happy SIX months Zoey. Mommy loves you baby! <3

My Oh My

As for my new commitment I made in my previous post I am going to start by updating you in a general way within the Jensen home.

Zoey will be 6 months old tomorrow.  I honestly feel as though I blinked.  I can't believe my little baby is 6 months old tomorrow!! They really know their stuff when they say that time flies.  She is in her new stages of siting up all by herself, and can catch herself most of the time.  She is so spunky and has a very strong personality.  She is a very determined child and I don't know if i'm more nervous or excited for when she starts to crawl.... and then walk.  Myself and my house may never be clean again if she keeps me busy as much as I feel she will.  Only time will tell and you will be one of the first to know about it.  I will share my little tips and trick so if you have a baby like her, maybe I can offer some advice.

Justin, my wonderful hubby is first just my main man.  He is still in school working on his bachelors at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah and is almost done.  He will hopefully be finished and graduated with his bachelors in 2014-2015 school year.  If everything else falls into place as we have planned, after we will be off to Physical Therapy school wherever we get excepted. Sounds like a great plan right?  We just figured that we will go where he gets accepted and where we fill it feels right.  Besides that he works at a girls treatment center called Sunrise.  It is just about 45 minutes south of here and over all he enjoys working there.  His only hard days are anything typical that a teenage girl could do... use your imagination and I'm sure it has happened at work.  He is such a hard worker and is doing really well at finding is balance of work and school and family and it also proud of the grades he is getting.  I married a nerd.

I am busy and not busy.  Depends on what tasks I decide to tackle that day. hahah if only it were that nice.  I have put school on hold for the fall semester after my little Zoey and will soon venture back into school in the spring.  I am however, not going back to SUU but I'll be getting certified as a CNA instead.  I have never been able to make up my mind on what career I want to pursue, and because I have never been satisfied enough to pursue one fully to get my bachelors, I have stopped at my associates and I am going to courses to get my foot in doors and feel my way around jobs because when people ask me what I want to be I always say, "I don't know," and I'd really enjoy being able to tell them this or that.  We'll see how that goes.  While I am waiting for the time to come for my CNA course I am busy mostly with my baby.  She is the joy in my day!  I also an involved in Beehives as a advisor in the Young Women's and I'm also selling Mary Kay products and doTERRA oils.  Both I love to do and am full supporters because I have used both and have been satisfied with the quality of both.  If you interested in Mary Kay visit my website at marykay.com/lindseyhjensen where you can find a way to contact me.  For oils, comment and I'll get in touch with you.

There is an up to date of the Jensen's.

This Family is Forever.

Love, us

New doo.

Look who got a new doo!

Well of course as you can see that our family blog got some tiding up, but also I did.  Yes my hair is chopped off and gone.  So far, I absolutely love love LOVE my short hair. It's hip, trendy, and just plain fun and easy to do which is always a plus for a new mom.

Now our blog.

My new goal for this blog is to be more dedicated in writing in it but also, writing in it things that matter to myself and my family.  I want it to become more of my social media go to because I want to express more then just my status, or a picture, or "whats on your mind".  I want to go more in depth with things that go one in my house, my religion, my community, and just my everyday life.  I do however promise to make it as least boring as I can because I want it to be a place where you stop by when you what to see what has been happening in my little but amazing family's life.  What do you think? I thought it was a great idea.

Ready, set, and here I go.

This Family is Forever.

Love, us

my new doo.