Being Rooted & More

Guess what? I finished the school year at the high school on Friday! Yay! As much as I adore my job, summer break always comes at just the right time! I'll keep teaching online through the summer, but am greatly looking forward to catching up on my home projects and playing with Blakely tons more!

 credit: google.com--quiltingbooklady.blogspot.com

Alice Cooper is still playing in my head as I enjoy this Memorial Day so peacefully (knowing I don't have to do any lesson planning tonight!).

How's your weekend been so far?

Blakely took her first (really) hard fall on Friday in Old Navy (yikes--cement floors). I'm still reeling from it. It's been over 48 hours since her tumble and she seems to be fine! Praise God for keeping angels around her precious head! This snapshot is from the park today--she is her same joyful self. :)

Saturday, Tim, B, and I drove up to Camp Waianae. It's gorgeous! Really, I think Waianae may be one of the most astounding places in this world. 

 credit: Camp Waianae's myspace page

My dear friends and pastors of the middle school ministry (Jan & Dave) invited me to speak to the middle schoolers at their camp. I'm always humbled and honored when I get to share what God puts on my heart with young people. The theme of the camp was Rooted.

The main verse for the camp was Colossians 2:6-7 (So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness).

I was blessed and inspired by my dear friend Patsy, who recently shared Jeremiah 17:7-8 with me (But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit).

I won't re-hash my message here. The above scriptures are beautiful as they are! I will share this cutesy tree image that I found and love! I know I need to keep growing my roots as well!

My mission this summer (on a very personal level):
1. To be still (my life verse--psalm 46:10)
2. To have no worries (pray about everything; worry about nothing)
3. To grow in my knowledge and love (for Jesus)

Happy Memorial Day! Love to you! xoxo

credit: weheartit.com

To those who have served, who continue to serve, and who will serve our country in such a tangible way--Thank you--from the bottom of my heart. (I love you, Andy!)


Pho and Daddy's Bday Post (love, Blakes)

Today Blakes and I met up with Tim and his coworkers for his birthday lunch.
Tim knew that I was craving pho (ever since Chris and Amber brought take-out pho into our house a few months back). So to Pho 808 we went!

Have y'all had pho? It's a Vietnamese noodle soup--broth based, stocked with veggies & lean meats, low in fat, low in calories. Just my kind of bowl of ethnic goodness!

photo credit: http://tipdeck.com/how-to-make-pho

For more on pho, check out this brief memoir from an SF Gate's writer. It's worth a skim!

Needless to say, Hawaii is brimming with delicious little hole-in-the-wall type Asian cuisine. Previously I posted about stumbling upon the one-on-a-kind yakiniku. It's still high on my list to try out shabu-shabu.

Okay--back to Tim's birthday. It was a week ago Wednesday. I did a quick bday post for my lovebug, but I wrote that B still wanted to post for her daddy. Here is what she had in mind...

Dear Daddy--

One year ago, I missed you terribly when you were away on your birthday. I sent you these pictures while you were in Utah for work.

You called my your dragon then--I was just two months old. I sounded kinda like a dragon. Don't worry daddy, I get it. Now... you call me B-Rex. Not cause I sound like a dinosaur, but because I walk like one. I know it's just outta love. Thanks for the nickname! Here's my pic for you from your birthday this year. Now I'm 14 months. Time flies---more for you than me, old man ;).

 Thanks for blowing out the candles on the wooden birthday cake I made you. Anything for you, daddy!

p.s.--Daddy, mama says to tell you that she whooped your akole at Scrabble after I went to bed. Here's the proof (she says).

I love you! xoxo, Blakes (c/o Mama)

A Reason to Celebrate

I love to celebrate and it doesn't take much for me to find a reason to do just that.

Besides traditional occasions, here are a few small events I celebrate:

The end of the school year (or the start of any break)

The end of grading a stack of essays (or a stack of anything)

The Bachelor finale (or really any great season finale)

The premiere of a great chick flick

A visit from a friend

A trip to a new place (day trips count)

Well, really, anything--another sunny day is reason enough for me!

But, this month, I've had some bigger days to celebrate and have loved doing so...even from afar.

Both Mother's Day and Tim's bday called for breakfast in bed!!!

This past Wednesday, Felicity (my soon-to-be-sister-in-law pictured below) graduated from Columbia University in New York with her doctorate in physical therapy. Way to go, Felicity. We are so proud of you!

photo from Felicity's Facebook -- wish I could have snapped this shot myself!

 Earlier this month, my beautiful sister-in-law, Luciena, celebrated her birthday as well! So many fun May birthdays to celebrate!

Photo from YKvision.com

In fact, tomorrow, my sweet sister-in-law, Alicia (my brother's wife) celebrates her birthday! If only we could be with everyone in person. We send our aloha and love!

And...if only we could have been in Pullman a couple of weeks ago when Ricky graduated from WSU with his engineering degree. Talk about five years of hard, dedicated work. Way to go, little bro. We love you!

Photo from Ricky's Facebook--wish I could be in it!

Luke Rose joined this world! Congrats to our dear friends Chris and Amber. Check out this perfect babe!

Another pic "stolen" from Facebook. I can't wait to post pics of me holding Luke when they come visit!

Last night I was honored to help out at graduation for my high school! Tim and Blakely came to take in the excitement and craziness. Hawaii knows how to party!

Here's a huge congratulations to all those high school graduates! You did it!

Picture from postsecret.com -- love that website

And now...I am going to celebrate this moment I have to get Blakely up from her nap and hang out with her... :)

What are you celebrating today?

Happy Birthday My Love

Good morning!

I am so happy today! I love celebrating those I love. Timmy--happy birthday. I love you! Blakely's still sleeping or she'd help me out with this post. I know she'll post later today!

Hey! I think this marks one decade since we first met in that pre-Ecuador travel class. Not that you remember meeting me then... but I sure do ;). I spotted you right away--the cute, quiet freshman with the Northface backpack and bright blue eyes!

Wow...who knew that God would work out our story out like this... I'm so glad He did! I thought you were a pretty cool 18-year-old, but I had no idea you'd be such an incredible 28-year-old (well, I sorta did--I knew just how special and quality you always were). I love you completely.

Happy Birthday dear one!

Thanks to Rachel from Blue Nalu Photography for this photo (from our maternity session)

Bittersweet.

I love words! I often identify with a single word for a certain occasion or season. This past Wednesday was truly bittersweet in every sense of the word. Dictionary.com defines bittersweet as being both painful and pleasant at the same time.

It's pretty much an oxymoron. But that's why I love the word and can embrace that emotion. It's complex. Just like life. And goodbyes.

This is my friend, Abby. And this is our story.

We met at college and lived in the same house.

Starbucks is where we met up. A lot.

We became dear friends.

We did life in Portland together.

We shared heartbreaks and joys.

Wyldlife was a shared ministry passion.

Boys came and went...until a couple stuck. :)

We lived in the Casa de Steinfeld with a beautiful family.

We watched every season of The Bachelor.

We got married (to those boys) and stood up as bridesmaids.

I moved to California.

She moved to Hawaii.

As life would have it (more specifically God), I moved to Hawaii.

Zeke and Tim became surfing buds and good friends.

We had babies.

We kept up on each Bachelor season together.

A new Starbucks we found.

We shared. We prayed. We played.

This past Wednesday we said goodbye--for longer this time.

But, not really--goodbye, lucky for us...it's just aloha.

The painful part is in seeing her off. But, the pleasant part, which weighs much greater, is in knowing what lies ahead for my dear friend and her splendid family.

Bittersweet, right?
You know the emotion, don't you?

Here are some aloha snapshots from last week's aloha dinner.

To Abby (and Z & L): I'll see you soon!!! Aloha!

Mother's Day-- A little Late ;)

To have a mother. To be a mother. To have a mother-in-law.

Wow! I gotta count my blessings!

I know I'm a couple of days late, but per usual, it's been crazy around here (the end of the school year for a high school teacher--crazy is the minimum expected).

1. My Mama:

My heart has been broken. Several times. But just a few that had any significant impact. When my heart is broken--I want one person and one person only--my mama. And that still stands true today.

2. My baby:

Wow. I didn't know how much my own mama loved me until I had one of my own. I mean, I knew she loved me more than I could understand, but I just didn't know what that meant. Well, I do now... Check her out...

3. My Mother-in-Law (although, the "in-law" is too formal for me.... she's really just another mama to me).

How lucky am I to marry into a wonderful family of three boys? I have a talented and loving mother-in-law who welcomes me as her own. I also have a terrific sister-in-law, Luciena, and a another lovely sister-in-law-to-be, Felicity. Truly, I thank God for these gifts.  P.S. --Felicity is tying the knot with Tim's bro Patrick: watch for more blog updates to come. We are SO happy for them!

Blakely looks so much like her Grandma Maureen--it's such a fun blessing! We cherish it daily.

And to my two sisters-in-law, which really, I don't count the "in-law" part at all--they are my sisters--plain and simple.:

Happy First Mother's Day!! xoxo I hope you were blessed and cherished (as I'm sure you were). :)

I love you, Alicia and Luciena!

Did I mention that I'm a dog-mama too? Is that silly? Well, I sure am... Irie and Da Kine are very much a part of our family. They don't rival Blakely in terms of placement, but we love them dearly. 

Happy late Mother's Day. I have so many beautiful, amazing, sacrificial mothers in my life. I am grateful for each of you. I am a better mother because you are in my life. xoxo

GOSPEL Video {worth watching}

G.O.S.P.E.L. from Humble Beast Records on Vimeo.