Random Thoughts

Wow, so that was close! This whole week the whole of Hawai’i was living in anticipation of Hurricane Lane. Just last night it was reported that it took a hard turn left at the last possible second and is just missing us here in Oahu. Wow, prayers really do work. Not that I had any doubt that it would…but it just goes on to prove that with a lot of prayer and a lot of faith, miracles can happen. Now I am not trying to preach that everything will be solved through prayer or something…I know that there are times where you pray and pray for something to happen and then the opposite happens.

I have been reeling from that these past couple of days…more like months. This year, so far, has been an eye-opening one for me. Starting from the very beginning but more so in the month of May. It is only just now that things FEEL like they are finally settling down…but no lie, I still come home feeling exhausted from the persona I am trying to keep up. The persona that I am okay when I’m really not. Oh okay, now I am being a bit dramatic. I know that I am okay…I know that I WILL be okay…but something is missing…and I know what that is.

You know how there are moments in your life where you are just comfortable. Where you are just cruising and just staying under the radar living your life…and then something happens that shakes you. It starts out small and then it just escalates faster and faster until you feel like you are just going to burst because that cocoon that you so painstakingly built to protect your heart breaks and it’s just through shear strength and will-power that you just continue on telling yourself that you are NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE UP. Yes, that is me.

What is anchoring me right now is my job. Although several things at my job has changed (and they were not small changes either), I have confidence in my teaching abilities that it is the one thing that is constant while my personal life is in the middle of an earthquake. This was the first year that I wasn’t super nervous on the first day of school or at open house…and I think the reason why is because I have been teaching long enough to know that it’s going to be okay. My life is going topsy-turvy, but my classroom is my anchor. Not only that, but my love for teaching and the passion to reach these children coupled with the trust that the parents are giving me gives me the strength to tackle my shifting ground. I don’t know if that makes any sense right now…but all I know is that it’s my job as a teacher that is saving me right now. (Which is another reason why I will always strongly encourage you to find a job that you love and are passionate about.)

Yes, the news of this Hurricane fast approaching was scary…but the most I was worried about was the fact that I wasn’t all too scared. I was worried…because I did have my craft room outside in the open and I didn’t want all my stuff to blow away, but I was also not that worried. Did I prepare for this impending doom? Yes, I had filled all my water bottles up with filtered water and several jars of water as well sit on my counter…just in-case. I am only one person, so I knew I didn’t need that much food…and so I didn’t go all out stocking on food. But I also knew that for the most part I was going to be safe. In all that was going on in my life…it couldn’t get that much worse. I mean, this year started out with a warning that a “ballistic missile was on it’s way to Hawai’i…THIS IS NOT A DRILL”…like I said, it could be a lot worse.

I am NOT brushing the fact that hurricanes can do a lot of damage. Big Island got hit hard and so did Maui…so my thoughts and prayers go out to them. And if the hurricane did come…it would have been real bad, so I am very thankful that it just missed us. Very thankful. 

But I had a lot of time by myself, contemplating life. School was called off Thursday and Friday to prepare for the hurricane and to stay safe…in those two days I was able to 90% finish unpacking my things in my studio and get things where I wanted them to go. I was also able to catch up on some reading, letter writing, blog posting, and sleep (if only my craft room was set up and my paints where out, that was what I had wanted to do!)…but I was also doing some soul searching.

As I was thinking about life and trying to make some sense of it…I realized there was a prayer answered that I never even thougth to pray. Well, in a way I did…I always pray to stay safe…and God made me realize in one way that He was looking out. I use to live next to the beach. I mean, it was right there where I could sleep to the crashing of the waves…but things happened and I chose to move towards the mountains. If I was living where I was living when this hurricane scare happened, things would have been pandemonium. Although the place was a place that I needed when I needed it, it was not the most secure place. It was in an older house,  right next to the beach. My windows were stuck in the open position and the walls where water soaked. Mold was growing from the ceiling because of a leak in the roof and each day the walls were closing in on me. It was tiny. Earlier this year we had a pretty bad storm and my whole room got soaking wet. Since I wasn’t able to close the windows, a lot of my things from wall to wall got soaked and the wall looked like it was going to crash any minute from the water load it was accumulating...all that from just a storm...now a hurricane...hmmm. So, it was good that I moved. I do miss being able to go to the beach a walk down the driveway…but where I am now I am so much more happier. It’s secluded and secure. I feel safe here and I just feel like it’s a better fit for me overall.

So even though I know some people don’t like the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason” comes to mind at times like this. Sometimes it might not be for a good reason, sometimes we won’t see that reason until years and years down the road…and even other times where you won’t ever see the reason in your lifetime…but everything does happen for a reason.

The hurricane didn’t hit…it downgraded to a tropical storm…but I have yet to experience anything other than some “normal” showers and wind.  I do pray for those that did get hit and I do pray for Big Island, Maui and all those little island that were hit, but I also pray for me…for me to find that inner strength to carry on without having to “fake it until I make it.”

Early morning Hawaiian Sunrise PC: myself

A Ramble of Randoms

When December first started, I thought I had prepared myself for all the busy-ness that was going to happen. Well, I learned one thing [again...every year! I guess it's something I will never really "learn"!] you can't really plan out your end-of-the-year months! The only thing that you can really plan for these months is...crazy. I should just put that in my planner..."Today: Crazy"...*laughs* But no joke, it's been one hell of a ride this month. And it's not even over yet...but I have a few moments to write. I seriously have been meaning to write more in my blog...keep it more up-to-date, but it's more of, "when I get the chance to write, I'll write!"

I don't even know where to start. One person that is on my mind right now is Legend. I know I'm going to cry writing about this, but writing has always been therapeutic for me and I don't ever want him to be forgotten. And "they" say if you write about something/someone they will be immortalized forever. And Legend, you will never be forgotten...like that can even happen in my lifetime, at least.

Legend lived a few short wonderful 3 years. He was a child at my preschool and he was more a quiet one. He loved his skateboard, his shark backpack, his giraffe and his teacher, Mrs. A. He would nap in my classroom at times and he had "his spot" where he would want his bed to be and he was very particular about how it was set up. He had the tiniest shark backpack (which had to face him while he napped) that somehow his mom would miraculously fit 2+ blankets in with a random assortment of special things (one time it was blue party napkins another time his finger skateboards...it was a surprise every time). After nap time he would asked me to help him put his blanket away and as hard as we would try we rarely could fit his blankets in his tiny backpack the way his mom did. He was his teacher's opihi, always having an eye on her and/or always holding onto her somehow...holding her hand, her shirt, her leg.

He would come in my room and dance. His classroom is right next to mine and we have a "secret door" (that isn't so secret since Mrs. A and I like to keep it open during class hours)...and whenever we had music playing (which is all the time) and my class had another of it's many impromptu dance parties, Mrs. A's students would hear and poke their head in my class and join us. At first he would be hesitant to dance, and then he would warm up and you can see him jumping, spinning, holding hands, and twirling with the other kids.

Every morning he would call out, "Hello Ms. Charity" and give me a huge smile all the while clinging onto Mrs. A and whatever toy (most times his giraffe) he had brought with him that day. He was a beautiful boy with a beautiful soul...who unfortunately was born with a rare birth defect that went unnoticed until it was too late. Less than a week ago on December 23 his mom wrote, "Legend was born with a rare birth defect none of us knew about. He had a tangle of arteries and veins in his brain stem which caused his brain to hemorrhage. There was no surgery they could do because of the location so they tried their very, very best to stabilize him, unfortunately they were unsuccessful and he went to fly up to heaven." He was and is very much loved by his family. His sisters doted on him and his family is so close knit.

Legend, you will be very much missed by all those you touched. I will miss you.

Wow, that was hard to write.



I am glad that I am on winter break. More time at the beach for me! I still value my early mornings at the shoreline just watching the sunrise. Since it is winter break, there are a lot more people at the beach when I go. A lot more people with their cameras set up to catch the sun rising over the horizon. And I go pretty early as well. It's always confusing though...it's like the sun has a mind of it's own...there are times where I'll go to the beach at 6:30 and it's still super dark...and other times I'll go at that time and the sun is already up...well, not fully up, but up enough!

It's been too cold to swim in the water, but I will still walk the shoreline with my feet in the water...the ocean water is so healing! I can read all day at the beach...but like I said, since it's winter break, more people...so it's not as calming. But that's okay...everyday is still a beach day to me!



Christmas this year was HOT HOT HOT! We all went to my brother's house to celebrate and one of the first things I said to them was "My days, it's hot!" But the next day, it rained like the ocean was falling out of the sky! You can't really see here, but this is what it looked like right outside my front door. And it was like a waterfall coming down the roof...and I am right by the drain cannal to the sea...and it was like a river rushing by! I love the sound...and if you ever want the beach to yourself...this is the time to go. Not as much people there...and the ocean is a different kind of beautiful! I am so glad that the power didn't go out though! (Although I do enjoy lighting a scented candle when I'm home!)

Well, I decided to change up my fish tank: TankTown. For the longest time I wanted everything (as much everything as I can) to be natural. TankTown (my 35 gallon fish tank) had blue and green marble as "gravel" and treated coral with small kine live plants on them. I wanted it to be a more natural look with driftwood and more plants...so I redid the tank...and I feel like my fish are much more happier!



I had to use a rubber band to hold the plants down until they settle and take roots...should be in a few weeks. But I can't wait until I can remove them! I still like the coral in the tank...but I added a few pieces of drift wood. Changed out the marble completely with a more finer, natural looking gravel and added more plants.



My favorite aquarium plant is the anubias...even though they are slow growing...I like the look of it and once they are established...they look real nice! Plus, when they get bigger you can propagate it! I also added some java fern and water ferns. More bubblers as well and, of course, lots of marimo moss balls (which I also love and have them in all my tanks!) It looks as though my fish are more active and I love watching them explore around the tank and swim up and down and through the bubblers that I placed around the tank. (You can't see the bubblers that I added in the tank since I took this picture before I added the bubblers.)

Oh, and I can't forget! I added another betta fish to my growing fish family!



Meet Mr.Glorious. I met and adopted him while at my favorite LFS. I was there to buy more Zebra Danios for TankTown and I saw him there...and I was thought to myself "what glorious fish!" and I couldn't pass him up! I was meaning to get another betta anyways...and so I did. No, this is not the tank that I have him in anymore. I just put him in there as I prepared his home tank. I wanted him out of his tiny little container that I got him in; he is currently my most active betta fish! I can see him swimming around happily in his tank and exploring his cave and other live plants that I placed in there with him. You can't really tell in the picture but he has a gorgeous, iridescent blue body with transparent black fins and tail. And I think he's quite glorious.

I also brought Mr. Blueberry home from school since he wasn't looking too hot there. Plus, three other betta fish died in different classrooms within two days at the school...and I am not chancing anything with Mr. Blueberry. He was starting to become real lethargic and unmoving while in the classroom...and since he's been home with me he has been swimming around like his old self again. I'm not quite sure what happened in school...but he's going to stay with me for the time being.

On to some exciting baby news! My cousin had her baby, my (sister's) sis-in-law had her baby, and my best friend had her baby! All on the mainland, so I'm super bummed about that...but I'm so excited for them! My cousin and my (sister's) sis-in-law had their baby on my mom's birthday (December 19)...so that was a wonderful birthday surprise and my bestie had her baby a few days ago on the 26th!



My sis-in-law is beautifully pregnant and I get a wonderful happy feeling when I feel Baby PeachNectarine (DollGirl nicknamed her!) kick and move! She had her very successful baby shower and since we all love our tea time, the theme was a "Tea for 3" theme. After our Christmas celebration at their house, all the men got together and cleared out the baby room and put together their baby crib...and I am getting SUPER excited!

And, of course, my adorable baby niece, RocketGirl (who makes 6 months this month) has everyone's attention for the moment! I think that it's so cool that her and her cousin will less than a year apart! And oh my goodness, look at her, she has discovered her toes!

This year for my preschool children's Christmas present for their parents, I decided to do something "easier and faster"...since I knew that a good portion of the children in my class would only be here for a few days before traveling for the holidays. I showed them several projects and the one that they chose to do was the mistle-"toes" feet painting!



I laugh at this because we had just did a paint activity where we went outside and allowed my children to paint their feet and dance on the bike path and grass. And now they think it's the coolest thing to do...paint with your feet! So, of course, they had to choose the painting feet project! I loved hearing them giggle as I painted their feet! We added glitter and laminated it so that it would last longer (and be easier to frame)!



And every year as gift tags I always do the hand print Christmas mitten. I'm real big on saving those tiny handprints and footprint of the children and so I'm glad that they chose the feet mistletoe project. I hope the parents liked it as much as the children did when they saw the final product. They even decorated their own wrapping/envelope for their parents!

Oh, and how can I possible forget?! I went to the Nutcracker ballet this year with two of my friends!



It was a lot of fun to dress up and go with friends. I remember seeing the Nutcracker when I was younger and this one was a little bit different from the one that I remember when I was younger since the one that went to had a Hawai'ian take to it! I should have paid more attention to that because I was quite confused when the turtles and clownfish came out to dance!



But it was beautifully done and I feared to blink my eyes else I might miss something! The Cavalier in Act II: A Lush Tropical Garden was amazing...but everyone EVERYONE did such a breath-taking job! One of the persons that I went with happens to also be my school boss and classroom aid...and then next day in school during our impromptu dance parties you can bet your bottom dollar we were doing our various of ballet dancing with the children! It was an amazing event and I am so glad that I went this year!

Well, enough ramblings for now...I must go and do some productive things today! But here is one more beautiful picture of my favorite beach...doesn't it make you just want to lay down on the powder soft sand and cloud watch to nature's musical sound of the waves bubbling on the shore?!

...in a nutshell.

I know. It's been a very long time since I've written a post, and I have been going back and forth whether or not I should start up again, and I've decided, why not? I see that the last time I posted was way back in February, and wow, does a "few" months make a huge difference with what can happen in life! I will try my best to hit the highlights (which I am more than sure I will forget some), and then go from there...but to start it all:



I am still an ocean child. *laughs* I don't know why, or even how, that would change in a few months. I rely more and more on the healing powers of the ocean. As life happens, I realize that in order for me to start each day with a clear mind I have to remember that I am only a tiny being in this huge, huge universe. Being near the ocean reminds me of that. There is something about the consistency of the waves hitting the shore that calms me and reminds me that no matter what, time will continue on. Whether I've had a "bad" or "good" day...time will continue on whether I want it to stop or not, it will continue on. I know that that is just a simple thought, but wow, does it help with my perspective in a lot of things.

Two quotes that I claim as my own are:

In a world where you can be anything,

be kind.

and

Anyone can find dirt in anyone. Be the one who finds the gold. (Prov. 11:27)

I already love and claim the quote:

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

So whenever I feel like I have been wronged or that life isn't fair, I always think:

Be kind. Find the gold. Dance in the rain.

I know that that seems like it has no relation to the ocean, but to me whenever I go to the ocean I always think and re-evaluate my day, was I kind today? Did I find the gold when I wanted to find the dirt? Did I dance? It's kind of my consistent devotion with God. I am constantly asking Him to help me be the better person and to concentrate on working on myself instead of finding fault. If that makes any sense.



One of the new things that I have taken up as a hobby is hand lettering. I have always admired the beautiful lettering art that I see and so I decided to try my hand at it. And I have to say that I love it! I bought two books that helped me get started and a few pens (at first) and I am hooked!

I am trying out watercolor painting to enhance some of the lettering that I have done. I love to acrylic paint, and watercolor painting is so much different, but I love it and it is a lot of fun! The exercises that I do to practice my lettering is so repetitive that it is also another way for me to calm my crazy mind. :) I do have to practice control though. I just want to buy all the pens and paper out there!! *laughs* I do have my favorites...but I can't help but buy all the pens I see! *laughs*

I have so many things that I have an addiction too!

• stickers
• pens
• stationary
• stickers
• pretty paper
• postcards
• stickers
• washi tape
• watercolor paints
• stickers
• subscription boxes
• stickers

Oh wait, did I mention stickers?! Yeah, I think I may have a problem there. Or is it a problem?! *laughs*

Postcards. I still do love collecting postcards. I love how I discovered my love of postcards again. I remember collecting them when I was younger...and wow, if only I found out about the Postcrossing program a long time ago; I am still addicted to that site and I love sending out postcards to the world and receiving postcards in return. I will always wish that I can travel to every where in the world, this is my way of traveling. It makes me smile to know that a piece of me is out there in other places in the world. 

Another site that I have enjoyed utilizing is Send Kids The World. If you have a heart and some time, please go and check out that site. You have the power to make a child's day.

Back in March, the world lost a beautiful "Pineapple Princess" due to a horrible car accident. Although she wasn't technically in my class yet, she was enrolled to start soon, and her brother comes to our school...so I would see her and my heart broke with the news of her death. Month's later, my eyes still tear up when I think her. Her parents are one of the strongest parents I know, and I tell them that no matter what, I still consider them part of my class ohana. Just recently the parents of our school got together and employed an amazing local artist to paint this beautiful mural in memory of her. Not only is this a beautiful mural, but this mural also leaves a smile on our faces for what it represents. 

In the few years that I have been a teacher, I have lost several keiki to the clutches of death; and it's never easy. Each and every time I cry. It's always sad when we loose someone; and it's always hard when it's a young child. For our beautiful Pineapple Princess, you will forever be remembered. 

I have a new batch of keiki from the last time I wrote. It's always hard for me to say goodbye to "my" keiki at the end of the year. But there is always that excitement of the new ones who will enter my door. It's always nerve-wrecking for me every new school year. Not only do I usually have the kids who probably have never been in a school setting, but I have parents who this is their first time as well with sending their most precious "jewels" to a place other than family. It is always my goal to not only help the child feel comfortable and safe in our school, in our classroom, with me...but also help the parents feel comfortable and safe in our school, in our classroom, with me. I am blessed with awesome parents and equally awesome keiki. 

I do have to say that it's a slow start this year. I still have not have all my enrolled keiki start. The requirement for my class is that they have to be two-years old. And there are some who are enrolled, however they are not yet two. Tomorrow the last two will join my class. Then we will be complete. Although there are more criers than I ever had, I am so proud of my keiki...they are so smart, caring, and fun to be with. 

Music, dancing, and art are a big thing in my class. And it makes my heart so happy when I hear my children singing and I love it when parents tell me that their child is always dancing and singing at home teaching their other siblings at home the different songs we sing. My class is always randomly bursting out in song and dance. I love it.

Four favorite things that happened this year:

1. My parents are visiting from the mission field.
2. My sister had her beautiful baby.
3. My best friend is pregnant: she's having a baby boy!!
4. My brother and his wife are also expecting: they're having a baby girl!!

I don't even know where to start with this! Four times where I was rendered speechless.

I will always miss my mommy and daddy when they are not with me. It makes me tear up when I think that they will be leaving to go back into the mission field. Although, I know that they are doing God's work...selfishly, I wish they would stay with us. But for now I will enjoy their presence here. 

At the end of my birth month, my sister had her baby girl a few weeks early. And once again I am reminded that you can fall in-love at first glance. Well, I fell in-love with RocketGirl the moment I learned of her. I love her so much!

My bestie is pregnant and it makes me sad that I can't be there. But I am super excited to meet this little one...and yes, I am in-love with him already as well!

And two days ago I felt "PeachNectarine" move for the first time in my sis-in-law's belly! Whether it was a head nudge, an elbow jab, or a kick...I don't know...but what I do know is that this Auntie has so much love for her unborn niece!!

My family is growing and I couldn't be more happier!

I have been hiking a lot more. Well, kind of. I have been getting out more. If that makes any sense. I am learning...well, trying to not say no to hikes. I'm not much of a hard hiker, but I am a nature lover and so I go on "easy" hikes...because the views are so worth it! There were times where I questioned the meaning of "easy"...but I figured that I just have to keep going and no matter what, don't stop! *laughs* On one of the earlier hikes that I did, I dropped my phone in the river down below. I was super bummed about that since that was the first time that I was hiking to a waterfall. And it was amazing! But that's okay, my friends got pictures and my other crazy friend decided that my phone was worth saving, so she scaled down and rescued my phone. It was dead upon arrival...but oh my days, the views and swimming under the waterfall was so worth it! :)

I still hate mornings, but I still wake up early. Not only for work days, but on the weekends to be at one with the earth. Seriously, it feels like that! I don't ever want to take for granted that I live in paradise...or so near to the ocean for that matter. And so on the weekend when I feel like I want to sleep in, I get my ass up to watch the sunrise over the water. My favorite quote for moments like this is:

"I love early mornings when it feels like the rest of the world is fast asleep and you're the only one whose awake and everything feels like it isn't really real and you kind of forget all your problems because for now its just you, the world, and the sunrise."

I don't know who said that, but I found that quote on Pinterest...and I fell in-love with it. But I consider mornings "my time" with God. After-all, it's just me, and God, and the beautiful sunrise He created for me. 

I am still crazy into planning. I am trying my hand in making/creating/designing planner stickers...and I have a lot of fun with it. I am trying to branch out with it, but also trying to master this art of creating stickers. (Remember when I said that I may have a problem with stickers?!) My eventual goal is to start another blog/store that lets people download planner stickers for free. I have always appreciated those who did that because that helped me a lot when I first started decorating my planner. And it would be nice to help others as well. But for now, I am just trying to figure out how to allow people to download something that I post up...and also get better in making these stickers. 

I love how when I am designing my own stickers, I can just make the ones that I know that I will use and also I can choose the design that I want for that week. I am currently trying to try make up stickers for different layout options. I was never good a computers and trying to figure out the designing program is proving to be a lot more difficult than I thought, but that's okay...as long as I don't give up, I know that I will get it! And I'm loving how I have this hobby. I have always been a planner, journalist, writer...and so now I just combining it all together now. Kind of...I like to say that my planners are like my yearbook's in the making...*laughs*

Well, that is everything that I can think of in a nutshell. I can't say that I will post every day. I might, and then I know that there will be times where it might be a few days, weeks, months, that I'll post again, but I don't think that I will ever give up on posting blogs. It's another way for me to document my life. But for now I will go. (I'm actually sick at the moment. I have slept all day...and now I can't go to sleep...hence the reason why I am writing this!!*laughs*)

"The one who falls and gets up is much stronger than the one who has never fell."

-anonymous

Family Time.

Early this morning, my sister-IL asked me if I wanted to hang out with her and my brother in town. We finally have a Buffalo Wings bar here in town and my brother wanted to check it out...and so I agreed. As we were confirming plans, my other sister texted both of us asking if we wanted to hang out after church and go walk the pier in town! So, since we were going there anyways, we decided to join together and just hang out all together!

FINALLY! I always told myself that I was going to take a picture of this tree when I see it "again"...and then each time, I 'm always like "next time"...so finally I just did it! I just love this tree! It's HUGE and it's super cool looking!

This is the pier on Queen's beach that we like to walk because you can walk super far out and see a LOT of fishes and crabs and birds out there. And it's just like being out in the "middle" of the ocean...but not...but you feel like it. Little KaiBoy had not been there yet, and so that was why his parents wanted to go there...and so we all went there. This place has very fond memories for me. When I first moved here, I used to come here and swim out and swim pier to pier as exercise...I'm not how far it was...but lets just say, I would be so comfortable swimming out there for about 2 1/2 hours at a time. My brother and I were talking about how we wanted to do that again...I love swimming...and I love swimming in the ocean. And plus, it's so beautiful here! We would come out here early in the morning and swim out far and it was amazing, because not only would we be just swimming, but we at least for me, I would enjoy looking at all the fish and from time to time a turtle would pop up to say hello!

As always, my little KaiBoy enjoyed playing in the sand. It was a lot cooler today, so no water playing...but that didn't stop him from playing in the sand! Such an island boy!

Not to be outdone by her brother, my Dollgirl was also getting her groove on in the sand! :)

I guess sitting on the sad was too far from the sand, Kaiboy had to lay down in the sand. I have gotten used to sand being part of life here in Hawai'i. :)

And here is me using my new LuLaRoe Irma top! I love this top! :)

I love that my sister-IL loves ice cream just like me, so before we went home, we stopped by my new favorite ice scream store! :)

It was a fun day...I love my family and I always enjoy spending time with them. :)

Random Family Beach TIme.

I usually go to the beach early on the weekends. I like going to the ocean in the mornings when there aren't that many people out and I can have the beach sort of to myself. It's nice going out to the ocean. I love the ocean. The problem with going so early is sometimes my family will text me and ask me if I want to join them at the beach...when I just got back! Today was one of those days. It was good that I still have my beach attire on so I told them to part at my place and we can walk over.

They didn't really go into the water, KaiBoy and I walked the shore some and DollGirl just played in the sand. It was pretty cold out and there were a lot of people at the beach already. (Another reason why I like to go early. When the crowds start to come, I leave.)

I love the fact that I live so near to the beach. I honestly believe that it's my soul place and I can't fathom the idea of leaving it. Thinking about it just makes me go blank.

Although it sprinkled some, the day was gorgeous. I love the weather here in Hawai'i. It's perfect weather! Look how beautiful it is! Hey, a random thing I learned today! When I come here early in the morning, I always see that boat! (The one in the in the left of the picture in the middle.) I ALWAYS see it there...and I never really thought about it...until I saw one of my preschool parents run past me and jump in the water and get on the boat! Well, now I know who the boat belongs to! :0

I hope I never take this beautiful place for granted. I wish that my family would come here more. I love the beach and I love being near it. I love it so much...and I know that my DollGirl and KaiBoy love it too. I hope we stay here for a long time.

Saturday Spontaneousness.

Today I had "Photoshoot for family" on my agenda for today. So I left super early o'clock to head on over to my beach to start taking pictures of my brother and his wife for their Christmas card this year. I love coming to beach at this time since there are nearly no people here yet and it's just so beautiful and peaceful!

I think that I have gotten quite spoiled with our warm winters here in Hawai'i. And I honestly have to say that I can't to be able to send out Christmas cards of me and my honey one day. :) But I took the pictures for my brother and his wife, and my other sister was suppose to come on by so that I can take their pictures as well, however the little ones where not cooperating and so they decided that they were going to do their pictures at a different date. I have to agree though, sunrise or sunset's here in Hawai'i make for some awesome pictures! :)

I had totally forgotten that Lanikai was having it's craft fair today! So right after I took their pictures we decided to go and stop by the craft fair to look around...and it was amazing! I love craft fairs and this one was no different! I love seeing all the artwork and craft that people were talented to make! My brother and his wife purchased this cute artwork for their home. My sister and DollGirl were able to make it out and walk around with us, so that was cool! :)

There were so many crystals there and I wanted to get some for my friend Ashley since she is into crystals. It was so overwhelming, the crystals since there were so many there! I don't know anything about crystals and so I didn't know the ones to get her...but I knew that I wanted to get her something. I remember that she had told me that she likes to hold the crystals and feel if they were "calling" to her...and so I did the same thing. I was holding the crystals and thinking of her and if I should get the for her or not. (I kind of do the same thing with coral. I can tell if they are meant to come hone with me, or I have to leave them on the beach. It's hard to explain. But I used the same method with these crystals for Ash). These were the ones that I got for her.

My DollGirl actually picked this one out for her. She kept saying that "Aunty Ash wants this one. She really wants this one." And so I had to get it for her.

I sent this picture to Ash to show her the crystals that I got for her...and I put my chapstick next to them to show her the size of the crystals. I hope she likes them!

After being at the craft fair for some time, we decided to go to town and walk around ala Moana center. My sister and her babygirl decided to go home and take a nap and my brother and his wife and I went to town. We did some random shopping and and ended up eating at Spaghetti Factory. I love this place! It's my favorite! :) I love their Holiday Wish List! I like everything on it! :)

 

After shopping around even more we get a text from my sister asking if we wanted to go out and have dinner at Mexico Cantina....It's one of their favorite Mexican places to eat.  Since I had a late lunch, I wanted to eat something small...so I got their Nacho Libre...and let me tell you, it was anything BUT small! It was HUGE! I barely made a dent in it..and I couldn't take it home! Oh well, I love hanging with my family and I love them so much. It was a good day. A good, yet tiring day. But I loved it! :)