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Lagos teacher shares her story in children’s book

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Glendale Star Staff Writer

As a teacher at Kyrene de los Lagos Dual Language Academy in Ahwatukee, Diane Mylod shares the motto: “The power of two languages. The power of two worlds.”

So, it is only natural that the Glendale native, who has lived in Ahwatukee for five years, chose to write a children’s book for her first foray into the world of authors, and penned Spanish and English versions.

A three-year veteran at Kyrene who is in her ninth year of teaching, Mylod has published “The Avocado Tree” — a semi-autobiographical book that is as rich in personal history, as it is an introduction for little kids to lessons that will help them throughout their life.

“It is a book about my father, his avocado tree and my avocado tree,” Mylod explained. “One tree is in Glendale and the other is in Ahwatukee. It is a true story about life, grieving, prosperity and life’s purpose.”

Her dad passed away five years ago, and she wrote it on his birthday, Sept. 15, last year.

She released the book on that same date, on what would have been her father’s 75th birthday.

Executing the book was a collaborative affair that pulled in her husband and sister-in-law as well as a colleague from Lagos Academy.

Her husband Shayne Mylod and her Spanish teammate at Lagos, Andrea Perusquia, helped with the editing.

And while her sister-in-law, Moriah Mylod-Daggett, also helped to edit, she had the big job of illustrating it.

She said she and Moriah “took quite some time deciding what type of illustrations we were going to use — and it is another thing that makes this book very special.”

“Each is unique and hand-painted with watercolors and based on real images,” Diane continued. “Moriah painted the images in expressionism to convey the vibrancy of emotions, thoughts and sensations behind the words that surround this heartfelt story of life legacy.”

Moriah and Diane had known each other growing up in Glendale.

“I was drawn to her art and personality,” Diane said. “She now lives in Jersey and teaches art therapy, helps veterans in her community and is a yoga instructor.”

It was only a matter of time that Diane also met Moriah’s brother, whom she

Lagos Dual Language Academy teacher Diane Mylod says her first children’s book, “The Avocado Tree,” is as much about her life as it is about life in general. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

SEE LAGOS PAGE 22

LAGOS FROM PAGE 21 calls “my high school sweetheart.”

“We met at Glendale High School and have been together for 20 years and married for 11,” Diane said. They have two sons, Justus, 10, and Roland, 6.

David also coaches for the Ahwatukee Little League and has been its vice president of operations — a position he is leaving because his coaching responsibilities are increasing.

The daughter of Guerrero, Mexico, natives who moved to Glendale in 1980, five years before she was born, Diane is one of eight children.

“My mother never learned English, and my father worked hard to become a U.S. citizen and have his own ‘farm’ in our Glendale home,” she said. When she graduated from ASU, Diane taught for six years at the Glendale school she attended as a little girl, and taught English for a year in 2016 in a refugee program for students from Syria, Iraq and Mexico.

All that experience has been poured into “The Avocado Tree” — a reason, she said, “Although the book is a children’s book, everyone should read it as it will touch the hearts of many. … I believe this book will help many people with rediscovering meaning and life’s purpose.” Meanwhile, she is working on a second children’s book that Perusquia will illustrate.

“She was an art teacher before she became a Spanish teacher and has a very special Spanish style to her art,” Diane said.

And she’s also started a young adult book.

“That book will be about growing up in the ’90s and diversity,” she explained. “It is about creating yourself in a world where everyone can feel different and where there can be misunderstandings about cultures.”

And she added, “That one is going to take a lot more time.”

“The Avocado Tree” can be purchased on amazon.com or ingramspark.com.

WINELAND FROM PAGE 20 consistent reach on Facebook that frequently surpasses the 1 million mark.

Wineland is looking forward to playing for some of those fans in Glendale and Phoenix. On Saturday, Nov. 6, she’ll hit the Ak-Chin Pavilion stage in Phoenix with Big & Rich, Aaron Lewis and Eddie Montgomery for “A Salute to American Veterans.”

“I grew up watching so many of those artists,” she said. “It’s so exciting to play with them. It’s a bucket list thing for me. It was exciting to have these sorts of shows on the books, too.”

At both shows, Wineland will perform unreleased tracks as well as “Drive Me to Drink,” which was co-written by Bryan Kuban of Mesa.

“I really wanted it to be a saloon Western, one of those spaghetti Western type of feel to it. It’s a song where if you walked into a saloon, it would be something you would hear.

“I’m just excited to play Glendale. It’s in my backyard, so to speak. It’ll be nice to see my friends and family and a bunch of people who I’ve never met before. Please, come out and support live music. That’s the moral and the goal.”

Ashley Wineland

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 WHERE: Murphy Park, at 58th and Glendale avenues, Glendale COST: Free INFO: https://bit.ly/ WinelandMurphyPark

Big & Rich, Aaron Lewis, Eddie Montgomery and Ashley Wineland as part of “A Salute to American Veterans”

WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 WHERE: Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Avenue, Phoenix COST: $44 INFO: livenation.com

Hunkapi Farms “Open Your Hearts Gala” with Ashley Wineland

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 WHERE: Hunkapi Farms, 12051 N. 96th Street, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $250 INFO: 480-393-0870, hunkapi.org/gala

For more religion visit glendalestar.com

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One of my challenges as a speaker and writer is that some people think I’m an expert.

Like me, many experts have more degrees than a thermometer in one area, but that doesn’t make us experts in everything. It’s easy for experts to believe their press. As a result, experts feel they have an excellent plan for our lives. However, many experts became “ex-spurts” after the whole truth became known. Consider this story.

Once upon a time, a sheepherder was tending his sheep at the edge of a country road in rural Wyoming. A brandnew Land Rover screeched to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man, dressed in a costly suit and tie, designer shoes, Gucci sunglasses and a Rolex wristwatch, jumped out and asked the herder, “If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?” The herder looked at the young man, then looked at the sprawling herd of grazing sheep and said, “OK.”

The young man parked his vehicle, connected his notebook and wireless modem, entered a NASA site, and scanned the ground using satellite imagery and a GPS. He opened a database and 60 Excel tables fi lled with algorithms, then printed a 150-page report on his high-tech mini printer. Finally, he turned to the herder and said, “You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.” The herder answered, “Say, you’re right. Pick out a sheep.” The young man took one of the animals and put it in the back of his Jeep.

As he was preparing to drive away, the herder looked at him and asked, “Now, if I guess your profession, will

We let the dog out one I feed the most.” Look at the title of this article again. Notice I started with two dog ideas. Now comes the third dog concept of this artiCHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION cle. Remember the song that asks, “Who let the dogs out?” I agree with the Native American elder. We let the dog out of us that we have fed the most. Pastor Ed Delph But it affects us and others also, conGlendale Star structively or destructively. Columnist And many powerful voices are trying to infl uence you to feed the destructive you pay me back in kind?” “Sure!” dog inside of you. A wise man once the young man answered. “You’re a said, “Be careful who you let on your consultant.” “Exactly! How did you ship, because some people will sink know?” the young man asked. “Very the whole ship just because they can’t simple. First, you came here without be the captain.” Ralph Waldo Emerson being invited. Second, you charged said, “Let me never fall into the vulgar me a fee to tell me something I already mistake of dreaming that I am perseknew. Third, you do not understand cuted (mean dog) whenever I am conanything about my business, and I’d tradicted.” Choose to be teachable, not really like to have my dog back.” offended. The good dog in you chews Notice the herder wasn’t impressed by up the meat and spits out the bones. the “give ’em the old razzle-dazzle” ap- Accept that you have some toxic traits, proach of the geeky, affl uent “expert.” too. It’s not always the other person. Why? He knew with fl ashy consultants Would you like some calm in the more is said than done. The herder de- chaos? Start feeding the good dog. pended on his “thinker” rather than his Someone once said, “I’m not interest“feeler.” The excellent presentation didn’t ed in whether the glass is half empty or spellbind him, because it was an excel- half full. I’m interested in fi guring out lent presentation. Just because something how to fi ll the glass.” I like that. You looks cool doesn’t mean it’s true. glow differently when you have good Charles Spurgeon said, “Discern- people with honorable, truthful and ment is not knowing the difference be- good intentions in your life. tween right and wrong. Discernment is The mean dog says everything is knowing the difference between right canceled. Not true! Sunshine is not and almost right.” canceled. Spring is not canceled. Love A Native American elder once de- is not canceled. Relationships are not scribed his inner struggles about what canceled. Reading is not canceled. he sees and feels going around him in Naps are not canceled. Devotion is not this manner: “Inside of me there are canceled. Music is not canceled. Danctwo dogs. One of the dogs is mean and ing is not canceled. Imagination is not evil. The other dog is good. The mean canceled. Kindness is not canceled. dog fi ghts the good dog all the time.” Conversations are not canceled. Hope When asked which dog wins, he re- is not canceled. Truth is not canceled. fl ected for a moment and replied, “The Don’t let the cancel culture, FOMO or social media madness cancel the good dog in you.

Think of this. Your terrible job is the dream of almost every unemployed. Your house is the dream of nearly every homeless. Your smile is the dream of practically every depressed. Your health is the dream of almost every chronically ill person. Your lifestyle is the dream of somebody else. So don’t let diffi cult times make you forget your blessings. Don’t think like everyone else. When you operate in your gift, you don’t have to be at the head of the table, for wherever you sit or stand, the table and the room will shift to you.

If you’re not willing to feed the good dog in you, no one can help you. But, if you are eager to learn to feed the good dog in you, nothing and no one can stop you. We let the dog out. It’s our choice. Do you know what that good dog is? It’s God’s nature built into us all. Let God reveal it to you and others. Remember, the giant in front of you is never bigger than the God who lives inside you.

So, learn to discern the next time a “razzle-dazzle” expert comes to you without being invited, telling you something you know is not valid, and get your good dog back.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofi t organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

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