MAN ON A MISSION

Travis is doing extremely well on his Mission. His letters home speak of deeper sense of spiritually, a joyful sense of gratitude for his blessings and a love for the Spanish language that he is trying to master.Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who are searching for it is  a journey that he is finding true joy and he is humble and grateful.I have never been more proud of him .....

CALLED TO SERVE

This is my oldest son Travis, today we are celebrating him as he has been called to serve a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Spokane, Washington , Spanish speaking Mission.He will arrive at the MTC in Salt Lake City on April 28, 2010. He will serve for 24 months and will be serving in the areas of Northeast Washington, Northern Panhandle of Idaho and Montana and parts of the Canadian border.
Travis is extremely thrilled for his call to serve.

We couldn't be happier, prouder and anymore grateful for this wonderful young man of 19, who has the desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who are searching .

Travis finished High school  in 2009 as well as achieving his Eagle Scout.Travis works full time for a local construction firm. Being outside, building things and getting dirty is in his top ten of favorites, he will miss the surfing and of coarse his friends. In his spare time he coaches Cheer for BYU Hawaii 2010. Travis plans to return from his Mission and attend the school of his choice , play football and look to his future to share it with someone special. I am Happy to report he is leaving very single!!
We are so very glad he has his goals set and that he is open to all  of his possibilities. My heart is tender for this young man in my life. He reflects all the qualities that are important to me .I can only hope and pray that I have given him the tools, values and spiritual desires to face life with courage, integrity and a knowledge of who he is. I am honored to be his Mother . I love you Travis, my son.

The Deep end of the Pool

I have to say that I use the analogy of a swimming pool in reference to life's issues that I experience.I have to dedicate this post to my dearest friend Holly M. She shared this gift with me for Valentines Day and I must say it left me with a desire to dog paddle a little longer in the deepest part of my pool of life. This book is not for those who hang out in the shallow end of the pool, although it may help you to have the courage to swim a little deeper!

She sent me this book, a true story of a Breast Cancer survivor...written by Kim Rives and found on Amazon.com
This true story is really thought provoking and certainly gives hope to all of us, especially those who have to walk the path of Cancer. I hope you will take the time to read Kim's story. I emailed her and told her that there was no way I could repay her for the knowledge of hope and Faith that she shares in her story, but that I would honor her story by sharing it with those I love.
I like to keep my word, so here it is
 this is my gift to all of you fabulous friends that share my blog world out there.I hope you take the opportunity to read about Kims experience with life and near death. It is life changing...or at the very minimum thought provoking!

All my Aloha

PERSEVERANCE

thomaskincade.com

In Perseverance; thunder crashes, sails billow, waves toss the fragile boat. We see that the clouds are about to break. The sea will calm; the sailor's perseverance will soon be rewarded by a return to God's safe heaven. Perhaps this painting can assure each of us that if we can simply persevere, God's hand of love will soon disperse each storm.

- Thomas Kinkade

I happen to own this painting in my Art collection..., I love it! I was first drawn to this piece because of my love for the sea and sailing with my Father.So it has a double meaning for me.. It seems to me that our lives are very much like the boat in this painting, if you look very closely on the back of the boat it is named Faith, and you can see the light inside of the boat and it has a glow. When you have the painting under a dimmer light, depending on the bright light or a low light determines if the boat is sailing into a storm at sunset or sailing out of a storm at daylight... I just love it, aren't we all sailing in or out of storms in our lives? It is not the storm that is important, but how we weather it...right? The rub in life seems to be that none of us really ever want to be in a storm.Clear weather and calm seas is the forecast I like! If all we ever get is good weather, how will we grow?, how will be be able to "Persevere" and become stronger,heartier,deeper, someone of substance.?
Now, I don't go looking for storms either, but you know as well as I do that a storm is bound to show up sometime!! so....
 I hope you will consider" Perseverance" in your next storm...I have this painting hung where I can look at it everyday in my room. You know, I am writing this blog for my Children and their posterity so that  maybe, they will get to know a little bit about me through my eyes and thoughts and feelings about life and my love for them. I wonder who will end up with this Painting of mine, years from now? I hope they have a chance to read this post in my published memoirs of my personal journey..it's on my" List",then they will know a little more about what is behind this simple painting of a boat and the Sea and what it meant to me.
Did I mention that when I brought my husband to look at the painting at the T.K. Gallery he bought it on the spot for me? He knew my love for sailing and for my Dad, so he didn't hesitate. Thank You Al for loving me enough to honor me with this painting...I Love You

So here is the essay I wrote about my Father that was published in my College literary magazine,THE DELTA WINDS,San Joaquin Delta College,CA. I was just happy to pass the class, never thought this would be my first publishing, and hopefully not my last! I am honored to share it with you...Aloha

My Favorite Gift ...

This Tile was made by my youngest daughter Makinsee, she is 11 almost 12.
You see I started a tradition with my children from the first moment they started school. As they would be ready to exit the car and walk into school as kindergartners, I would say"Remember who you are" and then I would say "Who are you"? and they would smile or grin and say "A Child of God" "bye Mom"
That is how I began every day dropping them off at school or where ever they were going .It became a ritual that I have always continued. Now that Al works from home a lot he takes the kids to school and lets me sleep in. So I do not have those moments with them as often. So on Christmas morning as we were all opening gifts, I was quiet and very tired but enjoying the Christmas fun taking place. Makinsee handed me her gift and as I opened it...I broke out in tears...her sweet spirit of kindness and love towards me just knocked me off my feet...and I was already sitting!!! I wish my camera was better to really show you the tile, but I thought it was most important to share this gift on my blog since it is my family journal. Makinsee reminded me that these few words we would share meant something to her and it meant something to me.How I loved this Gift, the special reminder, As a Mother, I live for these moments and she reminded me of who I am. I hope we can all go into the 2010 New Year remembering who we are...Aloha

Missionary Maddness

Ok, here are a few shots from our Missionary home comming with Nana.She really had a wonderful time in SLC ,we were able to attend here mission reunion for North Chicago in Provo, dinner with family in SLC and more family up in the Canyon in SLC,shopping at Steinmart and rounding it out with General conference, just to name a few highlights, her arrival in Honolulu was a warm salty breeze and clear skies.So good to have her home! this is my October 2009 entry...just a little late !Aloha