March 29, 2012
March 28, 2012
Daddy Sang Bass
I used to dream of a man, that would play the guitar and sing for me by the fire. Now, I know that I'm blessed to be married to my best friend, a man that belts a tone deaf melody, and dances an awkward dance, because he loves me.
Jon dances like "Baloo" from the jungle book. He even leans up against rugged surfaces, to itch his back when I'm otherwise occupied. He is hugable and lovable, to me anyway. *If you asked the janitor the other night that he caught sitting in the foyer, instead of vacuuming, he may not agree.* Add to that, his very low bass voice, and I don't even think he can hear what note it's supposed to match three octaves higher. Sometimes, I try and sing alto or tenor so he can hear the notes, but that rarely works.
The thing that makes me grin though, is when he works really hard to hear the lyrics, even though his gun and sound system in his high school Bronco blew them out almost a quarter of a century ago. He usually gets frustrated, mumbles several wrong, but rhyming words, and swats the station to "Love Songs After Dark", because he can hear the sloth-like words, or any hard rock 80's band, because it doesn't really matter what they are saying, and he can screech along with it. It used to bother me, in a sad kind of way (like until last week) that he couldn't sing with me. I love to sing. I am not a great singer, but I love to dance and be free with music. He just sits there and looks blank, like I do when I sit in all the meetings with accountants and lawyers. "How could I marry a man that doesn't LOVE music?" I ask myself on a regular basis. Then again, how could Jon marry a woman that doesn't LOVE to cook? So there you have it. An eye for a hungry eye.
While in Hawaii, I rearranged how I thought about Jon's severe lack of guitar skills. We were cruising along the coast, listening to my music and gazing out at the enormous blue-green ocean. Earlier that day, he had stopped to buy me an ipod adapter for our rental car, and a dock station for our room JUST because he knows how much I love music. I was in heaven, flipping through my songs. As usual,
I couldn't make it all the way through one before picking another. And then it hit me.
*I am going to look for songs that fit into Jon's comfort zone, so he can try and sing with me*
Brilliant. There weren't many options on my play list that fit that large bill, but finally I found the perfectone two, and OH BOY did he sing! After you listen to it, let me know what you think. You CAN laugh, I was busting a gut, because the notes and lyrics...well you'll see, and because he was enjoying it so. If you have read my blog for a while, you will also get the inside joke about walking the line, and Johnny Cash. When I watched that movie, I bawled. The only other movie that was that hard for me was "The pursuit of Happiness."
The second song was just really funny to sing together as well
Jon dances like "Baloo" from the jungle book. He even leans up against rugged surfaces, to itch his back when I'm otherwise occupied. He is hugable and lovable, to me anyway. *If you asked the janitor the other night that he caught sitting in the foyer, instead of vacuuming, he may not agree.* Add to that, his very low bass voice, and I don't even think he can hear what note it's supposed to match three octaves higher. Sometimes, I try and sing alto or tenor so he can hear the notes, but that rarely works.
The thing that makes me grin though, is when he works really hard to hear the lyrics, even though his gun and sound system in his high school Bronco blew them out almost a quarter of a century ago. He usually gets frustrated, mumbles several wrong, but rhyming words, and swats the station to "Love Songs After Dark", because he can hear the sloth-like words, or any hard rock 80's band, because it doesn't really matter what they are saying, and he can screech along with it. It used to bother me, in a sad kind of way (like until last week) that he couldn't sing with me. I love to sing. I am not a great singer, but I love to dance and be free with music. He just sits there and looks blank, like I do when I sit in all the meetings with accountants and lawyers. "How could I marry a man that doesn't LOVE music?" I ask myself on a regular basis. Then again, how could Jon marry a woman that doesn't LOVE to cook? So there you have it. An eye for a hungry eye.
While in Hawaii, I rearranged how I thought about Jon's severe lack of guitar skills. We were cruising along the coast, listening to my music and gazing out at the enormous blue-green ocean. Earlier that day, he had stopped to buy me an ipod adapter for our rental car, and a dock station for our room JUST because he knows how much I love music. I was in heaven, flipping through my songs. As usual,
I couldn't make it all the way through one before picking another. And then it hit me.
*I am going to look for songs that fit into Jon's comfort zone, so he can try and sing with me*
Brilliant. There weren't many options on my play list that fit that large bill, but finally I found the perfect
The second song was just really funny to sing together as well
Marriage is all about "Daddy singin' bass", and "Momma singin' trebble". If we can learn to harmonize, our guitar and culinary skills don't suck quite so bad.
Janae THE Juicer
So here's the thing.
I am an official Juicer. What is that you ask? It is what someone does when they are completely serious about figuring out their health issues. Since I started my journey concerning this a few months ago, I have learned a lot. I have found that hormones have a lot to do with how a human body works. I have gathered every determined bone in my body to perfect the art of swallowing pills. I have gradually gained back energy and strength. Yes, I am most definitely on the path to recovery.
Next stop on this bumpy road? My diet. Now that I feel strong enough to make it through the day,
I need to tackle what I put into this body of mine. While I was in Hawaii, Jon and I watched a video called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead", on netflix. I was told it would change my life, but I didn't quite get how much. Let's just say that Jon and I decided to jump on the juicing band wagon, when we got back home. I would recommend it to anyone, whether you want to juice or not.
Last night, Mr. Jon came home with an impressive looking box, and $180 dollars in fruits and veggies. "My Land! (I don't really say my land) Where do you expect me to put all of this?!" He shrugged his shoulders, and began ripping open the box like it was Christmas. Piece after awkward piece, he unloaded the tightly packed Styrofoam bedding. I think he was ecstatic to finally have an excuse to buy something that was labeled, in big red letters across the box "AS SEEN ON T.V." I always get a kick out of those infomercials, but not Jon. He watches them intently, as if graded at the end.
Next thing I know, we are both chopping every veggie and fruit known to man, looking much like "Edward Scissor Hands". Strawberry greens were a flyin', asparagus jumping back out of the juicer like it was really scared, "oooooooooo" I screeched, "Don't put THAT in there too!" as the carrots took their plunge, purple cabbage made the whole bowl turn a bright beautiful hue, oranges joined in on the fun, the broccoli and cauliflower were a little annoying to get in, but the spinach made up for it.
"THIS IS FUN!
I will use the crock pot and the juicer to cook every meal!" I giggled, and it was obvious that Mr. Jon was extremely proud of his green, tree hugging, fingers. Yes indeed, he not only brought home the bacon, he filled my kitchen with healthy goodness. The bananas were the most stubborn, plugging up the party, like some people I know. Come to find out, banana's don't have any juice in them..go figure. I guess they only like to visit the blender, so we made a deal. If banana promised to sweeten up this collage of healthiness, we would wait to add him until later.
We were having so much fun, we didn't even notice that the whole thing was plugged, and juice started spilling out the sides, like a chocolate fountain gone wrong. We also realized that juicing isn't cheap. We plowed through so many veggies and fruits, that I will most likely have to shop more than once a month. Next thing I know, the juicer stopped procuring the juice, so we looked at each other, with big eyes, and peered inside. Yes, it was most assuredly, plugged. We disassembled the whole darn contraption, and washed every part.
"But Jon, we need to have some juice for tomorrow..." I whined with an expectant look on my face.
(I was really enjoying myself) "Okay! Let's do it again!" We put my new friend back together, and made more. We added grapes, whole apples, and more, until the motor stopped. This drink would be the healthiest EVER made, of that we were sure!
"We BROKE it!" said Jon.
"What?!" said I.
"Yep. I think we wore the thing out already."
We decided that it was time to taste our concoction. Jon poured two big glasses to the rim, handed me one and said, "Bottoms up!" We clinked our dinner-in-a-cup together and tipped them back, and I'm telling you, it was something like poly juice potion from Harry Potter. You know the drinks they ingest with a piece of hair in them, to turn into another person? Yep, that. It looked like that, and I am pretty sure it tasted like that too.
The first thing that dropped into my mouth, was a chunk of asparagus, (you know the veggie that makes your pee smell bad) and we decided that maybe adding some lemon would help, so we squeezed some of that in as well. Let's just say, it wasn't a milk shake. It was more like liquid garden, and fruit trees, all mixed up together. I decided that it was a really good thing that I have forced myself to take pills the past few months, because I drank my dinner the same way. Head back, throat wide open, with no chance of tasting anything. I think I noticed the broccoli the most. He was stubborn, and wanted to show off.
"MOM, what is THAT drink in the fridge?" they spotted the hard stuff, hiding behind the apple juice. "That's mine and dad's. You don't want any." And when I described what they were missing, they agreed that they weren't missing much.
I am an official Juicer. What is that you ask? It is what someone does when they are completely serious about figuring out their health issues. Since I started my journey concerning this a few months ago, I have learned a lot. I have found that hormones have a lot to do with how a human body works. I have gathered every determined bone in my body to perfect the art of swallowing pills. I have gradually gained back energy and strength. Yes, I am most definitely on the path to recovery.
Next stop on this bumpy road? My diet. Now that I feel strong enough to make it through the day,
I need to tackle what I put into this body of mine. While I was in Hawaii, Jon and I watched a video called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead", on netflix. I was told it would change my life, but I didn't quite get how much. Let's just say that Jon and I decided to jump on the juicing band wagon, when we got back home. I would recommend it to anyone, whether you want to juice or not.
Last night, Mr. Jon came home with an impressive looking box, and $180 dollars in fruits and veggies. "My Land! (I don't really say my land) Where do you expect me to put all of this?!" He shrugged his shoulders, and began ripping open the box like it was Christmas. Piece after awkward piece, he unloaded the tightly packed Styrofoam bedding. I think he was ecstatic to finally have an excuse to buy something that was labeled, in big red letters across the box "AS SEEN ON T.V." I always get a kick out of those infomercials, but not Jon. He watches them intently, as if graded at the end.
Next thing I know, we are both chopping every veggie and fruit known to man, looking much like "Edward Scissor Hands". Strawberry greens were a flyin', asparagus jumping back out of the juicer like it was really scared, "oooooooooo" I screeched, "Don't put THAT in there too!" as the carrots took their plunge, purple cabbage made the whole bowl turn a bright beautiful hue, oranges joined in on the fun, the broccoli and cauliflower were a little annoying to get in, but the spinach made up for it.
"THIS IS FUN!
I will use the crock pot and the juicer to cook every meal!" I giggled, and it was obvious that Mr. Jon was extremely proud of his green, tree hugging, fingers. Yes indeed, he not only brought home the bacon, he filled my kitchen with healthy goodness. The bananas were the most stubborn, plugging up the party, like some people I know. Come to find out, banana's don't have any juice in them..go figure. I guess they only like to visit the blender, so we made a deal. If banana promised to sweeten up this collage of healthiness, we would wait to add him until later.
{Picture above was NOT taken by me...our juice didn't look nearly this pretty}
We were having so much fun, we didn't even notice that the whole thing was plugged, and juice started spilling out the sides, like a chocolate fountain gone wrong. We also realized that juicing isn't cheap. We plowed through so many veggies and fruits, that I will most likely have to shop more than once a month. Next thing I know, the juicer stopped procuring the juice, so we looked at each other, with big eyes, and peered inside. Yes, it was most assuredly, plugged. We disassembled the whole darn contraption, and washed every part.
"But Jon, we need to have some juice for tomorrow..." I whined with an expectant look on my face.
(I was really enjoying myself) "Okay! Let's do it again!" We put my new friend back together, and made more. We added grapes, whole apples, and more, until the motor stopped. This drink would be the healthiest EVER made, of that we were sure!
"We BROKE it!" said Jon.
"What?!" said I.
"Yep. I think we wore the thing out already."
We decided that it was time to taste our concoction. Jon poured two big glasses to the rim, handed me one and said, "Bottoms up!" We clinked our dinner-in-a-cup together and tipped them back, and I'm telling you, it was something like poly juice potion from Harry Potter. You know the drinks they ingest with a piece of hair in them, to turn into another person? Yep, that. It looked like that, and I am pretty sure it tasted like that too.
The first thing that dropped into my mouth, was a chunk of asparagus, (you know the veggie that makes your pee smell bad) and we decided that maybe adding some lemon would help, so we squeezed some of that in as well. Let's just say, it wasn't a milk shake. It was more like liquid garden, and fruit trees, all mixed up together. I decided that it was a really good thing that I have forced myself to take pills the past few months, because I drank my dinner the same way. Head back, throat wide open, with no chance of tasting anything. I think I noticed the broccoli the most. He was stubborn, and wanted to show off.
"MOM, what is THAT drink in the fridge?" they spotted the hard stuff, hiding behind the apple juice. "That's mine and dad's. You don't want any." And when I described what they were missing, they agreed that they weren't missing much.
So, my friends, if you are wondering what my plan is...here you go!
10 days of eating raw fruits and Veggies, AND juicing or making smoothies of just fruits and veggies.
10 days of just juicing fruits and veggies
10 days of eating like the first 10 days.
And there you have it. I may die. If you want to jump on the bandwagon, I am officially starting April 1st, but sneaking in a few prep days before. Yesterday I jumped on the elliptical for 30 minutes, and jogged/walked for 30 minutes.
Would you ever do something like this? Have you done something like this?
Do you have any amazing juice recipes you want to share? They are all over the Internet, but it would be nice to save some time trying them all.
March 26, 2012
Let's Focus on That.
Last week, a friend of mine from high school, Chris Beers, died. I was shocked, saddened, and my heart quieted as I reflected on the times I was around him. It wasn't until I saw his name popping up on the internet, and some saying that it may have been a decision partly because he was gay, that I wept. Whether that was the reason, or not, I can't help but wonder if it played a part in his decision. Although, we can't place blame on one thing alone, there may have been many reason he chose this path.
He was a bit older than myself, so I didn't spend a lot of time with him, but I did know him well enough to be affected by his pure love of Christ, and his genuine love for people - all people. He had a great attitude and light, that he brought with him wherever he went. In fact, if I had to pick the top 20 people I have known that were the most beautiful, he would make that list. There aren't many that live their life to serve, but I can say that he was one of them. He smiled constantly. He built everyone around him, tirelessly. He served his L.D.S. church, in many ways, including serving a mission, working as an E.F.Y. counselor, and even working in the church office building. He had an amazing family, and I am not here to focus on that. I do feel however, that it is being written about already on the internet, and I wanted to lend some thought to acceptance of differences between humans.
How can we begin and try and understand the state of mind one must be in, to take his own life. I have been low, but not that low. I have personally known more than a few people that have chosen this route, and I can see why some would consider suicide "a selfish act", I used to feel this way myself. Families are left behind, crushed and broken, and the gut wrenching emotions I would imagine, are incomprehensible. It rips loved ones apart, and leaves them with something that is so hard to deal with, but I don't believe that in such a deep depression, the person is processing it this way. I believe it is a lot more complicated than that, a lot more desperate. Hopeless. Lost. Scared maybe? I have spoken with some very close to me, that even believe they would be doing a service, by choosing suicide, because they are removing a source of sadness and anger by leaving.
I changed the way I look at suicide when I watched Jon go through the jaws of addiction. For a long time, I felt as though he chose to take "prescription" pain medication, to hurt me. It felt like a personal attack, because I WAS attacked personally, but I know now that he didn't choose it to torture me. His loss of control and pain were beyond that. His decisions were affected by a deep sadness and chemicals, and although in a lot of ways it is different than suicide alone, I can see how the depression part could have gotten the best of him. It almost did. When you combine depression AND substances, there is a combination for a imminent train wreck. I have lost a few friends this way. When I got passed feeling abused, although the trust needed to be rebuilt, I was able to take enormous steps toward forgiveness. I can't help but think that life is just hard. It is hard for all of us. It is easy to look from the outside, and imagine that someone else's life must be easy. The grass is greener, right? But, how would we really know?
This is a hard subject to me, for many reasons. As a Christian, I hear many strong views of homosexuality. My religion (Latter Day Saint: Mormon) is only one of many religions that weigh in on the topic. Being that I have a few, very loved, gay people in my extended family, the subject has always hit close to home for me. I have never been one to condemn, because, simply, I think it isn't my place. I can only guess the amount of pain he must have been in, to choose this for himself. The pressure to fit in, his determination to walk a path that was acceptable, I'm sure was overwhelming. Whether gay is genetic or not, (I personally believe it can be), most wouldn't choose it just for fun (in my community anyway) because it isn't "fun" to fit in with the homosexual label hanging around your neck. I believe that some people say they are "non judgmental", but I have to wonder when I hear their description how they are "accepting". I do believe it is getting better, but we still have a long long road ahead of us. Let's not just accept differences, let's focus on loving people, as Chris (one letter "t" short of Christ, did).
I remember the first time that my cousin told me she was gay. I was about nineteen years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Christmas time, and we were outside at night time, walking up to a musical performance in Salt Lake City, with the rest of my large family. I could tell something was weighing her down, and so I pulled her aside. I still remember our conversation, as the snow fell gently around us, as if to calm my soul. "What's wrong? I can tell something is on your mind?" "Nothing." she responded. As I look back now, it is obvious why she didn't deem this conversation holiday appropriate. My Grandma was close behind us, and Aunts and Uncles surrounded our quiet discussion. "Come on..." I pushed. "I have heard of everything. Nothing you could say would surprise me, or make me feel differently about you!" She waited a moment, than responded. "Not this. You won't guess this."
You see, she isn't gone, but in a way she is. When she whispered to me on the hill that night,
"I'm gay." I remember feeling dizzy, as if I were about to fall over. I became light headed, and the bright stars in the night sky, started swishing around my head violently. She was right, I wouldn't have guessed.
I didn't know then, that a part of who we were, together, would leave. Not because I loved her any less, but because I didn't know how to respond. I was 19, and in my community at the time, this was something that was never talked about. I feel like we would have been able to help each other through this, if we would have lived closer, or had it been a different time in our lives. I was almost married, and we lived an hour away. But, was that enough reason to not be there? I would say, no. I couldn't fathom the amount of judgement she was facing. I had no idea what it felt like to be an outcast in your own family and neighborhood. In short, I was busy with my young life, and it isn't until now that I've let my mind travel sufficiently into her heart.
Being the loving family that my family is, they mostly, all came around. My own Grandmother loves and supports her beyond belief, and if I thought the word "gay" was hard for people to utter in my lifetime, it was completely taboo in her years on this earth. Her parent's have loved her though her decisions, whether they would have chosen that path for her or not. But isn't that what family is all about? We are here to support and love.
I don't wish to get into a heated debate here on my blog, about what is "right" or "wrong", but I do feel the need to remind myself and others, to be Christ like. Why look down on people that are different than us? We are all unique, and we're all beautiful. I, for one, don't want to contribute to someone feeling so hopeless, that they see no other way out, than to take their own life.
A dear friend of my mine, put it this way when we discussed the subject. "I don't know what the answer to all this is. But the fact that so many people claim to "know" God's will on this subject strikes me as, well, dangerous. I just don't think lifelong celibacy is a very realistic expectation for an entire community nor the insinuation that gayness is somehow due to a spiritual weakness on the individual's part."
Take a second look at your thoughts before you judge. We all have energy to expend on our own lives, so why use it up worrying about others. We only truly have control over ourselves anyway. There is no reason we can't put our arms around someone who is gay, or someone who is facing addiction, or somebody that lives a different lifestyle. Why do we spend so much time worrying about what we think someone should be? It doesn't matter if we agree with what a person is choosing to do or not, but it has everything to do with being a good person, and friend.
We all face challenges in life, and fight to overcome them. We all have the same set of lessons to learn, we just get the lesson tailor made to fit our individual spirits. And, we all have a loving Heavenly Father that accepts us for who we are, full of weaknesses and faults, similarities and differences.
Let's focus on that.
He was a bit older than myself, so I didn't spend a lot of time with him, but I did know him well enough to be affected by his pure love of Christ, and his genuine love for people - all people. He had a great attitude and light, that he brought with him wherever he went. In fact, if I had to pick the top 20 people I have known that were the most beautiful, he would make that list. There aren't many that live their life to serve, but I can say that he was one of them. He smiled constantly. He built everyone around him, tirelessly. He served his L.D.S. church, in many ways, including serving a mission, working as an E.F.Y. counselor, and even working in the church office building. He had an amazing family, and I am not here to focus on that. I do feel however, that it is being written about already on the internet, and I wanted to lend some thought to acceptance of differences between humans.
How can we begin and try and understand the state of mind one must be in, to take his own life. I have been low, but not that low. I have personally known more than a few people that have chosen this route, and I can see why some would consider suicide "a selfish act", I used to feel this way myself. Families are left behind, crushed and broken, and the gut wrenching emotions I would imagine, are incomprehensible. It rips loved ones apart, and leaves them with something that is so hard to deal with, but I don't believe that in such a deep depression, the person is processing it this way. I believe it is a lot more complicated than that, a lot more desperate. Hopeless. Lost. Scared maybe? I have spoken with some very close to me, that even believe they would be doing a service, by choosing suicide, because they are removing a source of sadness and anger by leaving.
I changed the way I look at suicide when I watched Jon go through the jaws of addiction. For a long time, I felt as though he chose to take "prescription" pain medication, to hurt me. It felt like a personal attack, because I WAS attacked personally, but I know now that he didn't choose it to torture me. His loss of control and pain were beyond that. His decisions were affected by a deep sadness and chemicals, and although in a lot of ways it is different than suicide alone, I can see how the depression part could have gotten the best of him. It almost did. When you combine depression AND substances, there is a combination for a imminent train wreck. I have lost a few friends this way. When I got passed feeling abused, although the trust needed to be rebuilt, I was able to take enormous steps toward forgiveness. I can't help but think that life is just hard. It is hard for all of us. It is easy to look from the outside, and imagine that someone else's life must be easy. The grass is greener, right? But, how would we really know?
This is a hard subject to me, for many reasons. As a Christian, I hear many strong views of homosexuality. My religion (Latter Day Saint: Mormon) is only one of many religions that weigh in on the topic. Being that I have a few, very loved, gay people in my extended family, the subject has always hit close to home for me. I have never been one to condemn, because, simply, I think it isn't my place. I can only guess the amount of pain he must have been in, to choose this for himself. The pressure to fit in, his determination to walk a path that was acceptable, I'm sure was overwhelming. Whether gay is genetic or not, (I personally believe it can be), most wouldn't choose it just for fun (in my community anyway) because it isn't "fun" to fit in with the homosexual label hanging around your neck. I believe that some people say they are "non judgmental", but I have to wonder when I hear their description how they are "accepting". I do believe it is getting better, but we still have a long long road ahead of us. Let's not just accept differences, let's focus on loving people, as Chris (one letter "t" short of Christ, did).
I remember the first time that my cousin told me she was gay. I was about nineteen years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Christmas time, and we were outside at night time, walking up to a musical performance in Salt Lake City, with the rest of my large family. I could tell something was weighing her down, and so I pulled her aside. I still remember our conversation, as the snow fell gently around us, as if to calm my soul. "What's wrong? I can tell something is on your mind?" "Nothing." she responded. As I look back now, it is obvious why she didn't deem this conversation holiday appropriate. My Grandma was close behind us, and Aunts and Uncles surrounded our quiet discussion. "Come on..." I pushed. "I have heard of everything. Nothing you could say would surprise me, or make me feel differently about you!" She waited a moment, than responded. "Not this. You won't guess this."
You see, she isn't gone, but in a way she is. When she whispered to me on the hill that night,
"I'm gay." I remember feeling dizzy, as if I were about to fall over. I became light headed, and the bright stars in the night sky, started swishing around my head violently. She was right, I wouldn't have guessed.
I didn't know then, that a part of who we were, together, would leave. Not because I loved her any less, but because I didn't know how to respond. I was 19, and in my community at the time, this was something that was never talked about. I feel like we would have been able to help each other through this, if we would have lived closer, or had it been a different time in our lives. I was almost married, and we lived an hour away. But, was that enough reason to not be there? I would say, no. I couldn't fathom the amount of judgement she was facing. I had no idea what it felt like to be an outcast in your own family and neighborhood. In short, I was busy with my young life, and it isn't until now that I've let my mind travel sufficiently into her heart.
Being the loving family that my family is, they mostly, all came around. My own Grandmother loves and supports her beyond belief, and if I thought the word "gay" was hard for people to utter in my lifetime, it was completely taboo in her years on this earth. Her parent's have loved her though her decisions, whether they would have chosen that path for her or not. But isn't that what family is all about? We are here to support and love.
I don't wish to get into a heated debate here on my blog, about what is "right" or "wrong", but I do feel the need to remind myself and others, to be Christ like. Why look down on people that are different than us? We are all unique, and we're all beautiful. I, for one, don't want to contribute to someone feeling so hopeless, that they see no other way out, than to take their own life.
A dear friend of my mine, put it this way when we discussed the subject. "I don't know what the answer to all this is. But the fact that so many people claim to "know" God's will on this subject strikes me as, well, dangerous. I just don't think lifelong celibacy is a very realistic expectation for an entire community nor the insinuation that gayness is somehow due to a spiritual weakness on the individual's part."
Take a second look at your thoughts before you judge. We all have energy to expend on our own lives, so why use it up worrying about others. We only truly have control over ourselves anyway. There is no reason we can't put our arms around someone who is gay, or someone who is facing addiction, or somebody that lives a different lifestyle. Why do we spend so much time worrying about what we think someone should be? It doesn't matter if we agree with what a person is choosing to do or not, but it has everything to do with being a good person, and friend.
We all face challenges in life, and fight to overcome them. We all have the same set of lessons to learn, we just get the lesson tailor made to fit our individual spirits. And, we all have a loving Heavenly Father that accepts us for who we are, full of weaknesses and faults, similarities and differences.
Let's focus on that.
March 23, 2012
my fav.
This is pretty much my favorite ever.. Haha what a dork! He asked me to pose, and I said, "I don't feel like it. Why don't you?" so he did.
March 22, 2012
Best Friends Forever.
Beautiful Days and Nights, here in Maui.
Lot's of naps, and laughs.
Last night, we visited a comedy/magic show at "Warren and Annabelles".
It was so fun to visit a place that made dinner an experience, and a memorable one at that.
The magic was fantastic, and the humor was family friendly.
Annabelle is a "ghost" that entertains you by playing requested songs on the piano from the audience.
She is rumored to play the piano for her long lost love that died at sea.
They served a tasty dinner, as we listened to the music in the parlor.
Next, they bring you into a small theatre, where they perform comedy and magic tricks.
Such a fun place to look up, if you ever visit Maui.
How lucky am I, to enjoy it with my best friend?
"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together..there is something you must always remember.
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart..I'll always be with you."
Winnie the Pooh
March 21, 2012
I heart my Pillow
Today, I woke up at 5:30. FIVE THIRTY, PEOPLE! I am extremely off schedule, or on schedule, however you choose to look at it. Four hours difference in Hawaii, isn't such a big deal while I am here, but when I go home...I will have issues. I will finally be on Hawaii's time table, with kids jumping up and down on my bed, begging me to get up!
I came across THIS fun photo shoot, that my dear Mandy posted on her blog (MandyOliverBlog.com) a few weeks ago. I love how she laid it out, and shared our Disney fun with her readers! Go on over and check it out. If you live in the southern California area, give her a call for portraits, weddings, or whatever else you may need. Oh, and when you visit...leave Mandy a comment. It is so fun to get notes of love when you are an artist, and trying to start a blog. It is hard to put yourself out there, and not get any response. Show her some {pink moss love} friends!
If you plan on going to Disneyland and want to have a photo shoot there, she does a fabulous job!
I came across THIS fun photo shoot, that my dear Mandy posted on her blog (MandyOliverBlog.com) a few weeks ago. I love how she laid it out, and shared our Disney fun with her readers! Go on over and check it out. If you live in the southern California area, give her a call for portraits, weddings, or whatever else you may need. Oh, and when you visit...leave Mandy a comment. It is so fun to get notes of love when you are an artist, and trying to start a blog. It is hard to put yourself out there, and not get any response. Show her some {pink moss love} friends!
If you plan on going to Disneyland and want to have a photo shoot there, she does a fabulous job!
As a side note; I miss my pillow terribly.
Intelligel pillows are an important part of my life.
My neck wants to go home and get it, but I am talking my neck out of it.
I mean, I'm in Hawaii people.
My neck can wait.
love J
March 20, 2012
Maui - Highway 340
It all started with a leisurely drive down the coast of Maui.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Jon asked with a gleam in his eye. I had it all figured out, I just had to find the best possible way to break it to him easy. "I'd like to lay out by the ocean for a few hours, and listen to music, while I read gossip magazines and then walk over to that hut on the beach, buy a (virgin :) pina colada, and sip it while we go for a nice drive around the island."
He didn't even have a chance to respond, until the entire schedule was presented on a silver platter; as if I had been thinking about it all night, (which I had). Being the nice, accommodating kind of husband Mr. Jon is, he said, "Sure, we can do that." and it was so easy, I was proud of my cute little self for being so persuasive and planned.
We loaded up the bag for the beach, that was only outside of our door and 20 feet from the water. Water bottles - check, magazines - check, music - check, sun block - check, towels - check, beach chairs that we bought a k-mart yesterday - check. We were ready. We walked outside, and I couldn't help but notice the nice breeze wafting off the water, as my sundress did a dance above my head, just as ecstatic to be laying out as I was. I grabbed at my black sun hat that was threatening to fly away with my dress, as I was taking this picture.
I am a multi-tasking queen. It comes with the territory of having a half dozen or so littles, so naturally, taking a picture while I hold the beach bag, my hat and my dress from flying away, make perfect sense. As we walked onto the sand, I looked across the waterfront and picked out our destination. It seems, here in Hawaii, Jon is trying really hard to let me make all of the decisions so that it is my definition of a perfect vacation. So, we plopped down. Myself, on the towel, and Jon on his striped rainbow chair.
"Do you want to put on some sunblock honey?" I asked, trying really hard to be the prepared and thinking ahead kind of wifey. "Nah.", he said. "I'm fine, I rarely burn."
"Well, OK then." and I was celebratory, seeing as I was too lazy to put on the sunblock myself. After all, my hormone doctor told us that it would be better if we didn't use quite as much, so we could soak up some natural vitamin D.
I laid on my new, black and pick towel that displayed "Maui" across the front, and got down to the serious kind of business, reading about how "Angelina and Brad are fighting AGAIN" and thinking that my life was so boring compared to theirs, and that was just fine with me.
Eventually, we made it out to the water when it became too hot for our own good, lying there on the beach. Really, the temperature was quite deceiving because the breeze kept us feeling really comfortable. The scenery was picturesque, and the sounds were beautiful as well. There was an old couple laying not too far from us, that was pummeled by a largish kind of wave. They stood up quickly grabbing their towels and laughing together, as I hope I will be doing with Jon when we are that age. On the other side, was a couple younger than us, that was playing with a dog. The dog was so happy, and overjoyed to be free from whatever his normal day looked like. Kids were frolicking in the sand in front of us, squealing as the waves overtook their sandcastles...and the birds sang their composed songs over our heads, and choreographed dances.
Yes, we were in heaven. I was quite sure. After it became too hot, Jon and I both slid our chairs down low enough so that our feet were being soothed by the water as it rushed up, and down. Up and down.
"OK!" I jumped up. "It's time." Jon looked at me, knowing that I was ready for our next adventure,
so we began collecting all of our odds and ends. "Where are we going next? Are you ready for your
pina colada?" I was so impressed that he remembered what was next on my wish list. "Yep!"
We journeyed up the steps to wash off our sandy feet. Mr. Jon thought he would be really funny, and splashed water in my face. But this is OK, because I know it means he is in a good mood, when he tortures me so. We put everything in our black rental car, and readied for our next adventure.
I made sure to bring Wheat thins, just in case I got car sick on our ride. For some reason, my tummy doesn't like long car rides with out snacks - so we listen. "Alright little woman! Let's see why they call this a NITRO!" And Jon sped off with the skill of a professional race car driver. "Gutless." He was obviously offended by the Nitro's lack of enthusiasm. Just as we got our lil' car a movin', we remembered that we needed to stop for our drink, and a few pictures, and finally, we were off!
"Where would you like to go first?" he asked like a chauffeur. "Just follow the road." I said, and I performed a little happy dance because, well, life is beautiful and I had a pina colada in my hand, driving down the ocean side road, listening to music, and taking pictures with my man. Life just doesn't get better than that! "First stop, Flemmings beach!" I said. "I heard that was voted one of the best in Maui." And off we went. We stopped at many look out points, and took pictures by the Ritz Carlton. We held hands, and even peed on a rocky cliff. (not at the same time, of course), but
Jonny Boy did get a picture.
Every thing was going as planned. It was all perfect, and beautiful. We got out of the car to take one last set of pictures, before we got to the point of undeniable destruction. There we were, driving through paradise, as I took pictures out of my window. And, just like life, speeding toward one of the scariest cliffs, without knowing it was just around the corner.
It was green, and the mountains looked like something from "Jurassic Park", because it was actually filmed here. I was "ooooing" and "ahhhhing". And I am not quite sure when it happened, but I do vividly remember Jon saying "Holy S*#*, let's get the flock off of this road." and he did say flock, because as he told me later, he was trying to keep me laughing, and not crying. But it was too late. There was absolutely no way of turning around. We had passed a sign that said, "State Road Ends Here" and continued on to Highway 340, a road that traversed the edge of a cliff for 15 miles on a single lane road, with NO guardrail or cell service. None. I was laughing, (at first) because well, what else do you do? "Maybe we should back up?" I proposed. "There is no way, there is a car behind us, and backing up hundreds of feet on this winding, one lane road, without a guardrail isn't smart." So, I was scared, but I was also really excited and giggling because, Adventure!
I turned up the music to calm our nerves, and "Jesus take the wheel" came on, a song about a lady in a car crash that is praying for help. I flipped to the next song, and James Blunt came on with "Good Bye my Lover", a song about a spouse loosing their loved one - a song I have told Jon I want played at my funeral if I die before him. "THAT'S IT, get that crap off the radio." Poor Jon was white knuckle, hands around the wheel, concentrating on not slipping off the edge. "I'm not so concerned with my driving, because at least we are on the inside side of the mountain, but it's people like THAT that creep me out." Next thing I know, there is a local man in a white van that is zooming around the corners, with a 200 foot cliff on one side. "If he came around from the other way, he would hit us head on because there is no where to go, and we would both go off the edge."
"Aren't you scared?!" was all Jon could say. "I am nervous, and I never get nervous" He said. Then again, he never burns either, and we both came home fried today. What is it about a man behind the wheel that is so infectious unto me? I looked at him, and was in love all over again, because I knew he was stressed out trying to bring us both home safe to our children. What would they say at our funeral anyway? "Jon and Janae died in an extreme kind of way, just as they lived in life." "OK, I thought,
I have to stop writing my own eulogy, or I will really freak out Jon, more than he already was. His blue-green eyes were zeroed in on the tiny exhausting road in front of us. I found myself holding back commentary on the passing cliffs, and rocks the barely missed skimming my side of the car. We weaved an S curve, in and out for seemed like an eternity.
At some point in time, we started seeing signs that said, "The best banana bread in the world" and I was thinking, "Really? People LIVE up here? They cook banana bread too?" I pictured myself going to the grocery store, with little kids screaming in the back, and a cliff a few inches from my tire. And, heaven forbid, someone deciding to come the other way. And the kids who forgot their lunch at home, no U-turns here little Jimmy. You will have to wait until later to eat. And what about Walmart, or going to the post office, or a movie? My imagination was running rampant. The little villages and ranches looked like the camp from "the others" on my favorite t.v. show "LOST".
Jon, on the other hand was thinking logically, and saying things like, "This is a rental car. I have no idea when the brakes were checked last." or "If someone hits us from the front, I won't be able to do much." Luckily, the times that cars came from the other way, there were teeny tiny parts carved out into the rock wall on my side. We only had to back up a little bit.
Poor Jon looked like he had swallowed a frog for several hours after we got off the mountain. I didn't blame him. I had so much trust in his driving skills and his judgement, that I wasn't nearly as stressed out as he was.
We stopped and grabbed some very yummy dinner on the way home. I had...wait for it.... a grilled chicken sandwich. I know shocking. We both felt a little better after dinner, but we were so excited to get home and lay our sunburned bodies in bed. When we finally arrived, I laid down and looked to see if there were any reviews on the Internet of others making the same, accident of being spontaneous like me, and choosing to drive the outer rim of Maui. As soon as I found out what the road was called, I found countless comments of people that did exactly what we did. They were saying things like, "Check your car rental agreement, most of them won't cover your warranty if you choose to drive this road." or "I am still crying. We drove this road at night time on accident, and it took us many hours with our lights on and getting out of the car to see if we could back up when people came." "Don't do it." "Go kite boarding or deep sea diving. It is much safer than driving this road." and on and on
I have attached a video taken by someone on this road that was posted to You-tube. I wish I would have recorded it, but I was too side tracked to think of such a thing.
So there you have it. Our Maui adventure for Monday. Jon woke up saying, "Let's go try this road..." as he pointed to a map, and I couldn't help but remind of our fun yesterday. If anyone is still interested in visiting this part of the world...HERE are some other comments that echo our experience. Some love it, and it IS very beautiful, but I think the thing that took us by surprise was that we didn't even know what we were getting into. It's another thing entirely to understand the risk you are about to take.
While we were on our journey, I received this picture below from my parents.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Jon asked with a gleam in his eye. I had it all figured out, I just had to find the best possible way to break it to him easy. "I'd like to lay out by the ocean for a few hours, and listen to music, while I read gossip magazines and then walk over to that hut on the beach, buy a (virgin :) pina colada, and sip it while we go for a nice drive around the island."
He didn't even have a chance to respond, until the entire schedule was presented on a silver platter; as if I had been thinking about it all night, (which I had). Being the nice, accommodating kind of husband Mr. Jon is, he said, "Sure, we can do that." and it was so easy, I was proud of my cute little self for being so persuasive and planned.
We loaded up the bag for the beach, that was only outside of our door and 20 feet from the water. Water bottles - check, magazines - check, music - check, sun block - check, towels - check, beach chairs that we bought a k-mart yesterday - check. We were ready. We walked outside, and I couldn't help but notice the nice breeze wafting off the water, as my sundress did a dance above my head, just as ecstatic to be laying out as I was. I grabbed at my black sun hat that was threatening to fly away with my dress, as I was taking this picture.
I am a multi-tasking queen. It comes with the territory of having a half dozen or so littles, so naturally, taking a picture while I hold the beach bag, my hat and my dress from flying away, make perfect sense. As we walked onto the sand, I looked across the waterfront and picked out our destination. It seems, here in Hawaii, Jon is trying really hard to let me make all of the decisions so that it is my definition of a perfect vacation. So, we plopped down. Myself, on the towel, and Jon on his striped rainbow chair.
"Do you want to put on some sunblock honey?" I asked, trying really hard to be the prepared and thinking ahead kind of wifey. "Nah.", he said. "I'm fine, I rarely burn."
"Well, OK then." and I was celebratory, seeing as I was too lazy to put on the sunblock myself. After all, my hormone doctor told us that it would be better if we didn't use quite as much, so we could soak up some natural vitamin D.
I laid on my new, black and pick towel that displayed "Maui" across the front, and got down to the serious kind of business, reading about how "Angelina and Brad are fighting AGAIN" and thinking that my life was so boring compared to theirs, and that was just fine with me.
Eventually, we made it out to the water when it became too hot for our own good, lying there on the beach. Really, the temperature was quite deceiving because the breeze kept us feeling really comfortable. The scenery was picturesque, and the sounds were beautiful as well. There was an old couple laying not too far from us, that was pummeled by a largish kind of wave. They stood up quickly grabbing their towels and laughing together, as I hope I will be doing with Jon when we are that age. On the other side, was a couple younger than us, that was playing with a dog. The dog was so happy, and overjoyed to be free from whatever his normal day looked like. Kids were frolicking in the sand in front of us, squealing as the waves overtook their sandcastles...and the birds sang their composed songs over our heads, and choreographed dances.
Yes, we were in heaven. I was quite sure. After it became too hot, Jon and I both slid our chairs down low enough so that our feet were being soothed by the water as it rushed up, and down. Up and down.
"OK!" I jumped up. "It's time." Jon looked at me, knowing that I was ready for our next adventure,
so we began collecting all of our odds and ends. "Where are we going next? Are you ready for your
pina colada?" I was so impressed that he remembered what was next on my wish list. "Yep!"
We journeyed up the steps to wash off our sandy feet. Mr. Jon thought he would be really funny, and splashed water in my face. But this is OK, because I know it means he is in a good mood, when he tortures me so. We put everything in our black rental car, and readied for our next adventure.
I made sure to bring Wheat thins, just in case I got car sick on our ride. For some reason, my tummy doesn't like long car rides with out snacks - so we listen. "Alright little woman! Let's see why they call this a NITRO!" And Jon sped off with the skill of a professional race car driver. "Gutless." He was obviously offended by the Nitro's lack of enthusiasm. Just as we got our lil' car a movin', we remembered that we needed to stop for our drink, and a few pictures, and finally, we were off!
"Where would you like to go first?" he asked like a chauffeur. "Just follow the road." I said, and I performed a little happy dance because, well, life is beautiful and I had a pina colada in my hand, driving down the ocean side road, listening to music, and taking pictures with my man. Life just doesn't get better than that! "First stop, Flemmings beach!" I said. "I heard that was voted one of the best in Maui." And off we went. We stopped at many look out points, and took pictures by the Ritz Carlton. We held hands, and even peed on a rocky cliff. (not at the same time, of course), but
Jonny Boy did get a picture.
Jon doesn't like having his picture taken, very much at all.
I turned up the music to calm our nerves, and "Jesus take the wheel" came on, a song about a lady in a car crash that is praying for help. I flipped to the next song, and James Blunt came on with "Good Bye my Lover", a song about a spouse loosing their loved one - a song I have told Jon I want played at my funeral if I die before him. "THAT'S IT, get that crap off the radio." Poor Jon was white knuckle, hands around the wheel, concentrating on not slipping off the edge. "I'm not so concerned with my driving, because at least we are on the inside side of the mountain, but it's people like THAT that creep me out." Next thing I know, there is a local man in a white van that is zooming around the corners, with a 200 foot cliff on one side. "If he came around from the other way, he would hit us head on because there is no where to go, and we would both go off the edge."
"Aren't you scared?!" was all Jon could say. "I am nervous, and I never get nervous" He said. Then again, he never burns either, and we both came home fried today. What is it about a man behind the wheel that is so infectious unto me? I looked at him, and was in love all over again, because I knew he was stressed out trying to bring us both home safe to our children. What would they say at our funeral anyway? "Jon and Janae died in an extreme kind of way, just as they lived in life." "OK, I thought,
I have to stop writing my own eulogy, or I will really freak out Jon, more than he already was. His blue-green eyes were zeroed in on the tiny exhausting road in front of us. I found myself holding back commentary on the passing cliffs, and rocks the barely missed skimming my side of the car. We weaved an S curve, in and out for seemed like an eternity.
At some point in time, we started seeing signs that said, "The best banana bread in the world" and I was thinking, "Really? People LIVE up here? They cook banana bread too?" I pictured myself going to the grocery store, with little kids screaming in the back, and a cliff a few inches from my tire. And, heaven forbid, someone deciding to come the other way. And the kids who forgot their lunch at home, no U-turns here little Jimmy. You will have to wait until later to eat. And what about Walmart, or going to the post office, or a movie? My imagination was running rampant. The little villages and ranches looked like the camp from "the others" on my favorite t.v. show "LOST".
(above is the "pull off" if a car is coming...notice rocks on both
sides and no view when a car is coming)
Poor Jon looked like he had swallowed a frog for several hours after we got off the mountain. I didn't blame him. I had so much trust in his driving skills and his judgement, that I wasn't nearly as stressed out as he was.
We stopped and grabbed some very yummy dinner on the way home. I had...wait for it.... a grilled chicken sandwich. I know shocking. We both felt a little better after dinner, but we were so excited to get home and lay our sunburned bodies in bed. When we finally arrived, I laid down and looked to see if there were any reviews on the Internet of others making the same, accident of being spontaneous like me, and choosing to drive the outer rim of Maui. As soon as I found out what the road was called, I found countless comments of people that did exactly what we did. They were saying things like, "Check your car rental agreement, most of them won't cover your warranty if you choose to drive this road." or "I am still crying. We drove this road at night time on accident, and it took us many hours with our lights on and getting out of the car to see if we could back up when people came." "Don't do it." "Go kite boarding or deep sea diving. It is much safer than driving this road." and on and on
I have attached a video taken by someone on this road that was posted to You-tube. I wish I would have recorded it, but I was too side tracked to think of such a thing.
So there you have it. Our Maui adventure for Monday. Jon woke up saying, "Let's go try this road..." as he pointed to a map, and I couldn't help but remind of our fun yesterday. If anyone is still interested in visiting this part of the world...HERE are some other comments that echo our experience. Some love it, and it IS very beautiful, but I think the thing that took us by surprise was that we didn't even know what we were getting into. It's another thing entirely to understand the risk you are about to take.
While we were on our journey, I received this picture below from my parents.
So, it seems that I am not the only lady looking for adventure.
It runs in my blood.
March 19, 2012
Aloha Hawaii!
I wake up early in Hawaii,
or should I say, in Hawaii it's considered that I wake up early. Or should I say, In Utah it's considered that it's 11:23 and not 7:23?
I feel like I could come home today, having had a wonderful vacation already, and I still have six days left! I am not complaining, I am just not used to having so much time to relax on the beach (or anywhere for that matter).
I forget how much fun Jon has laughingat with me, when we are together enough for him to see the crazy things I do and say. I am still not quite sure what the problem is with smelling a man's banana leaf skirt that has been used for putting out fires in the luau, or believing that the turf grass wasn't really well maintained real grass. And it seems that Jon will always be surprised at my love of a perfectly made sandwich. Why does it matter that I would choose a turkey sandwich over fresh fish off the ocean, or a fillet minion? I like sandwiches. They don't leave my stomach feeling gassy, like after Mexican food (that I love), or greasy like after Chinese noodles, or so full I can't walk like after I eat potatoes, and steak. Yes, a sandwich and side salad are the perfect combination.
Last Thursday, we flew into Oahu, with Barbara and arrived late at night. It was SO FUN to see Sarah, in her element, here at BYU Hawaii. She has darling friends, and a hobbit house. Literally, it's unreal how much she is paying to live on a miniature twin sized bed, with two other girls doing the same next to her, in a room the size of a small bedroom. There are no closets, the ceiling is barely above your head when you walk, and you have to duck under beams. But, that doesn't matter. She is having the time of her life! A few weeks ago, she said it flooded everywhere in Hawaii, and she had several feet of water in her house! Things were floating all around her.
We ended up going to bed at about 3:30 our time in Utah (11:30) Hawaii time, and I was exhausted. We woke up bright and early, and got ready to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center all day. Jon was really excited about this, and bought the greatest tour package known to man. We had reserved seats at all of the shows, on the front row. I think they are all good seats, but Jon says "I work hard at home, and I am going to play hard on vacation." which is a phrase I have grown used to over the years, but always surprises those that come along. He bought our tour guide (John) a pineapple drink, and tried to get him to eat the luau dinner with us on the front row, but he knew he would be fired if he agreed. So instead, Jon bought some food and sent it out to where he had to stay. Jon is a caretaker, and a wonderful tipper. He always says, "These people work SO hard. They are like all of the janitors that work for us. They don't make enough, and I like to tip them." This also isn't a surprise to me, but I love seeing the faces on unexpected waitresses, valet boys, or a random janitor in the hall that is changing the rooms. I fully agree. These are thankless jobs, and we see this in our business all the time.
I have been posting pictures to instagram the entire trip, because it is fast and easy for me and my kids to check. I will post some of my favorites here for your entertainment. The first set of pictures are from the Polynesian Cultural Center, which I would highly recommend visiting if you are ever on Oahu, Hawaii. They divide the park up into (I think) 6 different islands, to show their heritage.
or should I say, in Hawaii it's considered that I wake up early. Or should I say, In Utah it's considered that it's 11:23 and not 7:23?
I feel like I could come home today, having had a wonderful vacation already, and I still have six days left! I am not complaining, I am just not used to having so much time to relax on the beach (or anywhere for that matter).
I forget how much fun Jon has laughing
Last Thursday, we flew into Oahu, with Barbara and arrived late at night. It was SO FUN to see Sarah, in her element, here at BYU Hawaii. She has darling friends, and a hobbit house. Literally, it's unreal how much she is paying to live on a miniature twin sized bed, with two other girls doing the same next to her, in a room the size of a small bedroom. There are no closets, the ceiling is barely above your head when you walk, and you have to duck under beams. But, that doesn't matter. She is having the time of her life! A few weeks ago, she said it flooded everywhere in Hawaii, and she had several feet of water in her house! Things were floating all around her.
We ended up going to bed at about 3:30 our time in Utah (11:30) Hawaii time, and I was exhausted. We woke up bright and early, and got ready to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center all day. Jon was really excited about this, and bought the greatest tour package known to man. We had reserved seats at all of the shows, on the front row. I think they are all good seats, but Jon says "I work hard at home, and I am going to play hard on vacation." which is a phrase I have grown used to over the years, but always surprises those that come along. He bought our tour guide (John) a pineapple drink, and tried to get him to eat the luau dinner with us on the front row, but he knew he would be fired if he agreed. So instead, Jon bought some food and sent it out to where he had to stay. Jon is a caretaker, and a wonderful tipper. He always says, "These people work SO hard. They are like all of the janitors that work for us. They don't make enough, and I like to tip them." This also isn't a surprise to me, but I love seeing the faces on unexpected waitresses, valet boys, or a random janitor in the hall that is changing the rooms. I fully agree. These are thankless jobs, and we see this in our business all the time.
I have been posting pictures to instagram the entire trip, because it is fast and easy for me and my kids to check. I will post some of my favorites here for your entertainment. The first set of pictures are from the Polynesian Cultural Center, which I would highly recommend visiting if you are ever on Oahu, Hawaii. They divide the park up into (I think) 6 different islands, to show their heritage.
We learned that the people carved faces with their eyes open, to symbolize their ancestors looking down on them from the after life.
Our tour guide, John, showing us how to make fire.
I tried.
It's hard.
We were told a really amazing story about one of the leaders in the L.D.S. church, that had a dream about this hut and a man that needed to help. He knew he was supposed to add Tahiti to the P.C.C. as one of the villages, and so he went to visit that island. When he was walking by one of the huts, another man stopped him and said that he had seen him in a dream, and that he had designed something for him. Together they designed the village that was brought to share with the world.
Of course, Jon helped Barbara walk around because of her sad knee, sometimes with his arm and other times with a wheel chair.
and can you believe I caught Jon trying to learn the dance?
Ok, I talked him into it, but it's cute, right?
But the Grand Finale for me, was when Jon pushed Barbara across the stage with roaring drums in the background! Sarah and I were dying laughing, because there was no other way to get her to her front row seat, because of her wheel chair. So, with hundreds of people watching, she bounced up and down across the sandy stage, with Jon pushing her as fast as he could. We didn't know there were coming that way, but when we saw them, I was so busy cracking up that I couldn't get a picture. This was taken afterward, just to make sure I never forgot!
The next morning, Saturday, we woke up REALLY early and got to the airport to fly to Maui.
We loved spending time with the Leavitt's
And, although Jon has been anything but Angry, I love this shirt on him.
cracks. me. up.
and then, we arrived in heaven.
Nothing but sandy beaches, and (virgin :) Pina Coladas.
and this, my friends....was the view from my room that afternoon.
and the sunset that night...
Can you believe the beauty?
There are rainbows all the time from the random, light sprinkles of rain that fall.
and there you have it...for now.
Jon and I are going to visit a few different beaches today. Some rumor to have black sand, some red, and some white.
Have a beautiful day
Aloha!
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