October brought a memorable trip to Idaho Falls to visit Jared's uncle: Dan and Tam. It was perfectly timed with a special homecoming talk they were hosting, which gave us the wonderful opportunity to see so many members of the extended family gathered in one place.
It was truly a great experience to reconnect with everyone. We spent time catching up on life updates, sharing stories, and seeing all the exciting changes happening within their families. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and full of that special feeling of being surrounded by loved ones. The visit was a heartwarming reminder of the strength of family ties, and we were so grateful for the chance to spend that time together. The high light of my trip there was to meet Bruce Wayne. Batman is real!
Milo and some of his friends before heading out to trick or treating. Really great kids.
An Unexpected Sabbatical Interruption
I recently received what I'm going to call the best calling in our church ward: serving in the Nursery!
To be honest, I was hesitant to take on any new responsibilities right now, as I've been on a self-declared "sabbatical" from callings. However, this one turned out to be the perfect exception. It's only for an hour, and I get to spend that time hanging out with all the sweet, wonderful babies.
It's truly a joy, and a wonderful way to serve without being overwhelmed. Sometimes, the most unexpected callings turn out to be the most rewarding!
East High School Mountain Bike Team.
Mario and his new look. To me, having the hair like that brings the asian features out of him.
For my 41st birthday, I treated myself to a wonderful trip to the Dominican Republic from November 2nd to the 8th. It was seven days of pure bliss! I absolutely cherish that alone time—it's the perfect opportunity to dive into all my personal projects exactly the way I like them, at my own pace.
While there, I also decided to tackle a couple of dental projects: I got my teeth professionally whitened and had the edges refinished with composite resin to achieve a squarer look. Unfortunately, I'm not entirely happy with the final result; they didn't quite achieve the shape I was hoping for. Given my past experience, I think I'll head back to Colombia where I'm confident I can get the perfect, polished finish I'm looking for!
We are having the mildest fall I can remember since moving to Utah.
Mario's First Car
Growing up lower-middle class (more like working class) in a developing country left me with a deep understanding of what it means to face trauma due to a lack of resources. That experience created a dream: to provide my boys with the ultimate comfort and stability. Crossing off milestones like buying a nice car for Mario and ensuring their college tuition is paid isn't just about providing 'gadgets'—it’s about eliminating the worry of scarcity. My dream is to free them from the constant anxiety of 'where will the money come from,' allowing them to thrive. I want them to step into a creative space where they can build amazing things in this world. I'll always be there to help, of course, but I know they have the spark to be anything but mediocre."
We went on another college tour, this time was to the University of Utah. We meet with the people at the school of engineering. Mario wants to be a civil engineer for now.. I always tell them to choose a career that will provide the type of lifestyle they want.
Bear Grylls is aka Bear Grylls Michael Hobbs is one year old. November 18th.
We decided to trade the traditional gathering for sunshine this year and flew to the Dominican Republic to spend Thanksgiving in Boca Chica. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit at this time of year before, and it is truly an amazing experience. The key is the low tourism after the high season, which not only helps to keep prices in check but also ensures the beach is incredibly clean. It’s the perfect, tranquil escape.
Catching up with my Dad
My dad finally swung by the apartment the other day—two years into me having this place. It was a huge moment, because let's be real, our whole thing is complicated.
The visit felt significant, but it's hard to ignore the reality that the older he gets, the more that social filter vanishes. He's become increasingly shameless(or maybe he has always been that way and I never noticed), with that creeping hoarding compulsion adding a layer of genuine mental illness to the mix. Despite all that complexity, his showing up, two years late, still felt like a small, hard-won victory for the connection we do share.
I have a pink kitchen and I love it.
I am a sucker for sunsets
