We drove up to Provo, Utah through Page, Arizona. It had been a long time since we drove that route and Tim didn't remember it. It was so beautiful! There were storm clouds around and the lighting was amazing, especially at Lake Powell! It looked like something out of fantasy book.
As we got nearer to Kanab, Utah, we enjoyed the beautiful red rocks and mountains there. As the sign says, "Kanab Utah, The Most Beautiful Earth on Show!" It really was gorgeous!
Pit stop!
We arrived late to the Lyon's house and went right to bed. We were tired after a long day driving and a late start that morning as Tim finished packing and putting away his things for 2 years. Also, with more goodbyes and such.
The next morning, Tuesday, we got up and ran a few errands. Then we grabbed some lunch at Panda Express. Tim got a great fortune! "Your hard work is about to pay off in an impactful way." That's for sure!
After lunch, we went to the Provo City Center Temple to do sealings with Tim. He had never done them before. We were able to seal one of my ancestral families, for time and all eternity. Now they can be a forever family!
The temple is gorgeous! The inside has beautiful wooden paneling and an incredible wooden staircase and the art is stunning as well.
After the temple we split up for a little while. Rich and Tim went to the library so Tim could finish transferring some of his favorite notes and quotes that he had on his phone to his journal to take with him on his mission, and I went to Deseret Industries (a favorite second hand store) to look at books and such.
For dinner we met with our friends the Mendenhalls at Joe Vera's Mexican Restaurant. Sadly, Cory was not able to come because of his grandmother's failing health and Nicholas had football practice, but we still had a marvelous dinner with the Mendenhall girls. We love them!
We forgot to take a picture so I stole this one of their family from Facebook.
Aprel, Mallory, Nicholas, Miranda, Cory and Leah Mendenhall
After dinner, we went to Frame Works at Orem Mall and enjoyed all the stunning art! We especially loved the Yongsung Kim paintings. His art was introduced to us by the Mendenhalls, who sent us over there to see it in person. They had several originals! We decided to buy a book of some of his art and the kind man that was working there gave it to us for free as well as some prints by Liz Lemon Swindle for Tim to take and share with the missionaries at the MTC. We had told him that since Yongsung Kim is a Korean artist, it especially interested us because that was where Tim was going to serve. I think he was just touch by Tim's excitement to serve. It was so sweet!!!
Wednesday morning, Tim said his goodbyes to the Lyons. They are always such great hosts and tend to spoil us a little with yummy foods and their company.
Shari and Tim
Isaac and Tim
Alex, Tim, Howard and Belle
Before we left the Lyon's to take Tim to the MTC, I walked into Howard's art studio just to see what he was working on that morning, and he was talking with a man about a project they were working on together. Howard introduced me to Isaac Stewart and we talked for a few minutes. I didn't realize at first that he is Brandon Sanderson's (our family's FAVORITE author) art director. He asked how long we would be in town and I told him we were leaving in the morning. He asked if he could come back by later that evening to give us a tour of Brandon's headquarters, the Cosmere House. We said yes, of course. I couldn't believe it!
Tim called Sara one last time before going to the MTC (only 2 skype calls per year after that, Mother's Day and Christmas and emails once a week). She was with his best friend Brandon Mounteer so he got to talk to him one last time too.
We pulled over at a church to take our last pictures together since the drop off process is really fast.
Gosh, how I love these guys!
This one melts my heart!
He's my sweet Timmy Willy. I will miss those hugs!
He makes my heart smile!
Here we are under the new MTC building at the drop off. One last goodbye picture and he was off on his 2 year adventure with the Lord and the Koreans.
There was no sadness, how could we be sad when he was SOOO excited. Of course we have a huge hole in our home without him there, but I wouldn't trade anything for the experiences he will be having and sharing with our family for the next 2 years.
God be with you, Elder Alger!
Richard and I celebrated Tim by going out to Thai food for lunch. It had to be done. Thai food is my one weakness. Hee hee!
We went back to Frame Works and bought a few Yongsung Kim pieces for our home.
He Leadeth Me
Hand of God
The Shepherd's Path
When we got back to the Lyon's we took a short nap before Isaac Stewart came and got us for our tour.
The house was incredible! They are still working on it, but each room has a theme from one of the books or series. and there were 3 Tardis doors around the house, just because everyone needs a little Doctor Who in their lives.
Isaac showed us some of the maps he is working on. This one has a wooden plate that he made for press printing the maps to give it an old world feeling.
He has done lots of fantasy art for several different authors. It was pretty awesome to see.
The whole house was amazing with beautiful art from the different books.
We got to go into the basement warehouse and see all the books in many, many different languages. Isaac was a great tour guide and is a really great guy.
This Tardis door is an elevator.
He loaded us up with all sorts of books and fan stuff and then sent us back up stairs in the elevator.
It was pretty cool!
I did snap a few really quick pictures before we left, but they are terrible at portraying how beautiful the rooms were.
This is the Elantris guest room.
This is the Emperor's Soul office. Again the combo of bad lighting and my phone camera, did not do justice to how pretty these rooms actually are.
He gave us two books in Korean for Tim, a couple in Spanish for Victor and a couple in English for our family, plus a map, stickers and super cool collectors pins.
The prize of the day was the 10 anniversary, leather bound, numbered and signed copy of Mistborn. It is beautiful and has tons of gorgeous art in it!
Thursday morning, while having breakfast with the Howard and Shari in the kitchen, we were talking about their up coming art shows. They told me about a $100 show they do, everything sold there is $100 to make it easier for people to own original art. I told them how cool that was and what a dream it would be to own an original piece. We went on talking and a few minutes later Howard gave me this original piece he did of Sara as a live portrait study from last summer! I was moved to tears. He is such a sweet generous man, with incredible talent.
He also gave us a Brandon Sanderson book that he did the cover art for signed by both him and Brandon Sanderson!
I cannot believe all the wonderful adventures we had on this trip and the kindness and generosity we were shown. And this was on top of all the sweet moments we had with Tim during his last few days with us. We had a wonderful drive home together and were greeted with lots of love and kisses. It was all like a dream!
