Back to the Island

Vacation is a wonderful thing.  I am so thankful that Mike and I were able to go on vacation and visit his friends and family in the Midwest.

We had a fun-filled week of birthday parties, farmers' markets, football games, holding babies, shopping, playing phase 10 which led to water-breaking, which led to the birth of our friends' first born--a baby boy, driving, visiting Bethel students, driving some more, an Indians baseball game, driving, building a stair rail, picking apples from an orchard, shopping, driving, camping and to cap it off--a beautiful wedding.

We didn't really have a dull day.

Now it's back to work today.  I'm looking forward to seeing my students again and getting back into the grove of things.  It'll probably take me a while to catch up with all the grading and lesson planning, but I'm so thankful I have a job that I enjoy!

Meanwhile, we'll still keep plugging away at our house.  The counter tops are supposed to be installed today.  I'm really excited about that!

I pray that I would be productive today with all that needs to be accomplished.  I pray I would lean on Jesus for my strength and do everything to honor his name.  I pray also for my loved ones that they'd do the same.

Birthday Weekend

I had the most wonderful birthday weekend this year!  My amazing and wonderful husband brought a chocolate cake into my homeroom on Friday.  My kids went nuts.  Chocolate frosting literally flew across the room (landing on the wall).  If you want to make 6th graders go crazy, just show up to class with a large chocolate cake in hand.

Although it was crazy, it was such a nice surprise!

On Saturday, we had the ND game watch at the Chupp's condo in town.  It was fun!  Kim also brought a lovely cake to that event as well, and yep.... you guessed it... I was able to celebrate my birthday all three days of the weekend!

On Sunday, I had a soccer game at 11:00am.  Forty minute halves are killer, but I'm getting in better shape every week!  After soccer, we invited everyone to iTrampoline in Kapolei.  We jumped for an hour and a half, and it was absolutely AWESOME!  Nothing is better than being with a bunch of adults, jumping off the walls (literally), toppling children, participating in slam dunk contests, dodgeball battles, and doing tricks into a foam pits.  Most amazing birthday in a while!

Kitchen Update

Well, the kitchen is finally taking shape.  It's wonderful to see everything come together.  Uncle Frank has been coming and working late nights on the tile.  The tile isn't completely finished in the kitchen, but it was done enough to install the cabinets.

Mike and Ben picked up the cabinets last Wednesday, and then Mike and I installed the wall cabinets on Friday evening.  Jordan and Ben helped Mike install the ground cabinets on Saturday morning.

The hardest part is making sure everything's level.  Mike bought a DeWalt self-leveler (of course) to do the job.  I'm so proud of him!

Unfortunately, the countertop estimate didn't go so well.  The guy couldn't measure because the tops of the cabinets can't be more than an eighth of an inch off in a space less than ten feet.  We spent hours leveling and shimming it again Monday night, so he's coming back tomorrow.  I'm hoping we can move forward!

Mike's family of drills:  the pre-drill, the counter sink, and the main event.

Uncle Frank's handiwork, partially grouted.

We started with the corner wall box, clamped and drilled.  This is a craft of precision.

The first boxes up on the wall.

Laser level with tripod for accuracy.

Mike in deep thought :)

This whole wall is installed!

Installing the final cabinets.

Everything but the island.

Everything is in.  Now we need the counter tops!

Starting Strong

Jesus, be my strength today.  I pray for patience in the classroom, and joy in my spirit. Help me accomplish what I must before our trip, and not be so one track-minded that I miss opportunities to love others.

Caught up in the Busyness

Like most people I know, I've felt very overwhelmed lately.  There are things pressing upon me from every angle, and even more things that I feel I should be doing.  The pang of guilt is something that I experience every time I'm not able to help with something or commit to help with something.

I honestly don't know how people with children keep their lives composed at all.  I don't have kids yet, and I feel so overwhelmed.  I must lean on Jesus.

There's a saying I remember my youth pastor, Todd Shaw, often say back when I was in high school.  He would remind us that if we were too busy to spend time with God in prayer or reading his word, then we were too busy in general.  The phrase goes like this:  "If you're too busy for God, you're too busy."

To this day, I can relate.  Even sitting down at the computer and trying to compose a post is hard to do these days.  My mind wanders and begins thinking of all the things I "should be doing" and I get side- tracked from what I'm actually doing.  I think they call that A.D.D.

Anyway, this post isn't supposed to be about me rattling off all the things I'm doing or involved with or committed to.  This is a reminder to myself that I need to fix my eyes on Jesus--the author and finisher of my faith.  The author of Hebrews says it best in Ch. 12:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[c] then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin."

Jesus, I thank you for not giving up on me or on the sinful world we live in.  I pray that I would honor you with my lips and with my life.  Take away desires that aren't from you.  Give me a spirit of compassion.  Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

The Kitchen is Coming Along!

We spent a lot of time on the house this weekend.  We had to turn down numerous exciting activities with friends, but the house MUST get finished.  The only way that's going to happen is if we push it into high gear.  I have to say that it has come a very long way though.  I'm really excited to see the finished project and look forward to cooking some amazing meals in my brand new kitchen.

I am so thankful for the people that have come to help us work these last few weeks:  Kim, Jordan, Henry (although it was a stealthy job), Ben, Sabine, Luke, Brooke, and Bain.  It's coming along!  From the time we did the first coat of primer, it has taken us about a week to paint the entire inside of the house--that includes every room and ALL the trim upstairs.  I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

Here are some pictures of the down stairs, kitchen mostly.  I'll save the upstairs for another post.

Stripped down to the bones; you can sort of see the pantry on the left side.

Here it is with the drywall up.  Not taped yet.

Drywall and tape.

Drywall, tape and texture.

Drywall, tape, texture, and paint.

Hopefully soon I'll have a picture of the cabinets installed.  The sad part is that I think we'll have to wait on new appliances for now.  We're running out of money...  

In the next post, I'll try to capture the essence of the upstairs and the colors I chose.

Our tangerines are ready to eat!

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!