A Day of Thanks.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I am sitting here thinking of the many things that I am thankful for today and every day.

I also can't help but think about how amazing my breakfast smells right now! My sister had a craft/small business party this last weekend, and at her party her baked goods where a HUGE hit (if you have not had the opportunity to try one of her delicious creations, I am sorry to say, but you are SO missing out!). One of the perks of having such an amazing baker as a sister, is that I get freebies! She know that I live in a tiny space with a tiny toaster over, so she makes my breads custom made to fit just perfectly in my toaster oven. Here is the result of my last stash from her. Her Wheatie Oat Cinnamon Swirl Bread with a healthly spread of coconut butter. So very ono!

It's safe to say that up there on my thankful list this year (and every day/year) is family. I am incredibly blessed to have such a close-knit, loving (most times!) family. No matter where I go in the world, no matter how much I sometimes want to just shut myself out from everything...my family is and will always be there for me. I have no doubt. My parents are here this year, and that is something that fills me heart with happiness every day I see them. (They are currently staying with my sister.) My family is growing. I am thankful for all my nieces and nephews...here with me, and those who are far from me. But I am so in-love with the new addition to our family, my RocketGirl and I am already in-love with my unborn niece (due in February!). Yep, my family is growing and I couldn't be more happier. There was a few years where I had to live without my family physically there for me, and was a lot harder than I care to admit. So, with the family that I have close to me, I am so thankful for. With the family that aren't so close to me, I am so thankful for technology that allows me to stay connected with them. I love my family.

I also love my friends. The quote that comes to mind is, "You will never be completely at home again, because part of you heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place." Not only do I have family that live all over the world, but my friends do to. And I am at that point in my life, where my friends are like my family as well. I am blessed to have made some friends here on the island that I consider my family. We may not always hang out, but I have no doubt that when I need them, or when they need me, or if we happen upon that chance where we are both free, that I can always turn to them. My friends are a necessity in my life. And I am ever so thankful to have them and call them mine.

I am SO extremely blessed to have found a career and job that I love so much. I am a preschool teacher and I love what I do. I have the amazing privilege to go to work 5 days a week to unlimited hugs and honis. I get cuddles to! Not only that, but we play all day...we do art...we paint nearly everything, from our hands and feet...and face painting...to leaves, and rocks, and even our door! We go outside for nature walks and run after butterflies...and go exploring for bugs, pretty flowers, and dance under the showering trees! We fly on the swings and zip down the slides. We practice our bird calls and pretend we are the garden growing sunflowers. We have spontaneous marching bands and dance parties...and we sing, oh my days, we sing and dance, and dance and sing. And then we lay down on the carpet, the grass, the sidewalk to read stories, have an impromptu snack picnic, trace our bodies with chalk or just watch the clouds and birds go by...sometimes we'll even see a helicopter fly by! I get to come up with fun games to learn our colors, numbers, and shapes...all through play. And at the end of the day, I get hugs and honis from every single one of my kids with farewell words of  I'll miss you, I can't wait to come back tomorrow, I had fun today, lets do that again! I'm not saying that working with the younger generation is always fun and laughter...easy, but I am saying that the happy moments will always outweigh the hardships (at least for me). And I am thankful for each one of the little bodies that come through my door. Not only for them, but for their whole family as well. 

And my co-workers. I get to work with an amazing group of people. I have a boss that cares for the well-being of myself and those who work with me. I am blessed that I not only can call my co-workers, co-workers...but friends. We may not always see eye-to-eye...but we respect each other...and every single one of them will willingly jump in to help another whenever one of us needs help...with work, or in our personal lives as well. We are there for each other. I have come to realize that finding a job where you can get along with every single on of your co-workers is rare...and I am blessed that I work in a place that I can count on my co-workers to help me, support me, encourage me, and just be friends with. Yes, I love my job.

And there are million other "small" things that are "big" things that make my life so worth living. I am blessed to be able to realize that I have such an awesome life...and I can find the silver lining when things get rough. My life is far...super far...from perfect (and I know this all sounds cliché), but it's because my life isn't perfect I can see the "perfect" little things that make my life SO worth be here for. And for that, I am thankful for.



Just a quick list of only SOME of the things that I am thankful for. I know that I am going to leave SO MUCH out...but still...

• mornings
• by the water
• sunrise
• stickers
• subscription boxes/packages
• Amazon and Target (free shipping to Hawai'i!!)
• rainbows
• washi tape
• stationary paper
• pens
• my fish
• elephants
• candy
• chocolate
• gummy candies
• sour candies
• jellybeans
• my car
• slippers
• summer dress (year round if I really wanted too!)
• living in "Paradise"
• my "corner of the world" (my studio)
• clear skies
• stars
• clouds
• chai tea/latte
• wintermelon boba drink (Taste Tea!)
• postcards 
• so VERY thankful for the postcrossing program!
• post-its/stickies
• make-up 
• lipsense
• nailpolish (is that considered make-up?!)
• Lovely smelling bath gel
• Dragon Fruit
• Envy Apples
• Blueberries
• scented candles
• planners
• warm rain
• music
• lots and lots and lots more and more and more!!

But most importantly, I am thankful for my God, who loves me more than I can even fathom-no matter what I do, no matter how far I stray, no matter what happens...He will ALWAYS have my back and I trust He will never give up on me. And I am so thankful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE, I pray you have a beautiful day filled with family, love, happy moments and YUMMY FOOD! 

(Okay, now, f'realz, I have to get ready to go to my sisters house to be bombarded with hugs and kisses from my niece and nephew! Can't really complain!)

...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

My Dollgirl, her elephant.

My DollGirl went on a trip and she didn't want me to be lonely, so she gave me one of her stuffed animals to stay with me. I am very picky with the stuffed animals that I keep with me...and I couldn't say no to her. I was going to miss her too, and so I decided to keep this cute elephant with me while she was gone.

She gave me specific instructions to make sure I cuddle with it when I go to sleep so that I won't be lonely.

Of course, when she comes back from her trip, I will return it to her and tell her that when I come over to her house, I will sleep with it when I take a nap with her! *laughs* I miss this little girl so much. I love her.

Valentine Prepping.

So as I a teacher, I like to give my Lil' Darlings a treat for certain holdiays, and of course, this Valentines day is no different! This year, I saw these CUTE and adorable robot valentines at Target and I couldn't help but get them for my kids! I also observed that my keikis have a thing for bubbles, so I couldn't help but buy them miniature bubbles. And I have to say that I love love love Sweethearts candy...and so I feel that because I love all these things I hope my keikis love it all as well!

And I just had to post this cute little guy! I had to drop my DollGirl off at home after school and when we opened the door, this little guy came running up to to us and this is him waiting for us as we were opening the door. I love it. I just love this cute face!

Before the pen: Feb. 13-Feb. 19.

This makes me happy! This is going to be a short week for me since I will have Monday off for President's Day. But I already know that this will e another eventful week! And I'm ready for it!!





Planner {love} Passion Planner
Planner Sticker Kit {love} Design Sticker Store
Stickers {love} PIpsticks& personal stash & my own

After the pen: Feb. 06-Feb. 12.

Ice cream is most definitely cheaper than therapy! just sucks that I am [in what it seems like a never ending cycle of getting] sick, mix that in with the whole vog ladidahs and its just plain misery! These past two weeks have been very draining, bu I'm still holding my head up and smiling...and that's all that really matters, right?!?






Planner {love} Passion Planner
Planner Sticker Kit {love} BEaYOUtiful Planning
Stickers {love} StickiiClub & personal stash & my own

Out-going postcards.

This postcard is going a photography loving young lady named Lucie who lives in the Czech Republic. I decided to decorate her postcard with flowers, since she said that she enjoyed flowers and also cameras. I hope she likes it!

This beautiful ocean postcard will be traveling to Russia to a young lady named Victoria. She mentioned that she liked anime, and so I hope that she likes the decoration that I used for her postcard!