Law Office of Kevin Jensen - February 2019

Law Office of Kevin Jensen - February 2019

February 2019 480.632.7373 jensenlawaz.com

3 Weeks in Europe Reliving the Past and Experiencing New Cultures

M ore than 20 years ago, I did missionary work in Bulgaria shortly after the fall of communism. At the time, the country was struggling to transition from its communist government to a free-enterprise country. It was a period of great change, both for Bulgaria and for me. I was blessed to make some lasting friendships as I grew along with this little-known gem of a European country. At the end of my time in Bulgaria, my parents came to visit me, and we made a quick trip over to our ancestral land, Switzerland. In the 1890s, my great-great-grandfather brought his family to the U.S. including his son, my great-grandfather. My great-grandfather died when I was just eight years old, but I was lucky enough to know him, and I have read his memoirs telling of the beautiful mountains of Switzerland. I had always felt a draw to visit Switzerland, and, while my parents visited me in Europe, we took advantage of the proximity of Bulgaria to Switzerland and went to see if we could find my great-great-grandfather’s old farm. Unfortunately, the map we used wasn’t detailed enough to direct us to the exact spot. So for years, something felt unfinished.

If we had to do it all over again, we would’ve taken this trip slower and really immersed ourselves in

the various cultures. Instead, we took Europe by storm — maybe more like a whirlwind — and visited France, Italy, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. We enjoyed amazing food in Italy, took delight in watching Roman children play late into the night, toured Paris in the midst of France’s successful run at the World Cup, visited my parents during their mission trip in Frankfurt, and took a slew of cheap, short flights between various European countries. As a bonus, I visited Bulgaria 20 years after its transition into a free country. It has flourished in its art, culture, and economy, and Plovdiv, one of the cities where I served my mission was actually named the cultural capital of Europe for 2019. It’s amazing to see how the place has progressed. I loved being able to see my old friends from more than 20 years ago and to visit with them as if no time had passed. I’m so happy I was finally able to show it to my wife and more fully share this wonderful experience with her. And, finally, we closed a 20-year chapter. While we visited Switzerland, with the help of Google Maps, my dad and I were able to track down the farmhouse where my great-great-grandfather lived

and where my great-grandfather remembered from his childhood. It was an amazingly beautiful experience, and it gave us one more connection to our family. In all, Switzerland has always been one of my favorite places to visit. I especially loved watching the cattle herders stroll down the mountains with their herds and dogs in tow just like they have been doing for centuries. Somehow seeing this made me feel more connected to the past and to my ancestors of centuries ago. All in all, we could’ve spent two weeks in each place we visited, enjoying the culture and history of every city and small village. But, while it all went by too fast, nothing can compare to seeing the art and historical masterpieces of Paris and Rome, eating fresh pasta in a small Italian village, visiting with friends from Bulgaria, and standing on the same land my great-great-grandfather left for a new life.

But in 2018, we completed our task.

This past summer, I was finally able to take my wife, an avid traveler, somewhere she had never been. We traveled to Europe for three weeks. I wanted to show her the country I called home for two years, see the land my family came from, and of course, tour the historical continent itself.

-Brandon Yost

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Does Your Child Want Pierced Ears? Think Twice Before Putting a Gun to Their Head

many of whom have only been working there for a few months — or more frightening, a few days . Do you really want to entrust a young novice with that responsibility? These employees mean well, but they’re busy and undertrained, so they often fail to sterilize the equipment properly or place both holes evenly. Speaking of sterilization, the guns used in these stores are notoriously difficult to clean completely, which means bacteria is often injected into an open wound. Because of this, the risk of infection from piercings done in these mall stores is much higher than when done by a piercist using a needle. Piercists and Needles are the Smart Option Mall guns painfully rip a hole through the earlobe with a blunt stud, causing a jagged wound that takes much longer to heal and is more susceptible to infection. A piercist, on the other hand, uses a laser-sharpened hollow needle to quickly remove a small amount of tissue from the middle of the hole, which makes for a clean cut and shorter healing divorce, including divorce coach Emily Sanchez, whom our law office has partnered with. Check out her Facebook page for more information and to learn how you can receive a Law Offices of Kevin Jensen client deal. Think of the Children This rule applies for a multitude of reasons, and it’s one of the most important to consider. First of all, your children are grieving, too, and they deserve proper time to process before you move on. Next, your ex has a right to know who their children are meeting and could potentially be spending the night in the same home with. You each need to communicate expectations and set ground rules. Finally, your new partner could

time. When you make an appointment with a piercist, they take the time to line up both holes perfectly because you’ve booked that time with them. They don’t have six more eager families lined up. Not all states require accreditation to work as a piercist, so check your local requirements. Ask for recommendations from friends and family, or look at the piercist’s website to see what sort of training and accreditation they have. A reputable practitioner will be certified not only in piercing, but in first aid and sterilization as well. Parents may be hesitant to take their child to a piercist’s studio, especially if he is based inside a tattoo parlor. Call ahead; most will provide you with a time you can bring minors into the shop. While the environment is certainly less cute than the jewelry store at the mall, it’s also cleaner, safer, and will provide your child with beautifully pierced ears that heal properly. have children of their own, bringing up a slew of other considerations, including how your two sets of children may interact and what concerns your partner’s ex has. Take It Easy In some cases, you may be dating for the first time after decades of being in a relationship. So if the first few dates fall short of your expectations, know that it will get better. Additionally, there will still be some hurt feelings among your family and friends, and flaunting your new relationship on social media and in person may be like pouring salt over old wounds. Take new relationships slowly, know what you want, and enjoy a thoughtful reintroduction to the dating world. Dating after a divorce doesn’t have to be complicated — though dissolving your marriage may be. If you have questions or concerns about your divorce proceedings, see how the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen can help by calling 480.632.7373.

You’ve watched other parents get their children’s ears pierced at the mall; the store props the child up in the window so everyone can see, and before you know it, a nervous little girl has beautiful jewelry in her ears. Beaming, the family admires her new look in a hand mirror, then pays and strolls out of the store for victory ice cream. It all looks very cute, but there’s more to the story. Before you decide to let your child — or yourself — go under the piercing gun, learn the drawbacks of this piercing method and why you should consider letting a real professional handle it. The Dark Side of Mall Piercings The salespeople who do the piercings at these costume jewelry stores are usually teenagers, Dating After Divorce How to Enjoy Yourself Without Causing Drama Filing for divorce can be an emotionally exhausting experience, and when it comes to dating after divorce, there are factors you should consider before diving in. Here are some tips to get you started. Be Ready Divorce is a major life change that often involves the same kind of grieving process you’d experience after a loved one passes. It’s important to talk about your emotions so you can fully move on and create strong relationships in the future. There are plenty of resources to help you work through your feelings after a

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Legal Alternatives to Dissolving a Marriage Do We Have to Divorce?

In Arizona, there are many options for couples looking to end their marriage without having to slog through divorce litigation. Mediation is a neutral space for couples to agree on the terms of their divorce without going to court. This process is usually done using the legal counsel of both parties with consideration from each person going through the divorce. It can help maintain the civility of your relationship with your spouse — especially if children are involved — save you money, and be less emotionally exhausting. But some couples don’t want to legally break off their marriage. Personal or religious preferences may prohibit divorce, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in a bad marriage. Legal separation has all the merits of a divorce without actually legally dissolving the marriage. In this process, the couple participates in a separation of their assets, decides on custody rights, and possibly sets up spousal support payments. In the end, couples remain legally married and cannot remarry without a divorce. Again, some couples choose this route solely because of their religious preferences while others plainly find this solution to be simpler.

Couples may want to do a trial separation before fully committing to end their marriage. For some couples, this may be a way of smoothing out a rocky marriage. For others, it is an eye-opening experience that helps them see the benefits of divorce. This process can

include drafting a legal document that sets the grounds for the separation, which can be

comprised of setting mandatory counseling, specifying the time frame of the trial separation, and limiting communication.

In more extreme cases, annulments may be a restorative option. This process includes complete dissolution of the marriage, and it’s completely wiped from ever having existed, according to the law. However, annulments can be complex, and the person who requests the annulment must provide proof of why they need one. Grounds for an annulment in Arizona include fraud, bigamy, force, and an underage marriage. Regardless of what option you think is best for you and your spouse, don’t go it alone. Consult the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen to review your choices and see how we can help. Call 480.632.7373 for more information.

LAUGH BREAK

Edible Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards

ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

• 2 large egg yolks • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • Royal icing, sprinkles, and edible markers, for decorating

directions 1. Heat oven to 375 F.

480.632.7373 4. Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16-inch thick and cut into 4x6-inch cards. 5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. 6. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute. 3 2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. 3. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer to low, and mix until dough congeals.

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Brandon’s European Adventure

Why Mall Piercings Are Bad News

How to Date After Divorce

Legal Alternatives to Divorce

What You Didn’t Know About

Fun Facts to Wow Your Loved Ones This Valentine’s Day

Chocolate is a treat savored by people all over the world. What we know as the sweet, creamy decadence that sustains Valentine’s Day actually has greater historical and cultural significance. Fermented chocolate drinks have been dated back to as early as 350 B.C. The Aztecs believed it was the beverage of wisdom, and the Mayans saw it as something to be worshipped. While the history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor, there are some common misconceptions about the treat. Dutch chocolate doesn’t necessarily refer to chocolate made in the Netherlands; the name refers to a specific chocolate-making process that uses the cocoa press. Before Dutch chemist and chocolate-maker C.J. van Houten invented the machine in 1828, chocolate was only used in beverages. Dutch chocolate is chocolate that has been modified with an alkalizing agent in order to produce a milder flavor, making it a fantastic option for use in baked goods, candy, and ice cream.

German chocolate actually has nothing to do with the country of Germany, either. It used to be called “German’s chocolate,” named after its inventor, Sam German, an American who made sweet chocolate for baking. Adding sugar to the chocolate made it a go- to option for bakers around the world, and the base for German chocolate cake was born. For chocolate to be classified as Swiss, it has to be made in Switzerland, as chocolate-making is considered an art form in the country. Known for its “melt in your mouth” quality, Swiss chocolate uses condensed milk to add a velvety texture. Many chocolate makers outside of Switzerland will refer to their interpretations of Swiss chocolate as milk chocolate instead.

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