I'll See You Soon...

the last two trips I made to California I visited with a long time friend, Shan.

Shan has been battling breast cancer for 10 years.

A few months ago she was told that there wasn't anymore that could be done.

As I read her FB post, I was so sad...what a waste of a truly good lady.

In March, Shan told me that she had some things she really wanted to do...

attend the Brigham Young Granddaughters luncheon that she did every year

and see her oldest son married.

When I went to see her in June, she again told me about wanting to go to SLC

for Scott's wedding.

I stopped by and saw her a couple of weekends ago.  My darn back had kept me

down long enough.  I knew that her sweet husband Ron was now home full time.

I sat with her for an hour while we talked about our kids, the wedding and

the upcoming reception the next weekend.

We laughed about our trips to Hawaii when the kids were young

and just about so many things.  I could tell that she was getting tired.

I got up and bent to kiss her, I really didn't want to say good-bye...

so I just said "I'll see you soon" and told her how much I loved her.

The following Saturday, instead of a wedding reception we were attending 

her memorial service.

It was sad, but also a time for remembering this really special, sweet spirit.

(thanks Kitty Bingham for remembering to take a photo and for letting me use them)

A few months earlier, I'd been asked to write a letter to Shan and include 

any photos I had for a book the RS sisters were putting together.

I found some from this trip.  Maybe 30 years ago.

We had such a good time.

It was a wonderful service honoring Shan and her grace.

It was a joyous time knowing that she wasn't suffering any longer and was out of pain.

It was a time to see old friends and reminisce about our old Capo Ward and all the years that

had passed.

Shan, until we meet again...

Bathing Beauties and Double Shakka's...

cuzzies are such fun...

the boys spend hours in the pool.  Some of the games they come up with

crack me up.  They can't really explain it to me, but they seem to know

how to play.

these two bathing beauties are something else...

Lauren was so good with Miss Emme.  

Emme tried to do everything that Lauren was doing.

they really had a great time playing together.

the pool seemed to be helping by back (up until yesterday)

so we got in some really good, warm, salt water time without being at the beach.

love these four kiddos

Comfort Food...

a taste of something that taste like home or brings back fond memories.

It's funny how I've seemed to find more of these places when I'm on the mainland.

There's a place in Dana Point, Stacks, that we'd been wanting to try because they

have a big sign in the window that says that they have gluten free pancakes.

I was surprised to see "Portuguese sausage, eggs and rice on the menu.

It was actually very good, not Rolandos, but close.

we took the kids to get some sushi that Lauren was craving the other night and 

they had ahi poke on the menu.

It reminded me of the poke our neighbor, Christine makes in her "poke stack" because

it had avocado in it.  It was also very good.

Lauren found her "comfort food" in the GF pancakes at Stacks.

She said they didn't even taste GF, (not that she would remember what regular

taste like she says).  They were the best, and she'd like to eat there

every day!

It's hard to just walk in somewhere and order pancakes right off the menu,

so this was happiness.

and she ate the whole thing!

A Literal Pain In The...

for the last four days I've been suffering with sciatica.

I had it once before and it's a real pain.  

It felt ok when I went swimming but afterwards didn't think I was going to

be able to get home.

I've been icing it and doing some leg stretches I saw on you tube, hope they help.

I couldn't even sit in the chair to use my lap top.  Arrrrgh!

I've decided I'm getting better.  I'm done with it. 

Yup that's what I've decided.

End Of A Long Journey...

a 3 year journey has come to a happy ending...

Baby Tucker has arrived.

It started 3 years ago with Bri being asked if she would consider being a gestational

carrier for her cousin Perry and his wife.  This was a journey she and Geoff took together.

There were trips back east, countless injections, failed pregnancies, sickness, pain...

but through it all Bri was a "Rock Star".  She continued to be a wonderful wife, loving mom

to two of our grands and a top-notch designer.

There was a "Plan A".  The parents were arriving on Monday, I came on Tuesday (my job

was to watch the grands during the labor/delivery) and the BIG DAY was Wednesday.

Tucker decided he was going to come a day early!

I went directly from the airport to their house, so that I could relieve Bri's sister that had 

been there all day.  

After a longer than planned labor, Tucker was finally here.  

Bri had done it!

She gave the most unselfish gift any one could ever give...

Tucker and his parents soon after his birth

I knew that Bri and Geoff would be protected during this whole process.

I'm still in awe of Bri for her determination and love for her family.  Geoff for standing by

and supporting her during these years.

They're amazing and we love them so much.

Geoff snapped a couple of cute pictures.

just arriving at the hospital...                                      leaving the next day and heading out for some             

                                                                                   poke that she hadn't been able to have!

The greatest gift was delivered!

Iselle and Julio, Isolated...

the Hawai'ian Islands are the most isolated group of islands in the 

world.  In a lot of ways this is a good thing...the protected beauty of

these islands, much slower pace, and the aloha spirit.

 There are times like now with hurricanes, Iselle and Julio bearing down on

us that we realize just how isolated we are.  People here take

things like this very seriously.  If the power goes out (like it did once for 3 days) that

means no water pumping at the treatment stations.  So we buy water and 

fill bathtubs with water to flush the toilet.  Always fill up the gas tank because

if the ships can't get here there won't be gas.  People laugh "it's an island, where 

are you going to go?".  Might be, but it could take over a week for gasoline

to get here.  That's why there's always a run on toilet paper.

Being so isolated has made the state put together emergency plans.  These plans

really do seem to work.  I think one of the biggest reason is that people

take it seriously and they work together.

We live on a very small speck in a HUGE ocean,

but being so isolated has taught us...

"plan for the worst, hope for the best"

I'm glad that's exactly what we did.

Iselle and Julio, We're Ready...

last night a couple of boys from church (thanks Stuart & Max) came by

and took down our tarp.  Lawn chairs are put away.  Got extra propane.

Rubbish cans will be taken in.  I think we're ready.  We haven't boarded

windows, hope that's ok.

Iselle and Julio continue their march towards Hawaii.  Thinking about our

friends on the Big Island.  They're going to get hit the worst.  Praying for them.

A few observations...

I can't figure out why they haven't cancelled school over here on Oahu. Bus service

is cancelled starting tonight at midnight.  We were told yesterday to un-plug everything

today before leaving.  Not sure what they're waiting for.

Water and Spam have disappeared off the shelves.  That and toilet paper.

People wonder why tp?  If the ships can't get here because of stormy seas...

no tp

Different than tsunami.  Right away start loading and getting out and the sirens...

With this there's so much time to prepare, there's no reason not to be or not

to take it seriously.

About 8 years ago, there was a big storm one December.  The winds came on

suddenly.  Terry and I were out in the middle of the night taking down the tarp.

The next morning, the reports were that there were gusts of 85 mph coming down

off Mt. Ka'ala.  I remember what it looked like the next morning and

the sounds of it that night.

Praying for Hawi'i