Are you spiritually invested?

Returning Full-Time

2011-07-02T11:29:00.001-07:00

After 3 years of being home from my mission, it has been decided, now is a great time to go back.

I report directly to the Washington Tacoma Mission on July 5, 2011.

You can write me.

Elder Kevin W. Fosburgh
4007 Bridgeport Way W. Ste. D
University Place, WA 98466-4330

First Harvest AND steady growth!

2009-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

My one and only carrot, and my other strawberry plant!
This strawberry plan has had its ups and downs. Luckily, it is coming back to life.
Cherry tomato. Just need it to turn red!
Who wants a japanese eggplant?
Full frontal garden view.
another one.
MY FIRST HARVEST!!!!! These are my peas packaged and ready to eat!
Pods after cleaning!

The Circus: Starring Britney Spears and guest stars The Pussycat Dolls

2009-05-09T11:31:00.006-07:00

Loni and I are super excited to be going to see Britney Spears! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!

Pussycat Dolls getting ready to take the stage.

Jessica dancing to Dontcha'

All of the Dolls. Nichole singing lead.

The Dolls again. Still Nichole belting those pipes!

Final pose for the dolls. look at that leg extension from Ashley!

Time for Britney!!! This is her power shot!

Singing Everytime, live I presume.

Dancing to the song off of her Blackout album: "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)"

Britney has her abs back! Not bad for a mother of two!

This is loni's favorite shot!

Love, love, LOVE the effects!

Finally. Good-bye Brit!

Self-Sufficient-ness

2009-04-12T11:32:00.001-07:00

Garden Time

2009-03-05T20:16:00.006-07:00

In the wake of a economic downturn, I've decided we need to be self sufficient so here are some pictures of the garden that I've planted in th backyard.

Here is the picture of my new garden. I have three rows of corn, pumpkin, watermelon, and cantelope. I also have peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries. Those are the plants that are already sprouted. Oh thats my scare crow. Yuki hates him.

Here is a closer look at the new garden. The three round mounds in the front are the melons. Then you see the three rows of corn in the upper left hand corner, and then my other plants.

These are my peas that I planted in January. They are growing so good!

A CD review of Britney Spears' 'Circus'

2008-11-25T19:58:00.002-07:00

Well Britney is back, and she is serious about this comeback! She just released a sneak peek preview of her new album 'Circus' on her website, and I decided to check it out. I was hesitant to listen to it because Womanizer was AMAZING and I didn't want the rest of her album to suck, but I went and checked it out anyway, and I loved it. So much better than I expected, I expected another 'Blackout' but it blows that out of the water.

It is a very dancy album, which I think is sweet. Its more of a mature sound, its not 90's Teen Pop anymore. The album has a total of 3 slow songs, and one of my favorite is: "Out From Under" It is so HOT! It is really raw, and just an intimate sound. One of my least favorite tracks is "Kill the Lights." It was like 80's pop, and it sounded VERY, VERY Madonna to me.

The one song that is completely stuck in my head since listening to the CD besides, "Circus" is a song called "If U Seek Amy." It is a upbeat tune, and it has some very memorable lyrics, and a good tune. I love it!!!!!

She has a track called "Unusual You" which is like a pop/rock song that is a mix between Hillary Duff and Kelly Clarkson. It is trendy, I like it. It isn't my favorite, I don't like when she does pop/rock songs, but I'm sure that this song will grow on me.

"My Baby" was a song that she wrote for her kids, and it is so raw. I loved it so much. If you listen to the lyrics, she really talks about some of her trials in the past couple of years, and basically just thanks them and talks about how much she loves them. It is way raw, and acoustic, I loved it so much. if there is one song on this album,you should check out, it would be "My Baby" hands down!

What are the biggest surprises from the album? I think you may be surprised by the different types of tracks she has on there. It isn't all strictly pop or dance like it has been in the past. She has alot of dancy hits, but she spices it up with a few slow songs, and tracks like "Unusual You." I was also very surprised by the amount of tracks on this cd. Her last album had like 11 or something, and all the songs were about 2 or 3 minutes, and this album has about 13 tracks, and they are all atleast 3 to 3.5 minutes long. Some longer, some alittle shorter. She also redid a track from her last album. She revamped Radar and I really found this one to MUCH better than the original. I have also read that she has helped in writing almost every track on this album. I can't wait to get the CD and really check out how many she really had her hand in this album.

The last big surprise was how mild her lyrics were. Her songs weren't as sensual as the past, I didn't think. There are some sensual tracks on there, but I think overall, not as bad as it has been in the past.

If you want to check it out, go to her website and get a listen.

http://www.britney.com/blog/full-circus-album-preview

And remember he documentary "For the Record" will be airing on MTV on November 30th, check your loca listings. She will also be on Good Morning America on her birthday December 2nd, which is also the day that the album comes out. Be sure to check it out.

I'm so FRUSTRATED!!!! (Yes, another political rant..sort of)

2008-11-13T20:03:00.001-07:00

So, i'm going to preface this note really really quick. If you are offended by Proposition 8 or 102 supporters and their beliefs, I encourage you not to read. This is not intended to attack one person, but a group of people, and I just need to vent after this recent development with two LDS Temples.

http://www.localnews8.com/global/story.asp?s=9346786

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ...
"We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Right now I'm going to be completely honest and blunt about all kinds of things. I have been very considerate, and understanding of the rights of homosexual individuals. I empasize with the desires they have, and I have a soft spot in my heart for alot of them. I still am a firm believer, and supported of people overcoming unwanted same sex attraction. However, few share this opinion of sexuality as I do. Many believe that their is no changing it. I firmly disagree, but for those who are mislead, or do not know about the great opportunity of change, I have sympathy with their trials.

Today the Salt Lake City temple, and the Los Angeles temple both recieved envelopes with a white powder substance. Right now the FBI is not releasing what the substance is, but one would sumise, that it could quite possibly be anthrax. Whether or not it is, is unimportant. Part of the Salt Lake temple was shut down, and all of the LA temple was shut down after the arrival of these letters. Since November 4, 2008 the LA temple has been the victim of many protests outside of its gates. In the following video, the protestors were getting physical with LDS members as they were going past the temple to remove signs from the gates. Signs which, legally, could not be up due to the fact that the temple is private property.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiwc9ybBiAw

History on Proposition 8. To my knowledge, California voters passed a similar ban on gay marriage 1999. Proposition 22. The gay activist, however, took it to the California State Supreme Court and had the law ruled unconstitutional. The minority of the voters, through the judicial system, overruled the majority voice. When this happened, did you see supporters of Marriage protection being violent and belligerent on the steps of the California Supreme Court? No. We chalked it up as a loss, and fought right back, and through the proper measures, following the correct protocol got the measure put BACK onto the ballot and this time was successful in getting it passed.

Here is the thing that bothers me the most. Proposition 8 was supported by MANY MANY people. Male and Female. LDS, Catholic, Jewish. Black and White. ALOT of people supported the measure or it wouldn't have passed. The difference between Yes votes and No votes is 508,258 votes. There are only 761,763 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the State of California (LDS Almanac 2006). So with over 6million YES votes for the proposition and only 760,000 LDS members of the church in the state of California, and you tel me how the ACLU and the Gay Rights activist think that the LDS members are the ones to blame for the passing of the proposition.

Lets look at the exit polls of the election. 49% of the Yes votes for Prop 8 were from white americans. 70% of the yes votes were from African Americans. 53% of the yes votes were from Latino Americans. However, I must say that nearly 85% of the respondents alligned themselves as conservatives. BBBUUUTTT lets look at the exit polls from Barack Obama. 52% of the vote for Obama was of White Americans. 94% was of African Americans. 74% of the Obama vote was from Latino Americans. What does this say? That the same people that supported Barack Obama supported the Amendment to the California Constitution. (Source: CNN.com Election 2008 Exit Polls)

If you read the amendment, you will see that it DOES NOT affect those who have already been issued marriage licenses. I think that is completely fair. And the State is still going to recognize SOME of the benefits shared by heterosexual couples. Again, I think VERY fair. I saw a video of a protestor complaining that the by the LDS church getting involved with the election he and his husband can't file jointly on a federal tax return. Whether the church got involved or not, it wouldn't have mattered. Just because the state recognizes your marriage doesn't mean the Federal government is going to recognize your marriage.

Here is my final word on the topic. The Church is politically nuetrality. The First Presidency simply sent out a letter to all congregations in California, Florida, and Arizona, where the measures were being voted on, and asked for their support in defining marriage between one man and one woman. The letter that was supposed to be read RIGHT after the letter asking members to support the measures was a letter reaffirming the Church's political nuetral position for political parties, and candidates. Some argue that the Church has taken a political stance. However, the church did no such thing. The church took a position on a social, moral issue. Not a political issue. Just like they have taken a stance on 6 other social issues. Abortion, child-abuse, and capital punishment, just to name a few. (http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues). To reiterate the statement quoted above by the Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley urges us, more than 10 years ago, he urged us, to fight to protect the sanctity of marriage. So if you are LDS and you are struggling with the Church's position then you need to ask yourself, "Was Gordon B. Hinkley a true and living Prophet of God? Was his Counselors also Prophets, Seers, and revelators? What about the Quorum of Twelve Apostles that also signed the letter?" If the answer to that question is YES, then you should know that "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:38).

For people screaming for acceptance, they aren't presenting themselves in a very accepting manner.

More Mission Photos

2008-11-12T12:07:00.002-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Long Overdue Mission Pictures

2008-11-11T20:33:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, here is some mission photos. The first few are going to be of me in the Missionary Training Center, and I have a couple from Washington, not many, but a few.

The last vacation for a while.

2008-08-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

As most of you know mom and I went to spencerville for summer vacation. It was great, and I'm really going to miss my extended vacation while on my mission.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Another Political Rant

2008-08-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Not so much a political one...more of just a review of a political movie. I think we've all at least seen some clips from the Oscar Nominated Documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 in which the liberal Michael Moore "proved" that there is no REAL terrorist threat to America. He said that there have been terrorist acts in the past, and there will be some in the future, but there isn't any REAL threat to Americans. I've always found it to be silly, and now there is a film that is done in the far right perspective of Radical Islam. The film is a documentary called Obsession Radical Islam's War Against the West. It is a GREAT film, and I encourage you ALL to view it. If you have broadband/dsl Internet connection you can buy it PPV from its website for like 5 bucks. The film takes a look into the REAL radical Islam, and makes very shocking comparisons to Nazi Germany. They compare the two leaders (Hitler/bin Laden) as well as their propaganda techniques. They dive into the comparisons of Hitler's Nazi Youth, and Radical Islamic Youth recruitment. The film is only about 60 minutes, and I encourage everyone to view it. I think as Americans we feel sometimes that we are untouchable. However, in a look back in history we see two major events when we felt 'isolated' that we where caught completely off guard. The first was December 7, 1941 when the Imperialistic Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and more recently, September 11, 2001 when Al Quaieda attacked the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. Nonie Darwhish a refugee from Egypt said in the film, "We are strangling ourselves with this political correctness." The film really looks at how the radical Muslim people do not hold back in hating us, and how we need to openly, and candidly discuss this issue.

Again I encourage everyone to check out the film, and I will put two quotes from the film that stood out dramatically to me, that really just shows the hate that they have for us.

"Islam is superior of the Jews, of the Christians, Buddhist, and Hindus."
"Christians are kuffars [infidels]."
"...The day will come when rule America, the day will come with we rule Britain, and the whole world..." - Sheik Ibrahim Mudeirir - Palestinian Cleric

www.obsessionthemovie.com

Mission Goods

2008-08-04T14:23:00.001-07:00

Here are some things that I recently purchased for my mission. The other day Mom and I went all out on the shopping and we bought some white shirts and stuff but here are some things that I ordered from Liahona online.

Here is my liahona bag. Its a shoulder bag...with a VERY nice feature.

A LIAHONA RAIN COVER!!!!!!!!!! Which of course is PERFECT for Washington.
And my Liahona shoes which are guarenteed to last.

Hope ya'll enjoyed, because I enjoyed showing them off.

The Perfect Storm?

2008-07-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

This photo was shown on ABC 15 on the 10 o'clock news. It said "photo courtesy of Kevin Fosburgh" and the weather man said, "We have some photos from Queen Creek tonight. Remember if you get some shots, don't hesitate to send them in."

Here are some photos of the storm coming in...

Election 2008

2008-07-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I know this post may be alittle premature, but since I wont be around in November to post this, I'm going to go ahead and make my endorsements now. As well as some political ideologies that I have.

Economy: There is no doubt that our countries economy is in shambles. I vow to only endorse candidates who will fight to put a stop to wasteful government spending. I endorse Jeff Flake's approach to earmark reform. However, I recognize that earmarks do some good for our country. Arizona would probably still be a desert without earmarks, however, I feel the biggest reform needs to be accountability. I feel we need to keep tabs on Special Interest groups who are requesting earmarks, and law makers that are ahdning them out.

Joe has introduced to me an idea of a National Sales tax. After reviewing the idea more, and more, I too embrace the idea. I feel that with a national sales tax we could take home more of our money, that at this point, the government is taking. We can do away with income tax, FICA tax, medicare tax, and social security tax. There will no longer be confusing tax brackets that Barack Obama endorses, and it will be the most fair form of taxation. As Joe explained to me, there would be a 15% tax put on ALL new goods and services. This way I'm paying the same as Bill Gates, who is paying the same as the illegal immigrant who is paying the same as the union worker in the Midwest. I encourage you all, this election season to get involved. Write your representatives and introduce the idea to them. With this done, instead of making $4,000 a month and taking home $2,000, you can make $4,000 a month and keeping all of it. This will put our government budget into a surplus and eliminate end of the year taxes and the ever expensive IRS.

Then lastly, I feel the government needs to offer tax breaks to major service industries to bring production back to America that will create jobs.

Energy: Here is a word we are hearing more and more often. I feel the Congress shouldl ift their ban for offshore drilling. Ms. Pelosi vows she will not put it to a vote and we need to use already government leased land. Not only do I feel off shore drinlling would do our country good, but I think that we need to open up Anwar for drilling there as well. Although President Bush's Energy Department claims there would be no impact for up to ten years, and even then, it would be miniscule, I think we need to go ahead. We get the majority of our oil from Saudi Arabia. They say they don't control the prices, but in reality, they do. If they see that American's are being self sufficient for once, and finding alternative ways to find our oil, they will be forced to lower prices to draw us back for more barrells. Look at the price of oil since President Bush lifted his executive order for off shore drilling. Oil is less than $130 a barrell.

After a hard fought battle for Mitt Romney in the Presidential Primary election, I was forced to look at other options. Spending alot of thought into ALL candidates from ALL parties on the Arizona ballot, I have made my endorsements as follows:

John McCain [R] for President
Jeff Flake [R] for District 6 United States House of Representatives
Warde Hichols [R] for Arizona House of Representatives Legislative District 21
Steve Yarbrough [R] for Arizona House of Representatives Legislative District 21
Jay Tibshraeny [R] for Arizona Senate Legislative District 21

First Test

2008-07-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

So we have been learning about letter recognition and sounds, as well as number recognition, and today Brooklyn and Bryce had their first test. I'm really amazed at how well they did!!!! I gave no help besides reading the directions, and Brooklyn did it all on her own and got an 'A'. Byce needed alittle help from Nana with the letters, but did the numbers all on his own and he also got an 'A'. Here they are, they make me proud!!!!!!

Learning Time with the Kids

2008-07-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

So to keep the kids occupied when they come over we do learning time. They start with the pledge, then we learn about a state, then numbers, read a story (we are starting a chapter book tomorrow), letters, snack, music time, and a game or craft. They seem to really enjoy it and here are some pictures of it.

Here is our learning corner.
Brielle is doing a pose. Usually, she isn't this cooperative during learning time, she is always up and down.
Brielle getting ready for the pledge.
Then Bryce wanted to pretend to do the pledge also.

Here is our video of music time. This is just one of three songs that we sang today. Monkies on the bed is one of their favorites.

You can bring your kids over also, but I charge $150 a week. Plus the cost of food and craft supplies.

My Testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

2008-07-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

It was a request from Kim for me to bear my testimony for the world wide web to see, so here it goes. I'm pretty good at bearing it with words, but I'm not so sure how it is going to turn out in writing, but I'll try my best.

So I'd like to bear my testimony about the truthfulness, and fulness of the Gospel in these latter days. I know without a doubt that this is Christ's church. He has given us a great prophet, Thomas S. Monson, to council us, and guide us in these perilous times. I know that the Quorum of the Twelve, and all the General Authorities are called of God, and stand as special witnesses of Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is true. And I know that through the prophet Joseph Smith, this great book was translated for us, to reinforce, and reintroduce lost gospel principles. With every fiber of my being, I know that God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, visited the fourteen year old prophet in a grove of trees, and conversed with him. And I know, that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can all be saved, and return with our Heavenly Father. And I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

First Time Temple Excursion

2008-07-11T23:09:00.001-07:00

Here momma wanted to take a picture with my new stuff. However, I wasn't too thrilled because there were people outside the temple as well. A young lady with her parents, she is just getting off her mission from Hokaido.
Grudgingly though, I obliged. Here's my half smile.
Then the missionary thought it would be a GREAT idea for all of us to be in a picture together. *Look how much taller I am then the rest of them.*
Mom calls this the inlaw photo. From R to L it's: Me, Kelly's Dad and Mom, Kelly, and twinners Jenny and Julie (I can't tell them apart).
Here's everyone who came for my big day. I'm not sure who took the photo though. Maybe autoshoot.

All and all it was a GREAT experience. I'm alittle sad I couldn't get my immediate family there with me, but I was thrilled to have my branch family on hand.

First Post

2008-07-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I want to welcome you to the blog of the best missionary in the world! KEVIN!!! Anyway, I set up the blog for my momma to do monthly missionary updates, and I'll post as well up until the time I go into the MTC. I'm excited to share my mission with ya'll and I hope you enjoy what we put up!!!!