Law Office of Kevin Jensen - February 2018

Law Office of Kevin Jensen - February 2018

jensenlawaz.com 480.632.7373 February 2018

Skipping the Bulls Game andMeetingMy Soulmate One evening back in the ’90s, I was sitting around watching the Chicago Bulls on TV with a few of my buddies at BYU. Like pretty much every other sports fan at the time, I idolized Michael Jordan and loved watching the Bulls wipe the floor with hoping to catch her. When I finally did, I told her that I was eager to take her roommate out and asked if she could give her my number. She said, “Oh, that’s great! Her birthday’s coming up. She’ll be so happy!”

whichever poor team found themselves on the other end of the court. It was a great game, but for some reason, one of the guys suggested we get up off the couch and head to the BYU basketball game that was going on that night. I’ve obviously always been a big BYU fan, but that year they were totally lousy and really phoning it in on the hardwood. Though I don’t know why, I agreed with my friend, and we piled into the car and made our way to the Marriott Center. Little did I know that my decision to skip watching the Bulls for once would result in a chance meeting with Kristi, my future wife and the most important person in my life. With Valentine’s Day this month, I’ve been reflecting on the circumstances that enabled me to end up with such an incredible person for 21 years and counting. I don’t remember much from the BYU game that night, but as we were leaving the arena, we bumped into a previous neighbor of mine, a woman who’d lived next to me in my old apartment. We got to chatting, and she introduced me to her roommate, Kristi. She had returned from her mission in Hong Kong only a couple months prior, so we stood outside talking for a few minutes about that. We immediately hit it off. She was incredibly cute, and I should’ve — and wanted to — ask her out right then and there, but being the shy dummy I was back then, I couldn’t muster the guts. I didn’t even ask for her number. I spent the entire next week desperately trying to get in contact with her to correct my mistake. I knew my old neighbor worked at the local Arby’s, so every night, I kept coming back to the Arby’s

So, our first date was on her birthday, hanging out at the bowling alley with a couple friends, getting dinner, and then watching a movie back at my friend’s place. I’d realized years later how crazy it was that we’d bumped into each other that night. You see, Kristi isn’t really into basketball; in fact, I think that was probably one of two games she’s attended in her entire life. Honestly, it feels like fate intervened to bring us together. At the time, I was 26, which is old to be unmarried in BYU terms. Kristi always says that it took me so long because I was looking for her. At any rate, I couldn’t be happier that I waited until she came along. Though our personalities are opposite (I’m the more laid-back jokester and she’s the more serious get-things-done type), our demeanors complement each other perfectly. She’s the most beautiful, levelheaded, reliable, and kind woman I’ve ever met, and, of course, she’s a truly amazing mother to all of our kids. I can’t imagine my life without her.

-Kevin Jensen

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Education in the Kitchen

What Your Child Can Learn From Baking

ingredients often need to be mixed separately and then folded

together. It only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully and comprehending what they’ve just read. CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING Cuisine is a fundamental part of every culture. Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new flavors and ingredients. NUTRITION Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet.

fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, how many pints are in half a gallon.

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry

Testimonials

jensenlawaz.com An Attorney Who Will Fight for You “Kevin is very knowledgeable. He has experience and truly cared about my case. He is an attorney with a great heart. He will give you the best advice of what to do and not to do. If you are looking for an attorney who knows how to handle cases, please hire him. He is very honest and sincere. If it’s a waste of money and time, he will advise you not to do it. I highly recommend him.” –J. Choolert 2

Honest Attorney “I was referred to Kevin and told that he is honest and sincere. I was hesitant to talk to any attorney regarding my car accident because I thought that all attorneys would be aggressive toward me and hard sell me to sign up with them. Things with Kevin were a lot different than what I thought they would be. He gave me some great advice and spent a lot of time with me on my case.” –Linda

Surviving Valentine’s Day

IN THE MIDDLE OF DIVORCE

GIVE LOVE TO YOUR COMMUNITY. As down in the dumps as you may be, it’s important to remember how much you truly have to offer others. This Valentine’s, consider getting out of the house and volunteering where help is needed. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter, or visit CreateTheGood.org to locate other reputable organizations in your area. Numerous studies have shown the positive mental health benefits of giving to others, which provides lasting effects even in the darkest of times. GIVE LOVE TO YOUR FRIENDS. Of course, you may be looking to cut loose and forget about your troubles for the night. But don’t do

February is here, and for our clients going through or recovering from a messy divorce, there’s an emotional gauntlet right on the horizon: Valentine’s Day. But in the midst of constant Hallmark reminders of lost love, bad chocolate, and worse weather, it’s possible to carve out a space for yourself during the most romantic holiday. It’s vital to realize that, despite the difficulty you’re going through, you’re almost certainly better off than you were before. Instead of being trapped in a strained relationship, putting your needs on hold for your partner, now you’re in control of your V-Day. Skip the dating apps this 14th and try one of these alternatives.

it alone! Instead, organize an activity with your closest friends and make it a special occasion. A trip to your local bar might be the obvious answer, but you can also organize a dinner party, go to the fanciest restaurant in town, or even spend the evening reconnecting with old college buddies. GIVE LOVE TO YOURSELF. Studies show that resilience following a big loss is linked to a sense of agency. Make Valentine’s Day about you and your mental health. However you want to do it, make sure it’s intentional.

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Bombs Sure, your showoff pal can wrap a tater tot with a piece of bacon and call it “The Daniel,” but you can take it a step further. Prepare a couple batches of these savory snacks for your Super Bowl party or the next family get-together. Snag a few for yourself before they disappear!

LAUGH BREAK

ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, quartered • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

• 2 cups frozen tater tots, defrosted • 1 ounce sharp cheddar, cut into ¼-inch squares

instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Press a cheese square into each tot,

3. Place tots seam side down on baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn halfway through. 4. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.

then wrap with a piece of bacon. Dredge each tot in brown sugar.

Recipe inspired by ThisGrandmaIsFun.com.

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How Basketball Brought My Wife and Me Together

Cook Your Way to Better Grades

Shake Off the Post-Divorce Valentine’s Blues

Presidents Day or Washington’s Birthday

The Tangled History of Presidents Day

How the Holiday Came to be

4 jensenlawaz.com a national holiday would be established to commemorate his legacy. The holiday was first established in 1879 for employees in On the third Monday in February, the entire nation celebrates Presidents Day … sort of. While the holiday is known colloquially as Presidents Day, its official federal name is still Washington’s Birthday. If that wasn’t confusing enough, different states officially know it as “Presidents Day,” “Lincoln/Washington/Presidents Day,” “Washington-Lincoln Day,” “George Washington Day,” and more. Let’s untangle how all these variant names came about and delve into the fascinating history of the holiday. Washington was born on February 22, 1731. Given his incredible contribution to the founding of the United States, it’s understandable that

Washington, D.C. Six years later, it was expanded to include all federal offices nationwide. And for the next century or so, nothing changed. However, in 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This bill officially moved holidays that were once celebrated on specific dates, like Memorial Day and Columbus Day, to a particular Monday in a given month. This allowed for three-day weekends and, hopefully, encouraged retail sales with an extra day of shopping. But this, unintentionally, moved Washington’s birthday celebration to a day between his actual birthday and the birthday of another venerated president, Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, many states found it appropriate to make the day a commemoration of two great presidents rather than just one. By the 1980s, “Presidents Day” was the more widely acknowledged name, if not the official designation. Why it hasn’t received a uniform federal name is anyone’s guess, but at least when you say “Presidents Day,” everyone knows what you’re talking about. No matter what you call it, the day is a chance to celebrate some of the people who’ve made lasting contributions to our nation’s history. If you look at any presidential ranking, Washington and Lincoln are probably No. 1 and No. 2. It’s fitting, then, that we celebrate their birthdays in tandem.

By the late 20th century, Lincoln’s reputation and legacy were as titanic as Washington’s. Because

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