Enrich Design

Tony Hawk Rad Science Prospectus

2012-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

I recently had the privilege to work on another project for my friends at Exhibit IQ, a premier museum exhibit design company. They created an amazing exhibit called "Tony Hawk | Rad Science" which explores the connection between Tony Hawk's skateboarding and physics. I was tasked with creating a PDF presentation for potential sponsors of the exhibit. The idea was to put the view in the atmosphere of the exhibit, using scenes like a skate park, urban street, and wood half-pipe. The end result was a really fun and creative piece.

Marketing Tip: Maximize Your Time Through Your Browser

2012-01-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

Like most things out there today, when it comes to technology we have a lot of choices. This is especially true when it comes to your choice of web browser. Each web browser has their own pros and cons (excluding IE7...which is pretty much all "cons"), but not all browsers are created equal. In fact, the very way you view the web can depend on what browser you use and if the site is compatible with your browser.

Personally, ever since the day it came out I was a Google Chrome fan. The interface is clean and easy to use, and what makes it for me are all of the add-ons. Chrome comes stuffed with features you can add on to maximize your time on the web, like advanced page viewing (you don't have to click that pesky "next" button, the next page automatically loads below the current page!), screen capturing (take high-resolutions screen shots of a web page), and a web developers dream, Firebug (view the source code and behind-the-scenes details of any web page).

Chrome's popularity is evident in the industry, and even just recently I reviewed my Google Analytics stats to find that over 44% of all visitors to my website were using Google Chrome, the single largest browser usage among my visitors. The browsers most frequently used to view my website were as follows:

1. Chrome - 44%
2. Safari - 10%
3. Firefox - 12%
4. Mozilla Compatible Agent (which means iPhone) - 10%
5. Internet Explorer (ew!) - 7%
6. Android Browser - 6%

The fact that around 16% of my views were from a mobile device also lets me know that I should start thinking about converting my website to a mobile-friendly version, which is part of my 2012 plan.

I hope this Marketing Tip helps you maximize your time, and if there's anything I can do to help feel free to email me at kyle@enrichdesign.us.

Superflex to the Rescue!

2011-12-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

I recently had the priviledge to partner with an amazing company, Social Thinking, to illustrate their latest educational book for kids. Social Thinking produces educational materials for kids with learning disabilities and social disorders, and they had recently lost their illustrator. I was put in contact with them to illustrate their newest book, 'Superflex takes on Brain Eater and the Team of Unthinkables'. I had to stay true to the style of the previously illustrated characters, but as you will see, I added some of my own flair. The difficult part was conveying certain lessons in an illustration, as many of the series' readers are very detail-conscious. It truly was one of the most enjoyable projects I've been able to work on thus far.

Site Complete: Everett Preservation

2011-11-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine recently decided to strike out on his own business venture maintaining foreclosed properties for banks (which, as you can imagine, has been quite a busy vocation for him). One thing he needed to give his new company legitimacy and professionalism was a new site. It was great, because he allowed me total creative control, from the logo to the site:

Mosquito Drill Cover Illustration

2011-08-12T11:07:00.001-07:00

I was just glancing through some old projects recently and I was reminded how fun it was to work with the guys over at 302 Publishing on the cover for their latest novel, 'Mosquito Drill'. The theme of the book is about glamorizing the not-so-glamorous life of a grocery story clerk and the adventures he encounters day to day, hence his self-image as superman trapped in a store manager's body.

From Illustration

Optics Brochure Redesign

2011-05-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

I was recently tasked with updating a brochure for our Optics group. Needless to say, it was way overdue. The last design took place about five years ago, way before our re branding and homogenization of our look.

My first task was to obtain new imagery of the products and employees at work. I quickly realized I was in over my head as a "photographer" and had a good buddy of mine at Greg Helton Photography set up a product photoshoot. The images turned out great and everyone was very happy with the final result.

I also utilized a co-worker on my graphics team who does 3D animation and rendering to create a "mock universe" showing all of these pieces and components in action out on the field. Below you can see some of the before and after images of the brochure:

Quick Turn!

2011-04-19T09:55:00.001-07:00

I was recently contacted by a museum exhibit company to develop a one-page advertisement that would be placed in a trade magazine. The only catch: we had less than 36 hours to complete it! Not a problem for Enrich Design! I used their website as my main source of inspiration for the look and feel of the piece, and went with the clean, reflective look that really makes the images pop off the page. Overall, I think this quick turn project was a success!

Enrich Design artwork featured in an article on The Design Cubicle!

2011-03-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

A piece of artwork I created several years ago was featured in an article on the website The Design Cubicle. The article talks about the importance for designers not simply knowing computer programs, but having an eye for studio art as well. It features about 10 designers and their drawings and/or paintings to prove that you can have an eye for design and page layout, as well as art, color, and line work.

For the full post, click here.

Print Ad Campaign

2011-03-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

Freelance Illustration Project

2011-02-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

A sneak-peak at a freelance illustration project I'm working on for a children's education company. More to come soon!

Service Brochure

2011-02-22T13:49:00.001-08:00

Web Page ReDesign

2010-11-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

Mosquito Drill: A Story Cycle

2010-09-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

I recently partnered with the good folks over at 302 Publishing (www.302publishing.com) to produce their latest book. I was responsible for type-setting the interior, as well as designing and illustrating the cover.

Mosquito Drill, a story cycle, is a collection of eight interwoven stories told through the eyes of Dale Cather, a night manager at a suburban Portland grocery store. Stuck in his own dreaded version of a dead-end job, Cather is forced to maintain control over an environment he cares little about. Layered with humor, insight and rotten luck, Mosquito Drill offers an honest account of one grocery man's trials and misadventures.

Logo Comps

2010-09-02T08:58:00.001-07:00

We Can't Wait For Summer!

2010-04-02T08:12:00.001-07:00

Print

2010-03-16T08:59:00.002-07:00

Print

2010-03-16T08:59:00.001-07:00

Illustration

2010-03-16T08:58:00.002-07:00

Illustration

2010-03-16T08:58:00.001-07:00

Illustration

2010-03-16T08:57:00.001-07:00

Identity

2010-03-16T08:56:00.002-07:00

Identity

2010-03-16T08:56:00.001-07:00

Maintaining Your Skills!

2010-03-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

One of the most important responsibilities in any profession is to keep up with industry standards and to maintain your skill set. I subscribe to several graphic design blogs about industry trends and certain ways to improve on projects. I recently came across a blog about vector illustration, which is just a fancy way to say it was drawn on your computer. The blog gave a step-by-step tutorial on how to illustrate a clock. Might seem easy, but there are many fine details that you have to give attention to in order to make it realistic looking, like shading and the distance between the hour marks. I hope you enjoy and that you are passionate about whatever you do!

Spice Up Your Resumé!

2010-02-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

Awhile ago I posted an offer I was launching here about the importance of a good resumé, not just for content, but for look and feel as well. I had a friend who I recently met through networking, Grady Locklear, take me up on that offer. Here is the result of our collaboration:

I am also including a rendition of my resumé that I have used to successfully find a new job:

If you are still interested in spicing up your resumé don't hesitate to contact me at kyle@enrichdesign.us for more information!

Love Your Business More Than Your Family

2010-02-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

According to this guy, the only way to happiness is through money. Check out this ridiculous article he wrote.

I was so moved by his words that I sent him an email:

Mr. Cloutier,

I have to thank you so much for your recent article on the Entrepreneur website. You provided a solid twenty minutes of laughter for my wife and me as we read it together. It was by far one of the funnier articles I've read this year. You have a dry sense of humor, something I really appreciate in an entrepreneur like yourself. I think being able to laugh at things is the key to being happy. Your article will make millions across America laugh and will provide joy to those who are facing hard times.

All in all, I think we would both agree that life without love is meaningless. Money will buy you plenty of material things, and heck, if you can't find love, just buy it in the form of a cheap whore. I once knew a man who was very wealthy but had no family, so he literally bought one. Ordered them online from China. But I digress. Thanks again for your humorous words. You truly have inspired me to appreciate the finer things in life like love, family, and friends. Blessings to you, George.

Sincerely,

Kyle

Kyle Richardson

kyle@enrichdesign.us

The Birth of Entrepreneurship!

2010-01-25T13:29:00.001-08:00

This recession has been tough on a lot of people. Many have lost their jobs, had their wages cut, or even lost their homes. Some, however, have decided to take the blows life has thrown at them and do things they never dreamed they would be able to do: start their own business. That's where Richard comes in. Richard is an old next door neighbor. Since we met, we hit it off immediately. Having been let go from the construction industry, one of the hardest hit by the recession, Richard decided to start his own business: a carpet cleaning company. We got together with the families one night over a burger and beer at McMenamin's and talked about his goals and ideas for a logo. Naturally, I had to help out a friend. I developed a classic looking, yet professional logo that would look perfect on his van. There's a ton more work to do, but this is a great start!

Does Your Resumé Need A Makeover?

2010-01-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's no surprise that the unemployment rate in the country is one of the worst rates in U.S. history. It's also no surprise that the current job market is more competitive than ever. For every open position, there are dozens, if not hundreds, applying for that same position. Candidates have to do everything within their will to set themselves apart from the competition, including having an outstanding resumé. That's where I step in.

What I Do:

When I say an outstanding resumé, I'm not just talking about your job experience and education, although that is crucial. It is no longer acceptable for job applicants to simply type up a resumé in Microsoft Word using Times New Roman, 12 pt. font...no matter how compelling your content is.

Research has shown that in today's market, you, I repeat YOU, are a brand that you are selling to potential employers. For reference check out:

- It's All About Being Memorable

- Ingredients That Make Or Break Your Brand

- What Are They Saying Behind Your Back?

Now that we've both agreed that building your own personal brand is important for any position, I would like to propose that we work together to build your brand and get you that next job.

How It Works:

Send me your resumé in Word format, and in one week I will give you a print-ready resumé that looks sleek and organized, including your own personal logo reflecting your line of work. Due to the cost ($50) and nature of the project, you are allowed one revision to your resumé before all work is final. It's that easy. You're next job could be just one step away.

WHAT: Resumé redesign and personal brand

WHO: Enrich Design (www.enrichdesign.us)

WHERE: kyle@enrichdesign.us

HOW: $50

Worst Logo I've Ever Done...

2009-12-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

Management, Operations, Sales

2009-12-28T15:44:00.001-08:00

These logos were part of a series I created a few years ago for a management training workbook. They are meant to convey the three paths one can take through the program: Management, Operations, and Sales.

Shepherd

2009-12-14T21:34:00.001-08:00

Doggie

2009-12-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

A True Thanksgiving Story

2009-11-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

Last year my wife and I decided to drive down to Southern California for Thanksgiving. What made this particular trip so interesting is that we brought along our German Shepherd, our cat, and my wife was 8 months pregnant…all in a Honda Civic. Knowing we would be tight on space I went ahead and purchased a vinyl rooftop carrier.

On our trip home, somewhere a little north of Sacramento, at about 10 p.m., on a lonely stretch of highway, I heard what can only be described as four “whoosh” sounds. I watched as one by one the latches of the rooftop carrier were torn from our doors. I looked in my rearview mirror to see our carrier tumbling behind us, followed by a tailgating semi running over our belongings. I quickly pulled to the side of the highway in a panic. I jumped from the car and stood on the side of the road, standing in shock as car after car, truck after truck, ran over and completely obliterated our stuff.

Clothes were flying through the wind, duffle bags were burst to shreds, cologne bottles were broken into a million pieces, but what stood out was the sound of breaking glass. At first I thought that was the sound of our things hitting people’s headlights or windshields, but I soon realized that was the sound of my laptop computer being crushed into bits. I spent the next thirty minutes running out between traffic trying to grab as much as I could. My mom had given me a portfolio of some artwork I had done in college that was, along with everything else, in shreds. However, one particular drawing I had done of me and my wife lay spotless on the ground.

As I picked up the portrait I had done of my wife and me, I quickly thought to myself, “What am I so upset about? No one was hurt, there were no accidents, and all of these things can be replaced.” And the simple truth was that they were all just “things”, belongings that could have just as easily been taken from us as they were acquired.

We were fortunate that our insurance ended up covering everything, but this Thanksgiving I encourage you to reflect on all of the things in your life you are thankful for. Not the “things”, but the relationships, family, and health. I hope for a wonderful holiday for you and your family. Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Flyer

2009-11-10T09:52:00.001-08:00

I was recently approached by a friend to design a flyer for an arts and crafts fair she was having near the holiday season. The trick was that it was going to be reproduced in black-and-white. I had to create something where the details wouldn't get lost in the printing, so I played around with empty and negative space, and inverse coloring, to make a bold design. I used a single font to keep the design minimal and easy to read. Happy Holidays!

Bamboo Logo Design

2009-11-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

Project #2

2009-11-02T16:49:00.000-08:00

I was recently approached by the owner of an industrial machinery company who creates custom wafer-processing machines. I know, I have no idea what that is either! Or should I say, "had"...I am very familiar now with what one of these machines can do because I was requested to design a front and back flyer. The owner was looking to market this piece of machinery, so I had to create something compelling, informative, and visual. It's tough designing something that you are very unfamiliar with! After skimming the instruction manual for the machinery, I had a good grasp of what the machine could do and what I needed to convey. Oh yeah, the best part is that my friend over at Curotek, who I designed a front and back flyer for recently, referred his machinery friend to me to design HIS flyer! Isn't word of mouth a great form of advertising??

What I Learned From a Year at Pizza Hut

2009-09-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Like many during these tough economic times, last summer I resigned to taking up a second job to meet the rising demand of bills and the decrease in income. My wife had just lost her job as a work-from-home sales rep. and the fact that she was half way into her first trimester put me into panic mode. We decided it would be best for my wife to rest at home during her pregnancy. Besides, who was going to hire someone knowing they were going to quit in a few months?

It should be understood, however, that I was all but excited about this additional employment opportunity. "A second job?!" I thought to myself. "This is crazy! I'm 24, have a college degree, a wife, and countless other responsibilities. How in the world am I going to manage all of this while working two jobs?!" Those thoughts and doubts were gone almost as soon as they came. You see, ever since my wife and I were dating we had made it a clear goal to give her the option of staying at home full-time once she had kids. This second job thing wasn't just a way to pay bills, it was a way to keep my wife at home fulfilling the role she had always dreamed of. So, any doubt or fear or worry I had about being burned-out quickly went out the window because I knew I had to do whatever it took to make this happen.

It wasn't long before I found a great part-time job that would work around my full-time schedule, give me the opportunity to earn more than minimum wage, and was close to home: Delivery driver; Pizza Hut Corporation; Clackamas, Oregon. I can't say I was thrilled with the title, proud of my work, or looking forward to adding this position to the ole' resume, but it was a means to an end and that was all I needed right now. So, I donned my uniform, polished my car-topper, and wore out my GPS. A year and a half later, I have survived and am chronicling my thoughts about my time spent at Pizza Hut.

1. The position of pizza delivery driver is sorely underrated. From barking dogs, hidden apartment buildings that I swore needed a treasure map to find, littered front porches that held about a year's worth of garbage to non-tipping patrons, I feel like I can say I've seen just about everything. I once made a delivery to a trailer park where the customer offered to tip me in weed. I politely declined. I'm not going to say that being a pizza hut driver is the toughest job out there; spending over half your shift on the road listening to the radio ain't half bad. And I also won't say that most of the delivery guys out there are doing their part for the P.R., but I will say that there are a lot of under-appreciated jobs out there. From the pregnant girl who hands you your burritos at Taco Bell, to the working mother that wipes down your table at Denny's, to the freaked out father-to-be who delivers your pizza, everyone has a story and everyone deserves appreciation for the work they do.

2. You're never too educated to roll up your sleeves. When I first started at Pizza Hut, I was almost embarrassed to tell my co-workers my background; the fact that I had graduated college and worked for a successful printing company. I took on more of a spectator role at first. I watched people, their work ethic, listened to their stories. What I saw were a bunch of people who were just trying to make it. I'm not going to say that having a degree and a good job made me ignorant or arrogant, but I think I got a little rusty at good old-fashioned manual labor. There's something about doing the dishes in scalding hot water until your hands are both blistered and pruned that build character. It makes you appreciate what you have. Did I enjoy it? Heck no. Did I regain a proper understanding of what it means to earn your keep? You bet. On the opposite spectrum, there were times I wanted to flaunt my degree all over the place. When a customer complained that their pizza was just a little too crispy (when it wasn't) or when a manager made me scrub a perfectly spotless floor (when it was), I felt like saying, "Don't you know that I went to college? I'm most-likely more educated than you ever will be, and here you are thinking you know the best way to do things!" Wow, typing that just now was hard to do. I can't believe how arrogant I was at times, how often I wanted to use my status as a way of avoiding responsibility. The point is that there is no amount of education that can spare you from life's humility.

3. The salt of the earth are some good people. I know most of the customer-related stories I have told so far have carried a negative tone. The fact is that there are a lot of good people out there. Regular working-class, low-income folks who get what life is all about. I had the fortunate privilege of my store being sandwiched between a very affluent neighborhood and a very poor neighborhood. The comparison was staggering. Most of the time I got stiffed (food service slang for "no tip") was in the wealthy neighborhood. I'm not trying to make any sort of political statement, but it seemed as if those living off less income understood my situation better. They knew I wasn't striving for a career in food delivery services, and many of them took it upon themselves to bless me with their hard-earned money. Last Christmas I was doing a delivery run in a terrible snow storm. My son was about a week old at the time, and my mind was not on my work. As I approached the run-down apartment, I was greeted by the warm smile of a woman who must have been at least 150 years old. "Come in! Get warm!" as she motioned for me out of the cold and into her entry way. "How are you?" she asked. "I'm well. I'm excited for my shift to end so I can go home and see my son. He was born a week ago on Christmas Eve." "Oh my goodness! God Bless you!" Without hesitation the old lady, who definitely did not have much to spare, pulled out a $20 bill for a tip. I'm not sure her total was even $20, so when she handed me the money I was speechless. Like I mentioned before, avoiding any political statements, I have a great appreciation and respect for those who work hard for their money and give without hesitation.

4. It was worth it. I will never forget the evening. I had a rough night of deliveries. I think I walked away with about $12 worth of tips for my entire shift. I was in a crummy mood. I walked up to the front door of my house and as I opened the door, saw my wife on the ground playing with my baby boy. It was in that moment that I realized why I was doing what I was doing. To see the smile on my wife's face and know that she didn't have to worry about money or being away from her baby while she was at work was priceless. I have recently decided to put more time and effort into my graphic design company (www.enrichdesign.us) along with my full time job at my printing company (www.bridgetown.com), and have made the decision to stop working at Pizza Hut. It's a bit of a leap of faith, as anyone in graphic design can tell you the work is anything but steady, but I am looking forward to building something I am passionate about. I am proud of the fact that when my son gets older I can tell him I worked two jobs so he could be at home with his mom, that I did whatever it took to keep things together and get the bills paid. I'm proud of my wife for encouraging me all those times that I wanted to quit or blow-up at a thankless customer. If life calls for you to give a little bit more than you have, to do a little bit more than you want, and to try a little bit more than you think it's worth, don't ignore it; it could be your greatest education.

Help for Holiday Logo

2009-09-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Here's the situation, as described by my client, the Tualatin-Tigard Family Resource Center:

"I just returned from a meeting with community partners in Washington County regarding coordination of the holiday assistance program. (Toys and food for families in need) We would like to really join forces this year and collaborate on one single unified assistance program. A part of that means using common language for the program and having a logo to use for all printed material regarding the program. You did such a fabulous job with our logo that I instantly thought of you.

We are thinking of something simple in black and white that would be easy to photocopy. Let me know if you would be interested in volunteering for this project. We would be working on a tighter time line - possibly several weeks - since we are eager to get publicity materials out as soon as possible. But we also wouldn't be sending so many drafts back to you for tweaking, so it would be doable in that time frame. I know you are busy with a young family, and I understand if this is too much for you to take on at this time. But if you are interested, we would LOVE to have you do this project. Let me know what you think as soon as possible."

The trick was that the logo HAD to be in black and white for reproduction purposes, and it had to be holiday-neutral, as the program does not want to exclude anyone. I chose bold, defined shapes that would photo copy well. I'll keep you posted on what they pick!

My First Gig!

2009-09-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

Literally a day after deciding I was going to pursue my freelance graphic design side job, I was meeting with a client to discuss his printing needs and he asked me to design a flyer! I jumped at the opportunity, as this was my first paid gig. He sent me his initial ideas, which consisted of a very basic sketch in Microsoft Word with some text and a few images. I took that idea and ran with it. We came up with a great plan to market his company's product, a software solution for the retirement facility industry. We were getting down to the wire, as the tradeshow was just about a week away and the thing still had to be printed! At the very last minute, his bosses decided to take the flyer in a different direction and instead focus on the company, rather than the product. With only a few hours to spare, I spent the evening revising the design and adding in all of the information his company wanted to get across. We reviewed the final proof together and BAM, the flyer was printed the next day. Now that's what I call service!

We Are Go For Launch!

2009-09-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, according to the State of Oregon I now officially have my own business! Ok, before you freak out and think I put up the house as collateral: A.) We don't own a house and B.) I am simply doing freelance graphic design work on top of my full-time job as a commercial print sales rep. It's the perfect combination: providing graphic design solutions and then having the resources to get it printed!

I swung my very first project a few weeks ago. I was meeting with a client for printing purposes and he mentioned that he had a tradeshow coming up in a few weeks. He asked if my printing company offered design services, to which I replied, "No, but I sure do!"

This is something I am very passionate about. I have enjoyed learning all about the printing industry, but my creative side has definitely been stifled over the years. Now I have an outlet for my creativity without going to the poorhouse.

There will definitely be some challenges along the way. For example: what if I get offered a really great design project but they have their own printing company that they work with? I will design the project but will be unable to handle the production of it as that would be a conflict of interest with my printing company. Also, what if there is a really great project, but it needs to be done quickly and during business hours? This is something I will have to explain to my clients up front. So, needless to say, this portion of my life will be minimal at best, but it will certainly be a great outlet and a nice way to earn some extra cash. Check out the site when you get a chance, I just finished it!

www.enrichdesign.us

I'm taking votes!

2009-07-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

That's right...I need your help! I want to know what the logos make you think, how they make you feel. Your input is appreciated!

Enrich Design

2009-07-22T16:26:00.001-07:00

So I've been thinking more and more about doing graphic design again as a side thing. Of course, one of the most important elements is coming up with a logo. It represents who you are, your personal brand. The name is taken after my last name, Richardson. And, well, for those of you who know me, you know where the german shepherd comes from: my dog Billie. I'm still debating whether or not to include the dog. We will see!

Ok, Here's the Final!

2009-07-02T09:30:00.001-07:00

New Logo

2009-06-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

They may go with this one...we'll see!

Eff You!

2009-06-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

There's an advertising agency in Seattle that recently won a ton of awards, known in the ad industry as "Effies". I sent some people up there a card congratulating them on their success. I decided to have a little fun with our standard, generic cards and spice it up a bit!

Tualatin - Tigard Family Resource Center Logo

2009-06-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

My Theory...

2009-04-15T16:37:00.001-07:00

Due to all of the fertility treatments these days, there will be a surplus of multiple births (ie. twins, triplets, octuplets, etc.). The gene pool will slowly diminish. The twins will have children with other twins and phase out the "normal" people. Pretty soon the planet will be filled with people that look exactly like each other and have the same genetic make-up. The earth will be occupied by a race of mutant clones, who will, due to genetic inbreeding, become evil and being to consume one another. Utter chaos will ensue and before too long the "human" race will have destroyed itself. Thanks, Jon and Kate...

Wallpaper #2

2009-03-13T08:49:00.002-07:00

Wallpaper #1

2009-03-13T08:49:00.001-07:00

Amplify'd Clothing

2009-03-13T08:43:00.001-07:00

A t-shirt idea for a friend's clothing company.

Urban Immersion

2009-03-13T08:40:00.002-07:00

Business card for a friend's non-profit. I did the logo as well.

Angry Pirate Baby

2009-03-13T08:40:00.001-07:00

A page of an illustration I did for a children's book I wrote.

TerraNova church logo

2009-03-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Enrich Apparel

2009-03-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Logo for a clothing company.

My Head vs. My Heart

2009-03-03T14:17:00.002-08:00

Dove vs. Serpent

2009-03-03T14:17:00.001-08:00

Be the king you were born to be...

2009-03-03T14:14:00.002-08:00

I'm not dead, just in a deep sleep...

2009-03-03T14:14:00.001-08:00

The Bachelor

2009-03-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

My Life: Chapter 3

2009-02-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

It was when I was about 7 that my dad announced to the family that we would be moving. I was devastated and scared, but also a bit excited. You see, we were only moving about 10 miles away to a nicer neighborhood, but this would be a good first step in what would be many moves across the U.S. So with that, we said goodbye to the neighbors, loaded up the truck, and moved into the “Monte Vista house”. It was a nice house, built almost completely out of brick with lots of trees and a big backyard. It wasn’t long before we made friends with the kids across the street. The eldest, Audrey, was my age, then there was Clinton, and finally Whitney, who was James’ age. We liked to go over there and play house; it worked out quite nicely because we could all pretend that we were married. It was at this house that I first learned to swim. My parents had signed me up for swimming lessons, and every week my mom would drive me to the teacher’s house where the pool was. I remember standing at the edge of the diving board, terrified to jump in because the pool looked so dark and deep, and I could have sworn that I saw a shark swimming around down there. This wouldn’t be my only terrifying experience involving pools. Later that year we went down to the community pool with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. My uncle thought it would be fun to throw me through the air into the pool, except for the fact that my swimshorts had caught about a gallon of water and ripped off right as he tossed me into the air. I flew through the air butt naked for what seemed like an eternity, finally landing in the water with a face nearly as red as my lost shorts. I glanced over to see two teenage girls giggling, and it was at this moment that I first learned what embarrassment was.

My Life: Chapter 2

2008-12-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

Once while living at the Paso Hondo house, I remember being at my neighbor’s house playing with him. We were out in the backyard stirring up some concoction of mud, water, bugs and grass in a bucket. My friend thought it would be a good idea to add his dirty underwear to the brew, so he took off his briefs, but instead of tossing them in the bucket, at the last minute he changed his mind and threw them onto the roof. We didn’t know at the time that the underwear had landed on the roof, so we went to the front yard looking for them (by this time, my friend had managed to at least put his pants back on). A neighborhood older kid was outside on his bike and saw us, two innocent victims, and immediately rode over to us with evil in mind.

“Hey guys, whatcha doin’?”

“Just looking for his underwear…you seen it?”

“Yeah, actually. I think it went inside that house.”

He was pointing to the old, abandoned house at the end of the street. No one had lived there for sometime, and the weeds were beginning to consume the property. We nervously approached the house, as if it were some sleeping beast that we dared not wake. The older boy led us to the side of the house near the garage. He cautiously opened up the side-door that led inside the garage. “In here,” he said, with a sadistic sneer on his face. My buddy and I slowly entered the dark garage; there was just enough light to know that it was completely empty. Suddenly, we heard the door slam behind us and what little light the opened door provided was now gone.
We ran for the door, but the older kid had shut it on us, and wasn’t intent on letting us out anytime soon. Panic hit like a train, and we scattered through the house, trying not to step on the broken dishes on the dirty floor. We were frantically looking for a way out when we saw the sliding backdoor. I pulled it open and we rushed through a field of chin-high grass. I led us to the back gate, which of course was locked, and we squeezed through a small opening to our freedom. As we stood there, gasping for breath and almost in tears, the older kid walked over with a sneer on his face. “You kids better not tell anybody or I’ll kill you! In fact, I’m coming back to get you with my pocket knife later!” For two six-year-olds, this was a terrifying proposition. We both split and sprinted to our houses, silently agreeing to never tell anyone about our horrific experience. Later that day I remember the older kid riding by our house on his bike as I looked out the window, flashing the sharp edge of a fingernail file.

My Life: Chapter 1

2008-11-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

I’ve never thought that my story was particularly exciting, certainly not worthy of writing an entire book documenting its events. I’m probably like most people my age, just trying to find their way through this thing called ‘life’. However, I do believe that everyone should spend some time writing out their own personal biography. I think they will find that their lives are a bit more interesting than they initially thought…

I don’t remember much about my life before the age of three, which is probably pretty common. I vaguely remember being at the hospital while my brother James was being born, holding him on my lap while all of the grown-ups kept a nervous eye on me in case I decided to drop him. I was born and grew up in Houston, Texas. We lived in the suburbs on a quiet street of one story houses and well-kept lawns. Paso Hondo. That was the name of our street and that’s what we called that house, the ‘Paso Hondo house’. We moved around quite a bit, so referring to houses by their street names became a common occurrence. I can remember sunny Saturday mornings out on the driveway helping dad wash the car or mow the lawn. I loved the smells and sounds of water on the hot concrete as it sizzled down to the street. It was on this street that I first learned to ride a bike without any training wheels. My dad patiently held the seat and ran me down the street, almost as if he were launching a porcelain kite. I would ride up and down that street, most of the time barefoot.

From what I can remember, I liked having a younger brother around, although I probably pretended that it annoyed me. Someone who looked up to me, who copied my every move, and who wanted to be with me constantly. I do remember, however, getting into trouble once because apparently I had bit James on the head. I don’t recall exactly why I did it, but my mom once told me that she heard him screaming in the other room. When she walked in, I was sitting innocently in the corner and James had little red teeth marks on his head.

When I was about 5 or 6, for some reason once I found entertainment in taking a toy wooden saw and sawing the mortar between the fireplace bricks, although I knew it was probably something the parents would disapprove of. I blew the dust that had built up and it immediately spiraled up into my eyes. I remember crying and my mom coming in to find out what was wrong. I had told her that I had just seen some dust on the fireplace and wanted to blow it off so it would look clean. This is the first time in my life I remember outright lying to someone’s face.

That Looks Like It Hurts!

2008-10-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

So, Mary and I began taking a pregnancy class last week to prepare us first-timers for that exciting/stressful/scary time when the baby is finally ready to leave mommy's tummy. The first class was designed to help us learn the signs of early labor, and how to prepare yourself for the contractions and such. The second class, however, confirmed my worst fears...the birth video! Everyone's seen it at some point in their lives: a 10-20 year old video of women giving birth, including CLOSE-UP shots of the...ahem...area! I was not prepared for that AT ALL! I guess it's good that they are showing it to us, though, because if at Mary's delivery was the first time I saw that stuff, I might not survive. Did you know that after giving birth to the baby the mother gives birth again about 30 minutes later?? It's not to another baby...it's to the placenta!!! AAAAHHH!! For those of you who don't know, the placenta is a sack of blood vessels and tissue that connect the baby's umbilical cord to the mother's uterus. It basically looks like a big, bloody cow stomach. They showed a close-up shot of a mother giving birth to the placenta, and then the doctor took it out and was like playing with it and stuff. As weird as it sounds, it actually reassures me that Mary is a bit grossed out as well. I'm glad she's not like "Oh come on and man up you baby!" We're both in the same boat. I just pray that when that day finally comes that I will have enough strength to be her rock and to support her during that process.

Willamette Whacky

2008-10-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday up here in Portland, a free magazine is distributed called the Willamette Weekly, a leftist, socialist publication that reviews culture, politics, and life in the great Northwest. As you can imagine, with the Pacific Northwest being one of the most liberal areas in America, the publication is all about attacking conservative views and anything to do with organized religion. In this week's issue, an article detailing a common political phenomenon, known as the 'October Surprise', recounts a recent video that popped up on YouTube showing VP hopeful Sarah Palin being prayed over by a religious leader for safety from witchcraft. The article suggests that an October Surprise may show up for Obama if his old colleague, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, publishes a book about his relationship with Obama, including possible "dirt", and goes on tour for it. The article then goes on to say, "But now that Palin has appeared in church with a 'witch hunter', it's debatable who's got the wackiest spiritual adviser." You're joking...right? No, seriously, you were trying to make a joke...weren't you?? Ok, let's just examine this real quick. Palin, a religious VP hopeful, attends a church service in which a pastor prays over her for protection from Satan and the many evils that exist out there in the world today that have the possibility of leading her astray should she be weak in spirit (ok, interesting choice of words, but "witchcraft" in many cultures means "the work of Satan"). Then you've got Obama, a claimed religious Presidential hopeful, who, for 20 years placed his spiritual guidance under the leadership of a racist, who begged God to "damn America". So, knowing the facts, Willamette Weekly, you WERE trying to make a joke right? No? Didn't think so. You were actually serious in your assumption that Palin's incident...INCIDENT...was worse than Obama's LIFETIME of, what did you call it, "wackiness"? Just goes to show you how much the world today hates anything that is good and moral. So sad...

Boy, oh Boy!

2008-10-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we found out the sex of the baby. This is probably one of the most exciting times for a pregnant couple, because you go from having a nameless, genderless being in your abdomen to actually carrying a little boy or girl, one that you can call by name instead of referring to it as "the baby".
For awhile I was really convinced that we were having a girl. I can't explain it, but I just had this feeling. And, seeing as I was right about Mary being pregnant before anyone else knew it, I thought I had some magical "fatherly instinct" or something. The lady working the ultrasound was kind and sweet, and tried her best to calm us down. She was scanning Mary's belly and we had a chance to see the baby move! I can't even describe how exciting that was! I literally could have sat there for hours just watching it roll around and move it's arms. It's surreal to think that all this is going on inside my wife!
So, the lady measures everything, from its stomach to its arms, legs, and kidneys. Everything looked perfect and healthy, which we were so thankful for. Then, the most important part. She moves her camera down to the waist area. She asks us, "So, what names were you thinking for the baby?" We said that if it's a boy we were thinking Wyatt James, and if it's a girl we were thinking Clarissa May. She said, "You know, I like the name Wyatt James for this boy." It's a boy!!! I can't even tell you how excited I am. I'm not scared at all about having a boy, either.
You know, there is a part of self-doubt in me that says, "Kyle, you don't know anything about cars, or fishing, or sports...this kid is gonna be hopeless!" And you know what, I don't know much about those things, but we can learn them together. But, all of the important things, like how to live passionately, how to love a woman, and how to be a real man, I can teach him all of those things. I can't wait to be reminded that I am a man, and to enjoy the responsibility of molding one.

Finding God

2008-09-30T09:04:00.001-07:00

I took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday to sit outside during my lunch break and read a book. As I was reading, I would look up every few minutes at the trees; just study them, the structure of their leaves and branches, how every leaf was stretching itself toward the sun, as if it were some popular musician and they were all crazed teenage girls trying to shake his hand.
I got to thinking about how beautiful nature is and how much I enjoy being in it, how when I'm in a forest or surrounded by trees I can almost feel God's presence. I found myself saying "Geez, I really need to make time to go on a walk in the forest so I can feel God again."
At that moment, it was almost as if I heard God telling me, "I'm right here."
"Yeah, I know God, you're everywhere."
"No, Kyle...I'm right here."
"So, you don't want me to go to the forest?"
"You're missing the point, Kyle. I want you to know that you don't have to go to the forest, to church, to a prayer group to find me...I'm right here."
I feel like I make my time with God a big ordeal, something I have to plan out, to venture to, to coordinate. Yeah, I know I can pray to God whenever I want, and that He's with me during my day, but the defining moments in our relationship are when I'm at church, or having a "God conversation", or praying with someone. Why is that? Why do I have to make such an agenda for my relationship with God, to put Him in that box? If my relationship with my wife consisted solely of the "milestones" of our marriage (ie. our wedding, vacations, anniversary dates, etc.), that would be like 10 times that I connected with her. No, it's in the day-to-day of life that a true relationship is built. Why can't it be that way with God? Truth be told, I think it's because I'm too busy, or proud, or distracted to bring God into my minutae, that I've let our relationship consist of a few special times at church, or camp, or Bible study meetings. I want God to be with me every minute of every day. I want every decision I make to involve God, and to have a true friendship with Him.

Secret's Out

2008-07-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

We've been debating about when to tell people. Some have said that we should just go ahead and do it, while others have said that the first 8 weeks are the most critical in the life of a fetus, often determining whether or not a miscarriage occurs. I told my mentor yesterday and he was absolutley stoked. He was one of the ones who suggested we wait a bit, as he and his wife did. He said a friend of theirs announced to the whole world the day they found out they were pregnant, and then miscarried weeks later. He said having to constantly field the "How's the baby doing??" questions after the fact was absolutely devastating. Nonetheless, we decided we should at least tell Mary's parents. We have a good enough relationship with them where we know they wouldn't go around telling everyone, and if we did happen to miscarry, we would probably want them to know anyways. So, on the speakerphone we played a cute little joke on them; Mary asked, "So, have you decided what you are getting me for Mother's Day?" Long pause. "Are you pregnant?" "Yes." Loud screaming. It's strange, it seems as if telling other people somehow makes the pregnancy more real. Despite that fact, it still feels like none of this is happening, like it was just an idea we had or a dream.

Baby de Mayo

2008-07-02T11:11:00.001-07:00

Cinco de Mayo. Usually you will find people in a drugstore buying last minute bottles of tequlia, Corona, or tortilla chips. Me, I was on a mission...to find a pregnancy test. I knew they were somewhere between the haircare products and near the tampons. I made my way down aisle 7 and was suddenly hit with an overwhelming question: "What if it's true?" What if Mary really was pregnant and not just late? What if, in 8 months from now, I was a father? As the questions swirled about in my head, I began to shift my attention on the pregnancy test boxes. Do I need a two pack? Do I need one that can detect pregnancy four days before a missed period? I felt like I was buying a car or something, so many options. Normally I'm a guy who's looking for the best deal, the cheapest buy, but this probably wasn't a situation where I wanted to cut on quality to save a buck or two. So, I checked out with my EPT, crossword puzzle, and bucket of ice cream (requested by Mary, of course). We made our way home and I could swear there was a large pink elephant stuffed in the grocery bag in our backseat. "Here I am! The little stick that will change your lives forever!" We got home and unwrapped the package, carefully read every instruction, and began to remove the cap. "Are you gonna just stand here while I pee?," Mary asked. "It's going to make me too nervous." "Right, I'll stand outside the door. Tell me AS SOON as you are done!" "Ok, I think I'm done." Staring at that little stick sitting on the kitchen counter felt like an eternity. Mary had turned her head for a moment, pretending that this was just some make-believe game we were playing, and that it would say "Not Pregnant" and we could move on with our lives. You see, for as long as I have known Mary, short of being a wife she has wanted nothing more than to be a mother. She has been asking me for the longest time when we would start having children, and each time I would make up some excuse as to why we were not emotionally, financially, or physically ready. I finally agreed to lay off the birth control and let God roll the dice on this one. I think I just realized that everything I was holding onto in my non-parenting life, the freedom, the sleeping in on the weekends, the finacial ability to eat out every once and awhile, was worth giving up in order to bring another member of our family into this world. I looked at Mary with her head turned, looked down at the little magic stick, and the words "Pregnant" were on the digital display. Gasp! It's real! "Nuh-uh!" Mary retorted in disbelief, almost as if she were yelling at the test for playing a practical joke on her. We stood there, started at each other, embraced in an awkward hug and at that moment I knew everything would be ok.

"Almost Perfect"

2005-12-03T01:44:00.000-08:00

Almost Perfect

A Poem by Shel Silverstein

"Almost perfect...but not quite."
Those were the words of Mary Hume
At her seventh birthday party,
Looking 'round the ribboned room.
"This tablecloth is pink not white-
Almost perfect...but not quite."

"Almost perfect...but not quite."
Those were the words of grown-up Mary
Talking about her handsome beau,
The one she wasn't gonna marry.
"Squeezes me a bit too tight-
Almost perfect...but not quite."

"Almost perfect...but not quite."
Those were the words of ol' Miss Hume
Teaching in the seventh grade,
Grading papers in the gloom
Late at night up in her room.
"They never cross their t's just right-
Almost perfect...but not quite."

Ninety-eight the day she died
Complainin' 'bout the spotless floor.
People shook their heads and sighed,
"Guess that she'll like heaven more."
Up went her soul on feathered wings,
Out the door, up out of sight.
Another voice from heaven came-
"Almost perfect...but not quite."

I find myself acting like the aforementioned Mary Hume, judging others by what I see and deciding that they are "not quite perfect" enough to be a true Christian or believer in Christ. Thank goodness God is not like me. Jesus Christ was the only person on this earth who held the right to judge or use the phrase "go and sin no more" because he was the only person who never commited a sin. Myself, however, stand accused before the throne of God with more than a bad deed on my plate. In conclusion, I fall miserably short of showing the true love of Christ because I cannot really love something that I don't understand. God sees our spirit, not our acts, an ability I pray for daily.