Ring out the Old, Ring in the New! 2011 to 2012

Ringing out the old is indeed sweet, as it has been a good year in so many ways. Years of some things same, some things changed, and some transition too.

So blessed to have family here, ALL here for the holidays! We all mostly lived 2011 in Laie, except for summer when Avery was in Australia and for Megan's Nauvoo mission/Provo move. Now, DEC 30, Avery is back in Australia, and Erin has traveled there just now, taking him to join Will there to live. Megan is home for a bit from Provo over break, so then will return back to live and try to work also. Residency is the goal. She will have a favorite friend for a housemate, so things look up for her because of that.

Our family activities and Christmas memories included our Spaghetti Factory feast and parade to see Honolulu City Lights. PCC Lagoon Christmas Story & Ride, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Sunset Beach sunset picnic, and just hanging time for all. Erin finished employment at Hyatt early enough to enjoy these activities with us all and had time to pack up also. Megan divided her time between us, Dominoes, and friend Christen. It's been a fun season.

Transition is still on the top of our minds as we consider where we will be before too long. Exploring here and there, and even in between, has been fun to play with mentally. It was so interesting that October brought Bill's move, the retirement seminar, Shane's assessment of our situation, and the preparedness status we have needed to keep in consideration. In November, the estate papers got finalized. Hmmmmmm. . . . It truly is time to start putting things in order and consider life on the mainland . . . . somewhere! Now THAT is the question-- W H E R E ?????

The hardest thing now is to be able to count the Lord's blessings for the year and not forget anything! We love our work, our service, our opportunities to be with family, our time to live in such a lovely home and environment, to be able to continue these in decent health. So Many Blessings!

We have felt the Lord's hand in so many ways, and pray we may continue to feel that. Wishing all that is good for those we love, too. Let's ring in the new!!! Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Travel and Trips, Twists, and Transition Times

TRAVEL Summer, 2011
Our spring travel to Salt Lake City for Conference weekend and a BYUH Leadership meeting launched a week which then took us to San Francisco. These places had drastic contrasts--snow with daffodils popping through in SLC, then on to the springtime in the Bay. It was great to travel there, and we enjoy both locales very much, for either business or pleasure.

Early spring took Megan on a TRIP to Nauvoo, Illinois to serve as a Young Performing Missionary. Her 3.5 months there were a unique opportunity. She did blow her lungs out, and did get a glimpse up close of missionary work. She met many people and we are grateful she was an influence for good. Saw her so smiley and seemingly fulfilled in many ways. Her growth was noticeable.

July in Iowa, and also Nauvoo, to see family and friends, provided its own set of TWISTS, especially as we traveled through airports. Never expect things to go as planned is a great motto this time, as in a few other summers regarding air travel. But we made it none the less to Des Moines, Nauvoo [2x], Waterloo, Shell Rock, and Cedar Rapids, plus Oskaloosa as destinations in those two weeks. Friendships renewed, families served, and time cherished crammed those days. We returned to painting time here, too, and renewing our enjoyment of being at home in Hawaii.

In August, upon Megan's release, she had made the decision, indeed a TWIST to go to Provo and look for a job while gaining residency in Utah, her next destination for schooling, if she so chooses to return. I was able to see her home off the airplane in SLC, then we stayed with friend Janice Morgan in West Valley City a few days to get things for her apartment life. She resides in Provo, though some turns in events have given her a new set of learnings about life and survival. She'll make it. She is tough enough, and she has a great background to get her moving along as she needs. But, these months have certainly given her an interesting new perspective about being on her own and becoming who she wants to become.

For us, too, it has been a TRANSITION TIME. For a good while now we have felt a change coming, though we weren't sure what it would be or when it would be manifested. We learned part of that in early October as Bill's role took a shift in locale and his responsibilities also more closely realigned in quantity to what he was doing 4 years ago. He welcomes greatly the chance once again to influence students in the classroom also as that is where he will be half time starting in January 2012. The new title seems appropriate, especially now that he returns more closely to the role he had back then before he took a retiring VP's responsibilities over. As a part of those new responsibilities then, he hired and trained a great man for one position and seemed to be successful in this as now the young man will stand on his own as a director. Although Bill will miss his large office adn all the personnel, he will have a less public location upstairs so he can continue into his 13th year [28th at BYUH] the administrative planning and assessment duties, plus others he's acquired along the way, with fewer distractions. His crew will be smaller, but is glad to continue with them in their university service. But it's no secret though, WE KNOW he loved all those distractions because he enjoys always working with people and being connected to so many. So now his influence will refocus on the classrooms of students. As long as I've known him, that's been his driving force in loving university association.

Our transition from working life to retirement life is approaching, though it seems we'll be here until 2015, possibly. But again . . . we'll see what the days and events hold for us, especially in light of those recent university changes and the prompt to look around while looking ahead. At least for now we are on track to enjoy Hawaii a while longer, fix up our home at last, and enjoy most of our family nearby. The bedroom changes have been most welcoming, and our home and yard, inside and outside, would still be our favorite haven.

The Fall getaway to Victoria over Labor Day was a pleasant, new experience. Great weather there, and seeing dear friend Diane who introduced us long ago and her husband added to our lovely time in the Pacific Northwest. Butchart Gardens, on our so-called "Bucket List/Sand Pail List'" lived up to its glowing reputation as a place of wonder and beauty. We also walked the inner bay, traveled on our hop-on bus tour a few times, and walked the streets to various destinations. Love, love that walking! Always my favorite way to see and experience a new place.

Teaching for me will also make a transition or twist as I expect to be teaching for the first time in 2012 Summer/Spring, what is known as "the Bridge." Finally, I can teach family history in 7 weeks, have a 5 week break, then resume the last 7 weeks of class. A new adventure! We'll see if the students agree with the extra time to know about and share their family finds. Who wouldn't love extra time to accomplish a goal, or take a class?

Fortunately, as I write this today near the end of October, ALL of my grandchildren still live here in Laie. Avery returned from 3 mths. Daddy Time in Australia this fall , and the sisters, minus Megan, help with his tending when Erin works at the Hyatt. Lindsey's family is in transition also as they raised their home and set it back. Renovations will take a total of 6 months for them. John's parents kindly house them for this time. Jenny and Aaron moved to their lovely home in spring, and the 7 GRANDchildren all seem to enjoy cousin time, family celebrations, and Nanna time, too. Devin says if I weren't a Nanna then we couldn't have Nanna Dates. :) These indeed are some of my favorite times of the week! Playgrounds, play dough, and lots of time spent just being at home here with me make my days, weeks, very fulfilled. I know this may not last forever.

I feel this in my very being. Change is good, helps us to grow, and gives us opportunities to be better pruned for life here and beyond and to benefit our families. How grateful I am for faith to know Someone Else is in charge, and He is to be thanked daily for looking after us, for all the blessings He gives.

SPRING, Birthday, and Moving Forward

SPRING--I so love this season! Bring on the plumeria, puakenikeni, other flowers, new life, green yard and lawnscaping, sunrises, daily outdoor exercise, sunsets, silhouettes before sunrise, watermelon, cherries, other delicious fruit, corn-on-the-cob from Nozawas, family picnic with lots of salads on Memorial Day and even beach time, travel for General Conference, AIR and SIFE, and of course, my birthday! Along with Christmas time, Spring is my favorite season. And I appreciate so much that this is the season I celebrate my birth!

Birthday--It's great to be 46! Well, so much so that it's my 15th anniversary of being 46. I'm not fond of ages that are prime numbers and it's one of those again now, so enjoying this approach so much more. Heard from many friends on Facebook, received some special cards and calls from dear far away friends who've been in my life for so many years, and also enjoyed angel food cake and strawberries and pretty flowers the day before with all my grands and family. Bill and I serve in the temple on Thursdays, so we led/followed a session for the first time together on birthday night. Celebrating then continued on Friday. We ate dinner at El Mariachi's in Kaneohe. MMMMMmmmm! Loved the guacomole, salsa, chips, and our "small plates" of enchiladas which were still too much food for us.

Much to be thankful for this birthday besides being still here, of course. Family, dear friends and a forever best friend, worthwhile opportunities, a missionary daughter in Nauvoo, enjoying good health so I can travel, teach, serve--even got a "promotion" calling--, enjoy family nearby, home and husband. Thanking the Lord for these blessings, and the ones I don't notice sometimes, too.

Life isn't exactly perfect--haven't moved to that cave I've pictured in my mind that would allow hermiting year round, not disappointing others, not being "in or of the world" etc. But it's a fine alternative most days.

Long for the cave sometimes. It is seeming like others don't get where I'm coming from these days. Especially in helping someone who is single and in recovering mode and has to be in bed temporarily. 11 years ago that was me. And I remember how much I would have loved someone there during those lo-o-ng days at home with me, just to look in on me or be available if I needed anything. I even remember very few phone calls -- because no one wanted to bother me. That was a very, very lonely time in my life, and it made such an impression. Wish my family understood that and thus my motivation to be there for someone else in the same predicament who doesn't have family nearby. It's also true that even now I would enjoy their support --and even some action--along with my efforts to help this someone else. Guess that is just too hard to understand if you've never been through it. I do feel sometimes like my cup is running on empty. And it's these times again I do feel those "alone" stabs of memory. Unfortunately, that does happen. I'm looking forward to my cup's refill. Sooner rather than later, I hope.

Spring projects include legal updating, and going through all my papers and sorting, throwing unneeded items, scanning family history photos and mementos, updating my personl history chronology. A good time always for me--Love to purge!

Travel days are coming, too--to Iowa and Nauvoo. I'm always looking forward to those experiences. We've also booked a mini-vacay to Victoria, BC, Canada for Labor Day. I enjoy the getaways spread out in the year. Even a "to Disney" after Thanksgiving is planned.

Life is joyful for me when there is peace in my heart and home, family and a few friends who care and seem interested in my doings and in just being with me, and having someone express being thankful for my efforts in their behalf, and having something to look forward to. Besides my faith in the divine, and temple service [which is very, very humbling, by the way] that's all the joy in this life I need. OH!~ and . . . Spring.

Family updates: Jenny's family has moved over the fence to a lovely, larger island-feel home on the edge of town. Very quiet neighbors--their back yard is in front of the cemetery! Lindsey's family is preparing to move up, and over! Their house will be lifted on its lot prior to a subdivision. Megan, that is, Sister Neal-- has "moved" into her Nauvoo Young Performing Missionary Mission--and will serve there this summer and eventually move to Utah in late August. This is such a great experience for her. Her photos document her joy, and it is easily seen on her face. Nice !!! We are so pleased she is having this experience and pray for her each day. Blow them away with that trumpet, Sis. Neal!

Erin is on her own awhile as Avery visits and stays 3 months with his dad in Australia. She will need to adjust to that a bit, knowing how much she will be/is missing him.

2011--January through March and then some

JANUARY
How quickly these months have gone! Normally blogging each month, it has truly gotten away from me. Perhaps there are some reasons for that. Teaching the Tuesday Family History Class at BYUH, temple service on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings, subbing for those who can't come, and the Friday Family History Center afternoons, along with Erin and Avery here and all my girls and their families nearby and the treasured Nanna Dates with my precious grands mean life is full... and I'm very grateful for it all.

A wonderful surprise, actually a late Christmas wish I had, came through in January. I had spotted in November's Church News an invitation to apply to become a young performing missionary in Nauvoo for spring and summer. It sounded SO MUCH like what Megan could do and gain from. . . . but her busy semester end made it impossible to complete an audition/CD to send in with an application. In January, she received an invitation to submit an application since they were short of trumpets! We encouraged her, she auditioned, and she did receive that invitation to go to Nauvoo then. So, it was my dream come true. . . I hope it becomes what she will value and cherish even more as the days come to be there and serve. I really felt she should give it a try. . .and knew that if it were what the Lord wanted for her it would happen. We will pray for her happiness and success in this unique service opportunity.

Erin made 3 months at Hyatt, and got a pay raise--great! Her car accident set her back in some ways, but seems to all in all have come out for the better after all, though it took 3 months for that to feel that way. Just grateful the Lord looks out for all of us. I'm very impressed that the 3 sisters have been so willing and caring for Avery's needs as she is away about 55 hrs a week from here. It is no fun being a single mom, but Erin does feel closer to us all now that they are living with us. Her birthday dinner was at a kid-favorite, Chuck E. Cheese, so the sisters could watch their kids play and have smiles. That was a great gift, I think.

In February, Jenny's Kylee got a super special 2-year-old birthday party on Saturday, February 19th at our house. Last year, her 1st birthday party got ":tsunami-warning'ed out" so a fun cupcake party, complete with cupcake decorating, apron painting, and bouncing castle, and of course FOOD made for a fun day for their family and other friends in our back yard. It was a perfect day! Jenny and hubby got away for J's birthday dinner and we tended for them. WE also loved watching our Saturday basketball games, sometimes watching both Trevor and Devin at the same time! They love the sport! Dad spent a unique week in the south Pacific, in Fiji and Tuvalu. His daily activities and mine are often in different spaces these days.

March came in and left like a lion! Oh, so windy and more rain, too. More weekly predicable routines, but that is good to report, also. The BYUH basketball team, unranked, made it to the final game of D2 NCAA and came very close. Our Jet Chang was MVP--he's been a guest at our home these past years at Christmas Eve dinner. We were thrilled with the success for the program and for our friends, Coach Wagner and Lisa.

The March 11 tsunami generated by Japan's horrific earthquake caused us to once again pack up the necessities and say a possible permanent good-by to our home. Fortunately, we were spared, but some big island places along the coast were affected, and also nearer in the boat harbor in Haleiwa. But, we do not complain. Instead, we continue to prepare our home and store basics. The economy finds itself even shakier than in recent months as the US is joining in a war in Libya, which is causing an increase in our gas prices, hence all other prices. We pray for the Lord to watch over us and our world. He is in control, and will manifest Himself and His works in His own time. I know this.

Lindsey had a March Birthday, along with Bill. Tending the two bigger boys allowed them a " with just 2 date" and she got to enjoy her sushi. A family dinner on Dad's 27th had a family TExas cake for both of them to blow out candles.

And now we are in April! We boarded a plane April 1 for Salt Lake City and stayed there for Conference and Bill's President's Circle meeting on Monday. While he was in the Monday meeting, dear friend and our SLC hostess Janice Morgan and I made our way around the city finding modest missionary-style clothing for Megan. We seemed to have success here and also found the fabric we needed for band uniform skirts. Time to sew when I get home! Keeping fingers crossed that goes well! Seems I don't sew that much now that these 4 little girls have grown up. A surprise was seeing and visiting the rehearsal of WE LOVE TO SING -- a choral ensemble of 300+ women [and a choir of men, too]under the direction of our dear Marilee Webb. She continues to influence not only some in the world, but the whole world as she directs music in church-wide meetings held in fall and spring. She is a blessing in the life of so many.

As I sit here in the Hyatt Regency San Francisco in our beautiful bayview room, it's wonderful to catch up a bit on the blog. It is always wonderful to travel together, and this relaxation time has been so welcome. We enjoy our travels as times to reconnect as a couple. Have to admit the days and weeks are very packed at home. Our getaways are welcome and do reunite us in our "couple-ness" if there is such a thing. Many service opportunities at the temple, FHC, SIFE, plus family, plus BYUH connections seem to fill our days and weeks. We are grateful to be a part of these things, and they do keep us busy in what we hope is FOR GOOD.