happy endings

I have a theory.  OK, so it's not so much a theory, but an observation:  all the best TV shows have one thing in common--a great gathering place for the characters.  Seriously, think about it.  Every show from "friends" to "coach" to "sienfeld"--even "how i met your mother" features a place where everyone gets together to live life & have fun.  A place where they're a regular.  That's a pretty cool concept, actually.  I think it would be a blast to have a neighborhood pub or bar or coffee shop to gather with friends and unwind.  On that note....

Today I realized that I had an entire Sunday afternoon free--something that doesn't happen very often in my life.  I called up my friend Leah, who lives in Hollywood, and wound up driving to her place to watch football with her and some friends.  It was rainy in LA--also something that doesn't happen very often--so i picked her up and we headed a few blocks down the road to a bar called Happy Endings.  Happy Endings is the kind of place you'd miss if you didn't know it was there.  It's on Sunset Blvd & La Brea, but it's pretty unassuming from the outside.  We had the valet park my car (in true LA fashion) and headed into the place...

Leah has talked about Happy Endings before.  I've even been there once, but it was late at night and totally packed, so I didn't get a good look around.  But when we walked in this time, I was unprepared for the testosterone overload in the air.  There must have been 50 guys near the bar alone, each one in a different NFL jersey.  Men everywhere in backwards hats with pitchers of bud light rooting for their team, whose game was playing on one of the several TVs placed at odd angles around the bar.  And then there were the more colorful characters:  one guy in a saints jersey, leather football helmet, aviators, and face paint throwing a pretend football around the room; a really scary looking raiders fan (oh wait--that's every raiders fan!) that looked suspiciously like Danny DeVito; a girl with dyed red hair to match her Redskins jersey.  Cheers and boos would alternate from every corner of the place. I've been in lots of sports bars, but I've never seen anything like this.  It was like I'd died and gone to NFL HEAVEN!

We met up with some of Leah's friends (also regulars) and I got to watch 3 games at once (Jets/Broncos, Cowboys/Vikings, and 49ers/Raiders in case you were wondering).  The food was great too, and as more people joined us we added more jerseys to our corner booth.  I loved every minute of it!

This is Leah's neighborhood bar.  Part of me is so jealous that she has such a fun place in which to be a "regular."  But it just makes me more motivated to find a place like Happy Endings near where I live.  Honestly, what struck me the most was that people were sitting next to each other in all different jerseys.  There weren't really big groups of fans for any certain team--and that's what made it so fun.  What a great day in Hollywood--I can't wait to go again, and I can't wait to find my own Happy Endings (no pun intended)!

Battle of the Paddle

In the last few months, I have taken up paddle boarding.  What is paddle boarding, you might wonder?  It's a little difficult to describe, but it looks like this:

No, that's not me.  Just in case the dark hair didn't tip you off!

I'm no surfer.  I think, if I was going to become one, it would have happened already.  But I've found something in stand up paddling that I absolutely love!  I've been going with a good friend of mine  named Job, who has helped me get started and lent me his extra board.  We've been paddling around Newport Harbor, which is lots of fun, unless a boat passes by too close!


Last weekend, was the Battle of the Paddle--a stand up paddle race that draws competitors from all over the world.  Job was racing, so I drove to a beach about 40 mins. south of my house to cheer him on.  Lots of people will tell you that paddling hasn't really caught on yet.  That it's a relatively new sport, and not everyone is really into it.  Well tell that to the 80 paddlers entered in last weekend's event!

80 Competitors all leaving at once.  Watch out!

Job tearin' it up!

Check out that crowd!

With a $10,000 prize purse, the competitors didn't mess around, and I had a great time watching the 1.5 hr race from my safe and dry spot on the sand. It was crazy!  After Job finished, we hung out at his sponsors booth (Hinano Tahiti), and they hooked me up with lots of free gear--2 shirts, a towel, and some rainbow sandals.  It was such great day!  Maybe I'll compete in next year's race.  Or maybe I'll just stick to the harbor.....

This is more my style....glassy waters and a beautiful sunset :)

Top of the World

I just finished looking back at some of my blog posts from the last several months, and realized what a charmed life i lead.  I'm pretty blessed to have a great family and amazing friends, and i've been able to live out some pretty awesome adventures this year. 

but i've also come to realize that i don't need to jump off a cliff to have a great adventure.  so let me tell you what i did a few weeks ago with my dear friend Nichol.  We hadn't seen each other in a while (she's in physical therapy school, and by default VERY busy), so we decided to take a day and explore some of Laguna Beach's best-kept secrets.  We met for smoothies at the Orange Inn, right on a cliff overlooking the ocean. 



When i googled "smothies in laguna beach" this place came up recommended.  When we got there, however, we decided their sign should say "smoothie", singular, since they only had one on the menu.  It was pretty good though, and the atmosphere made up for the lack of selection. After drinking our lunch (haha), we headed to Top of the World Park, in the hills above town.  We hiked the trails and enjoyed a view of the ocean to one side, and sprawling green hills to the other.

I represented Baylor all day.  Sic 'em!

Because we didn't feel like the hike was enough exercise (and we might be a little crazy) we headed back to my house for a bike ride.  Nine miles later, we were sweaty and exhausted.  Nichol headed home and i took a shower & ran some errands.  Then i went to her house where we made dinner for us and her husband. fettuccine pasta with butternut squash sauce, garlic bread, and broccoli.  Yum!

 
 
I stayed till 11 talking with my friends, and realizing how lucky i am to have people i can be so relaxed with.  What a great day! 

wally world

i love going camping. really, i do. as a kid, my parents would pack my sister and i up in the truck and take us all over the california coast. some of my favorite childhood memories include discovering out-of-the-way nature trails, getting lost on a hike to the bathroom at 3am, and waking up to the sound of waves & smell of bacon every morning. So, a few months ago, when my roommate (tracy--below with her friend erika & me) asked if I wanted to go with her on an annual camping trip scheduled for the weekend after labor day, i said yes without hesitation.

but i wasn't prepared for this. back in 1984, tracy's parents started a tradition of camping at "campland by the bay" in (mission bay) san diego. They invited a few neighbors, and called the adventure "wally world" (after a movie that came out around the same time). Fast forward 26 years, and wally world has grown to nearly 300 people. yes, you read that right. 300 (see below). parents bring their kids, kids bring their friends, and now grown-up kids bring their families to participate. i've never seen anything like it. so many people in one place, having a blast all weekend long. what an adventure!

here are some things i learned from wally world this weekend:

1. chili cook-offs are serious business. better bring your a game if you plan to participate
2. yes, your campsite is SUPPOSED to look like white trash. the more flamingo lights, plastic palm trees, and wind sockets, the better.
3. going along with #3, camping is a relative term. our neighbors had a microwave, a coffee maker, and a satellite flat screen tv!
4. don't drink the "moose juice". there's a reason why it's free to anyone who wants it. (vodka, tequila, rum, etc.....aka "recipe for a hangover")
5. you don't have to be a friend to be "part of the wally world family". people will smile and wave at you just because you're wearing a wally world shirt (yes, they have them made every year).

needless to say, this weekend was awesome. i can't wait for next year!

welcome fall!

With summer officially over after the holiday weekend, I thought I'd get back to blogging. For some reason, I suffered through a writer's block that lasted about two months. So I'll start again simply: with a list of my top 10 reasons why fall is my favorite season.

1. Back to school: there's something about the excitement of a new school year that's infectious. Maybe it's the smell of new school supplies, or the feel of a new first-day outfit. Maybe it's seeing old friends, or the idea of a fresh start. Even though I'm not in school this year (for the first time since kindergarten) I get to live vicariously through my roommate, who is a 4th grade teacher. So fun!

2. Crisp autumn air: I love the feeling of an early morning chill in the air. In southern california, the fall months are known for still being pretty warm, but that first chill is something I look forward to every fall season.

3. Sweaters: There's something about being cuddled up in a sweater that is just so comforting. After a summer of bathing suits, tube tops, dresses, and shorts I'm looking forward to being a little more covered.

4. Football: if you know me at all, I shouldn't have to explain this one.

5. Holiday decorations: Decorating for holidays is one of my favorite things. Fall decorations are fun, because they usually involve candles & pumpkins & other fun things. I love the color scheme, and I love the way that the fall points to Christmas.

6. Cinnamon & spice: Have you ever noticed how people tend to remember spices in the fall? It's like summer, winter & spring are flavorful enough on their own, but fall needs some extra spice. Well, that's ok with me. Bring on the cinnamon & nutmeg!

7. Empty beaches: I love love love it when tourists go home in the fall and I get my beach back. It's nice to go catch the waves rolling in feeling like you're the only one watching, and even better when you can run in the evening and beach bonfire smoke doesn't choke your lungs. Yay!

8. Baseball world series: Always fun to anticipate & watch. Even though the Angels aren't doing so well this year. :(

9. Pumpkin spice lattes: This goes hand in hand with #6, but the pumpkin spice latte is worthy of its own post. And I'm not talking about Starbucks either.

10. Changing leaves: I know, I know. What would a southern california born-and-bred girl know about changing leaves? After all, I live in the land of palm trees & birds of paradise. But socal does have the occasional tree that changes color. And while finding one is difficult, it's always a bit awe-inspiring when you do.

So there's my list & I hope you've enjoyed it. I'd love to hear what you love about fall as well!

deep in the heart of texas

it's been a while, friends! may was such a crazy month! i barely had time to think-- let alone blog--about my life. a lot has happened since my last post. let me break it down for you with a word and picture montage:

May 4: presented at colloquium--the last academic activity of my grad school career

May 6-10: Went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico with some of my favorite people EVER!


May 12: my parents, sister, and grandmother trekked to waco to see me graduate

May 14: Graduation! Well, convocation really, but it worked for me


May 16: Went to my friend's house in Louisiana for a week to help her get ready for her wedding



May 18: road tripped to new orleans for the night



May 22: wedding day!

May 25: flew back to CA from Waco


It was a busy month, and June hasn't been much slower. I've hit the ground running in Huntington Beach: moving into my new house, coaching at the cabana club, and doing exciting things like getting my wisdom teeth out. But I'm "back in the saddle" so to speak, and I'll hopefully have much more time to blog now. So stay tuned!

kayaking on the brazos

One of the best things about having adventures is that I don't often realize I'm having one until it has already passed me by. I can't think of a single time I've been doing something fun and exciting, only to pause in the middle and think "this is an adventure I'll remember for a while!" No. Usually I'm so caught up in the moment I don't think to remember details or take pictures. This "in-the-moment" adventurous spirit is a good thing. Sometimes, thinking to much about the fun I'm having slows down my process, and can make something that was once fun much less so.

On the flip side, however, I think it's good to pause in the middle of an epic moment and snap a few pics every once in a while. That's what I did yesterday--in spite of the groans and complaints of my friends. You see, yesterday I did something that has been on my "List of things to do while living in Texas" for a while. I went kayaking on the Brazos River that runs right along Balyor's campus.

It was my friend Kari's idea. We tried to go for her birthday 6 months ago, but the weather had been bad and the river was running too fast. So yesterday we finally made it to the Baylor Marina, where kayak rentals are free to students. Gotta love the advantages of being a student--I'll miss that when it's gone in a few short weeks!



Two friends met us at the marina, and the four of us geared up for our Brazos kayaking debut! After picking out snazzy gray life vests and stowing our shoes, we headed out to the riverbank where four brightly-colored OceanKayak's awaited us. We grabbed our oars and pushed off into the water, with only a little help from the guy working the marina grounds.






We settled into a slow pace, paddling upstream towards the distant I-35 bridge. As we paddled, our conversation alternated between three subjects: a) squealing at how soaked we were getting b) marveling at what little progress we were making, and c) pointing out all the turtles sunbathing on branches near the banks. It was a beautiful sunny day. I haven't felt the sun much since I left Hawaii, so it was greatly appreciated on the river.

Slowly, the I-35 bridge got closer. And slowly, we started to get tired. But finally we made it all the way, and listened to the sound of cars barreling through Waco overhead. Not the prettiest sound in the world, but now I can say I've been under the highway in Waco, Texas. Because that's a great way to start a conversation. Ha.

On our way back to the marina (traveling downstream now) we decided to relax and let the current take us. We drifted by the Baylor Law school, and waved to some students sitting outside. They didn't wave back. I wonder why...... :)

As we paddled back into the marina and disembarked from our kayaks, I realized this was one of "those" adventures. The ones you'll remember for a while, but don't usually recognize at the time. So I made my friends wait at the dock and ran to get my camera from the car. They grudgingly took pictures with me, but they turned out really cute so I'm sure they'll appreciate it later.




It was a great way to spend an afternoon, and a fun way to see a different side (literally) of Waco.

transitions

I haven't blogged lately, and so much has happened since my last post. I've sat down to write several times, and somehow I just don't have the words. But I'm going to try again, so please bear with me.

The last two weeks have been a blur of luggage & hotels, goodbyes & hellos, reflection & planning. Our last full day on Lanai (April 11th) was spent with the amazing people that made our internship a success. The church threw us a luau at the beach, and it words can't describe what that meant to me. So many people we love showed up, and we got to hug everyone one last time to say goodbye.

My favorite moment was with one particular woman who we've all grown close to. She is a mother of four, an accomplished hula dancer, and absolutely beautiful in every way. When she dances, her love of God and her Hawaiian heritage shines through in her eyes. It brings me to tears. So when we showed up to the luau, she was waiting for us with homemade bougainvillea leis. She and her daughters had picked the flowers the day before, and strung them one-by-one to create a lei designed to go around a woman's head. Not only were the flowers beautiful, but they meant to much coming from her family. Below is a picture of us in the leis, with some wonderful women from the church:



Our goodbyes were bittersweet, as we said farewell to our new Lanai o'hana to return to our family and friends on the mainland. We spent two days in Oahu before returning to Texas. While we were there, Kelsey's dad treated us from afar to a dinner at "Top of Waikiki", a revolving restaurant that afforded a 360 degree view of the Honolulu skyline. Dinner was fabulous, and we loved having a good excuse to dress up!



After a looooong trip across the ocean and half the US, we arrived in Houston. We had dinner with Brooke's family, spent the night in H-town, and headed back to Waco the next day. This past week has been spent in class and hanging out with my friends every chance I get. I appreciate them so much, and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on their lives.

So, that is my life in a nutshell. And now I come to the real reason for this post: my decision to keep this blog. I've been skeptical about blogging for years, so for me to write about my Hawaiian adventures was a big step. And now that my Hawaiian adventure is over (for now), the question remains: should the blog be over too? Blogging has been an eye-opening experience-it has helped me see my life and my everyday happenings through new eyes. And here's what I've discovered: everyday life is an adventure. Whether I'm living in Hawaii or Waco or Huntington Beach, I don't want to get bored with the time God has given me. So I've decided to keep this blog to write about my adventures in life. I hope those of you that are following will continue to do so. But regardless of if people read this bog, I'm going to write. Because when I write, I'm given fresh eyes. And sometimes fresh eyes can open up a whole new world.

alberta's farm

well, here it is April 9th, and I'm long overdue for a blog post. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind! My sister came to visit on March 25th and stayed for a week. Then I went to Maui to drop her at the airport and met up with other friends who were visiting from San Diego. After coming back from Maui last Friday night, I've been immersed in life here as we prepare to leave and say goodbye to this beautiful island. While I could write 10 blogs about the last two weeks, I'll spare you the headache and write about one of my favorite experiences.

When Katie and I first arrived on Lanai after a weekend on Maui, we went to the Blue Ginger Cafe for dinner. The Blue Ginger is the town hangout, where the community gathers to eat, have coffee, and talk story. But on this particular Sunday evening, the Blue Ginger was empty and quiet---like the rest of the island. Virtually nothing on Lanai is open on Sunday, so the town always looks abandoned.

As we sat and ate our burgers (mine a teriyaki and katie's a mahi burger--yum!), I hear footsteps behind me. I turned to see a Hawaiian woman in muddy work boots delivering a stack of Lanai Today newspapers to a shelf outside the cafe. Something in my brain clicked, and I realized this must be Alberta--a woman who I've heard several good things about but never met. Alberta owns and operates the only farm on Lanai. She grows fresh produce and does it organically, providing vegetables for an island who otherwise has to pay and arm and a leg for healthy food. She's also the editor and publisher of Lanai Today and a mover-and-shaker in the community.

I stood up and introduced myself and Katie. Recognition dawned on Alberta's face--I guess she's heard of me too. She asked us about our plans for the week, wanting us to come to the farm for a barbecue on Tuesday. Katie was ecstatic about the idea of seeing a Hawaiian farm (she'd live Alberta's life if she could, i think) and I knew Brooke and Kelsey would be up for it too. Alberta said she had just arranged for two English guys to work and live on the farm, and they had been there a couple of weeks. She wanted us all to meet. So with those things in mind, we looked forward to a visit.

Tuesday came quickly, and the four of us piled into the car to find the farm. It's right off the highway near the airport, but none of us had been, and we had to guess which gate to turn into. After some stressful moments, we turned through a white gate and down a dusty road to the farm. As we got closer, four dogs raced to meet us, barking and scaring us to death. Only when I realized that their barks were accompanied by wagging tails did I feel safe to get out of the car. But when we did, we looked around in amazement. The place was incredible! Fresh fruit, veggies, and flowers everywhere! Alberta grows it all--bananas, avocados, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, limes, lemons, cumquats (did I spell that right?), etc.



We said hello to Alberta, and she introduced us to Danny and Steve--the two new "farmhands". They seemed like really fun guys, and we all hit it off right away. Alberta sent us to get avocados, and the six of us (Brooke, Kelsey, Katie, Danny, Steve, and I) set off to discover the farm. Katie climbed a ladder to grab some avocados, and was having trouble getting them. We encouraged her (and laughed with her!) for about 10 minutes, before realizing that there were low-hanging avocados on the other side of the tree--just within our grasp on the ground!

When we got back, Alberta had chicken on the barbecue and announced that she couldn't stay. She had to be at a meeting in town that night. Without further ado, she said goodbye and rumbled off in her truck, leaving us with the boys and making me (and probably all of us) feel more than a little set-up. Ha! That Alberta is sneaky!




Even though we had just met these guys, we didn't feel awkward or out-of-place. Our evening was so much fun--the food was great and the company was even better. We spent the night drinking rum-punch, fighting off bugs, hearing stories about life in Cornwall (England), and laughing at how little we understood each other sometimes. Who knew that the Brits had so many funny words? And I'm positive the guys felt the same about Americans.



We finished the night by roasting marshmallows over the fire on bamboo sticks. The boys had never heard of s'mores, so we promptly introduced them and they loved 'em!



After a great night, we said goodbye and made plans to meet again soon. In fact, we've hung out with them already a few nights this week! What a fun experience.

let's go fly a kite--up to the highest height!

Today was "Kite Day" at Lanai Elementary School. Brooke texted Kelsey and I with an impromptu invitation to attend, so we walked over to the school at noon not knowing what to expect.

Oh, how I wish I'd had a camera! Since I didn't, I'll try to paint a picture with my words. Bear with me....

Lanai High & Elementary School is situated just off one of the main roads in Lanai City. It has two narrow administration buildings with their broad sides facing the street, and behind them are five similar buildings perpendicular to the street. The buildings are organized by ages, with the kindergarteners at the south end, and the seniors at the north end of campus. All the other grades fall somewhere in between. As we approached the school, the high schoolers were between classes. It is my opinion that passing periods do something sinister to high school students. Normally happy and friendly kids that I see every day will suddenly look at me as though I'm from Mars when they pass me in the hall. Is it an unwritten rule that you have to be surly and detached if you're a high school student? Or maybe it's truly a sign that I'm beginning to look more like the "adult" than the "student". Yikes!

Anyways, after passing some kids who looked like they'd rather be punched in the gut than waved at by an "adult", we made our way towards the elementary classrooms. This side of campus was deserted, which should have been a clue as to what I was about to witness. As we walked the winding footpaths across the grass towards to soccer field, I caught a glimpse of some children posing for a picture near the baseball dugout. We walked toward them, and as we turned the corner, I was amazed by what I saw: Kids everywhere! The entire elementary school was on the soccer field, along with teachers, administrators, parents, and younger siblings. Lanai is a small school, but man did they ever fill up that field! The official kite-flying had not begun yet, so the kids were lined up (and I used that term loosely--such was their energy and excitement) on the edge of the field, awaiting the whistle to blow. And finally, when it seemed like they were about to collectively burst from excitement, it did.

Every child had a kite. Some were store-bought, with brightly colored pictures of ponies and dragons and unicorns. Some were ornate and expertly designed for aerodynamics--probably built with lots of help from mom and dad. But most were kid-made with sticks, straws, newspaper or printer paper, and more glue than I can probably fathom. Some ingenious kids had attached their kites to fishing lines, and used their fishing poles to control its movements.

Chaos reigned on the soccer field. Kids were everywhere. Some were running around wildly, trailing an unfortunate kite on the ground. Some were getting help from dad. Some were unconcerned with the trivialities of kite flying, and were using their kites for more creative purposes. I'll let you imagination run on that one. At one point I decided it was no longer safe to walk out on the field. I thought I might get clotheslined by a wayward fishing line. Eek!

The most beautiful thing about kite day was the way it brought families together. As I chatted with families, complimented kids' kite-making abilities, and looked on with administrators, I noticed just how many children had both mom and dad present for this event. Dads undoubtedly took the day off work to be there, and moms towed their younger children to school just to support their child. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! And what a lesson in family dynamics--but that's another story.

All in all, kite day was a success. Isn't it unfortunate that in our culture, we now have to have a planned event to fly a kite? And even, in some families, a planned event to sped time together at all. I never see people flying kites anymore. If only Mary Poppins were here to inspire families to fly kites together. Maybe she was on to something.....

kaunolu

This weekend, Brooke's friend from Waco is visiting. Like any good hosts, we have taken it upon ourselves to make sure she has a fantastic time on Lanai. Very self-sacrificing of us, I know. Brooke swapped out Bubs for a Jeep, and we went off-roading yesterday afternoon and today. I have to tell you about the place we visited this afternoon, because it is my new favorite spot on Lanai. I would live there if I could.

After a steep decent down a treacherous road this afternoon, we arrived at Kaunolu. Kaunolu is a summer fishing village built and used by King Kamehameha I, and the ruins of buildings are all over the hillsides and beach. After reading the warning signs about steep climbs, we descended onto the beach, and took in the majestic mountain cliffs, sweeping waves, and tidepools. The picture on the right is what I first saw when we climbed down to the beach. It was beautiful and deserted. We could have been the only visitors this week, for all I know, and it's an amazing feeling to be somewhere so utterly isolated and breathtaking. Like you're glimpsing a secret place meant only for God's eyes. Feeling nimble, we hopped around on the rocks for a while, and eventually decided to climb up the opposite slope of the canyon.

The view that greeted us from atop the rocks was by far the most awe-inspiring I have seen on Lanai. And I thought this island couldn't get more beautiful. Ha! We hiked over to a place called "Kahekili's Leap". It's a place where the rocks give way to a platform 70 feet above the ocean. I ventured (hesitantly) to the edge of the cliff, only to look out over a sweeping scene of Lanai coastline--complete with aqua blue waters, a remote rock grotto, and cliffs 100's of feet high. As I sat with my legs dangling over the side, I thought about Kamheameha's warriors who had jumped from this very ledge to prove their loyalty, and lost their lives in the process. What a test of courage! I could have sat there forever. But we had other
sights to see.




We hiked over to a point overlooking the tidepools, with powerful waves yawning back-and-forth over the rocks.
Just beyond the point, one of the girls spotted two humpback whales lazily making their way across the water, with tails flipping through the air. I was stuck by God's creativity, which I can't even fully comprehend.

Today was just what I needed--a reminder of God's greatness and my human smallness. I feel blessed to be on Lanai, no matter what has gone on in the past few weeks. I know that God is at work here, and I can't wait to see what he will do next!

roller coasters

Have you ever felt like your life is a roller coaster? Like sometimes all you can do is hold on and hope for the best? I have felt that way in the past, and God has always brought me through the scary parts. This past week I've felt more of the loops and curves of an amusement park ride than ever before in my life. I'm always positive in this blog, for several reasons: 1) I'm a truly optimistic person 2) I've had so many wonderful experiences here that I want to share and 3) The lighthearted adventures make for the best reading. But today, I'm going to be totally real. 100% honest about all I've been dealing with this week--the good, the bad, and the funny. It's more for myself than anyone else, because I need to keep processing what all has happened.

Here's a list of things that have happened in the last week(for better or worse). I'll start with my last post:

Sunday: Went cliff jumping. It was an exhilarating, unforgettable experience.

Tuesday: I was driving to church, and felt a cockroach crawl across my toes in the car. I looked down, and had a minor heart attack as I watched it skitter around the floor mat. Soooo disgusting! It was all I could do just to put the car in park. I jumped out of the car and caused a huge scene while directing puzzled drivers around me. After shaking out the mats and applying bug spray, I think we have it under control. But I never did find the offending bug.

Wednesday: Met a guy and girl that live here on Lanai, and played games at their house.

Thursday: Woke up to the news that the girl I had just met committed suicide overnight. Yes, suicide. To say Thursday was a horrible and emotional day would be an understatement. Probably one of the hardest days of my life. I'd write more about it, but I don't have the energy or the words.

Friday: Still dealing with the reality of suicide, I got up early to take a weekend trip with Brooke, Kelsey, and my supervisors. Set foot on four islands in one day. Took the ferry from Lanai to Maui, took a plane from Maui to Oahu, and took another plane from Oahu to the Big Island (Hilo).

Saturday: While shopping at the Hilo farmers market, we heard a woman crying for help a few feet from us. We rushed to assist her as she supported a man slumped over in a chair. He looked as though he was having a heart attack. Lots of scary physical symptoms that I won't go into, but it was very serious. At one point, I thought he was dead in the chair. We called 911 and helped as he was loaded on to the ambulance, but my gut tells me he didn't make it. I don't even know what to say about that either.

Sunday: Visited Volcano national park and saw an active volcano crater with its vents and smoke plumes. We walked through a lava-formed cave, visited a glassblowing studio, and tasted vino at a winery.

Monday: Got up early to catch a direct flight to Maui, and took the ferry home to Lanai.

I'm still a bit numb from the twists and turns of last week. I'm trying to hear God's voice in all this, because I know He's there and He has a plan for me--as much as he had a plan for the girl who died or the man in the farmer's market. Seeing the plan is the hard part right now. If life is a roller coaster, then I'm holding on for dear life! I'm trusting in God's voice, even though I can't always hear it. And I'm taking one day at a time.

carpe diem

If you'll notice, the time stamp on this post is pretty early. It's 6:50am right now, and I'm sitting at my kitchen table with a giant cup of coffee typing away because I couldn't sleep last night. I'm hoping that blogging about it will settle my mind down, and maybe I'll stop thinking about it so much. So here goes...

For those that know me well, you probably know that I'm a cautious adventurer. I love to experience new & slightly risky things, but only if I'm sure it's safe because someone else does it first. An example would be moving to a new state. I wanted to move to Texas, but only when I knew I had a school to attend and a place to live. Or hiking. I love exploring, but if there's a chance I'll walk through a spider web, I'll never blaze the trail. I'll go second. I'm super wimpy (& pretty selfish!), I know. I admit it. But my overdeveloped practicality is probably why I've never broken a bone or been to the ER thus far, and that is OK with me.

So, yesterday I went cliff diving. Yes, ME. Yesterday, a friend here on Lanai was telling me how they had jumped of Warrior's Leap, which is an 70 ft. high ancient diving spot where King Kamehameha used to make his warriors leap to prove their loyalty and strength. People have died there. I was so impressed that my friend had jumped, so I asked if there were other diving spots on the island that were a little lower. I'm not quite up for 70 feet. The answer was that yes, there were lower spots, and let's go do it. So I went.

After driving to the small boat harbor and taking the jeep off-road about 1/4 mile, we arrived at a cliff overlooking the ocean. As I peered over the edge, I noticed the water was so clear that I could see the bottom, even from 35 feet up. My friend offered to jump first, and I was happy to watch as he went flipping through the air and landed, with a giant splash, in the water below. I watched him climb out and follow the natural curve of the rock back up to where I was standing. Just like that. In less than 3 minutes he was back, and I was up. Eeek! The picture below is the closest I could find to where I jumped. No, I didn't go off a cliff quite that high, but it is right around the corner from this spot.



I decided that I'd jump, but only if my friend went with me. It took me a few attempts to actually jump. I tried counting the three, but never got past two. Then my friend offered to just pull me in with him, so I wouldn't know when it was coming. But I knew I had to make the decision to jump, otherwise I wouldn't have conquered the cliff. As I worked up my courage, I looked out to sea and saw a pod of dolphins leaping out of the water in the distance. Call it a sign, or call it inspiration, but I grabbed my friend's hand, counted to three, and launched myself off the cliff.

For a few split seconds, I was free falling toward the endless blue ocean--arms and legs flailing, hair whipping my face--before I hit the water with a force that almost took my suit off! Thankfully I caught it before it escaped, and I high-fived my friend with a grin as I reveled in my new-found courage. I laid back in treading water and enjoyed the moment. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I think I gained a small insight into the mind of an adrenaline junkie. What a rush!

Climbing out of the water was a little more difficult than I expected with the waves throwing me up against the rock, but I managed to clamber out and my friend led the way up the cliff to where our clothes were sitting on the ledge. I had conquered the cliff, and my fear, and maybe emerged a little bit closer to the person I want to be. One that isn't afraid to take the leap.

hike day

Today was our last Furlough Friday of internship. I can't believe we're having our first "last" event yet, but it came and went today with gusto. This morning Brooke, Kelsey, and I were up early and at church by 7:45am to get breakfast ready for the kids.

We only had seven kids today, which was kind of a nice break, since we'd been having between 15 & 20 during the last two furlough days. We'd been planning a hike day for the last few weeks, but an unwelcome guest arrived with the kids at 8--rain! Hmmm. What to do...

In a fit of last-minute inspiration, I called the kids up to the sanctuary and read them "Miss Nelson has a Field Day", one of my favorite books as a kid. As the story ended, the kids found books that they wanted to read, and took turns reading to the group. It was precious to see the older kids help the kindergartners read, and watch as the little ones sat entranced by their older friends' voices.

Well, that took up all of about 45 minutes. So we popped in a DVD of "The Incredibles" and watched until the kids got antsy. By 10:15, the rain had cleared, so we loaded the kids up in four different vehicles and took off for the trail-head. Before hiking, we came up with the rules as a group. Some suggestions from the kids: 1) no stepping in mud 2) no leaving the group 3)No touching things in the environment. Gotta love it when kids come up with rules!

We hiked down a narrow trail which led into a forest. The trees were tall, shady and covered in moss, and the forest floor was blanketed in fallen leaves. It looked like something you'd find in Virginia or Colorado, but certainly not Hawaii. It was beautiful nonetheless. Our hike was uneventful--which is a good thing when you're in charge of several kids--and we learned several things along the way. My favorite moment of the hike was when I stopped with some of the boys to let the rest of the group catch up. As we waited, they wandered over to a tree with a name carved deeply into it. One of the kids came running to me exclaiming "auntie! auntie! someone carved on the environment!" Too cute, too cute. Here are a few pictures of the hike....


At the trail-head before our hike




One of the most energetic (and intelligent!) kids I've ever met. She's so fun!




Some of my favorite boys. Love 'em!




We made it back to the cars and headed back to church for grilled cheese sandwiches around noon. Then we walked to the tennis court for our tennis lessons, came back and watched the Incredibles, and were done at 2. Quite the full day, and always one to remember!

aloha kakahiaka--good morning!

Hi all! You may have noticed some changes in my blog layout. I'm slowly discovering you can customize these things, so bear with me as I experiment. I don't have much time, since I have class in about 10 minutes, but I wanted to show you what I woke up to this morning.....




God is good. He constantly reminds me of his promises for his people, and in the most creative ways! Have a great day, and Ke Akua Ho'omaika'i Oe! Look it up. ;)

surf's up. waaaay up!

Last weekend was quite an exciting one for the state of Hawaii and the entire Pacific Rim. In case you haven't heard, there was a gigantic (magnitude 8.8) earthquake in Chile on Friday night, triggering tsunami warnings for anyone lucky enough to live on the Pacific Ocean.

Brooke, Kelsey, and I had taken to ferry to Maui Friday morning with the intention of coming back to Lanai on Saturday night. We wanted to use our time to "recharge" and explore more of Maui's sights and towns. So explore we did! We spent Friday journeying through "upcountry", which is Maui-speak for towns on the side of the volcano (Haleakala). We went to Makawao and marveled at the glassblowing studio operated by some local artists. The glass was exquisite, and I was tempted to buy several pieces. Unfortunately, glass doesn't hold up well in luggage, so I was content to watch in amazement as the artisans expertly and patiently shaped the molted glass into beautiful works of art.

We had heard from a few different people that there is a lavender farm upcountry that's too good to miss. It was about a 20-minute drive from Makawao, so we headed to the farm on limited directions. Once we got there, we looked around the gift shop, which was full of lavender products (everything from lavender shampoo to lavendar chocolate to lavender coffee!). The gift shop closed soon after we arrived, but the friendly ladies inside encouraged us to look around the grounds for as long as we wanted. With their blessing, we set off to enjoy the flowers and herbs planted all over the place. I never realized how many types of lavender exist, but I enjoyed pulling off a few leaves here and there as a sample.

After our lavender farm adventures, we set off to the mall to get a much-needed pedicure. And let me tell you--it was the best money I've spent on Maui yet. Thank goodness for pedicures. And that's all I'll say about that. We went to see a movie (Valentine's Day. Don't waste your money.) And headed for home. As we were leaving the theater, though, the radio in the car mentioned something about an earthquake in Chile and a possible tsunami. I wasn't too worried at that point. Nothing was official and I was tired, so I guess I couldn't process it at the time.

We were staying with a family that had connections to LBC. They are the sweetest couple! They are about my parents' ages and have three daughters about the same ages as Brooke, Kelsey, and I. We enjoyed chatting with them and were so appreciative of their hospitality. As I was laying in bed that night, I was listening to a stream that runs through their backyard, and I remember thinking how peaceful I felt. Ha. Well all that was about to change.

Kelsey and Brooke woke me up at 4:45am. Their family in Texas and Minnesota had been frantically calling and texting them since 3:30 with news of the tsunami warning spreading like wildfire. They told me, in the gentlest way possible, that they wanted to let me sleep but then they heard it would hit California too and they decided to wake me up. I'm so glad they did. I immediately got on the phone with my parents and both grandmothers, assuring them that I was safe on high ground. We went down to watch the news with the family we stayed with, because now the whole house was awake. The sirens started blaring at 6am, and we watched the news as experts predicted the worst and people on low ground frantically evacuated to higher areas.

It is the strangest feeling knowing something bad is coming and being absolutely powerless to do anything about it. We went for a walk and watched people driving up the road with their pets and their bedding and their photographs in their cars, and I wondered what it would be like to leave not knowing if you'd see your home again. But, again, we could do nothing but wait and watch. We had an amazing breakfast of french toast and sausage (which felt a little like our last meal), and walked uphill to a lookout point at 11am. With the first wave scheduled to hit Hilo at 11:05 and Maui at 11:20, we had no idea what to expect. I took this picture, thinking that I might have to refer to it as the "before" shot. I had the uncomfortable feeling of wanting to see something and praying hard that there was nothing to see at the same time. People were parked all over the road watching and wating as the first surge came in, bubbling into the harbor like a frothing monster. The surge went in and out quickly, alternately exposing the reef and rocks, and causing waves to break inside the breakwater.

After two hours of waiting with baited breath, we realized it was over. It was exhilarating to go back to the house realizing that no one was hurt and nothing was damaged. After much-needed naps and showers, we went out to dinner and resumed normal life. We came back on the 3:15 ferry on Sunday, thankful that there was even a harbor left for us to depart from.

Thanks so much to all who prayed for us and the people of these islands. God heard our pleas and answered in an amazing way!

february at a glance

Hello blogging world! Sorry I've been MIA for the past few weeks. Things have been crazy and life has been going by fast, so here's an extra-long blog post to (hopefully) make up for my slacker-ness.

On February 5-9, my dear friend Erin came out to visit me from California. We spent the weekend sunning, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and exploring. It was so great to see a good friend, and even more fun to show her around town! We went to Maui for a quick overnight trip, and here's a highlight:

On the ferry ride over to Maui, we met someone who recommended Mackena's beaches, on Maui's south shore. So, after some morning jungle exploration, Erin and I headed to "Big Beach" in Mackena, hoping to soak up some rays. We parked in a dirt lot and followed the crowd to the beach, where there was a lifeguard tower set up and people were snorkeling offshore. We set up camp about 300 yards away from a rocky outcropping that abruptly brought the sandy stretch of beach to an end. As we lay on our blankets, we kept noticing people walking from the dirt lot past us to the rocky outcropping and climbing up the rocks. The path looked treacherous and people were struggling to make it to the top of the rocks, where they would disappear out of sight.

In the meantime, a giant cloud had come over the mountain and blotted out our sun. We were getting cold, and were intrigued by the steady stream of beachgoers braving the rocks. So we decided to follow them. It was a rough path, with signs everywhere warning against falling rocks. We stumbled our way over the boulders and up the steep path, determined to see what was so fantastic about the other side of the rocks. Finally, after much maneuvering, sweating, and (silent) swearing, we make it to the top of the rocks. As we walked toward the clearing in the trees, we saw a little beach with dozens of people spread out across it. We're talking wall -to-wall towels, chairs, and ez-ups. And here's the best part: not a single one of them had a swimsuit on. Yes, we had stumbled upon one of Maui's most infamous nude beachese! Well, we didn't have the balls(ha. literally or figuratively. forgive me grandma!!) to actually go to the beach, so we walked out to the point and took a picture from a safe distance. Don't look too close or you'll get a full frontal view!


We've had two Furlough Fridays in the last three weeks, and they've both been an incredible adventure! Our first Furlough Day was beach themed, and we hauled 17 kids down to Hulopoe beach for a morning of fun and games. We swam in the water, had a sand castle contest, and went on a tide pool scavenger hunt. i had a blast, and came home thoroughly exhausted!


Our second Furlough Day was intergenerational-themed. There's an 83-year-old Japanese man that has been a part of LBC for at least the past 50 years. He only stands about 4'10", but he is a force to be reckoned with! Once a surveyor for Dole during the pineapple plantation days, he is a self-taught expert on gardening. He came to the church on Furlough Friday, taught the kids about soil, fertilizers, plants, and sunlight, and then led them in planting a garden on the property. It was an amazing morning, and so much fun to see! In the afternoon, a few older ladies came to the church and helped the children make leis out of ribbon. The kids had a blast and so did I!

One last story before I leave you. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to be a judge in Lanai High & Elementary School's Annual Homecoming Parade. That's right. You can call me "your honor." Each high school class comes up with a theme for homecoming week, and competes in events leading up to the homecoming parade. They then create floats and banners for their class. This year's overall theme was "Celebrating Disney Classics." Here's a synopsis of each class:

Freshmen: "Surf's Up with Class of 2013". It was a Lilo & Stitch theme, complete with a hula dancing Lilo float.
Sophomores: "Everything the Light Touches is Your Kingdom. Bow Down to 2012". Lion King, of course. The float included Simba on Pride Rock.
Juniors: "Come to Life with Class of 2011". Toy Story.
Seniors: "ComeSail Away with Class of 2010." It was a Pirate's of the Caribbean theme, with a giant ship as a float. Complete with cannons & theme music.

Now, I expected some cute floats, but Baylor homecoming has NOTHING on these kids! I was completely blown away--they were THAT good! All the kids dressed up for their theme, and the parade included everything from a toy soldier march to a mock sword fight to a human wave. The parade went twice around Dole Park in the middle of the city. It was fantastic, and on the second lap it was pouring rain! This, of course, added to the drama, and the kids cranked it up a notch. After the parade was over (the route was twice around the park), the kids all held hands and sang the alma mater. Brooke, Kelsey, and I were almost crying on the sidelines. The spirit of the day was magical.

Judging was difficult, and the Freshmen wound up with the upset--beating out the spectacular seniors by a few points. It was so excited to be included in the experience! See facebook for lots of homecoming pics. Blogger is being stubborn and won't upload them.

Now that you've gotten about four blogs in one post, I feel less guilty about not writing for so long. I promise not to neglect this blog again. It makes for too much work when I finally decide to catch up!

Grace & Peace,

Brianna

to Hana and back again

this past weekend, Brooke Kelsey and I took the ferry across the channel to Maui for our first off-island adventure. i cannot believe how different Maui is from Lanai. Both islands are incredibly beautiful in their own unique way. Maui is so diverse--in both land and people. Our boat docked at Lahaina on Friday evening, and we drove 45 minutes across the narrow part of the island to Kahului, where our hotel was.

I haven't been off-island since I arrived in Lanai on January 2nd, so pulling into a port teeming with people was a bit overwhelming. So was the traffic. And the stoplights. And the shops. And even the amount of white people everywhere. It may sound strange, but I was so used to seeing people that looked different than me on Lanai, it was strange to see Caucasians in large numbers.

After the initial shock of "civilization", I was excited at the prospect of exploring a new place. We got up early on Saturday, and after a long-anticipated trip to Starbucks, headed on the highway to Hana. If you've never heard of the road to Hana before, it is famous for its hairpin turns, one-lane bridges, and lush waterfalls lurking around every corner. I was so excited to experience the road I had heard about in books for the last 10 years.

Brooke was our driver, which was very much appreciated. Those of you that have ever been in a car with me during traffic time or any other stressful situation know that I can be a bit hyper. So i was happy to sit in the back seat and enjoy the view. Our drive started in the pouring rain, but it lightened up as the day wore on. We hiked to waterfalls, explored remote little old-fashioned towns, chased some wild roosters down the road, climbed through lava-formed caves, and hiked to remote black and red sand beaches. Our experience was too rich to put into words, but I will relate my favorite story here, along with a few pictures (See facebook for more).


It took us 5 hours to get to Hana, such were our number of (fantastic!) stops along the way. We consulted a borrowed guidebook for a trail leading to a remote red-sand beach. The beach was c-shaped, and protected from the waves by an outcropping of rocks, making it more of a pool than anything else. I saw a picture in the guidebook and was excited to find this gem. The book said to park next to the Hana community center, cross a field, and take an unmarked trail to the beach. Not the most specific directions in the world, but we eventually stumbled across a trail that looked promising.

As we hiked further, we came across obstacles in the form of steep hills, fallen trees, and impassible rocks. We almost turned back three times, but decided to keep on 'till the end. And this is what we found.......

Not only was this the most beautiful beach I had ever seen, but there were a pair of monk seals--mom and baby--sunbathing right next to the locals on the shore. Not something you see every day. Even though we hadn't brought our towels from the car, Kelsey and I decided to go in the water. An experience I am so glad we had. I floated on my back and looked up at the red cliffs surrounding me, and felt so peaceful.

To say Maui is beautiful is a gross understatement. The island is breathtaking. It is beyond description. On Sunday we explored Pa'ia and Lanaiha, and I fell in love with their tropical-artsy charm. I felt like mt heart fit there. I could live there. I really could.

And that's a little scary for me, because I've never been in a place that I felt like I wanted to live in besides southern California. I had thought I might want to stay in Texas, but after moving there I decided it wasn't for me. Hawaii is different. It has stirred something in me, and I'm going to see where it takes me.

I've always admired those people who have crazy life experiences. Not bad crazy, but the ones that just take off and do something because they want to. Like the people that surf in the summer and move to the mountains to snowboard for the winter. I feel that spirit of adventure, but I'm too darn practical for my own good sometimes. I don't know if I have what it takes to be that sort of person, but maybe this is my chance.

I'll move back to CA after graduation in May--because I have a place to live and a summer job lined up. I'll give it a while--maybe a year, maybe 2, maybe 5--but then I'd like to come back here. I'm not sure what that looks like right now, but I think that's the beauty of it. We'll see where this road takes me. I'm excited to find out.

discos

It's been quite a while since I've posted....and so much has happened in the past week! Things are getting busier and busier here, and I already feel like I'm running out of time on this island. In the midst of our work, we've had some time for fun in the last week. We were invited over to a church members' house for lunch on Saturday. The woman that invited us over is one of my favorite people here. She's from Cuba, and speaks rapid-fire Spanish with sarcasm and flair. She's so much fun!

We headed to her house around 12, and she began pulling jar after jar out of the fridge. Our assignment was to bring lunch meat, so we showed up with deli turkey, and added it to the growing pile on the counter. She then told us how to doctor our hamburger buns with wasabi mayo and mustard. We went down the line adding meant, cheese, pickles, jalapenos, and olives to our sandwiches, making sure that nothing overflowed from the buns. As we finished assembling our sandwiches, she pulled a crazy-looking metal contraption out of the cupboard (see below), led us outside to the barbeque, and fired up the grill. She added butter to the metal, and squished our sanwich in between, roasting it for about 10 minutes until it was crispy and browned. This, my friends, is a traditional Cuban disco (pronounced "dees-co") sandwich, and it was to DIE for! Soooo good, and so much fun to make!

Even better than the food was the company. We sat on the front porch talking story for a few hours, and finally left around 3:30. It was an afternoon well-spent. I love hearing peoples' stories and sharing life with them. I hope I never forget that as I get older. The best thing I can offer someone is to do life with them, and to do it well.