Forgiveness Friday

I woke up this morning feeling more refreshed than I've felt in a while.  I think it has to do with the fact that I went to sleep at 8:45.  I should try that more often!

I realized last night with a pounding headache that I didn't post my Thankful Thursday blog.  I figured it'd be all right since I'm calling this one Forgiveness Friday.

I'll start with the things in front of me that I'm thankful for:  my cup of coffee, not having a headache, the fact that it's Friday, and the weather (right now at least) is brisk and cool.

Yesterday was not hard, but it was rougher than usual.  I woke up feeling awful, I was zoned out most of the day at school, mounds of paperwork are piling up on my desk, some students frustrated me with their sassy attitudes, other students frustrated me with their questions, we had a meeting after work that just rubbed everyone the wrong way, it took 30 minutes to get the paint I needed from Home Depot, and I left the house in Makakilo after dark (which I don't like).  In all of this, what did I do?  I complained, I whined (like I'm doing now),  gossiped after the meeting at work, I took Advil and slept.  What I didn't do was cry out to Jesus and pray.  Forgive me, Lord.

You know the awesome part about yesterday though?  It happened, and today is a NEW day.  I will choose to see the positive in people and circumstances today!  It also helps that it's Aloha Friday.

Here are a few things I haven't mentioned, but that I'm truly thankful for in the past few weeks:

• Jordan and Henry installing our new sliding door in the back (as a surprise)
• Hillarie and Jacob Clark welcoming baby Benjamin into the world on Tuesday
• My sister, celebrating her 21st birthday on Tuesday also
• Camping two weekends in a row with our friend, Leigh
• The drywall being completely finished in our house and painting well underway
• Sabine, Ben, Jordan and Kim for willingly coming to help us paint
• Our junior high Sunday School class that's been a joy to teach so far

Here are some verses that speak of community and our part in it.  May you be encourage just as I have been.

Hebrews 10:25 

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Romans 15:5
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

I hope anyone who is reading this has a wonderful day!  I'll be posting more pics of the house progress very soon.  Have a wonderful Friday!!  Walk as though you're forgiven, and rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!

Camping at Peacock Flats

Our friend, Leigh Suggs, has been visiting from Indiana this week.  We've had a busy week.  School started for me, so the kids are back, and we went camping both weekends!  Here are some pics from Peacock Flats where we camped last night.  It was an adventure, but the CRV made it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful for:

• Forgiveness
• My Husband and his heart
• My Friends
• My Co-Workers
• My Students

School has commenced and it was so wonderful being bombarded by my students who are now in high school and missing middle school life.  I know they'll adjust, but it's always nice when they stop by and scare all my current 6th graders who just moved up from elementary!  This is for them:

8th graders last year before end of the year field trip!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for:

• The community I am a part of at IPA--the faculty and the students
• My hard-working husband who has been working tirelessly on our new home to get it move-in ready
• My hanai sister, Lilia Tau'a, who's going off to college in a few days!
• A brand new day!
• Spiritual Encouragement... see below...

Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

The gospel is the enjoyment of fellowship with God himself...

• We are forgiven so that our guilt does not keep us away from God.
• We are justified so that our condemnation does not keep us away from God.
• We are given eternal life now, with new bodies in the resurrection, so that we have the capacities for enjoying God to the fullest.

“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Taken from Solid Joys, a ministry of Desiring God and John Piper. http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en

Two Windows and a Pantry

We've been working on the house little by little every day.  Sometimes I forget how much we've accomplished because all the "BIG" projects are finished.  We have, however, been busy installing windows, ripping down MORE drywall, mudding Durock, building shower pans, framing a pantry and closet, and maintaining the yard/pool.

I thought I'd post some pictures showcasing the two windows and the pantry.  Here is the large picture window we took out.  I had to post a before picture.  I know some of you are thinking that the bathroom looks fine, even really nice... but there were some many things wrong with the way this was installed.  Here are the top reasons we wanted to remodel this downstairs bath:

1. The jet tub leaked and there was no way to access the leak
2. There was a giant picture window opening up to the pool
3. There was an engraved family portrait of the previous owners IN THE TILE
4. It was not going to be functional for us or our guests after swimming
5. It was not our taste or style AT ALL!

A reminder of what it once was.  We actually might have kept
it this way for a while if the plumbing wasn't so jacked up.

Gotta love this sink.

So here it is gutted with the window out.

Practicing my "mime" skills.

Framing out the opening for the new window.

New window installed.

Mike framing the shower.  He did a great job!

A more functional bathroom ready for Durock and drywall.

Now for the large picture window in the living room.  It was nice and big, but it was original (25 years old).  So, we decided it was time for an update.  We got rid of the jalousies at the bottom, and framed it out, then bought a 96 x 48 window to take it's place.  Here are the pics:

The window that we removed.

We took the glass panel and jalousies out first.

Then we took the whole thing out :)

The boys framing out the lower wall.

Almost ready for the window.

Window in.

Inside view.  

And last in this post, is the framing of the pantry.  As you can see, we had to take down ALL of the drywall downstairs.  Ironically, it's a little easier to picture now that it's just studs:

This is where the pantry will go.

Framing.

Done.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful for:

• The Holy Spirit, and how I am constantly reminded of the Gospel (good news)
• My husband, and how he cares for me
• My job
• My co-workers
• The fact that I woke up without a headache or fever
• The beautiful, sunny day that awaits me
• Air-conditioning where I work
• Kindred spirits :)
  

Back to School

Teachers report back to school today.  What happened to my summer?!  It ended all too quickly.  I'm excited in a way to get back to school and fall back into a routine, but the other part of me would rather lounge like I've been doing.  The great thing about my school is the people.  I look forward to getting back in touch with my co-workers.

I went on three hikes this past week:  Hamama Falls in Kaneohe, Pillboxes in Lanikai, and the Tom Tom Trail by Makapu'u.  Each hike was beautiful, and I had wonderful company.  Here are the Makapu'u pics:

 

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful for:

• modern medicine that's making my itch go away... slowly
• Kim and Brooke and the fact that our husbands encourage us to have girls' night out
• family that I was able to talk to and catch up with this week
• Robbie and Raquel and their super FUN children
• the beauty of Hamama Falls!

Here are some snapshots of the hike with all six keiki...