Hawaiian Summer 2010...a drive-by...

Ok, so I'm bad...very bad blogger...

I have so many great pictures and fun stuff we did this summer...and the kids have been in school already, 3 weeks! I should have told you about it by now. But, I've been easing back into routine, albeit a NEW routine for Sabrina's new hybrid charter school, but I'll save that for another post.

So, when we left off, it was actually right before my 40th birthday. I've spent the first part of the year watching friends from school turning 40 one by one...it's a big year...it's a milestone...what wild and exciting way could we celebrate? I thought about doing some fun Hawaiian touristy thing, but really, I've been trying so many amazing, out-of-the-box things for me, that I really couldn't think of something that I was interested in doing. I did go with a friend to a day spa for massages....nice! Turns out, all you need for hot stone massage is some rocks from the yard and one of those BX crockpots we all had in the Kaiserslautern Ward! But, it felt so gooooooooood.

I did have a great friend and her visiting sister-in-law take me to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, YUM!! SUPER YUM!

Then, dinner that night with the family, which is always fun to see how excited the kids get over giving me gifts. I'm so blessed! And after 16 years of marriage, I finally had a homemade cake (that wasn't by my mom!). Sabrina made one all by herself... (Post later about our Cake Boss Marathon). It was super yummy, but after a day of way too much food, I couldn't eat very much. And, I found "over the hill" balloons on my door.

Then, over the weekend, it was Father's Day, so we went to our first Luau at Paradise Cove...I think Dennis had a good time...what do you think?

We continued with our summer outings...getting out and about on the island. One trip up to the north shore to the Laie Temple and Shaved Ice was a fun day. The temple has been closed for renovations the entire year we've been here, but will be opening up in November. I'm looking forward to taking the kids and Dennis through for the Open House before the dedication.

Another week, we went to the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens. It was a lush, green landscape with bright spots of tropical flowers and a short hike ending at a lake full of the most ravenous goldfish...we all brought bread, and even some tortillas, to feed them. I warned McKenna not to turn her back on the frenzy...kinda creepy.

Then, we had an opportunity to watch an aircraft carrier come into Pearl Harbor, the USS Ronald Reagan. Hundreds of people lined the shore on Hickam to watch it come in...pretty cool with all of the aircraft, and the sailors lined up on deck in their whites.

I have also used my "mad skills" and made several batches of freezer jam...thanks to fruit that is overripe when it gets to the island...so only lasts a day or two before needing to cook with it or throw it out.

To wrap up this post, we celebrated 4th of July at Pearl Harbor naval base, next door to ours. Since it was on Sunday, I wanted to stay close and not spend money because of the sabbath. Our church teaches us to uphold our country and be celebratory of our freedoms, so I wanted to try to celebrate in a semi-reverent, family way. We had a good time and enjoyed our down time waiting for dark for the fireworks. I know it's late, but Happy Birthday America! More to come...

He knows me...

A couple of months ago, the kids and I went to visit a dear friend while we were home for my grandmother's funeral. I had a long, sweet conversation about our similar current situations, recent moves prompting changes, etc.

I told her how rough it's been for me to find my groove in our new life. With McKenna in school, I had been having a rough time figuring out what that meant for me, a stay-at-home mom for the past 6 years. I was trying to enjoy the free time in the morning. I was working out 3-4 times a week, but not seeing any wanted results. I was catching up on TV, and feeling pretty blah. I was blog hopping, overwhelmed at the amount of fun stuff out there. I wanted to go to lunch, but had no one to go with. Everything is so expensive here, and I wasn't bringing in any money. I had been thinking about getting a part-time job, but having a hard time working it in without it being hard on my family.

So, this dear friend told me to sit down and really ask for my Heavenly Father to help me to find my way. She told me that if I wanted to find the perfect job, Heavenly Father loved me and would help me.

So, I took her advice...after I returned, I really focused on asking Him to give me what he felt I needed...that I would find a position that would help the family financially, and have the least impact on my family. I applied for a couple of things, struggling to find something during their short school day, and considering all the extra days off for Furlough Fridays.

I then received an email that a position was opening at Sabrina's school in the lunchroom. I thought, "perfect!" It was during the school days, furloughs and holidays off...summer off. I went down the next morning, filled out applications, interviewed, and received a positive sendoff to await a call for fingerprinting as a final step.

Later that week, I hadn't heard anything, so I called and was told they were still collecting applications and would be doing formal interviews the next week...strange...but I was still hopeful. At this point, though, I was starting to really think about the position. It wasn't a lot of money, and it would mean an end to ALL of my free time. The only time I'd be home would be with the kids.

Also, I was realizing what my calling at church is going to require. That week, a friend of mine was in the hospital with complications prior to her delivery. I visited her twice, and watched a couple of her kids overnight when her child was born. I had presidency meetings, and a girl's-only trip to the movies. I had lunch with a new lady in the ward that I was really clicking with. I chaperoned a field trip for Hayden. I had lunch with Dennis. I was busy. I was fulfilled. And, I was enjoying myself. I started to understand that I would lose all of that for a minimal amount of money.

I was raised to honor commitments, so I struggled with turning down the position. I had interviewed a second time, but was now losing interest. I began to pray to Heavenly Father over the decision to accept the position, even if my heart wasn't in it. By Friday, I had all but decided to tell them I would be unable to do it. Then, Saturday, the letter came that they had selected another applicant. I rejoiced!

Thank you! Thank you for knowing me. For loving me. For helping me see, in a few short days a clearer path. I am now more excited than ever to plan and carry out activities to bring the sisters of our ward together. To be available to visit and help those in need. To be there should my children require me to run their instrument to school, chaperone a field trip, schedule a dental appt. Within a month's time our finances have gotten smoother, and I feel really good about where we are right now.

I believe He will answer our prayers. He loves us. He knows us and our needs...even when we don't. He. Knows. Me.