Bellingham

Leavenworth, WA... en route to Bellingham. 

This year I spoke at the Faculty and Staff of Color Conference in Bellingham. Rhonda and I rented a car and made the drive to the western part of the state, stopping in Leavenworth for an ice cream. 

Once in Bellingham, we visited one of our favorite CYT alums, Nick. 

We also stopped in Ellensburgh to visit another CYT alum, Brittany. 

Unknown

Sometimes the road disappears into the unknown. 

Red

Halloween Van Gogh

My daughters and I accompanied my sister to a Halloween-themed Van Gogh and Merlot painting workshop. We didn't get to carve pumpkins this year, so this workshop was the next best thing. I think my daughters had a great experience learning to paint. We will definitely go again. 

Art of Mentoring

Art of Mentoring with Twin Eagles Wilderness School. Great group of people. 

Utah

My family and I recently took a weekend trip to Utah and made some wonderful re-connections with friends and family. 

For our first stop, we attended a reunion dinner in Salt Lake City for Guatemalans living in the area. Obviously, my family is not Guatemalan, but we were invited by my former mission president Julio Alvarado and his wife Blanca. We enjoyed some great Guatemalan food and a re-kindling of old friendships. Brother and Sister Alvarado looked through my mission book and reminisced about old times. 

Rhonda also re-connected with two of her former mission companions. 

We attended the Saturday afternoon session of the LDS General Conference. 

Ironically, my favorite part of conference is the chaotic environment at Temple Square with protesters and counter-protesters each trying to win the other. 

Counter-protesters. 

Inside the Conference Center. 

A family picture in Salt Lake City. 

On Saturday evening, we attended a live performance of South Pacific at the Hale Theater in Orem, Utah. We were invited by actor and performer Dallin Vail Bayles (pictured below).  

Dakota and Dallin Vail Bayles stood together for this picture outside the Hale Theater in Orem. 

Our family stayed with Rhonda's father in a tiny place called Elberta, Utah. He and his wife were service missionaries at a church camp that does re-enactments of the Mormon handcart pioneers. 

Family picture with Ron and Linda. 

Van Gogh and Merlot

My sister invited me to attend a painting workshop that is offered in a variety of locations throughout the area: Van Gogh and Merlot. I love to paint, so I went. The day I attended, we gathered in a hallway outside the Luxe Cafe in downtown Spokane. 

Van Gogh and Merlot requires no special talent for painting. Ulysses, the instructor, provides all the materials, and then using a predetermined reference piece, he leads each participant through a step by step painting process. He demonstrates every aspect of the project, including how to mix paints and how to compose the elements of the painting. All the while, this event offered a glass of wine (or a non-alcoholic substitute) and the enjoyment of creating a project with friends and family. 

For my part, I skipped the Merlot, but I loved the painting.  

Most events cost between $30-$40. My sister has attended multiple events and was given a special Van Gogh and Merlot apron for her participation. 

Ulysses, Michelle, and I. 

A statue inside the Luxe. 

My painting. 

Michelle's painting. 

15

McKenna celebrated her 15th birthday. 

She wanted a family birthday party. 

Homecoming

Dakota and Abbie went to homecoming. 

Don Quijote

During the final Saturday of our trip, we visited the National Theater in Guatemala City and observed a ballet rendition of Don Quijote de la Mancha. My friend Hugo was one of the dancers. I knew Hugo many years ago during the mission, though we were never companions. 

Outside the theater stands a larger-than-life bust of Miguel Angel Asturias, a native Guatemalan who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1967. 

During our visit to the theater, we met my former mission president Julio Alvarado and his wife Blanca. 

We also met Hugo's children. 

Rhonda and Dakota in the theater. 

Hugo. 

Don Quijote. 

Hugo also played the role of a gypsy.