Why am I wearing this watch?

watch
Originally uploaded by jackardiac

It's not particularly modern. It has a massive analog face rather than digital, and the wristband is elastic-stretcho, rather than buckle & clasp.

So why am I wearing this watch? Because of what it represents.

Back in college, I entered a contest for Timex. I wrote ultra-short stories where "Timex saved the day." I cranked 'em out, sent 'em off and didn't hear a thing. Until 3 months later, that is.

That's when Timex sent me a note and the enlclosed watch, letting me know I was a runner-up in their contest.

Was I sad? Not a bit. I'd rather be one of the few runner-ups than those poor schmos who never received a thing for their efforts. (Lord knows I've been one 'em, too, over the years...) So I took the watch out, wore it for a year or two, and then plunked it away in my bottomless junk drawer.

So. The question remains: why am I wearing this watch? NOW? It's simple: this watch serves as a constant reminder of not only my God-given creative capacity, but of the fact that my ideas can be directly translated into goods (or, conversely, into money with which to buy goods...).

So as I'm establishing Mills Creative Minds these days, it's good to have a solid grounding in who I am and who God designed me to be. This watch does just that.

Kevin

The Proof.

RealTexan
Originally uploaded by jackardiac

Now I'm a real boy... or at least a real Texan...

And a tan one, at that... (or so it seems... hmmmmm)

Kevin

Why did we name him Kaleb Evin?

KalebBath.JPG
Originally uploaded by jackardiac

Little Kaleb Evin is our reminder of the story about Caleb in the Bible. He reminds us to look beyond our circumstances and trust – completely – in an amazing, loving God.

The Israelites were utterly terrified after seeing the enemy they had to face. They focused squarely on their problem, forgetting how God had provided in the past. Caleb, however, didn't waiver in his firm conviction and faith in God and in His promises. “We should go up and take possession,” he encouraged them, “for we can certainly do it.” (Num 13:30)

Caleb was a faithful warrior. He chose to believe in a powerful God who keeps His promises and acts on behalf of His people. Caleb did not fear his enemies. He had a steadfast faith that God was more powerful than anyone who would ever stand against him.

Evin (derived from Kevin) means “The Lord is Gracious.”

Gracious and faithful and trustworthy. This is our God.

Kim Mills: Supergirl.

Kim is amazing.

About 6 weeks ago she pops out this beautiful baby, and between then and today she's gotten what? 3 hours of consecutive sleep? At the most? Lemme tell you, it ain't much.

But is she grouchy? Does she wander about the day aimlessly in an Oscar funk, ready to bite the heads off of Kyler and I as we pass by? No. No, she doesn't.

She sweet, and patient, and still has the time to bring home the bacon AND fry it up in the pan! (Granted, I know many who would argue that that's not such a good thing... what with the indestructible parasites or whatnot...).

Point being: she is amazing. She is a constant source of inspiration to me, because she shows me that we don't have to wallow in our humanity and physical limitations.

I like sleep. I really, really like to rest, to relax. I sleep so deeply I've even made the mistake of getting up in the morning and asking "Did he sleep through the night?" (only to have her shoot semi-nasty daggers in my general direction). When I don't get enough sleep, I DO get a little grouchy. Nasty. Oscar.

So when I see her taking it all in stride, with all the c-rap she puts up with (mainly from having two other boys to contend with in the house), I smile. And I take note: "B...e... m...o...r...e... like... K...i...m...." :)

That Kim. She's something else.

Kevin

Movie Review: The Last Mimzy.

I wanted to like this movie. I really did. As I understood it, it was about two kids who suddenly become super-smart, and work with people from the future to avert some kind of disaster.

Well, that was kind of accurate. After finding a neato cube on the beach, the two kids soon discover that the bizarre objects inside actually make them smarter. It was cool the way the boy would suddenly look a the world around him with new insight and discovery, seeing the cause and effect relationships all around him. The girl, on the other hand, bonded with the stuffed rabbit from inside the cube, Mimzy.

Mimzy likes to talk, or mumble, actually. Mimzy is constantly whispering in the girl's ear in indecipherable mumblings and bubbly sighs. To be honest, it kind of creeped me out, reminding me of Chucky from the inane "Child's Play" movies of the 90's.

The problem I had with the movie was the not-to-subtle message pervading it (and eventually concluding it): Eastern Mysticism isn't so bad. Mysticism holds the answers you seek. The way to ensure the future is through Eastern Mysticism.

You think I'm kidding? I wish. I actually read the reviews people gave the movies at ChristianAnswers.net and thought "How bad can it be?" Bad enough. As creative and intriguing as the movie was, I have to say the blatantly positive spin it placed on palm reading and Eastern mysticism was disturbing.

On a more niggling note, teaching kids that it's okay to prioritize a stuffed animal over your parents isn't so hot, either. Or when the parents decide the toys aren't so innocent and throw them away, only to have the kids later dig them out of the trash. Without consequence. Yeah. Nothing like undermining parental authority to change the world. Granted, we're not always right as parents - how can we be? - but we're doing our best to raise our kids, right? We don't really need disobedience being modeled or our chillun's, do we? I. Think. Not.

So that's my review. Take it for what it's worth. And also keep it in mind it's more of an adult movie than a kid flick. Kyler and his friend were bored to death for an hour and a half. Squirming and slouching and doing everything they could to keep from running down the aisles with their contained, unentertained energy. "The Last Mimzy" is ABOUT kids, not necessarily FOR kids.

Kevin