New Beginings

Here I am after a long hiatus....wish I journaled more often as soooo much has happened since the last time I was on this blog..well, never mind..I suppose I will skip the stories of the last many months, I would be here all day. As you can see, there are the pictures from "then" and "now" 25 years in the making! The bottom picture shows the kids running around the property we are hoping to buy.......5 acres, 1 bed, 1 bath..real fixer...Praying for God's will.

Constant being in prayer as the job situation is tenuous, housing situation the same. God knows our future, we do not...want to do the right thing. I wonder if getting into to so much debt is such a good idea..I think about Sarah (of Abraham fame) who was promised a child in her old age,and when it looked like it wasn't happening, she figured out a way to kind of fulfill it by having Haggar bear a child in her place.

Am I getting ahead of myself by taking on so much debt instead of waiting longer for God to do this outright? eek! I know that it is not a sin to be in debt, but is it wise (personally for me?)

All I can do at this point is ask that God opens and closes all the right doors in spite of all my actions.

We are back to homeschooling after kind of taking it easy this last year..Much funner to spend time at the beach, though I really enjoy teaching a geography class one day a week to homeschooled 1st and 2nd graders....We dive into more learning here at home about the various countries since there is sooooo much to learn...I am also researching some of the missionaries that have made an impact on the different countries.....LOVE the inspirational stories..makes me realize how very BIG God is and how he attends to the detail of our lives.

Got two parakeets for free..don't quite know how the subject came up, but the family had other offers to take them and they didn't feel right about it...then we came along and it was a good fit.

I asked around and a different friend had a cage she gave us, all within a couple of days!! the kids LOVE playing with them. The birds are let out and fly around the house then sit on the kid's fingers. Fun.

Reading "Gifted Hands" by Ben Carson to Levi. He loves to listen how Ben wasn't doing well in school in the 3rd - 4th grade and then how he put effort into learning and how God blessed him and now he is a top-notch surgeon, has done some amazing surgeries separating twins joined at the head......There is hope for Levi yet,and his lack of reading skills! Nothing like reading inspirational biographies.

Laci has also been inspired and now searches me out to help her to learn her math and reading. Then Anthony sees the other kids learning and goes and gets his books, too without any promting. I really do enjoy learning along with the kids..I am VERY BLESSED. It is really hard to be depressed when you have such a wonderful family. (only reason for my temporary depression is physical ailments and struggles)

Robert is constantly working (almost every day) which is nothing new, but does get warying when it goes for long stretches at a time..I am glad not to be him...too much pressure. He does a pretty good job of keeping it all together: family/work but at much sacrifice on his part. I so wish for him a nice vacation...perhaps someday soon:)

Looking for new direction...being here in Maui is a bit like starting over...new friends, new experiences, new location, new furnishings....only this time with a bit more life experience and wisdom (i hope)

Gettin older, but still in the groove

Yesterday I became a Great Auntie!! Hard to imagine my younger brother, Max, as a grandpa. This will take some getting used to.

Had a most awesome day..got up early and headed down to the canoe races, the last of the regatta season. It was also Hawaiian club's 50th anniversary. Started with prayer again, then the kids from that club sang a beautiful song and towards the end of their song a helicopter came and did a flower drop. I love when it rains flowers!!

Kiera came in second in her race. My group of ladies missed first place by an eighth of a second. Had they won they would have gone on to States. I didn't race with them this time but did an unofficial Novice A race. Love being out on that water. Glad to have some more time to paddle before I go back to California. I will be able to squeeze in one more practice on Monday since we leave at night.

After my race, I went home to freshen up and began making flower arrangements. Took what I had ready down to our clubs beach shelter. My novice B gals and I decorated with lights and tiki torches and large ginger/hawaiian flowers. Turned out beautiful....

All paddlers and their families came and the festivities began. Everyone brought food to share and after begining with holding hands and a blessing, we stuffed ourselves. Awards were given out and the usual platitudes said..then the real fun began. Starting from the youngest group to the oldest, skits, cheers, jokes and songs were performed. Some of them quite humorous.

My group did a compilation of songs with the lyrics rewritten to reflect our times paddling. Like "we are novice "B", I've got all my sisters and me" sung to the tune " We are family."
We dressed up like bees. Also sang (to the tune of Rockin Robin) "wake up in the mornin, way before dawn...moaning and a stretching and a movin along....all the little kittens and the chickens in the street, move out of our way as we head toward the beach,,,Rockin novice B....B.....B, Rockin novice...B....B....B

Our older ladies group dressed up in house dresses and some used crutches as they did a routine to some Chihuahua song.. The choreography was funny. At the end the ladies took off their over clothes to reveal dancing clothes and then they really rocked. So fun!! They are all in very good shape..

When the premeditated stuff was finished the dancing began. Amazing how my rib / arthritis problems cleared up as the music began....I had waaaaaay to much fun dancing up on the stage with everyone. I more than kept up the pace with the 20 something year olds. didn't need the alcohol to keep me grovin'. Great to have such a good time and not have a hangover or wake up next to someone I hardly know. It is so possible to live a life that is vibrant and fun and moraly clean.

When most everyone had gone, food put away and decorations taken down, my paddle coach took out the ukelele and sang some songs....great way to end the evening.

A glimpse into this week

It is a sad day when you have to borrow money from your children just so the tooth fairy can come to visit. Time for a second job...like so many other Maui residents...professionals by day, entertainers by night. Spent my last $90.00 on Craig's list finds..A large bookshelf and an oak dresser. Now maybe the clothes will stay off the floor. I always enjoy meeting the people who are selling their things.

The kids attended a sports camp held at our church this week. Laci did cheerleading, Levi did basketball, Kiera = soccer, Anthony participated in the 4/5 "rythmic movement" class, and Tessa helped lead cheer.

On Wednesday, Tessa played hookey from her responsibility at camp to be able to go on a trip to Honokowai Valley with our canoe club. It is a place where our canoe coaches Auntie and late husband started to restore some land back to its native vegetation. For the past 10 years they have slowly been working, along with volunteers, to clear the brush and debris to reveal the site of an ancient community that once lived there.

Before we started the trek down the steep ravine into the valley, an Hawaiian prayer/chant was offered letting the ancestors know why we were there. All of our worries/cares of modern life were to be left at the top of the hill. A group of about 60 of us carefully made our way down and were rewarded with a much cooler temperature.

Large trees provided nice shade as our host explained the names and uses for the various plants and trees about us. Some for medicinal purposes, some to make dyes, others to make hooks to fish with, leis to wear, boats to sail, etc.. We tried the fruit of the noni which tasted a bit like apple. A very ripe one smelled like a pinapple mixed with stinky cheese. Some of the kids were reluctant to try it.

We learned about the kukui tree. If you break the stem from a kukui nut off, the sap which forms can be used to treat cold sores and sore throats. The oil from the plant is used as a laxative. The nuts themselves can be burned, hence the other name for this plant is candlenut. The leaves from this tree can be boiled and used as a poltice for ulcers, swollen joints and headaches. The bark boiled to make a red dye... and many other uses for this tree...God has provided everything we need to live an abundant life..it is up to us to discover his hidden treasures.

After our educational session, our group went to work clearing away dried grass, sticks and pulling weeds. Afterwards, some ti plants were put into the ground and watered.

Lunch was provided for all (I don't know who pays for all this), but I do know that the spirit of Aloha abounds within this family who takes care of this place. (They let me borrow a car for a week, not even knowing me).

The day was ended by a refreshing swim at a nearby beach. Crystal clear water, it was fun to splash around with the kids..A unicorn fish swam by..Oh how I love Maui! I am grateful my children are able to live here.

Aloha=love, compassion, honesty, to give freely without expecting in return. Truly a blessing....may I live up to that standard, with God's help.

Friday's Excursion

Had a great day friday. Started out by driving to Lahina with the kids, it was to be Eden's last day visiting us. Robert stayed behind at home to get some work done.
I was a bit nervous about finding parking as we got off to a rather late start. My fears proved to be unfounded as I found a spot right across from the beach. (I am working on living out the verse "be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.)

The beach where surfing lessons begin has some large shade trees, one not to far from the water in which Anthony loves to climb. Other people enjoy the relief from the sun this tree provides including a mid aged lady in a cowboy hat wearing a bikini top, sarong skirt, swaying to the music of what looked like an old transistor radio. Soon she was joined by a late twenty-something guy, hair buzzed on both sides of his head (looked like he had a fight with the razor and the razor won) teeth partially rotted, drinking something concealed in a paper bag. A casting director would have given him a role in the Pirates of the Carribean. He began a conversation with Tessa and I which was strangely poetic about Alice in Wonderland..

This was a wonderful opportunity (though very sad for him) to show Tess what the mind altering consequences of taking drugs can lead to. I told her that movies, tv, and books can be deceiving because the authors can write the endings however they want. Glamorizing premarital sex, drugs, lying to get what you want, and eating jelly filled doughnuts (ok,ok, just had to throw that one in there) does come back to bite you in the end.
The salon where I have had my hair done is right next to the beach and I needed to make an appointment for myself so I took Tessa and Eden with me (left the other kids playing in the surf). Raphael, a midforties jewish man, slim, tan, french accent, (reminds me of my beloved Newport Beach bachelor, Yugoslavian uncle) had no clients at the moment. I asked him if he could color Eden's hair. Very kindly he agreed. Every girl has to have their hair done by a true french man..makes you feel like a movie star :)

Left Eden in good hands. The kids and I enjoyed the sun and surf and the shade of the trees, along with blurts of conversation with the wacky pirate looking young man. After a great while, I went back to check on Eden....almost done....as I chatted with my hairdresser about family life and such, his friend who is a photographer, (also french..just love those accents) unexpectedly popped in and took some video of him finishing up with Eden, who looked blondly fantabulous!!! Some kind of footage for a promotion of Maui businesses.
Robert was now finished with work and came down with surfboard in tow, but by now Eden was not going to pursue her dream of surfing on this day...Can't mess up a newly done hairdoo!!
We were approached by a well tanned surfer who offered to teach everyone how to surf.... no charge, but IF we wanted to we could give him a donation..he flashed the hang loose hand sign..and Robert took him up on it......Eden and I opted to go shopping....

Strolled into all the little trinkety tourist shops and art galleries when a particular picture of a beach scene with a canoe painted in my teams colors caught my eye..It would match Tess and Kiera's navy and teal room perfectly...I chatted with the two ladies running the shop about all sorts of things....the weather, paddling, art, kids, how business was doing, coming back for a glass of wine :)

When I told one of them that I lived in Makawao, she asked me if I knew a well known Maui watercolor artist who has a shop there...I was a bit embarrased as I could not recall seeing it..(you have to realize Makawao town is only about a block in either direction). We went on to discuss what a wonderful location on the island, weatherwise (and topography) it is. She mentioned that this artist, Sheri Reeve, lived there and proceeded to tell me the directions to her home up on a hill and about the beautiful jacaranda trees around there. Well, I see a most gorgeous tree from my home on that same hill and said so...then Jaqueline (the shop attendant) asked if I rented (of which we do) and asked the name of our landlord......Turns out, Jaqueline is very good friends with my landlord and had just been touring our property the other day (I was not at home), She said "are you the one with the many kids?" I proudly said "YES!!" Apparently my reputation is preceeding me....for the good.

Jaqueline told me the watercolor artist lives right next door to me and I didn't even know it.
And if that isn't a small world enough.....the painting that I picked out from all the others and decided to buy was done by Jaqueline herself. There's nothing like unknowingly complimenting someones artwork to brighten their day. God is good.

Returned to the beach to see some very well baked kids..Could have got a good price for these lobsters..they did have fun learning to surf, though!

Finished off the day by buying Eden a cute strapless pink dress... she reminded me of Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde. Very fun! Sad to see her fly home to CA.

My Powerful God

Grasping the steering wheel of a big yellow truck, (I gotta get me a pink one of these) feeling the power behind it as I drove home from an exhilerating canoe practice, I got to thinking about a conversation I had with my husband. Two very dear people in my life (at one time being very good friends with each other) have gone their seperate ways after having a rift or two between them. My husband remarked that so much hurt was involved that it was probably best/ easier to let "sleeping dogs lie" (my paraphrase).

I began to talk to God out loud in the truck while listening to some good country music. With my voice getting rather loud (to make sure He could hear me over the tunes) I began to challenge the thinking that this relationship would/could not be healed.

From deep within me I prayed for these two, with conviction that it was His will they resolve their differences/hurt. i asked, no actually kind of demanded that healing would be given...after all, I reminded God, either you have the power to change or you really are not God at all.....In faith I believe/KNOW He is able to do more than we could ever imagine. As much sin/hurt that we humans can dish out, God will change us and truly make us like new..nothing is beyond His repair!

I have taken this mind set within my own life/marriage. When people, circumstances, life have become to difficult for me, I go to God and tell Him that I know He can and will work it all out. I am continually amazed to see the ways in which he intervenes. I am still pinching myself when I look around to find that i have had 10 children, been married to the same man for 25 years, have wonderful, colorful friends and family, traveled a bit, and love the life I have been given. So many details that have meaning to me, (not necessarily to anyone else) God has seen to provide in my life to let me know that I am special to him. With all this said......He will heal these two and bring them back into relationship with each other, because THAT IS THE GOD I KNOW!!!
As I cruised to a stop and began praying for someone else special to me, the intensity of the former prayer subsided and it was just your regular, average kind, I wondered where the deep soul felt feeling had gone...was that God's holy spirit rising up in me because "now was the time"?
We will see......
Now if I only had this same conviction of God's power in the area of my weight....bring on the chocolate..jk:)

Gatherings

Today I recieved a phone call from our paddling coach informing us of an activity going on for the kids (we missed the anouncement yesterday at practice since we never showed up due to the roads being blocked because of a brush fire).

This afternoon, we, along with all the twelve and under group, painted black tee-shirts with our team colors. This coming saturday our entire club is supposed to show up dressed in yellow, red, and green. It was a great opportunity to do something productive and fun and gave us the chance to chat.

The wind was blowing quite a bit which made for some interesting designs as the wet painted shirts started flopping over on themselves...Just by chance, I had grabbed a box of paints, brushes and such before leaving home and it had a roll of masking tape in it. I was glad to be able to share it with everyone so we could tape our shirts to the picnic tables and paint a little more free from hazard. One kid asked to borrow it from me, calling me Auntie...I love it!! Makes me feel like one of the family:)

While chatting with coach Sharon, I learned that upon her parent's return from Europe yesterday, they found one of their cars gone. (they filed a police report) I was greatful that it wasn't the one I had borrowed from them as I had left the keys in it when I returned it a few days ago. EEEEK, they might have thought I had crashed it or something. I am still amazed that I was able to use it while they were on vacation as they have never met me. (Yes, I did return it clean and with a full tank of gas)
God has provided for us through the generosity of many others..We are (actually I am..the kids are too young to drive) now driving a friend's truck until my car arrives from the mainland on friday. I will be picking up the old car I bought for Eden on the island this sunday...just in time for her arrival on monday.....I am soooo excited that she will be with us for 11 days. I plan to take her paddling and hope she will get hooked and want to stay.

I am resisting the strong urge to do the dishes I see still piled up at the sink...Levi was supposed to do them before retiring to bed. I was tired and went to bed earlier than some of the kids and left him to do them. He is asleep on the couch...I will have to give him some more practice at being obedient....hmmmm...dishes for the week?



Looking forward to Robert coming home in a few days...I don't get this hassle when he is around...Why is that? I do think that God knew that kids need both a mom and a dad.......I am sorry for the families that are missing that. I hope to be an encouragement to couples that are struggling in their marriage...Robert and I have had our share of challenges and i am happy to report that God has been sooooo good to us and has matured us (and will keep doing so) and we will keep growing deeper in love as time progresses. (being in Maui dosen't hurt..beautiful sunsets, warm breezes, sparkling oceans)......We will be celebrating 25 years of this in August on the 3rd. Newport Dunes will be our place of gathering (Aug. 8) with friends and family to commemorate our anniversary.....Save the date!!

Dreaming Away

"On the summer solstice.....whatever is dreamed on this night will come to pass."- William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I will be dreaming away....... the property I would like to aquire in Maui...113 acres ...cane fields now...tomorrow - a white chapel in memory of Caleb and beautiful gardens where anyone can come pray 24/7 and seek God's truth............Large house for us (to be able to accomodate future grandkids) , one home for each of our children, horses, a cow, sheep, goats, chickens, organic garden with lots of fruit trees, palm trees, traditional hawaiian thatched roof open dwellings.

Scripture inscribed on large stones everywhere.(done by me, of course) A huge sand box for building sand castles with a sign saying "A foolish man builds his house upon the sand" Then right next to it a HUGE rock structure for climbing on with a sign posted " The wise man builds his house upon the rock" Think the kids will get the picture??

Foe now I will dream....Good Night

And There Off.....

Yesterday we went to a regatta. We have to leave the house early in order to get a good parking spot. Once there we set up our chairs as this is an all day affair.
The different divisions in our club take turns bringing breakfast and lunch for everyone within our group. I always bring our own food to ensure that the kids have something healthy to eat.

The races open with an official starting the day with prayer. The first time I heard this I was so excited. To acknowledge God is so rare these days that it took me by surprise. I expect it when we are at church functions but not in a public venue.
The maninis (kids 10 and under) begin the races paddling, but their race doesn't get timed or really count for anything. Next, the 12 year old groups do a quarter mile race. Many families stay all day since the kids race early and then later on the moms and dads participate in the adult divisions.

It really is family friendly with much fellowship - kids swimming in the water as the races are underway, building sandcastles, raiding the food tables (sneaking way to many cookies), parents catching up on whats going on in each others lives and of course lots of cheering on our teams.

The hosting club sells home cooked food, and has a silent auction and raffle to raise money to support itself. Last regatta I won a brunch for two at a nice hotel....Looking forward to Robert coming back so we can use it.

I haven't learned how to place pictures and such, so this will have to do for now until I can read up on how to do the technical stuff. Tessa and Kiera are in the boat in the big pic, and our awesome coach is in the other. She always is dressed in some kind of Hawaiian garb. She really is the spirit of Aloha. Love it!

Pressing On

I am pressing on in faith. On the outside things don't look so good. Supporting two households is not cheap. Moneys running dry with no funding as of yet to be able to stay where we are, but I truly believe God wants us here in Maui.

I keep making decisions as if we are going to remain here, waiting on the Lord to provide for our needs. I was getting anxious as Robert was describing what the near future looks like. After getting off the phone with him, it took me a few minutes to realize I had nothing to fear as I know that God is directing all of our steps and He will guide us as to where He wants us to be. I am able to rest in peace (no, not the six feet under kind) believing He will take care of me.

Went to hang a board on the wall in the kitchen, but found out the wall is concrete and I couldn't get any screws in. Even though I really wanted it there, I put it on the adjoining wall which was just drywall. Just did not look right, so I did not give up and went to the hardware store and got a masonry drill bit which did the trick. The right tools make all the difference (well the bit was a bit too big but I fixed the too large holes with a little calking I found laying around.)

Now I have what I want - love the organized feeling of being able to see the white board...took some persistence but the reward was worth it.

Moving forward..anticipating great things tomorrow. (Saturday)

The picture is Makena Beach, one of our frequent places to snorkel.

Blessings from Craig's List

Sometimes it can be quite fun to be poor. Decisions are made for you as there are less options. Creativity kicks in and it is so much easier to deny the kids things they really should not have (ie. treats and stuff that they will lose interest in or break)

Having to start from scratch in setting up our household has been an adventure. Arriving in Maui with just one carry-on piece of luggage for me and five of the kids (Robert had a little more as he had to work at the top of the mountain) thinking that we would only be here for six weeks, we were not prepared to camp out for as long as we now have.

When we lost the small place that Robert had secured for five weeks, we literally drove off not knowing where we were going to stay. We managed to find a room at a lodge for a night then some friends from church let me and the kids stay with them for a night. Then I recieved a call from a response I gave to an add I saw on Craig's List. The place turned out to be more than I had hoped for with a pool on the premises, all for less than an average hotel stay.

The gal that managed the place and shares a wall of the home we are at, has turned out to be one of the biggest blessings since we arrived. Anat is single mom of a 3yr old boy, Oliver, who has become fast friends with Anthony (4). The house was completely unfurnished but within an hour of moving in, Anat had found a mattress for sale on Craig's List and asked me if I would be interested in getting it. She jumped in the car with me and off we went...the first in a long line of things bought on Craig's List.

I have learned more about navigating around the island than I would have if I could have ordered everything from a store. I have met a variety of people selling household goods. Standing in line in Wal-mart one day, I heard a male voice from behind me asking how I was liking my mattress...but they way he phrased it sounded a little like I could have been a hooker..(I had bought one from him a week before) We both laughed. I ran into him again later at the docks, when I realised why he had looked so familiar when i had first bought that mattress...He was the captain of the boat we had gone whale watching on....Learned that Maui really is a small island.....My paddling buddy, Michelle (28) said this can be a blessing and a curse...everyone knows what you have been up to unless you travel to the complete other side of the island...(turns out she works on the same boat as the mattress guy)

I have had plenty of experiences with mattress buying this way, as we now have obtained 9 of them (plus one sleeper couch). One time Tessa and I went to go look at one way out in the middle of no where....long dirt roads, big trees, houses tucked away here and there, in the dark........our destination - a place not lit except one light in a far back window. The older looking suffer dude met us with a flashlight since he said there was no light in the large garage where the mattress was stored. I was apprehensive to go to far in to take a good look....thoughts of horror film images passed through my mind and I don't even watch them ever! I quickly told him I would take it even though I couldn't really see its condition all that well. Got it loaded, and tried to get out of there fast, car slipping a bit on the steep road I had parked on, hoping it wouldn't roll down the embankment. Thankful that Tessa had come with me, less chance that i could have been that guys dinner. (he was hurting for money and was going to use my cash to get some food).

Got lost trying to get out of there, no street signs, just red dirt roads and jungle terrain. Tried to retrace my steps but every tree/vine looked the same....finally met up with one lone car coming in the other direction and was directed to the main highway. As we were headed home, I saw a white van just like the one at the creepy house we had left and imagined that it was this guy trying to catch up with us... Tessa and I had a good laugh once we found that it was somebody else..... Of course, I wasn't really scared, it was fun to pretend though....I really do believe that God has me in the palm of his hands and even if no one else knows my name or where I am, He DOES!!

Most all my other encounters have been very positive...conversations that i know have blessed those I have talked with...being an encouragement and the kids have been a part of becoming friends with the people we have met. On the anniversary of my sons death I got a call from my mom just as I was picking up another mattress. The seller overheard some of my conversation which then lead into her telling me about her life and all the deaths that have been close to her. God inspired timing and talk.

My most recent mattress pick up was really when I was looking for a sewing machine and the family gave me two beds for free. Every thing I got from them they gave me for cheap...They could hardly afford anything, yet they seemed so happy. She was a young hawaiian mom (I am old enough to be her mother) of four small children (oldest is 5)....running around barefoot in the yard, rather dirty making fishing poles out of sticks. (Anthony had fun playing with them) The dad was a mainlander from Utah, tatooed, with beautiful eyes. He took several of the kids with him on a quick trip to the store while I was there. They said that they have never left their kids with anyone but with themselves. Never a date alone, but that is the way they like it. When they found out how many kids we have, that led into all sorts of conversation from homeschooling to raising kids, staying faithful in marriage, to having chickens to morals and values...They are leaving the island to care for his mom in Utah.. Refreshing to see a family that isn't dazzled with trinkets, but has love for each other and spends lots of time being together........I am going to be buying their old doggy smelling, beat up car to toodle around in....I think it's fun to run around in a jaloppy. I am fortunate, though, as this really is a temporary lifestyle for me...... I hope to be as Paul says...able to abound in much or little, being content with what i have.......

Now I am going to get away from this computer and drink in the beautiful Hawaiian sunset, pink clouds, soft breeze...Very much missing Robert to be able to share it with..can't wait until he returns from CA in two weeks.

Broadening my horizons

I am doing something I never thought I would, in fact I said that I would never Blog. But, life (God directing) has a way of taking you to places you never e-magined (imagined) you would go.

I have enjoyed my journey thus far with all its mountain top and valley experiences and am pleased to say that I don't regret much of what I have chosen to do, and can honestly say that I have never wanted to be anyone other than myself...even through the hard times.

God has always been the love of my life and can not fathom a life devoid of a relationship with Him. With all that said, I will attempt to share my thoughts and persective of what I experience. I am a beginner at blogging so the technical side of things may be a bit embryonic for now...but as with all things this too will mature.