The Privelege of Choice

I have never been one that is any good at making decisions. I would rather decisions be made for me. That is nothing new when it came to who I would marry. As a young girl I always felt I would KNOW immediately who I would marry when I met "the one". But my hopes of that were dashed when I received my Patriarchal Blessing in high school. When it came to getting married the blessing said that I would marry, but that I would have to exercise that choice. I never liked that line. I couldn't imagine that there would be anyone to choose from, so why would I have to exercise that choice? I recently read my blessing again and for the first time I noticed a word in that sentence that I had never noticed before in all of the many, many times that I had read my blessing before. It didn't just say that I would have to exercise the choice, it said I would have the PRIVILEGE of exercising that choice. I was still unsure of how it was a privilege. 

Well, it took much longer to even get to the point where there was a possibility of getting married than I thought it would. But the time has come and after nearly a year of dating, breaking up, dating some more...Tim proposed. He proposed on April 5th, 2011. I said yes! I was extremely happy and excited for our life together and I knew that I loved him and he loved me. But soon I was flooded with many doubts and fears. Mainly...I have been alone and independent for a very long time. I am good at being single. I started realizing that once we were married my entire life would change. My things would not be my things, my house not my house, my time not my time. You see Tim has been married before. He has 4 amazing children. He currently lives with his parents. So in my mind there is really no risk that he will be taking that he hasn't either already experienced before or that wouldn't be improving his situation. It all became very overwhelming for me and started making me question my feelings for him and how deep they really were. I spent most of July seeking for answers and feeling that the only way I could move forward is if I were to receive a direct answer from God that I was or was not supposed to marry Tim.

I was getting very frustrated because when I prayed I felt nothing...kind of numb actually and just silence like I wasn't being heard. I was reading a book called 21 Days Closer to Christ...which is a great book, but it didn't seem to be helping me. I was searching for articles about marriage and  how to get answers to prayers, and it seemed like I kept being led to two scriptures in particular...Moroni 7 which is about faith, hope, and charity and the story of doubting Thomas who wouldn't believe that Christ was resurrected until he saw and touched him for himself. Obviously there was a theme there...faith...which I seemed to be lacking. I was a doubting Thomas, but I still couldn't quite figure out what God was trying to tell me. 

Last week everything that happened seemed to push me farther away from Tim and getting married than towards him. From misunderstanding intentions of his family, to questioning his motives and commitment, and feeling extremely overwhelmed by the idea of losing my freedom and my lifestyle (all of which I realize are big fears of mine and quite irrational).  I had tried for the last month or so to shut off the noise and not really talk to anyone about what what going on. At first even Tim, but I realized it wasn't fair to him to leave him out of what I was going through. But there always comes a time when a girl just needs her mom. So I talked to her about what I was going through and what I was thinking. She never really gave me advice, just listened. I was so stressed and overwhelmed by the events of the week and the thoughts that were going through my head that I told her I just wanted to disappear for a while. I was truly at my wits end and ready to throw in the towel. As I was sitting at the hospital for my monthly treatment, I  was playing Words With Friends with my mom and she sent me a message asking if I wanted to know what my dad's advice would be if I asked him for his advice. Knowing my dad is old school, I was pretty sure what his advice would be...but I said 'yes' and she said his advice would be "Marry Him!! You have a great guy that loves you and would do anything in the world for you." That was pretty much exactly what I thought he would say, but my response was that I knew that was true, but I wasn't sure if I loved him enough.

After my treatment was over, I texted Tim to see if he would like to meet for brunch. He said he did, so we met at Village Inn. As we were waiting for our food, he asked me if I felt that I would have the same fears with any other guy. I told him there was no way for me to know that. Maybe another guy wouldn't have all the baggage he has or maybe I wasn't meant to be married. He didn't believe that was true. I told him that after everything that happened this week, if I had to make a decision right at that moment, I would say we needed to go our separate ways. We had planned to go to the Temple that night though, so he asked if we could really focus on being in the Temple and getting the answer that I was looking for that night. I agreed. He said he was going to spend the day in study and prayer to prepare himself to go to the Temple. I was going to work, so I couldn't focus as much of my day on that, but I was still committed to having a prayer in my heart and pondering.

As I left the restaurant, I called my mom and asked her if she felt that my fears were holding me back and getting in the way of getting the answer I was seeking. She said, "honestly, yes I do. I don't want to tell you what you should do, but I feel like you have so many fears and they are the only thing that you can see." I agreed. She also said that dad said, there were so many specific things that had to happen for Tim and I to meet and he was sure it wasn't a coincidence. Again, I agreed.

Later that day at work, I got an email from Tim with a couple of links to articles about "Making the Marriage Decision" and "Confidence to Marry". He was a little nervous to send me the articles because he didn't want me to feel like he was being pushy. I didn't feel that way at all. In fact, I was grateful that he wanted to help and did it in a way that wasn't telling me what to do. So I read the articles the both had answers to the questions I had been asking. I realized there were other people out there that was having the same fears and doubts that I had been having. In "Confidence to Marry" it listed many fears that Latter Day Saints have when contemplating marriage. My main fear was listed which is..."Fear of Lifestyle Change" among others. But at the end of that article was a quote by Elder Holland that held a precious gem especially for me in that moment: “With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence’ [Heb. 10:35]. Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you.”
 
Another message that I got from reading the articles, and probably most important for me to understand, was the message in "Making the Marriage Decision". A woman trying to decide between getting married and going on a mission. She was looking for an awe-inspiring answer to her questions that she heard so many others have. She spoke to her Bishop and he told her if she didn't mind her boyfriend getting married while she was gone then she should go on a mission, but if she did mind, perhaps she should rethink it. So as she was pondering and praying about that advice, the distinct thought or feeling came to her that it was her choice. She said, "Of course it had always been my choice, but this prompting reminded me that I didn’t need to wait for earth-shattering, divine intervention to tell me to marry Jon; I knew we were compatible, I knew I loved him, and I knew marrying him would be a good thing. All that was left was for me to make the choice.

“If it’s my choice,” I thought, “then I choose him.” It was hard to give up the opportunity of a mission, but from that moment on, I was committed, and we started planning for marriage." When I read that, I realized what my patriarchal blessing was telling me all along about having the "privilege of exercising that choice" of who I would marry. If I didn't exercise that choice then I was not completely making that commitment to doing whatever necessary to make the marriage a happy, healthy relationship.

So what I had been seeking for was always right in front of me: 1. I already knew that I had a good thing and that I would never have said yes to Tim in the first place if I didn't feel it was right. 2. I had 'casted away my confidence' in what I knew to be good. 3. I had the privilege of choosing Tim. God wasn't going to make that decision for me no matter how much I wanted him to. It would do me no good at all for him to tell me I was supposed to marry Tim because if I didn't make that choice then I wouldn't be able to fully commit to him. 

I can't tell you what a weight was suddenly lifted from my shoulders. I felt a lightness that I hadn't felt for months. My headache suddenly eased and the stress I hold in my jaw relaxed. I knew that I had gotten my answers. 

Free agency is such a huge blessing. It is what we fought for before we came to earth. It is what we still value above all things in this country...freedom to choose. I choose Tim Ryan Dale. He is a great man who loves me and who I love. We will work together to make things work and to make our lives happy and fulfilling.

That night in the Temple I was blessed with another gem of understanding. In the creation it says, "they would multiply and replenish the earth and find joy in their posterity...and they would feel the full measure of their creation." It really hit me that without getting married and having children I would never be able to experience the "full measure of my creation".  What a blessing! I know I am meant to be a wife and mother and I want to be that with Tim by my side. 

To eternity and beyond...

The Promise of Enough

 Once again, I started a post back in December and didn't finish it...but I like the thoughts that I expressed while reading this book. I am actually reading it again with my fiancée Tim, so if I have any other thoughts, I will add them.

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I have been reading a book by Emily Freeman called "The Promise of Enough: Seven Principles of True Abundance". It has given me a lot to ponder upon. For example, what is my role in this vast world. Am I meeting my divine potential? How can I have a more abundant life?





I am on a plane flying home for Christmas and I look out the window and behold this beautiful sight and wonder...how could anyone doubt that there is a God and that he loves us and has a plan for each of us? He /knows us personally and is the only one that knows our true potential. How can I not believe I have a lot to offer when God knows full well what it is I have inside of me.

True abundance is not measured by things or wealth. It is measured through the understanding of God's will. It is believing in your own potential and what you have to offer. It is not having all you can imagine you would ever want or need, but exactly enough of what you truly need whether you know you need it or not.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Season of Family Love

I spoke in church last week and thought I would post my talk. This subject gave me time to consider the reason for the season and I was filled with gratitude for my family for teaching me the true meaning of Christmas, but especially to my Savior and King. He was born, He live his life in service and teaching, He died for me and all mankind, and He lives again.

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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “At the focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched – none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph – and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby – that’s how Christmas began.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Dec. 1977, 63-65).

My earliest memories of Christmas are not of Santa Claus, but of the sacred account of the Savior’s birth given in Luke. I attended an LDS based kindergarten when I was 4-5 years old. I had a big family and was the second to last of 7 kids and my mom was pregnant with her 8th child. That year our school was putting on a Christmas program and I was so excited because I had the biggest most important part of all…Luke 2:1-20. “And it came to pass in those days there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed…” Well, I’m sure you’ve heard it. I had just turned 5 years old and I worked every day on memorizing all 20 verses. By the time the day of the pageant arrived (Dec. 14th), I was ready. I had every word down pat. Suddenly, my world was flipped upside down…my mom went into labor and my dad had to take her to the hospital. I couldn’t believe it…I was going to miss the whole pageant. I was devastated! As a 5 year old, I couldn’t understand how getting another kid was more important than seeing me perform in my Christmas Pageant. After all, they already had 7 of them.

A couple of days later, my parents came home with my baby sister. I honestly didn’t want much to do with her seeing as she was the whole reason I missed my pageant. But there was one thing I could look forward to…Christmas at grandma and grandpa’s house. We went every year. I loved everything about it…Talent show, Santa Claus and my favorite, the nativity. Little did I know that a new tradition would be started that year…I would get to recite my part after all but this time it would be with everyone I loved watching me. In my little 5 year old heart, I knew Jesus was watching me too…after all, I was telling His story. From that time forward up to this day, it is my job to tell His story. I don’t have it completely memorized still, but it will always be near to my heart and my favorite of all scripture passages. Looking back on that Christmas, I realize that the best gift of all was my wonderful family and especially my baby sister. It was only fitting that she come during that special time when I, in my earliest of recollections, discovered the true meaning of Christmas and that Christmas started with a family and a baby.

Throughout the rest of my childhood, I looked forward to Christmas more and more each year. It was never the presents but the fun that my family had being and serving together and remembering the true meaning of this special day. From my brothers plotting to catch Santa to the 12 days of Christmas for which we would secretly leave gifts at the doorstep of several families in our ward. Christmas is about families, and serving, and carrying the message of baby Jesus to those around us. It is about faith and hope that his life and atonement saved us all so that we could be together forever and return to his presence. It is about a king born in the most humblest of circumstances.

7 And she brought forth her afirstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the aglory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a asign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth bpeace, good will toward men.



I think it is pretty safe to say for many of us that we don’t remember the gifts we received over the years at Christmas time, but the feelings we had.

President Harold B. Lee has said that it is what our hearts tell us that we can believe, and we will remember what we feel.

Sister Elaine Cannon added, “The most memorable family experiences at Christmas will be those that touch the heart and enrich the spirit. What a family feels together will weld them in an eternal way.”

It is no wonder why my most vivid of childhood memories stem around this precious sacred time of year. Times with family and in the service of others. Things that have touched my heart and enriched my spirit. Lessons learned through the giving of gifts rather than receiving them. Lessons taught by loving parents and siblings and grandparents, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. Gifts we can give to our Savior as we celebrate his birth.

In a message given by President James E. Faust in Dec. 2001 he said, “Anciently the three Wise Men came from afar to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. Would it not be marvelous this Christmas if we could personally give gifts to the Savior? I believe this is possible to do.

Said Jesus:

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. …

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:31, 34–40).

I pray that we might all have one of those Christmases which we will remember for a lifetime because of the way we felt by sharing time with our loved ones, or being of service to someone in great need or lifting the spirits of someone who is down trodden. These are the true gifts of Christmas. These are the gifts our Savior has taught us to give. It is his birth we celebrate.

“But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby – that’s how Christmas began.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Dec. 1977, 63-65).






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Christmas and Candy Canes

Christmas this year has been a bit of a struggle for me. I'm sure I am not the only person that has had years where it has been more difficult to come by feeling the Christmas spirit. I grew up with a family that made Christmas so exciting and mysterious and adventurous. From plotting ways to meet Santa to family plays to giving the perfect surprise to making it to Christmas morning with all of my surprises still intact. But this year...no matter how many Christmas songs I listened to, stories I heard, lights I saw...I just couldn't bring myself out the Christmas funk I was in.

Then I went home and spent Christmas with my mom, dad, grandpa, and Kattie, Ryan and their kids. Christmas is always more fun with kids around. They still have so much hope and excitement for life and for Christmas. My favorite part of this Christmas was watching my little 1 year old neice Mali. Her favorite gift for Christmas was her candy canes that were in her stocking and everyone elses. It wasn't all about the toys...she really could care less. she wandered around the room gathering up candy canes. It just made me realize, Christmas is simple. It's about finding joy in little things.

I know this post is a little old, but for some reason I never posted it so since Christmas is upon us again I thought it was a good reminder. Happy Holidays everyone!

A whole new world...

It's amazing how fast life can change and how fast you can adapt to that change. I have been in Arizona now for 10 months. I can't believe how fast time flies. In that time I have moved twice, but the second time was the last for a long time because I was able to buy a home!! I LOVE IT!! I never believed that I would ever have my own place. I just goes to show that great things can happen when you take a leap of faith. Not only have my circumstances changed, but I have changed...I believe for the better. I believe in myself and I know I can do anything I put my mind to. I am the master of my own fate and the captain of my soul with the Lord as my compass. I know I can't do anything without his guidance.

The Inevitible Change?

I do agree with the statement that "change is inevitable", but is it always, or do we just subject ourselves to change as a way to force ourselves to grow. It is usually uncomfortable and terrifying and most definitely extremely difficult. For me it comes with many fears; the fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of rejection, etc. etc. etc. Change is about conquering those fears and realizing the true potential that lies within what I perceive sometimes as a troubled undeserving soul. The greatest change within myself is in realizing that I am deserving of great things and that I do have potential beyond what I have ever given myself allowance to believe in.

So the change I face today is one that I have wanted to make for years now, but because of those fears I have never sought out the opportunity for it. It will be a grand adventure. Moving to a place where I know very few people and me, always feeling like I am no one without my friends and family, will have to learn how to be "okay" with me, myself and I. So Arizona, here I come!! Away from the cold and pain that comes along with winter for me. Starting a new chapter. I really have nothing to lose. I have my job, my family and friend's support, my best friend only lives a couple hours away. I am ready...finally ready for the inevitable change that has been a long time coming.

The best of times with the best of friends!

15 years! Holy smokes...I can't believe I have had the privilege of being friends with her for so long. There are many amazing things about Judy; her sense of humor, her even keel personality, she is as loyal as life is long, and she has put up with me for over 15 years!

The thing that I love most about her though is that she has never changed over all those years. I have always been able to count on knowing that no matter what I can call her and she never seems to miss a step. She tells me all about her family, I about mine. When time and money permit we take vacations to visit each other. In fact...I am sitting at the Tucson, AZ airport waiting for my flight to head back to Salt Lake after a long weekend with Judy and her family. What an amazing family! It is such a privilege and a blessing to be able to associate with them and to feel a part of it all. For them to disrupt their lives and let me come and spend some time with them is so amazing. I flew in on Thursday afternoon and spent that evening with Judy and the boys (J, G, and T). Being a single woman it is so fun for me to be able to participate with her and her family. It is a completely different world and though I am sure I would be no good at it, it is nice to leave my life behind for a few days to be with family...they aren't blood, but they are my family. In fact...everywhere we go, people ask us if we are sisters. I don't know if it is that we really do look alike or that we have known each other for so long that it just seems that we are related to those who don't know us. In any case...she is my sister.

Friday night Judy and I had a girl's night out and went to the Texas Roadhouse for some ribs and rolls! YUMMMM! I know it was a treat for Judy because it is very rare that she can get out

without the family to a more expensive restaurant. She seemed to enjoy it and the food was AMAZING! After 15 years of being friends, there is an awful lot of reminiscing to do whenever we get together. What a JOY to be able to spend one-on-one time with your best friend!

After dinner we went to a movie and to the mall to do some shopping. Honestly the movie wasn't that great, but no matter what...it was just fun to spend time with my friend.

We also had a bit of time before the movie so we browsed the mall and found a good deal on sunglasses...buy 2 get one free. So we each bought a pair of sunglasses. The picture is of us in front of the Texas Roadhouse Trailer trying to take a self-portrait. It didn't turn out too bad...but did I mention yet that I get my braces off in December!! (can't wait)!

Saturday J and G had soccer games, so we all got up bright and early headed to the fields. J was up first and MAN IS HE GOOD!! He scored 4 of the 5 points that his team put up and probably would have scored more if he hadn't tried

to get his teammates involved. It was really fun to watch him in action. J is very smart and loves sports. He is such a good kid and a good example to all of his friends. Everyone loves Jensen!

G was next and his team was 4-5/6 year olds. He

was the oldest on his team, but definitely the best and was able to score 3 goals! He did such a great job! G is a lot like his mom when it comes to sports. He is so easy going and usually doesn't really care too much about what is going on, but he really got aggressive and played really hard. He is such a loving sweet kid! Always helpful and fun to be around. He also is a great swimmer.

This is T. He is my buddy! I mean look at that face!

How can you NOT love this kid?!? Plus, he loves me so that makes it easy. He is my little man! I am a sucker for men who ask to snuggle and like their backs scratched and who gives great squeezes around the neck and kisses on the cheeks. Heck, if I could find one that was my age and did all those things, he would be my dream man!

After the soccer games and lunch and swimming in the pool, Judy and I were able to go to the nail salon to get pedicures. It was her treat for an early birthday gift! It was just perfect! Massage chairs, warm foot baths, foot scrubs and leg and foot massages. It was HEAVEN! Thanks for my birthday gift Judy Lynn! I loved it!

Sunday was a great day of relaxing and enjoying time with the family. I got to chill with G and play games on my iPhone with him, just me and him while T was taking a nap and J was reading his books. I love these kids like they are my own nieces and nephews.

Most of all I am just blessed to have Judy as a friend. I seriously can't believe we have been friends for 15 years! Judy, you are a saint for putting up with me for so long. I know I haven't always been deserving of it, but you stuck with me and have always been there for me.

I also have to give a big shout out for Jason. You are so great to welcome me into your home and let me steal some time away with Judy for girl stuff. I appreciate it so much. Thank you for our football chats and letting me beat you in Settlers (it was pure skillz, bro!!)

I have put together a few collages from my trip. Hope you enjoy.

Judy and Callie

Mr. T.

G Man

J Dawg

Nearly one year later...

So my good friend Tawny gave me her blog address today and it made me think about my own long forgotten and neglected blog. So I logged in for the first time in nearly a year and read the couple of posts that I had made before I had given up on it. Whether or not anyone else has ever read it, it was fun to go back and remember what was going on in my life. So I have decided to give it another shot.

There is an awful lot that has happened in the last year, there is no way to tell all, so I will just give a few highlights and milestones.

November 19th, 2008 I started my job with Mountain America CU. I must say for the first few months it was extremely challenging. I started with a manager that didn't really give me much direction or impart any knowledge on my behalf, but after a few (what felt like eternal) months management decided to roll a few heads and we ended up with a very good situation. Me still with a job and a new manager that is GREAT! I've learned so much and have become actually pretty darn good at my job if I do say so myself!! Lesson learned: change is hard and scary, but there is but necessary and rewarding.

Next milestone...I got braces on at the end of January! YIKES!! I have always wanted braces, but really...c'mon people! They are a pain!! Luckily I have an amazing Orthodontist in my brother-in-law Rod and he has been great! In fact...he had originally said that I would have to have them on for 14-18 months and now he is amazed at how quickly my teeth have moved and cooperated so I am sure I will be breaking a record of some type by being able to get my braces off in less than one year! Yes, that's right...I will no longer be brace face by December! That is all the Christmas present I will need. Lesson Learned: It pays to keep your appointments with your Orthodontist. 11 months baby!!

This is a picture of me, my braces, and my mom on Mother's day. I wasn't planning on going home, but that morning I just really needed to see my mom, so I got in my car and took off. I got home right after she got home from church and she was working on dinner for dad, grandpa, and herself. I walked in and she had the most surprised, beautiful look on her face! It was so much fun to be able to surprise her and spend that day with her! As, I was giving her a hug, it brought a tear to my dad's eyes...awe what a softy! I loved that day! It was a perfect day!

Lesson learned: When you need your mom...you need your mom! Don't take for granted any moment you get to spend with those you love.

My Grandpa turned 90 in April! He is such an amazing man! I love him! What a Legacy of faith, longevity, compassion, love, sacrifice and devotion he has been to me! I know that he misses Grandma so much and yet he continues to live his

life and bless us all with his presence and wisdom.

He amazes me! I love going home and going out to his Green House to look at his garden and being able to get fresh peas and green beans. I don't know of another person that can grow such a beautiful garden from the seat of his Jazzy. What do I ever have to complain of? 90 years seems like an extremely long time, but in the whole scheme of things that is merely a wink and he has lived life every day! No complaining, no question.

Lesson Learned: Life is hard, but it is so much harder if you don't live it and find the joy in it. Every moment spent growing presents more moments of joy.

Well, that pretty much does it....Oh wait...one last thing...

I get to go to Tucson to see my best friend Judy Lynn and I leave in 2 days. I am so excited! This will be the 3rd time I will have been able to go visit her and her family since they moved to Tucson. I am so blessed to have such good friends. I look at the friends that I have in my life and believe that they are most definitely an extension of my family. Each one makes me stronger, each one brings joy to my life and each one has such a special place in my life. I wouldn't be who I am without the friends that I have been blessed with along the way. There are no words to express how much I appreciate my friends! Lesson Learned: Good friends are like a baby's blanky...once you find one you like you don't want to let it go. They bring comfort, joy, guidance and when you need it...tough love.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Almost Paradise? Nope, actual Paradise!!

Okay...so I am really not good at this blogging thing yet. I went to Hawaii at the beginning of November and am just getting around to posting about it. I guess it really doesn't matter to anyone but me anyway, right ;)

So, here I was...in paradise with some great friends. Kelly, Lynn, Mark and Shannon. We went stayed on the beautiful "Garden Island" of Kauai. It is such a beautiful place!! I have been there before, but this trip was completely different from the first time I went. It was so relaxing, and boy did I need to relax!! We stayed in a condo called Pono Kai in Kapaa. The grounds were so beautiful and it we were very close to the beach on the East side of the island. So each morning...since my bed was so hard...I was able to go for a walk along the beach and watch the sun rise. I also got to observe the living habits of sand crabs. They were so fascinating!!

Kelly, Mark and I arrived on October 29th and picked up our Mustang Convertable from the Airport. We drove to our condo and got checked in then went to the grocery store and did some shopping. Lynn was flying in later that night and was picking up another car so we would have two cars so we had the freedom we needed to go and come as we pleased. If you ever go to Hawaii with a small group of friends I highly recommend getting two cars!! Shannon was flying in the next evening, so Kelly and I planned to catch a luau and the guys picked Shannon up from the airport. But that morning Mark and Lynn wanted to go on a hike. It was a hike that according to the guide book would "most definitely end in failure". Kelly and I were willing to see what it was all about so we followed Mark and Lynn to the trail head. This is what we found when we got there...

So there we were...knowing that in the end it would most certainly end in failure, so Kelly and I decided to go up the road where we had seen an actual trail and Mark and Lynn went on their merry little way. And of course it later ended in failure...they met up with the river again and there was no way around or across it. We are all happy that they know when to quit while they are ahead!!

That night was the night of the Luau. It was at the Hilton in Poi Pu. So Kelly and I made our way to Poi Pu...after only a few wrong turns we made it. It was a beautiful drive! We arrived a little early and while we were waiting to get in we were served the most delicious fruit punch I had ever tasted. It looks pretty amazing too! I also ran into an old roommate of mine...It was crazy!! Alyce was married in May I believe. I hadn't seen her for YEARS and I ran into her in Hawaii!!

Our host had quite the amazing mulet going on. I had to get a picture of it. Of course the food was great and the dancers were a lot of fun!

We went back to Poi Pu the next day with the guys. We saw things like the Spouting Horn (a blow hole that would spout water into the air when waves came in). The guys wanted to go snorkeling, so we went to the beach for a while. Kelly and I didn't stay long we had seen a botanical garden that we wanted to go see, so we went to the garden and saw some pretty amazing plants and flowers, and humoungous spiders!! They were pretty cool though. Their webs were so strong they were bending branches. It was crazy! After the garden, Kelly and I went back to town and did some shopping and played some tennis. It was a perfect day!

That day was Halloween and I'm guessing that is why the restaurant we went to that night was completely empty besides us. We met up with the guys for dinner and caught up on the day's events. I was teasing Shannon about something and he said, "You're as bad as Mark and Lynn teasing me about hiking with my umbrella today." WHAT?!?!? Who hikes with umbrellas I ask you. Well we all got a great laugh out of that one...per the pictures I am sure you can see why. Lynn was laughing so hard he actually rolled on the floor of the restaurant. It was very funny, and quite odd, but like I said we were the only ones there so what they hay! Right?

The next day we hiked the Napali coast to Hanakapiai beach and then went on farther to the waterfall. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It is hard to explain exactly how beautiful it is. Even the pictures don't do it justice. The drive there itself was breathtaking. We drove through Hanalei (the town where Pete and his dragon lived). We saw the lighthouse, Hanalei, the coast, the beach, the waterfall...everything about it was amazing! The hike was a little over 8 miles round trip. It was a difficult and slippery hike, but it was so worth it! I was starting to get cramps in my feet on the way back so I practically ran the whole way back because I knew if I stopped someone would have to carry me out and I being the big girl I am...that was not going to happen. Like I said the trail was really slippery and poor Kelly fell about 6 times. I had to get a picture of her wounds. Shannon took a fall into the river as we were crossing right before the beach. Poor guy was freezing! When we got to the waterfall, I was even brave enough to go into the water. I was freezing, but I quickly got used to it and once I got out I felt much warmer than before. So the trip back was great because I felt nice and toasty. At the end of the hike I was so sore I could barely walk. But like I said...it was worth every bit of the pain.

“I’m a school boy full of joy” ;)

The next day was Sunday and it was also my birthday! We went to church (conveniently right across the street from our condo). The guys wanted to go to the "Grand Canyon of Hawaii" and go on another hike. My foot was still not feeling well from the hike the day before, so Kelly and I decided we would like to go back to Hanalei and do some shopping and get a closer look at the lighthouse (it was closed when we went through the day before). It was such a nice relaxing day! I couldn't have asked for more. We shopped in the cute shops, ate at a little cafe, and on our way back we stopped at the beach to walk in the water. We then went drove up to the scenic views of two water falls...the Wiamea and one that started with an "O" (I can't remember the name of it). Then we went back to the condo and just chilled for a while.

Halalei Lighthouse

overlook from the lighthouse

Hanalei church

Wiamea Falls

That night the guys barbequed steaks and made dinner for my birthday! They were so sweet. They made sure that I didn't do anything towards the dinner. It was all very sweet. I felt so pampered! Dinner was delicious! They also had bought me a cake the night before and it was in our fridge! I was so clueless. I didn't even notice it! It was a nice treat!!

For another great surprise, Kelly handed me a card that said that for my birthday they had all chipped in to go on a kayak tour the next day! I was so excited!!! I have always wanted to do that!!!

After the kayaking portion of the trip, we went on a hike to two different waterfalls. The guys decided to take a dip and test the waters out for themselves. We had a lady and her husband in our group that was driving us crazy. From the get go she was throwing a fit because she didn’t want to go. It was a surprise from her husband. She had perfect white tennis shoes on and her husband had boat shoes. They were not prepared for the hiking…it was very muddy and slippery. She delayed us at every turn. Ugh! She was probably in her 20s and her husband was probably in his 50s or 60s. Can you say “Sugar Daddy”. Maybe she found him on SugarDaddy.com! I had to take a picture of her because just looking at her you would know that she wasn’t meant to be in the outdoors.

So, there you have it...my very long blog about my trip to paradise. If all of my blogs take this long...I am sure this will be my last. I better start making them short and sweet.