Better Late Than Never, Right?

I meant to post this the week before last, but for certain reasons, I never seemed to get around to pressing the "publish post" button. I'll get into the reasons for that later. Anyway, I am almost two weeks late on this, but the Feel Good Friday theme over at MommyETC on July 18th was:

...post SONG LYRICS that make you happy, that teach you more about yourself...about God, that make you cry, that make you feel special...that make you "feel good".

It is hard for me to admit (reason #1 for my tardiness), but I felt a bit of tugging in my heart when I read that. No, not because I had heartburn or anything. Because I was instantly convicted (reason #2). If you read these lyrics you might understand why:

One Touch (Press) by Nicole C. Mullen

Been ostracized for 12 years

I'm used to being alone

Spent everything I had

And now it's gone

I'm used to being put down

My issues tell it all

My only hope is anchored

In this fall

Chorus

If I could just touch the hem of His garment

I know I'd be made whole

If I could just press my way through this madness

His love would heal my soul

If only one touch

So many people calling

How could He ever know

That just a brush of Him

Would stop the flow

If he knew would He rebuke me

Or shame me to the crowd

Well I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now

Chorus

Suddenly He turned around

He said somebody has unleashed my power

Well, Frightened and embarrassed I bowed

You see I told Him of my troubles

And how...

I had to touch the Hem of His garment

And I know I've been made whole

And how I had pressed my way through the madness

And His love has healed my soul

Then with one word

He touched the hem of my garment

And you know I've been made whole

And somehow He pressed

His way through my madness

And His love has healed my soul

I tell you He touched me

He reached way down and touched me

When no one else would touch me

Jesus, shol' 'nough He touched me...

And I know I've been made whole

This song absolutely does it for me - it sums me, and my life, up in so many ways that I get a lump in my throat and have to look in the other direction if people are around. In case you didn't know, this song is about the woman in the Bible who suffered from an "issue of blood" for about 12 years; she was an outcast in society because of this, and I imagine that she was a lonely and sad woman, too. She was desperate, probably at the end of her rope, and when she saw Jesus, she just knew that he could heal her. Her faith drove her through that crowd; and even though she knew that she wasn't supposed to touch him (the laws concerning issues of blood forbade her to) she reached for the hem of his garment. Jesus knew instantly when she made contact; he felt his power unleash and asked, "who touched me?" Although the woman was afraid, she confessed to being the one to touch him. He then turns to her - and this is what really pulls my heartstrings - and lovingly says, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace..."

I can identify with this story. Not the issue of blood part - I have dealt with some serious medical issues over the years, but not that one in particular. What I can understand is that feeling of being an outcast, that feeling that nobody wants you - those kinds of feelings that drive you to the point of desperation, where you know that nothing can save you but the blood of Jesus. Just one touch. That's all. Just one touch to heal you, to fix the things that are wrong; one touch to let you know that there is indeed someone who loves you more than anything, and knows you as His own, even if you don't always acknowledge Him. And that word he uses: "Daughter." I don't know about you, but for me, it drives home the point that even when society was shunning this woman, Jesus was not. He acknowledged her in front of everyone in that crowd as His own - "Daughter." Okay, I can feel the lump starting to pop up again so let me take a minute....

See, I have to admit - even though I don't want to - that I haven't exactly been on my best behavior lately. Frustrations with various things, anxiety, lack of sleep, school - so many things have had me on edge lately. I can't seem to find enough time in the day to do the things I need to. I snap so easily lately...at everyone, to be honest. I find myself becoming increasingly dissatisfied, and then look for things to validate that emotion so I can wallow in my pity party. And although I try to justify it, I admit that I haven't been as active in my prayer life and one-on-one time with God lately. Ever notice that when that slacks off, everything else just seems to fall out of whack?

And therein lies my conviction. I have been that woman - the one that Jesus acknowledged and saved when she was at the end of her rope. And you would think by now, that I should be a seasoned enough Christian that I wouldn't allow myself to fall into these kinds of ruts. But I still do, and it is just the worst feeling!

Have you ever fallen into that valley before? What did it take for you to realize that you had wandered off the beaten track? What prompted you to turn around? If you want to share, feel free...and if not, no worries, just typing this has been therapeutic.

So that is where I am at right now. I am going to make the effort to carve out some much-desired time to try and re-organize and re-prioritize certain things in my life. I have a feeling it's not going to be easy...but the most important thing is that it will get me back to where I need to be. Thanks for letting me vent....it's so nice having a springboard to get all of this out of my system! Blessings....

Ouch!

I....am....so.....sore......right.....now.

I am not sure why but it even kind of hurts to type, too. All because I had to go and try to be superwoman.

Okay, here's the deal. I consider myself to be a pretty fit person. In fact, if I listen to the Air Force, I can even smile and go ahead and say that I am in excellent condition. When I took my annual PT test in June (which consists of timed military style push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run), I beat every woman in my squadron, and in the run, almost all of the men, too. Had me feeling all good and positive. All the running I do at night actually pays off, I thought.

Then Isaiah and his best friend Keith decided to introduce me to this workout regime called CrossFit. You may have heard of it, but if you are kind of oblivious to these things (as I tend to be most of the time) you are probably just staring at the screen with a blank expression. It's okay, I completely understand.

Anyway, I am probably not doing the program much justice by describing it in these terms, but it is basically a no-frills kind of strengthening/conditioning program that is used by countless athletes, special forces units, martial artists, etc....it is not meant for people who are trying to look cute and check themselves out in mirrors while they do bicep curls or something in the gym. Now, this is how it was told to me, and I got really amped about it. I don't know about you, but I cannot stand the gym most of the time. You either have the same guys there checking out the women (this works in reverse too, ladies!), or you have to fight for your turn on a machine. Gets kind of old. C'mon.

As I was saying...I got all excited about it, especially when Isaiah came home the first day completely wrecked and about to toss his cookies. Since it was the day after his birthday, I figured that the drinks he and his friends celebrated with the day before might have got to him. I empathized with him while the naughty voice in my head cackled "wimp!" Then I promised to go with him and Keith another day. No sweat!

Wrong. Very wrong. There was sweat. Quite a bit of it. Belonging to me, as a matter of fact. We were given a deceptively simple sounding workout to do. The "simple workout" nearly made me hurl. Let's just say it involved a combination of a whole lot of push-ups and pull-ups (called burpies), and squats performed while hoisting a 20-pound ball in the air (okay, I admit that I took a lighter ball....so sue me). I started off pretty strong, but by the end, only sheer willpower and the fact that my husband was watching (of course, he finished before me) got me through the workout. I tell you the truth, it took everything I had not to hurl in the bucket affectionately named "Pukie" that they keep for newbies like me.

So now I sit. In front of the computer. Wondering how on earth my body is still operating. I squatted down to pick up my daughter earlier and couldn't get back up. Yeah, it's pitiful. So the question is, am I going back?

Call me crazy...but yes! There is something so...well, therapeutic about reaching beyond what you think are your capabilities and actually finding out that you can do so much more. And not drop dead in the process. Even if I hurt. Today. And probably tomorrow. And the day after.

So, people, I will keep you posted and let you know if I am able to hang. And that's about all I can manage at the moment...because I am going to bed! Besos!

Installment #4: The Colon Family Takes Over (And Departs) Hawaii!

Let's play a Hawaiian version of "Where's Waldo?" Observe the picture below. See anything interesting?

Your eyes do not deceive you, people. That is indeed a coconut tree.

What's that? Oh! I guess you may have also noticed the man perched (quite comfortably, I might add) on the tree! Well, this took place while we were visiting the island of Samoa. No, not the real island of Samoa. I'm talking about the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center!

The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of those places where you truly have to experience it for yourself in order to fully appreciate how incredible it is. This is a 42-acre Center located on the Windward side of Oahu, containing seven native "villages" that each represent one of the Pacific Islands: Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Marquesas, New Zealand (which is actually called Aotearoa - I never knew that) and Tonga. Each village had all kinds of activities to offer, such as Tongan spear throwing contests, preparing (and enjoying!) Tahitian coconut bread, playing the drums, even Samoan fire-knife training. We made it our goal to make it through every single village in the place, which was no small feat once you threw in a blazing sun and some unusually hot weather!

However, we actually made it around the entire Center, and were rewarded with a truly authentic Hawaiian luau. I'm talking about pineapple drinks, tiki lamps, beautiful music, and the best part of all, food! Here is one of the men preparing to remove the roasted pig from the fire pit:

And here is the procession of the Royal Hawaiian Court:

After the luau, we enjoyed a spectacular show that showcased performers from each of the native "villages" - it was a breathtaking performance, complete with fire-dancers and all! I really wish I had some pictures to show you, but like Cirque, we couldn't take pictures for fear of blinding the performers. Again, I can accept that because I agree that it would be kind of ugly for a flash to go off while someone was dancing around with a flaming torch or something. : )

After spending a whole day, morning to night, at the Polynesian Cultural Center, you would think we would be too tired to do anything else that weekend. But of course not! We got up the next day, pumped our bodies full of caffeine, and went to the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Kapolei. Which, ironically, is the only water park on the whole island - who'da thunk it?

I'll be honest with you - after being raised in such close proximity to Six Flags Great Adventure, I admit that I tend to be a bit blase about water parks. You know the concept: been to one, seen them all. I mean, you can only ride so many water slides before you just kind of sit there and go catatonic, right? But once again, I was wrong - I acted like a big child and got on some of the crazy rides with my Dad and the boys. The wildest one was this new ride called "The Tornado." It is built into the side of the mountains bordering the water park, and you hike up them to reach the the place where the ride begins. The best description I can give you is to imagine (along with whoever is with you, naturally) being shoved backwards into a humongous red funnel that spins you around to the point where you are literally circling the tube upside down! Very tornado-like....if I hadn't been hanging on to the grips of the tube, I don't think I would be typing this right now! And I kid you not, there were grown men in there screaming like girls...I'm talking about big, masculine men, too, LOL....

Now, can you believe after visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, there would be more? Oh, yes! The following day, Mom and Dad headed out to visit the Big Island - land of Kona coffee, black sand beaches, and of course, the volcanoes! I can't elaborate fully on their experiences, being that I obviously wasn't there, but according to them, it was an awesome trip. Also, they took a ton of pictures, but for the sake of your eyesight, I will put in the money shot that you know you want to see:

Volcano!

While the parents were off trolling the Big Island, Isaiah and I were pretty busy ourselves - it was the day that we were all set to be given the keys to our new house! Man, what a blessing, and a long-awaited one at that. Just to give you an idea of why we couldn't wait to get out of our old house (which was being torn down, thankfully) let me give you a brief description of our previous abode. A very old home built out of cinder blocks, with peeling paint on the cinder blocks, no less; a lanai door that let countless creatures in (you should see some of the critters here); a yard that refused to grow real grass; really, prior to our departure, this house was literally falling apart all around us. To add insult to injury, after accidentally knocking a chair into some moulding, we discovered a ridiculously large ant colony residing in our walls! To a germ-phobe like me, that was enough to send me into the fetal position, quivering in spasms of horror. So, you can be assured that I was lurking outside the housing office like a desperate stalker, waiting for our names to be called so we could get our keys and run as fast as we could into the new place!

The last few days of Mom and Dad's visit, we spent doing all the things that come with moving - sorting, discarding, packing, and the best part of all, buying a few new things! And, as I am sure you probably can figure out, we were pretty exhausted. However, it made my heart smile to see my Dad and husband tinkering around with the boys and showing them how to be little handymen.

Then Friday rolled around. It was the 4th of July, but I just couldn't seem to muster up much excitement. We all kept ourselves busy with unpacking, moving things in their proper places, hanging curtains...but there is always that awareness in the back of your brain that reminds you that soon, your happy time will be coming to an end. Although I purposely tried to avoid looking at the clock, I knew the time was getting closer to when we would have to take them to the airport. My mood was growing increasingly somber and when Amir burst into tears at the dinner table, I had to go into the kitchen under the guise of cleaning the dishes so I wouldn't embarrass myself by doing the same! Time ticked on much too quickly...it seems that whenever you wish time would linger, it does the opposite and goes into fast-forward.

So, off we went to the airport - we were all doing a pretty decent job of acting like it was no big deal, in retrospect. That is, until the final good-bye came - then I lost it. Mom came to give me a hug and I just refused to let go of her...it's funny how the familiar scent and feel of a person can take you back to when you were just a child and the only people who mattered were your parents. After a few attempts, she finally dislodged me and man, then the waterworks really sprang into full effect. I can't properly express how hard it was to say good-bye to my Dad after that. One of the things I love best about him is his habit of whispering that special bit of parting counsel, tempered with a loving gesture, right before he departs. And he didn't fail to tell me just what I needed to hear before he gave me one last kiss and hug - although what he said is something that I will keep between he and I, of course. : )

Back in the car I went, looking like a hot mess - running nose, red eyes, tragic face and all. However, I did manage to compose myself before stepping in the house. And I have to tell you, if I didn't have my husband and children there to make me laugh that day I would probably have just sat around looking pitiful. Because it's strange when you are used to having an extra presence in the house for a significant amount of time, and then all of a sudden, it's gone. The kind of company where you can just go about your daily life and have the comfort of knowing that even if you don't say a word, or just sit around doing something as mundane as enjoying a cup of coffee together, you are content and happy.

But time marches on, and thankfully, it is capable of providing the best kinds of distractions. I have been busy to the point of exhaustion with all of the things that have popped up in the past few weeks. School, work, prepping the kids for sports, lessons, TDY's, the list feels never-ending at times...but most, if not all of you can relate, I am sure.

And thus ends my final installment of the Hawaii "take-over" by the Colon Family. A big mahalo to them for giving us some truly beautiful memories to hang onto until we visit again. I close this with a picture that should sum up their experiences here in one pose:

I think they look happy, don't you? : )

Catching Up!

Hey everyone - I know I still owe you guys another installment, but things have been so crazy here I haven't had a chance to sit down for very long and finish it. The last three days of Mom and Dad's visit, we had to move from our old house in the ghetto (if anyone from housing happens to come across this, sorry, but you know it's the truth, LOL) to our brand new one, and all I can say is this: Valió la pena! Yup, it was worth the wait, most definitely. I will try and post some pictures of the new place soon. On top of that, school has picked back up for me, Isaiah is preparing to go out of town again, and my youngest munchkin has decided to fully embrace the "terrible" portion of her terrible two's! Oh, my...but in the meantime, I leave you with some pictures that we all took together while my parents were still here. Much love to everyone, and just bear with me, I will update this blog again soon!

Installment #3: The Colon Family Takes Over Hawaii!

The North Shore of Oahu has a lot to offer. Miles and miles of sandy beach? Check. Miles and miles of ocean? Check. Countless tourists attempting to master the art of surfing next to countless locals who probably ride the waves during hurricanes for fun? Check. Gigantic maze in the shape of an over sized fruit?

CHECK!

Interestingly enough, it exists! An insanely large maze, in the shape of a pineapple, designed to torment anyone brave enough to venture into its eerie depths. Okay, maybe it's not that ominous, but I still didn't want to attempt to navigate it. My luck is, I would either pass out from heat stroke 5 feet from the exit or simply never come out - my sense (or lack of) direction is kind of infamous in these parts, LOL. Which is why Isaiah ended up trapped inside of it with Johnny, while the parents and I munched on pineapple themed goodies and shopped inside the Dole Plantation store. Here is a picture (of a picture, since my ability to fly over tall buildings wasn't functioning that day) of the maze:

The Dole Plantation's claim to fame, besides being the producers of Dole Pineapples, is the fact that this maze was listed as holding the world record for being the largest one in the world. On the other hand, that was back in 2001 so I am sure that somebody, somewhere, has taken it upon themself to commission a ridiculously larger maze just to beat a somewhat lame record in a book. I mean, really, when was the last time YOU looked in the Guinness Book of World Records for entertainment? : )

Eventually, Isaiah and Johnny emerged from the maze, so we celebrated by treating ourselves to some fantastic pineapple ice cream at the snack bar. After feeding the fishies in the pond, I entertained myself by stalking everyone with my camera:

Isa the barbarian...she likes to bench press me at home for fun : )

Dad flirting with one of the female workers....until Mom pointed out that she was made of cardboard, haha...

Once we tired of prancing throughout pineapple fields, we got back into the car and cruised down the road to check out the rest of the North Shore. There are pros and cons to rolling around this part of the island. One of the cons - at least for a Jersey girl like me who prefers to get wherever she is going as fast as possible - is that the road in this rural area is only 2 lanes (one coming, one going) with a max speed limit of 35 miles per hour. However, one of the pros FAR outweighs the cons. What, you wonder, could make a speeder like me slow down? See below:

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. This is indeed a graffiti-covered, RV-style vehicle located on the side of the road. If I drove past it in the evening hours back home I would lock my doors and keep on truckin'. However, it is home to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, a North Shore tradition and providers of the absolute BEST shrimp ever. And believe that everyone knows about it here, whether you are a local or a tourist. They have spicy shrimp, lemon butter shrimp, garlic shrimp...am I am starting to sound like Bubba from Forrest Gump?

Anyway, we got in line with a ton of other people and each ordered a garlic shrimp plate, which is served scampi-style with rice. Ohhhh, my.....all I can say is that we were in heaven. Garlic-breath and all.

Once we ate our food (I admit it, I licked the plate), the men appeared to be in need of a serious nap. Funny how this tends to happen after an especially good meal...and also when the word "shopping" is brought up! So, the ladies (Mom, Isa, and I) took the men (Dad, Isaiah, and Johnny) home and went right back out to scour the shops for some retail therapy. Oh, and if you are wondering where Amir was, he spent what he described as an "awesome" weekend out camping with his Sunday School class....coincidentally located at the North Shore!

And that's all for now. In a few short days, Mom and Dad will be returning to NJ, and our time together will be drawing to an end. I am trying not to think about it too much - denial is my friend at the moment. And since there are still some more stories to share, we won't focus on that sad fact quite yet. So - stay tuned for the next installment, for I will regale you with tales of spear-throwing natives, fire dancers, and strolls through seven authentic Polynesian villages. Oh, and did I mention a spectacular luau and night show? All this and more, during our adventure to the Polynesian Cultural Center - same bat time, same bat channel! (Sorry, I couldn't resist....you know you watched the original Batman series on television back in the day!)

Installment #2 - The Colon Family Takes Over Hawaii!

Told ya' it was coming....it just took me a minute to actually get on the computer long enough to type something! Fresh of the heels of a card game, I am waiting for some laundry to finish drying (because we all know I cannot sleep if things aren't finished before I go to bed), and since everyone else is already knocked out, there is no better time than the present for some updates. So, beginning with the most recent excursion of the week, I would like to introduce you to a most entertaining new friend of mine:

Everyone, meet the Llama. He (or maybe it was a she - I didn't exactly check, so let's just call he/she "Llama") was one of the creatures hanging out at the children's section of the Honolulu Zoo. Don't ask me why I decided to share this picture when I probably should have posted the typical pics of the lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) but I just find Llama amusing. Llama, in turn, seemed to find my tank top to be WAY more interesting than satisfying than my odd sense of humor, so Isabella and I moved on before I lost my shirt. On to the little goats!

I kind of wondered if Isa would attempt to climb on one of these little guys and try to ride them around, but she was content to pat him on the head and say "ni-i-i-i-i-ice" in a surprisingly soothing voice. I was just glad she didn't bonk him on the head and try to take him home!

I could probably bore you to tears and post a lot more pictures, but since you have all likely been to a zoo at some point in your lives, I won't sear your poor corneas with things you have already seen before. So I will leave you with one cute pic of Papa with his grandkids...

...and move on to excursion #2, our visit to Pali Lookout!

Alright, Pali Lookout is what we would usually call a "scenic overlook" off of 295 out in Jersey, but it's really much more than that - like most places here in Hawaii, it has been the location of some crazy historical events. Rather than give myself Carpal Tunnel syndrome by typing it all out, I cheated and took a picture so you can read for yourself what happened there:

The picture was really much bigger when I viewed it on my computer...but if you can't read it, the story takes place in the late 1700's and ends with a bunch of Hawaiian warriors being forced off the end of this cliff:

That drop looks like it would really, really hurt. But the view is spectacular, though!

Much nicer than thinking about a bunch of warriors going over the edge of a cliff, right? Oh, did I mention that according to historical information, a bunch of them jumped (on purpose) to avoid being captured? By the time you finish reading these posts, you won't need to come to Hawaii to get an education in historical events, haha.....

...and on we go to excursion #3, our visit to the USS Arizona:

The USS Arizona was one of seven battleships that were tied up along "Battleship Row" along Ford Island when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred in 1941. The ship was struck, exploded, and sank, trapping around 1, 777 of her crew members within. The memorial, which is built out white marble and black granite, was actually constructed on top of the sunken hull of the battleship! A ferry operated by the Navy took us out to the memorial, the inside of which has a wall honoring the perished soldiers:

What's incredible is that because the memorial is built on top of the sunken battleship, you can look over the sides of the memorial and actually see the USS Arizona through the waves.

Wow....what a sobering thought to know that this ship is essentially the final resting place for all those crewmembers who lost their lives during the attack. I mean, can you imagine what must have run through their minds that day? The day started just like any other - then out of nowhere, with little or no warning, those brave servicemembers faced their end so unexpectedly. It really serves as a reminder that we need to have a ready heart, mind, and spirit for God, because we never know when He is going to call us home.

Now, I know that I was supposed to tell you all about our trip to the North Shore and Dole Plantation as well, but I think this post is already long enough. No need for me to strain your eyesight any further today (wink, wink). So as we say in the military, stand-by to stand-by! Installment #3 will be arriving soon! I leave you with a pair of happy viejos:

Awww....aren't they cute? : )

Installment #1 - The Colon Family Takes Over Hawaii!

Yippee-ki-yay, I proclaim! My parents arrived safely (although somewhat jet-lagged) to our lovely little island here in the Pacific, and we have been moving full speed ahead ever since. Strengthened by multiple pots of Bustelo coffee, we have been hauling our sizeable brood all over the island by day, and engaging in spades championships by night. Dad has reverted to his jibaro roots and spends his days eating mangoes and lemons off the trees in my yard, riding bikes with the boys, and lounging at the pool and on the beach. Not surprisingly, he seems to become increasingly busy on the days when Mom and I plan on spending our time trolling around the malls and shops down in Waikiki...hmmmmm...could this be on purpose? ; )

This past Monday, we went to explore the USS Battleship Missouri, also fondly called the "Mighty Mo'" by us residents. Not only is this battleship the last of its kind, but it was also where the peace treaty was signed that ended World War II. Don't believe me? Check it out below:

Believe me when I say that this battleship is absolutely huge! I'm talking about 3 football fields, at least, with multiple floors decks above and below. I don't know how the Navy men handled being on one of these ships for extended periods of time without getting a serious case of cabin fever or claustrophobia. More power to them, I can only say. We also lucked out because the Army "Strolling Strings" band, who have played throughout the world and are favorites of the White House, just happened to be performing on the Mighty Mo' that day. These soldiers have been trained at the most prestigious musical conservatories, and boy, can you tell. For most of their performance, I just stood there with goosebumps and will even admit to becoming just a teensy bit emotional. Have you ever listened to music that is just so precise, so perfect, and just so beautiful that you can only marvel at the talent of the people creating such a sound? Ooh-wee, what an incredible experience!

Monday was a special day for another great reason - Mom and Dad celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary! These days, it is getting harder and harder to find people who remain steadfast, and keep alive the love that brought them together in the first place. I think it is pretty darn cool that after all these years, they are still so enamored with each other - and still would rather be with each other than anywhere else in the world! As an anniversary gift, we gifted them with tickets to see Cirque Hawaii. If you aren't sure what that is, just think (or google) Cirque de Soleil and you will know what it's all about. One of my best friends, Denise, came with us and all I can say is, I would see this show over and over again. The acts are mind-boggling! Contortionists, trapeze artists, performers flying through the air while spinning and twisting and flipping.....whew, I was the classic audience member, screaming and whooping it up. The pina coladas I was drinking might have helped me out a little, actually...LOL....anyway, we couldn't take pictures during the actual show because it was a safety hazard to the performers (bad news if someone got blinded by a camera flash, I think) but we did stalk the performers afterwards and got some nice shots in. Dad was especially pleased to gain the attention of some of the very pretty ladies, ha ha...see below:



I am sure we will end up passing out from sheer exhaustion, sooner or later, but until that actually happens, I will continue to document our shenanigans across the island. So, stay tuned for Installment #2, where we will attempt to explore the North Shore, Pali Lookout, and the Dole Plantation (oh, yeah, pineapples galore and a maze to match! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

I'm So Excited!

Ever see that little dance football players do in the end zone when they've scored a touchdown? They get all hyped and then, in the moment of victory, throw down the football like, "Bam! In your face!"

Well, toss me a pair of played out leg warmers because that's me right now. Doing the victory dance with my legs running in place like a desperate extra out of Flashdance. Except I don't really have a football to throw (unless I take my son's, and that would require me actually sneaking it out of his room) so I will have to settle for throwing down a Bustelo coffee can. Bam!

I'm such a dork sometimes. But I really am excited, though. My parents are coming to see us for three (count 'em, three!) whole weeks! While we have had alot of visits from good friends and our military buddies since we came to Hawaii, none of my family has made it out here yet. Okay, technically my Mom did come out when I had Isabella, but that doesn't count since we had literally just moved here and I didn't know anybody or how to get anywhere except for a shopping mall....or two....and of course a Starbucks, LOL...

I have no problem admitting that I never quite managed to "cut the cord" all the way when it comes to my parents. While I like to think of myself as an independent person, I still cannot get through a day or two without calling my Mom at least once to engage in mindless chatter about the day's events or to have a good talk with my Dad. My mother is still one of my favorite shopping partners, my father is still the first person I go running to when I need some good advice, and Isaiah and I love nothing better than to spend an evening with them playing spades and sipping on some coffee. I could wax poetic for pages about why I am so geeked that they are coming out, but that would make your eyes hurt, so I will just do another victory dance and yell, "Woo-hoo!" (c'mon, you can even pretend you are in the living room with me this time) : )

Also, not to toot my own horn - well, maybe I am but give me a break - but I have, to this date, managed to maintain a quite lovely 4.0 GPA in my classes. I have one last final next week to knock out, and then I can chill out and rest my poor brain (which is on the verge of exploding) until classes pick back up in July. Then it's back to the grind...and my poor husband having to scrape me off the desk when my head meets the wood!

2 Weeks of Hustle and Bustle!

Wow, talk about a whirlwind couple of weeks. Ever had one of those moments where you stop and wonder when was the last time you looked on your calendar and didn't have something to do? That's pretty much me right now. To cope I like to envision securing just one day for myself when I can be a complete and total bum who stays in her PJ's (okay, sweats and a t-shirt for me), eating a pint of Haagen Daz while entertaining myself with endless rounds of mind-numbing television, intermixed with occasional bouts of napping throughout the day. Yup, sounds good - no appointments to go to, no practices or lessons to cart the kids to, no dinner to cook, no tantrums to ride out - essentially, no one to cater to but me, myself, and I! Mmm-hmm, fantasies are a good thing....

...but who am I kidding? I "ping" far too much to actually be able to sit down for long without getting up and doing something completely ridiculous, like straightening kitchen towels that aren't hanging exactly parallel to the floor. How my husband puts up with my odd tendencies, I will never know, LOL. Anyway! In between all the typical mish-mash of life with 3 rugrats and an often traveling husband, we have somehow managed to squeeze in some fun things.

First, Isaiah and I had what we like to call "an evening off" where we attended the NCO Academy graduation of one of our friends. Amir provided outstanding baby-sitting services while we trekked up the road in our dress blues. It almost reminded me of when we were dating! We used to attend alot of military functions together back then - and really, there is something so sweet about getting all dolled up with your man and spending a nice evening together, sans children. It helps me remember why I fell in love with him in the first place! Yup, lots of coy flirting going on that night...


Over the weekend, we enjoyed a nice pre-Memorial Day BBQ at the beach with a group of our friends out in Ewa Beach. Isabella spent her time dumping shovels of sand into buckets with Keith & Reshon's daughter, Kai (and on their hair, clothes, and the rest of us) while the boys played some football with the other kids.

(Isa also spent some time in the gazebo singing and dancing...I will try to figure out how to post a video clip later!)

The 50th State Fair also came into town and parked itself at the Aloha Stadium. On Memorial Day, they gifted all military members with free admission, so you know where we ended up on Monday! The carnival rocked - the kids definitely enjoyed the unlimited rides and games, as well as the naughty things we adults aren't supposed to eat, like cotton candy (okay, I snuck a few handfuls, I can admit that...it was blue, though! You can hardly expect me to avoid it!)

So...end result? I may be tired, but I DID manage to get the following accomplished:

1. A nice little tan
2. The sand out of Isa's hair (thanks, Reshon, for the hair tips!)
3. Three worn-out children who have slept quite nicely
4. Some one-on-one time with my man

and....most important

5. A supremely cool set of memories! (am I a cornball or what? Ha ha....)

Amir Can Fly!

Okay, not literally - but I have to admit, he is pretty darn close. He came home a couple of weeks ago, excited because he had tried out for the school track team and made it. His team practiced just about every single day, and then he informs me that he was chosen to compete in a track meet against seven other schools. So, on the day of the meet, my girlfriend Denise and I packed up our little ones and drove out to Mililani to check it out. Now, mind you, I had never seen him run competitively before - I was all ready to hand out pats on the back and words of consolation in case he didn't do well. After all, isn't that what parents are supposed to do? LOL....anyway, the time comes for the 400-meter relay, which is the race everyone had been waiting for. I started to get my camera ready as Amir got into position to grab the baton and go. The starting gun goes off - "bang!" - and the next thing I know, that boy was flying around the track like he had fire on his heels! Oh, my - I know it sounds corny, but I got chills in the ninety- degree heat. I honestly didn't know he could run like that. I couldn't even take a decent picture; I just stood there, flabbergasted. Denise looked at me and says, "Carmen, he looks like a flying ostrich! Hurry up, take a picture!" By the time I was able to get myself together, I only could take one far-away, semi-hazy picture (see below). Sorry for the horrible quality, but it was the best I could get!

I know we are all kind of biased when it comes to our own kids, but as a runner, I tend to be a bit more critical than most when I watch these things. Yeah, mean Mommy, don't remind me. But wow, I cannot express how awesome that was to see. Looks like I may have a new running buddy on my hands...