La Gran Aventura Day 74: Faith

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Youth activities last night were a success. They all got together and had a massive game of volleyball. We’ve got so many youth right now. It’s awesome. And they seem to be doing so well. I’m really happy for them. Ian’s group of friends are such a welcome addition to the young men.

I got the battery replaced in the KIA, and it runs great. We should probably find someone who can drive it around for us while we are gone. That would be a blessing. The same for the Sequoia.

Today I plan to just keep working through things. There is so much to do between now and when we leave. I need to just stay focused and keep moving down the list.

BYU had a big win over Baylor on Tuesday, and this morning I listened to Mark Pope’s postgame stuff. It was inspiring. He talked about Come, Follow Me, and how the Lord is teaching Lehi and his family about the difference between doing something and becoming something. He also talked about faith. I want to have more of it. More faith and more confidence.

Betty is terrified of this trip to Europe. I’m trying to help her, but she is really having a tough time with it.

La Gran Aventura Day 73: It’s good to be back

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

This morning I took Kimball on a little run with me. Betty is totally exhausted. I’ve decided that I need to write for myself in these journals, and maybe just use any highlights I have for public consumption. It’s too much for me to write a big entry for the whole world. I’m basically a month behind at this point.

The KIA battery is dead, so I’ll have to work on that.

The kids were super excited to attend seminary in the morning. Crystal and Ashley were so happy to see us. I was really looking forward to getting into my office to work, and now I’m finally here -- after conversation table.

Betty and I had a good talk last night. She's worried she just might not have the physical stamina to walk to Santiago. I think she can.

I also need to get classes sorted for the fall. I’m just going to keep moving forward with it. It’s all I can do.

And I’m looking forward to attending youth activities this evening.

Update:

Youth activities were super fun. It was great to be back in the ward. It feels like just where we belong. I’m so grateful for this little hiatus in our journey. We need to recharge our batteries a bit before this next really amazing but really tough stretch.

La Gran Aventura Day 72: North Platte to Jonesville

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

We made it home!

It was a long drive, but it didn’t feel terrible. I had good audiobooks -- including Brainstorm (which I finished) and Rhythm of War (which I also finished). The hardest part is that Betty is really freaking out about the trip to Europe. She and I had a long talk when we got back, and I think she is going to start feeling better. It was tough for her to be staying in other peoples’ homes for so long. We really need to address that and how to help her get on stronger emotional footing. We need to all learn to communicate better. I feel so driven to do this trip, but we’ve got to do it in a way that helps build our family.

La Gran Aventura Day 71: Orem to North Platte

Monday, February 19, 2024

This morning we packed in record time. It was great. Unfortunately, Betty had quite an upset stomach and just wasn’t feeling great. I think she’s just exhausted and stressed. It all kind of boiled over towards the end of the day in a pretty spectacular blowup just a few minutes outside of North Platte. I had spent most of the day listening to the book Brainstorm, which is all about how to work with adolescents. We broke all the rules. We just need to figure out how to communicate. We have had so many awesome days and great experiences on this trip, but today we are all out of sorts.

Thankfully, we made it to North Platte, and we are going to get a good rest. I hope tomorrow can be better. If we can’t get this figured out, I’m not sure we will be able to continue this trip.

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La Gran Aventura Day 70: The Perfect Sunset

Monday, February 18, 2024

This morning I’m looking at my list and realizing that I’ve got a bunch of things to take care of today. I’ll just do my best with them. It’s our last day in Utah. That makes me a bit sad. It’s been a good visit here.

We went to church at the Lakeridge Spanish ward again. The kids wouldn’t hear of going anywhere else. Then we went to America’s house for dinner. She and Betty have been friends since our Cedar City days. America dyed Betty’s hair, and she looks great!

We had to leave America’s house in a hurry, because we had to get to Annie’s house for dessert. But the light on the mountains, oh that light! I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen. It was exactly the conditions I had been waiting for during our entire time in Utah. Thankfully, I knew right where to go to get the photo I wanted.

America lives in Spanish Fork, so we headed back towards Orem, and I pulled off on Center Street, racing all the time against the sun. Thankfully, miraculously, I made it to the spot I had scouted out that first Saturday here. Right on the road that connects Lakeview Drive and Utah Lake State Park. I was kicking myself for not having my big camera, but I think the pictures I got with my phone will be great. It is a picture I will always cherish with the pink of the sky over Timpanogos and reflected on the marshy water.

It was nice to have one last goodbye with Lamon’s and Annie’s families before we hit the road again. This time to Anna-Lisa and Juan Carlos’s house. They have been our friends since the MA at BYU. Anna-Lisa works at BYU now, and she and JC are just awesome. They spent time in Europe with their kids not long ago, and they really gave us a shot in the arm.

Tonight we realized that it’s really late, and we just aren’t ready to hit the road as early as we had hoped tomorrow. Betty is feeling frustrated, and she and I decided to just rest tomorrow so we can leave really early on Tuesday. But the kids didn’t like this idea. Mom stepped in and encouraged us to leave in the morning, but I'm not sure that's best. Everyone just needs to get some rest, and we will do our best tomorrow.

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La Gran Aventura Day 69: BYU Museum of Art, Rec Center, Provo Temple

Saturday, February 17, 2024

This morning Betty and I split up because her friends were doing a big get-together up north, and we had stuff going on down here.

I went and took the kids to BYU to look at the museum exhibition. It was awesome. They have works by El Greco, Goya, Fortuny, Rossinyol, and my all-time favorite: Velazquez. It was a good intro to Spanish culture. The kids will definitely get much more.

Then we went and got ice cream at the creamery, and then we headed to Lamon’s to watch BYU get trounced by Oklahoma State. That was super sad. But the homemade pizza was awesome. And the company was the best.

I ran a couple of errands and then brought the kids to the Provo rec center. They have been dying to come here since we got to Utah, and they are having a great time. River spent the whole time on a little kitty area just having a time of her life on the slides. Ian is living his best life, jumping off the cliff and climbing on the Rockwall and going down the slides. The girls are challenging themselves, and even Kimball is having fun. He played basketball and he’s shooting water guns and everybody’s just having so much fun and on ear pushing themselves to do fun things and everybody’s having a great time.

Update:

I left the kids at the pool, and I rushed over to get some photos of the Provo Temple. I haven’t processed them yet, but I think I caught the blue hour. Hopefully they will be good.

In the night Ian, Kimball, Dad, River, and I watched Jurassic Park. Ian absolutely LOVED it! It’s the perfect film for the age he is at. I thought his head was going to explode.

Betty spent the night with her friends up north because it was too late for her to drive home. I think she had a really good time. I feel bad about not being there with her, but the kids and I had a great day down here. But still, I just enjoy life better when I get to share it with Betty.

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La Gran Aventura Day 68: The Bybee’s

Friday, February 16, 2024

Last night I was up really late watching Seven Samurai and Magnificent Seven. Today has been a pretty good day. I went to BYU and visited with Rex for a bit. Then I got Jim Condon a BYU hat for golfing, and I saw BYU’s amazing exhibit on Spain and the Hispanic World, which included paintings by El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, and others. It was amazing.

After that I had lunch with Andrew and Dustin Bybee. They have been such good friends for so many years. I’m so grateful for them. Dustin is training for the Boston Marathon. And Andrew was so kind. Their whole family is amazing, and apparently they all live super close to each other in Highland. When we said goodbye they told me to be strong and be patient. It think it’s good advice.

I just got out of recording episode number 500 of The Protagonist Podcast with Joe and Andrew Darowski. They have also been such amazing friends for so long. We talked about those two films I watched last night. We had a great discussion. The more I study Kurosawa the more impressed I am with his skill. It’s unmatched.

I’m not sure what is on the docket for tonight. Should be good :)

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La Gran Aventura Day 67: Melancholy

Thursday, February 15, 2024

This morning Betty is feeling yucky in her tummy. Dinner last night did not sit well with her at all.

Today I’m going to lunch with my friends from the mission: Redd, Martin, and others. I think it will be a lot of fun.

Evening update:

Lunch was amazing. Red and Martin were so great. And it’s good to know that we are still brothers in Christ.

But the rest of the evening I’ve just been kind of in a mood. Some days I just feel melancholy.

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