Kevin's World - Boys will be Boys

While Lisa was travelling back East, she left me a gift for every day of her trip. Pictures of all of those gifts are on Tumblr, but I will admit that most of my favorites were toys. It has been a long time since I had played with Legos, so I was pretty excited to get my Star Wars Lego Hoth battle set. I also got a Hot Wheels car, and a finger board, just to name a few.

When she got home, the fun continued. She brought back from her trip a collection of Cars Legos figures consisting of Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater. Once monsoon season hit and we got stuck inside during a rain storm, we put them together and had some fun.

Boys will be boys, and so will most grown men.

Kevin's World - Sahuarita Summer Nights

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. I think that you've gotten the idea that the last month or so has been pretty crazy for us. It's definitely been a big adjustment coming down to Arizona. Anyway, on to the post.

I've always enjoyed star gazing. One of my favorite parts of camping is looking up at the stars, either sitting around a campfire or just laying on the ground. Usually, I could only get a good view at the stars a few times a year, because the city lights were so good at drowning them out. In Tucson, there are observatories not far outside the city. Because of these observatories, there are regulations controlling the location and intensity of streetlights and even porch lights. As a result, the stars are remarkably bright for being in a city. From time to time, I still just have to pause and stare at the stars. I am caught off guard by their beauty and brilliance.

This picture was taken at the San Xavier Mission near our home.
Not by us, but it's a beautiful view of the sky. {source}

For me, nothing can make me think of the big picture of life better than the stars. Sometimes, it's good to be reminded that there is more to the universe than our daily grind.

Kevin's World - Unpacking

While Lisa has been in California with her family, I have been adjusting to life here in Tucson. Settling into a new job and trying to get our house in order has been plenty to keep me busy. I hope to have it in decent shape by the time Lisa gets home.

Some of you may remember the picture of the large pile of paper from last week showing the state of our house. That paper is now bagged and piled in the garage. Soon, we will be officially moved in. In the meantime, some random thoughts:

I am amazed at how much paper fits in a garbage bag. Three piles of paper, each enough to fill a small room, have collectively fit in a dozen bags.

Hydration really is important. I have started feeling so much better here in the heat once I started drinking more water.

A place for everything and everything in its place. That's sound advice, but much easier to live by in a house than a small apartment.

I hope you all are having a nice week. Once things calm down, I promise the posts will be more regular and I can start righting about more than just moving.

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Kevin's World - Huellas

While I was a missionary in Mexico, I spoke with a former missionary who remembered very little from his time as a missionary. I was surprised to say the least that he did not seem to remember the people he had known and the places he had been as a missionary. I mentioned that situation to a member of our congregation when she invited us over to eat, and she told me something that I will always remember. "Some people leave huellas (footprints) in the places they live. Others don't. If you don't leave huellas in an area, it won't leave huellas in you, and you will neither remember nor be remembered."

Fast forward a few years to graduation yesterday. At the commencement ceremony, Mitch Albom shared the secret to immortality. If you make a difference in people's lives, your voice lives on in them. "Giving is the key to living," he reiterated. He told the story of spending his Tuesdays with Morrie, made famous in his memoir. He spoke of how Morrie's voice lives on in him and the other students that Morrie taught. Albom told us that if you make a difference in people's lives, they will remember you, and your voice will live on in them. If you become so preoccupied by money, power and looks that you don't take time to be with people, then your voice will die with you.

As Lisa and I move to a new area, it will be a chance to leave our huellas in a new place. We will miss and remember the friends that we have left, because there are many who have left their huellas in our lives. However, with each new day and with each new circumstance, we have the privilege of being able to touch someone else's life for the better. Thanks to everyone who has touched our lives and shaped our journey. Joy is found in being with people, because things can never truly make us happy.

Kevin's World - Luck

Call it what you will, karma, fate, coincidence, but I've long considered myself a pretty lucky person. I've always had a comfortable place to live, enough money to get by on, and a chance to get an education and prepare for the future. As I'm finishing up my degree, I have been fortunate enough to get a good job in a good area and find a good house to live in. Some say that the way to recognize success in finding a good job is getting paid to do something that you wouldn't have to get paid to do. Recently, I have recognized that my job is what I would do as a hobby if I had the time and money. Since I don't have an extra $40,000 lying around that I can spend on an electronics work bench, I will let my company buy one and pay me to play around on it and get things working. Someday, when I have the time and money, I still hold out on the hope of setting up an electronic work bench and building my own radio. We'll see.

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My greatest luck, however, was in finding my wife. For anyone reading this that isn't familiar with how we met, some people would call it a coincidence.  I call it a blessing. It's a story that may be worth telling, but not today. As we approach our second anniversary, she is the light of my life and the wind beneath my wings. Every day that goes by, I give thanks to have her with me, and to know that we will be together forever. Many of our readers have commented how much Lisa inspires them, and I just want to say how much she inspires me. I'm just lucky that she chose to be with me.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death. 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Kevin's World - Candeo Institute

Pornography has become a serious problem in our society. As time goes on, more and more people are being affected by it, more and more studies are being done to documents its effects, and more and more people are becoming aware of its dangers. Most of us know someone who has been affected by pornography, even if we aren't aware of it. It is more accessible than ever, on TV, in movies, on the internet. So-called "soft porn" is placed in public view, where even children are exposed. Such is the state of what has been called "the most powerful drug in history."

Many resources exist to help people escape from the grasp of pornography. Several of these programs focus on the behavior. Others go deeper and focus on the underlying emotional issues. The Candeo Institute is unique among the programs that I have seen. They have done studies looking into the brain chemistry of pornography and sexual addiction, the reason that sexual behavior is called a "drug." Their methodologies focus on fixing the brain chemistry, helping people to neutralize the physiological changes that take place when a person becomes addicted to sexual behavior.

The Candeo Institute web site gave me a better understanding of the effects of pornography than I have seen at any other source. Although I have not experienced their program, it looks to me to be one of the most comprehensive available to help people struggling with sexual addiction.

Note: While this post does contain my honest opinion, we are being compensated for linking to the Candeo Institute.

Kevin's World - Miss Representation

Last night, Lisa and I went to a screening of the documentary Miss Representation at the Post Theater at the University of Utah.  This movie was screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and is still only being shown at select screenings across the country.  If you get the opportunity, it is definitely a film worth seeing.  Through interviews with successful women (and a few men, too), this movie sends a resounding message to women everywhere: you are people, just as capable and powerful as men.  You deserve to be adequately represented.

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The movie talks about sexism in society and in the media.  From the time girls are very young, they are given two consistent messages from the media and advertisements: their looks are all that matter, and that they never look good enough.  No matter what their successes are, they are irrelevant to the onslaught of misogyny to which people, especially young people, are exposed.  If we are to change the way women are perceived in society, we first must change the way we view and treat them ourselves.  The Miss Representation website contains a list of things that we can all do to help combat sexism.  There is even a special (unaffiliated but recommended) site specifically for men to help fight against violence toward women.  We all can help.

Kevin's World - CONCACAF

I was pretty excited when I realized that Real Salt Lake and the Monterrey Rayados could play each other in the CONCACAF Champion's League finals.  In the last couple of years, I have started following soccer more closely than I had previously.  This last season, Lisa and I even got to see a Real Salt Lake game when they beat Cruz Azul.  With my two favorite teams playing, I don't think I can lose this one.  I will, however, have to be cheering for Real Salt Lake later this month.  After all those Mexican vs. Gringo pick-up games down in Mexico, I just can't bring myself to cheer for the Mexicans.  This time, at least, the gringos have a chance of winning.

My pick: RSL: 4, Rayados: 2

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Kevin's World - Micha's

At the recommendation of our realtor, Lisa and I tried a new Mexican restaurant on our trip down to Tucson.  It's a little family-owned place named Micha's.  I ordered the chile relleno con carne asada, and Lisa ordered some chicken flautas.  I can say without hesitation that it was the best Mexican food that I have had since I left Mexico.

Eating that food took me back to Mexico, and the memories flooded my mind.  The chile relleno reminded me of a new missionary, recently arrived to the area.  A local family invited us over to eat and served us chile relleno.  Instead of telling us it was chile relleno, though, they told the new missionary that it was a fried mouse.  Being the adventurous greenie that he was, he figured that if everyone else was eating it, it couldn't be that bad, so he dug right in, much to the amusement of the locals.

Sometimes, I miss Mexico.  However, if home is where the heart is, and the way to the heart is through the stomach, there's nothing like a good meal to take the sting off of being away.

Kevin's World - Street Tacos

My chicken tamal.  The tacos looked tasty too, but they were so good they were gone before I even thought to take a picture.

Since I didn't post on Wednesday, I am posting a special weekend edition of Kevin's world. After going down to Tucson last weekend, quedé con ganas de tacos (roughly translated, I wanted tacos). Today, when I dropped our car off for an oil change, I had the perfect opportunity. My favorite auto shop in town is just a few blocks away from my favorite taco stand in town. For just five bucks, I got five great tacos, a good sized tamale and a can of apricot nectar. A great deal on great food.

I learned a lot about tacos down in Mexico. The best tacos come from street vendors. One of my friends, Edgar, liked to complain tongue-in-cheek about tacos in Monterrey. Being from Mexico City, he always said that those tacos were better. The ones in Monterrey were too clean. He said that the sweat, dirt and smog of "el DF" made the tacos better. I don't know about that, but I will say that my favorite tacos come from street vendor.

Falta la mugre. - Edgar

Just not dirty enough.

Kevin's World - My Friend Dave

Recently, I started visiting a neighborhood family with Dave.  Dave is just about the most optimistic person I know.  He always faces life with a smile and a cheerful word.  He is a wonderful example to me on keeping a positive attitude.  He is a dedicated friend and a committed follower of Christ.

Dave also happens to be blind.  You wouldn't guess it by his attitude, but every once in a while he lets on about some of the challenges he faces.  When life gets tough, he just laughs.  I recently heard him say that he loves stairs because they present a challenge to him.  He just thrives off of the challenges he faces.  When I grow up, I want to be like Dave.

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Kevin's World - World's Smallest Letter

Sometimes, Fridays are hard days for me.  A lot of people at my company get Fridays off, while I work a ten hour day to make up for the time I'm at school.  That usually makes Friday a slow day, which means that I get to find something to do.  Needless to say, the tasks that I enjoy doing are usually not the ones that I do when I have nothing left to do.  Last Friday, at the end of the day, when I was ready to go home, I found out that I had locked my keys in my car.  It was not my best day.  When Lisa came to drop off the spare key so that I could get back home, I saw a package in the car.  It was the world's smallest letter.

The World's Smallest Letter envelope, next to a quarter for scale.

Lisa had sent me a very nice note delivered on a tiny page with a tiny envelope and a magnifying glass to be able to read it.  After a rather long day at work, it was nice to have something like that to lift my spirits and get me going into the weekend.  I have an amazing wife, and sometimes I don't tell her enough how much I appreciate her.  Next time I want to do that in a creative way, now I have an idea, even if it is a copied one.  I still think she would like it.

The World's Smallest Letter with its envelope and magnifying glass.

Kevin's World - Portraits

I'm going to be frank.  I don't like getting my picture taken.  Those of you who have read this blog much know that Lisa and I often refer to the infamous "Chandler Smile."  If you haven't heard of that, go ahead and see our post on the Front End Grille.  After giving a fake smile at a portrait session and being asked if his chair was uncomfortable, Chandler responded, "No, I am."  To keep from dragging on too long, I will just say that I usually feel that way when posing for pictures.

When Lisa says it's time to take pictures again, I inwardly groan and outwardly say "yes, dear."  While she remains convinced that we should get pictures taken every few months, I am not so keen on documenting for posterity my slowly but steadily receding hairline.

The point of all this is really to highlight our experience with Justin Hackworth this month.  Lisa has already posted about our experience, so I will keep it short.  Suffice it to say that I felt more comfortable during that photo session than any other profession portraits I have been in.  I think it shows.  He is currently running a special for bloggers through March.  It worked out well for us.  It might for you, too.

Kevin's World - You, Me and Trio Make Three

Despite living near Ninth and Ninth in Salt Lake City, Lisa and I have never really immersed ourselves in the trendy vibe that surrounds us.  Sure, we'll occasionally go to the shops in the neighborhood, and Lisa will sometimes do her homework in one of the coffee shops around town, but we have a fairly sizable list of places we would like to go before we move away.  Last weekend, we finally made it to one of those places.

Trio is a little Italian cafe a few blocks from where we live.  It's a nice, open restaurant with a single large dining room and chic, clean full windows facing the abstract iron sculpture on the patio.  I had occasionally heard my friends refer to it, but it remained mostly a mystery to me.  When we finally had a chance to try it, we were not disappointed.

We started out with the antipasto, a flavorful mix of meats, cheeses, artisan bread and fresh olives and peppers.  It didn't take long for me to decide that it was time for us to start being more selective about what we buy.  Usually, I eat food because I am hungry.  That night, I ate for the sheer joy of it.  At the risk of sounding trite, I will admit that Remy from the movie Ratatouille came to mind.  When he eats, he takes time to notice the flavors and absorb every nuance of taste.  Eating at Trio made me want to do just that.  After my chicken alfredo with a creamy pesto sauce and Lisa's spaghetti pomodoro, we unfortunately had to say no to their delectable-looking desserts.  For now, we can cross one item off of our list of Ninth and Ninth activities, but we need to add one more.  Before we move, we simply have to try something from Trio's dessert tray.

Kevin's World - Best. Comic Strip. Ever.

My wife recently bought me another book for my Calvin and Hobbes collection.  I have long been a fan of this beautifully drawn and frequently insightful comic strip.  Whether Calvin is saving the world as Stupendous Man or exploring the galaxy as Spaceman Spiff, he is what every inner child aspires to be.  Just when life seems to be getting out of control, I can sit down, pick up a Calvin and Hobbes book, and be reminded of the simple joys of finding bugs under a rock.  Anything can be an adventure with a properly drawn map, an explorer's hat and a healthy dose of imagination.  So go ahead, grab your backpack, an extra tuna fish sandwich, and let's go see what's out there!

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Because when all's said and done, aren't we all just little kids looking to figure out this big, wide world around us?

It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy...Let's go exploring!

Calvin and Hobbes, Dec. 31, 1995

Kevin's World - The Facts

Last week, I wrote about my family studies class and what I was learning from it.  Recently, Lisa and I have also started reading together a book entitled Strengthening Our Families written by professors from the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and edited by David C. Dollahite.  It is full of valuable insights into family life.  Because of my sudden exposure to family studies from multiple angles, I am going to dedicate this space to writing about families.  I can't tell you for how long, but I will keep on the topic until I run out of things to write about.

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One of our recent readings from Strengthening Our Families included some statistics about chastity and marital fidelity that are not often cited.  It references studies that show the benefits of marriage on physical and mental health, economic status, and sexuality.  Indeed, for those who look, the evidence of the good that marriage does for individuals is abundant.  The joy that is brought about by marital and family life brightens the day of millions of people from all walks of life.  However, the truths of marriage are not frequently brought up.  Whether through simple neglect or something more sinister, many elements of society portray marriage as something that is at best unnecessary and at worst damaging.  How can that be reconciled with the unstated good that it does every day?

Once we look beyond the sophistry of demagogues to see the facts that lie beneath, we become much more capable of finding the joy that lies in reality.  All the smoke and mirrors that are placed before us may tantalize the senses and keep our rapt attention for a short time, but at the end of the day, only that which is real can bring us real happiness.  In all areas of life, once we find the truth, we are free to pursue it.  As we search for joy, may we look where the sun shines, exposes the lies and imitations for what they are, and may we bask in the glow of that which we know makes us happy.  Because when all's said and done, no one knows what makes us happy quite like we do.

And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free.

- John 8:32

Kevin's World - Land of Saguaros

Many of you know that Lisa and I are planning on graduating from the University of Utah this semester and moving to the next stage of our lives.  For me especially, that means starting a career, which first and foremost means getting a job.  Luckily, I've had a little help in that category.  Last fall, at a job fair at TECHCON, I met a representative from Raytheon.  I didn't think much of it until I got a call from Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona last October.  They invited me to visit them to interview and see their facilities.  After a few days of wining and dining, I left very impressed with the company and with the community.  Since that time, I have accepted a job offer.  Our current plan for next summer, for those of you who don't yet know, is to move to Arizona as I start my new job.

While I was in Tucson, I took a bit of time to see the city.  The first thing that struck me was the number of saguaro cactuses (cacti?).  They are everywhere down there, and they are even larger than I realized.  This last Christmas, I told Lisa that next year we'll have to decorate a Christmas cactus instead of a Christmas tree, just like Spike from Peanuts.

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I also took some time to look for potential places to live.  After talking with a real estate agent about some of the areas on Tucson, I went to look at a planned community called Rancho Sahuarita.  It looks like a great place for kids and families and is currently at the top of places that we would like to live down there.  You may notice that the name Sahuarita seems familiar.  It is, in fact, a variant of the word saguaro.  It seems like there is no escaping them.  In a few more months, we will be writing to you from the land of the cacti (cactuses?).

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