Hawaii 2014 day one and two

Getting to Hawaii seemed to get more and more complicated even though our reservations had been made months ago.  Several times I told the DR that we were either really supposed to go - or really not supposed to go.   It seemed as if every little gremlin got loose to mess with out world. But we finally made it out the door with the worst packing job of supplies this head nurse has every personally done.  The DR had one thing after another at his day job and I had more than a few problems crop up including my Sophie acting very ill that morning and trying to figure out what to do for her when we were already supposed to be gone. So leaving Oldest with the task of getting her into the vet, we headed out to take care of both Oldest and Middle's broken cell phones.  Yes- two broken cell phones at the same time right before we were taking off for two whole weeks.  After a lengthly  stop at the phone store, we left phones there to be finished up and headed a tiny bit late to watch Middle play soccer in a major downpour. Not victorious but we saw lots of improvement. And we actually won the 2nd half and didn't let them score.  Next we had to go back and get the phones, get them to Middle and send her home with them while we headed to take care of a few more errands and realizing  that somewhere we had dropped and lost an item that the DR's brother needed.  Nothing we could do about it at that point. We took Grandpup Scout back to her patients and picked up Outpatient and we went to Braza grill for a quick and late dinner.  So good to spend one on one time with him. He then took us to the hotel we were staying in for the night and headed off in my Acadia.  The hotel room was very nice and we were bummed we hadn't got there much earlier.  Huge jetted tub with a giant tv and other amenities..  Too bad the alarm was set for 3:30 am to get the shuttle to the airport.  I had pulled the all-night shift to prep for the trip so by the time the alarm sounded, I had slept for three hours in two whole days. Brain was a bit fuzzy..  Got to the airport and boarded a plane to LAX.  Rather obnoxious passenger in front of us and telling enough stories that one couldn't be sure what was truth and what was truth in his mind only.  Two hour layover then boarded a flight to Lihui.  We have come about 5 weeks earlier the we have come before and were unprepared for how very warm and humid it is right now.  Locals tell us that the trade winds have quit blowing which has set up the current temp situation. Hope they come back soon.
M&P arrived about 6 hours later and finally after our longest drought without them we have been reunited in paradise. Taking them to see our view and unloading their luggage was high on the priority list followed quickly by getting some dinner.. Bubba's Burgers on the menu tonight.  Some shopping for a few basics, some visiting and some sleep.

Best Laid Plans- October Replay

So much for my plans to post more frequently :).  I am sorry, but I also know how very busy I am- so something has to give.


Moab:

Youngest's Last minute Class Party.  Went very well if I do say so myself.

Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins.

Youngest had a Rapunzel/ Tangled theme going (can you see the long hair coming out of the tower window?)

Middle is sort of in love with owls right now

Oldest went for a flaming face

Dear Oldest-  if you are going to pull stupid faces, I WILL post them on my blog AND facebook.

Girlies before leaving to go Trick or Treating.  It is Middle's last year-  I have a prejudice against kids older than Middle School going.  And I am okay with that.

Rapunzel meets the Mafia

the 80's meet the 50's

Fill in the Blanks- Wedding and Oregon

I have mentioned before that when we lived in Oregon- we made some of the best friends we could have asked for.  We also picked up a few extra children from time to time.  Those are the best kind- kind of a "rent-o-kid"  but anyway- we had the opportunity to return to our "home" for the wedding of one of our "daughters".  Missing a place you only called home for about 19 months may seem weird to some people but our friends from there agree-  it seemed like we were there for much longer and we have definitely taken them with us in our hearts.

We flew in on Thursday afternoon- and immediately had to remember we were NOT on vacation- so we both sat down to work for a bit.  Then we headed over to stay with the "B" family.  They are empty- Nester's now- so we made our reservations for whichever room had the best bed.  We went out and had a light dinner, and then the DR and I had the opportunity to go to the temple with Miss Ashlee for her endowment.  So many memories of this beautiful girl when she was just a tiny three year old.

Friday- we worked, fed the soon to be in-law family- and then spent the rest of the evening setting up the reception. 

Saturday- we went to the temple again- this time for the sealing.  I had fun catching up with a friend of mine from high school who happened to move to Oregon about 6 months after we left- and he and his wife became friends with a lot of our friends too-

The sweetest part of the day was right as the officiator was beginning to speak- Garrett got teary- and that pretty much did it for me.  Love seeing a misty eyed groom.

Our girlie grew up to be a beautiful woman.

The Paparazzi ;)

And boy do those daddy-daughter moments get me too.

There is one of our other "daughters" and part of her little family-

Ashlee and Fuzzy Face (aka- the DR)

 (yes he looks totally scruffy- but she wanted his beard back that he had when she was little so he didn't shave while we were there.)

So glad we could make it back to Oregon.  I would move back there in a heartbeat.  Think if I click my heals, I could have a Dorothy experience?

Back To School Spa PaRtY!

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings...

On Friday, August 6th,  We received word that a friend and former teammate of Outpatient had been killed.  He was killed in action while serving our country as a Marine, stationed in Afghanistan.  I have been putting off writing about it because it hits close to the heart and because Small Town made the news due to the Hero's Welcome his remains received. 

We were up at the DR's family reunion, and Outpatient and LOL joined us, and shared the bad news.  Then we came home to the news of the Navy Seals and other members of the Armed Forces had been shot down during a rescue mission.  Nobody on the nation scene heard about our local soldier, and probably wouldn't have.  Except that our community rallied together, lined the streets with flags and people.  Many who didn't even know him, but wanted to express their gratitude for his and his family's ultimate sacrifice.  We were out of town, so only the DR was in town to pay his respects that day, but it was an incredible sight. 

I saw a page for info on facebook, and at the time there about 300 invites out-  but within about 2 hours-, they had swelled to over 6000.  Facebook was an amazing tool in bringing together our community for a hero's welcome.  Someone mentioned that it is unfortunate that every soldier doesn't get to come home to this.

 The girls and I came home to an incredible sight.  While it isn't every home, many all over the valley have signs, yellow or red,white, and blue ribbons, flags- many of which are flying at half staff.  It is so touching.

 These pictures were taken by a local resident-  but I took some while driving through so they looked kind of lousy.  I wish you could all drive through this roundabout and the approximately 8 miles worth of solid flags.  They are also at the cemetery where he is being laid to rest as I type this.  I was going to attend, but then I thought of all the people who knew him better than I who could use the space I would take.  Outpatient, LOL, and many of the other soccer team are there.

May our Father in Heaven hold Sgt Daniel Gurr's family in his hands in the coming days, when the rest of our community goes back to life as usual.  I know that Dan is looking down and probably in such awe at the many lives he has touched, by giving his.

I would love to give credit to the photographers, and editors of the pictures in this post, but I don't know who they are. Please note that I did not take any of these but I am grateful to have them.

Well- that is a first for me

Today I had the opportunity to go to the temple for another Living Endowment session.  A couple in our ward that the DR hometeaches went through this afternoon.  If I could share their whole story here- you would be amazed.  It truly is a tale of a 180 turn around.  It was nice to sit and reflect at how the Lord's way has triumphed.  It also makes the 2nd family in our neighborhood to make it to the temple in the past year.

It was really neat to have the invitation to attend with them and to watch them soak it in.

Anyway-  that wasn't the first.  What was the first was the loud ringing of someone's cell phone right during the session.  Now- I am accused rather frequently by some of my family of being judgemental.  I am going to be right now. Fair warning. We don't even take our phones into the temple- let alone put them in the pockets of our temple clothes.  That is a cell phone umbilical cord that needs cutting. I don't think they belong in church either-  baring the occassional doctor or (in our ward) fireman or judge who is on call.  Then the ringer should be turned off. 

Quick rundown of last week.

I am just taking a quick second to post so you don't think I have completely left the blogosphere.

This past week has been a tad busy- Oldest and Middle had soccer camp every day, Youngest had sewing camp- and I did end up spending nearly the whole time there with her.  On Friday, I got up early and drove out to Cougar Town for Dennis' funeral.  I am so glad I went.  I had to leave a little before it was over because I had to get back in time for the late afternoon crazy-ness. 

Thanks to Road Construction, I spent over 6 hours on the road that day.  Middle went boating immediately after camp with a friend, Youngest had a birthday party to go to and we had a pot luck dinner with the ward.  I stopped off quick at Outpatient and LOL's apartment to drop off some stuff and see their progress then it was hustle on down the road. Get home- get patients to various drop points and make a potluck dish (the DR had stayed home to take care of the patients as best he could while working).

Then, Saturday morning, the DR and I got up earlier that I would have liked and went on a major 4-wheeler back road ride with a bunch of people- like, 20 people in/on 15 machines.  We drove a Razr and there were several of those type of vehicles and several 4 wheelers.  We ended up going about 76 miles all around the back country- and we even went to Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.  All at the same time :)  (we rode all the way to Three Corners).  I don't think I have ever been so dirty in my whole life-  but boy is that some Beautiful country back there.

We got home, quickly showered, and loaded up patients and luggage, then headed back out to Cougartown Territory for my nephew's mission report (excellent- by the way). And home again today.  That made for 3 trips out and back in a week.  My tailbone is NOT happy with me and I don't blame it.  I have forced many many miles on it in a relatively short period of time.

I have a lot of stuff to get caught up on both with work and home- and the girls leave for summer games on Wednesday, the Boys leave for a camp on Thursday- so there is no rest around here.  Anyway - I will post some pictures from the trail ride a little later.

Not quite halfway through June.  I  think I can. I think I can. I think I can - make it to July without losing my marbles.  Oh, and my weird infection is all better, I have my voice back except when I sing- sometimes it plays hide and seek then.

Memories-

I have been reminiscing quite a bit the last few days.  Remembering things from my childhood.  I have posted on here before about Marcia, here.  a longtime family friend and one of the sweetest people you could be so fortunate to know.  Well, Marcia is married to one of the sweetest men you could ever know.  His name is Dennis.  Dennis has been living with Parkinson's for many many years, until Sunday when Heavenly Father called him home.  Dennis and Marcia owned and operated a care facility for the mentally (and physically) challenged.  They raised 6 kids and were close friends with my parents for over 40 years.  On Facebook today, one of the daughters posted that people keep telling her it is for the best.  She says it doesn't feel like it is for the best.  And it won't, for her anyway. 

It is interesting, because we just passed the 23rd anniversary of my father's accident.  My mom and I were discussing how we had prayed so hard for my dad to live, but if we had known just what he would have to live with and through, we might not have prayed quite so hard.  My dad's health is going downhill fast.  He has always been so adamantly proud of getting out of a wheelchair and re-learning how to walk.  Just recently he told my mom he needs a chair again.  This is a major concession for him.  He is falling a lot.  Getting confused (dementia) more and more.  It is hard to watch, and when it is time for him to go on, it will be for the best, and I will feel that it is. For all intents and purposes, I lost my dad 23 years ago.  For Dennis' family, his body was sick, but his mind was still okay.  His personality was still there and intact.

I have great memories of time spent with their family.  Softball games and camping, and just running around the neighborhood.  I remember a Christmas time when my dad was trying to help them with their plumbing and we couldn't get our celebration started until he was done.  ( I might or might not have been kind of bratty about that).

I am grateful for Dennis and Marcia and the example and influence they have had in my life.  It probably feels amazing to Dennis to not have his body trapping him.  My thoughts are with the family this week, that is for sure.

End of set of Milestone Moments

I have written before how great our neighborhood is.  The reality is that many in here are great, close, and social neighbors, but there are a few who aren't too.

Anyway- in particular- there are three families who have raised our families almost entirely in this neighborhood. Yesterday- was our eighth baptismal service for one of "our" kids. He is also the last one. We have been together for 9 kids reaching that grand age of 8- two of them are both January babies and the same age- so they shared their special day.

Outpatient and K were both baptized before we moved into the neighborhood.

  H was baptized before my digital pictures began.

C, Oldest and J.   C was baptized a few months earlier, and Oldest and J shared their wonderful day.

(I need to get a recent pic of these three all together)

 M, and Middle were baptized a few months apart in 2006

(ha- missing quite a few teeth here)

M2 was baptized in 2007

( whose patient is that on the far right???)

Youngest in 2009

And ( Insert picture here when I get it from his mom- alas, in our over scheduled evening, I left my camera at home)

M3- was baptized last night.

We have begun a few other milestones in the meantime- we have had a couple of graduations ( another on the horizon), a missionary ( possibly soon to add another of those), and now- a wedding. 

I am so grateful to have been able to be apart of all these moments in life.  We have had our trials, but these kids are pretty tightly bound and it is a pleasure to watch them all grow up together, and help each other along life's path.

We have other families whose milestones we have also celebrated- but these three have been walking hand in hand since 1998 (we moved into our house in 1997- but the M family moved in the next spring and the S family was already here)

Hawaii 2010- part 4

Friday began with an early morning on the beach for me- just so I could watch this.  The beauty of creation is so powerful as the sun rises.

The day involved a little more relaxation poolside.........

Oceanside

roadside ( new twist- this year it was the Janes and not so much the Tarzans)

deck side.....

And a final, breathtaking sunset....

It was amazing.  Thank you, so very much, M & P, for letting us tag along.