Tuesday, November 28, 2017

11.28.17




Thankful Tuesday Photo Dump!

Thankful for Matty and Harr movie dates on the Harley.
 Thankful for Dunkin humor.
 Thankful for our school's fun Ohana nights. They work so hard at bringing the families together during evening activities.
Thankful for our endless supply of rainbows during the rainy season!


 Thankful for this bunch! It was such a new to us experience to blend so many families, but it was really refreshing to meet new friends and to enjoy soo much deliciousness! New to our Turkey day spread was rice  and pineapple! (Why didn't we ever have those before? Both delish!)



 Thankful for shoulders to lean on.
 Thankful for an intentionally slow start to our normally rocket speed Saturday.
 Our Christmas decorations are extremely minimal this year, but I loved the wire trees I found at Goodwill, new in box, from Target's Threshold brand. The colors are just what we love! Hudson uses the mini trees for his car's landscaping road, and swords, but hey, #letthembelittle

 Thankful for finally meeting these beauts!! Gaby and Raquel met Matt in Jersey last summer, and we have been social media connecting and texting- and now we met them plus sister Esther and friend Steph! Their hearts are huge. Their laughs are many and they have been such an encouragement!
 Thankful for sunset after sunset.... we love that time of day... maybe because we get to see the rays and envision God just streaming love all over us... and maybe because bedtime for the kids is approaching.... or maybe because it means countdown to Christmas gets shorter every night! Not sure why we love them so much... but pictures can not even capture it...
 Thankful for my personal braider. She is such a determined little love bug!

Thankful for bible gateway's audio bible. 
You guys need to listen! Max MacLean reads it in a very mellow way . Each book in Job is like 2 minutes! What a way to capture the whole book in an hour! Chapters 38-the end are  my faves.... 

Image result for job 40
Hugs!!


Monday, November 20, 2017

11.20.17


Image result for Let all that has breath praise the lord
Even when my 1st response is to grumble & complain & be sassy.... I need to praise my Maker ...
{The time away from our family during the ever present holiday season is not as easy as it seemed back in July! But, we are thankful for our church family, and we anticipate a delish dinner all together on Thanksgiving!}

I am thankful for Airborne and lots of fresh carrot juice! We are hoping all the vitamins will help our colds go away!

I am thankful for our cooler temps. It is so refreshing to actually be chilly! We never  thought this day would come- one: that we would want that, and two: that we would use a blanket! And Viola! The seasons do change out here! Our leaves are all green- but we notice the sands are shifting - beaches that once were, are no longer, because the water erodes them during bigger swells.

I am thankful for some resort time. A generous parent of one of Matt's students was kind enough to give us access to some amenities at our fave resort!  This made our weekend seem like a mini vacay!                                     You may find us here most sunsets, and sunny weekends!























I am thankful that Dunkin has opened their 2nd location 15 minutes away! The lines are way too long to go there on a regular basis- but we were blessed by going on their opening night- just by chance, and since it was a Tuesday and it was after 8pm, we were the only ones in the drive thru line! Iced Coffees there are just too good.


I am thankful for Matt's peripheral vision that stopped the creepy scorpion from getting past the kitchen. Our friends said they have seen 1 or 2 in the 10 years they have been here. Yet we see one in the 1st 6 months. Never even in Arizona?! But here?! What the what!?
{apologies for the nasty linoleum in the background }



I am thankful for online shopping & for free shipping! Tis the season for great online deals!

I am thankful that although our kiddo's colds kept us away from childcare at the gym, meaning no solo workouts for momma this week, they did join me in my "jog" around Koolina. We went 1.21 miles to be precise, and there was some moaning, but they got sweaty & Hudson loves lunges! This boy will be all muscle by 5!

I am thankful for learning through Job.

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I am thankful for encouraging, uplifting, joyful tunes.
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 Fave song:

I am thankful for a yummy new recipe! Thanks to fellow blogging pal! Find it here: Jill's Blog
(One pan wonder! Chicken, green beans, sliced potatoes, olive oil drizzle, chicken seasoning, seasoned salt & Weber's burger seasoning ( we use this on all things!! ) 

I am thankful for Harrison, who patiently endures siblings on him during every car ride. Exploring the island, with wind in our hair ( and face) make it really easy to fall asleep.  We love love love driving to the North Shore, especially stopping at the coffee farm along the way! 



XO
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Monday, November 13, 2017

11.13.17

Thankful for spiritual parenting reminders.
{Yes, we see areas where our kiddos need to make progress, but the model for them has been off lately, so praying for these truths to stick in my heart 1st!}


Thankful for our Koko buddy being such a well behaved pet.
Thankful for our kids demonstrating responsibility and ownership with Koko and our chickens so well.
Thankful for long distance friendships. Hannah getting penpal mail from her bestie in IL made her week! We really have enjoyed so much of Hawaiian life, but our heart aches for certain pieces of IL too.
Thankful for Hannah having a happy heart, even though the rain cancelled our woulda-been 1st parade in Hawaii! She loves all the hoopla, just like her momma, and she was able to be strong even though severe disappointment was there. I love when I see strength during hard times for our kids- sometimes I feel that we try to bubble wrap them- but I want the reality way of life to help them grow too... so in those hard times... when they show grace and strength ... I am so thankful.


Thankful for Hudson working hard in school and on track for mainstream Kinder next fall! We have seen such growth in speech and behavior, and now the teacher just sent us a link of him decoding "dog" and reading it. Melt my heart.
Thankful for encouragement in our assembly. Although we are a small group, God gives us all help to blend and connect so well. We are thankful for Tom being such a good encouragement to Matt. They strengthen each other in biblical things, and always are there to build each other up. With just 4 brothers in a small gathering, they need each other in pretty powerful ways.
Thankful for our Christmas cards being made as we speak at Costco. Hooray for Jovina, our long time AZ creative genius. She takes blurry iphone pics and somehow makes them look cute and card ready!
Thankful for our winter weather. We loved our soggy, gray Saturday. Although Matty and Harr did not appreciate the pelting rain on Harley, they did survive the drive to Waianae's play-off game. Since Harrison switched schools and said a sad goodbye to his football team, we felt it only right to support their playoffs, and the amazing coach K, gave "Chicago" some props, and let him be the muddy water boy! Harrison's heart burst.
(Please pray as we transition schools again in the near future- January-, God willing. Matt will student teach at my school & Harrison will attend Waianae again, until the end of the year. We are excited and thankful for being able to be so productive out here!)





 Hannah LOVES baby Calius ( I know I butchered his spelling! Kate's grandbaby)

 We are obsessed with Kroc!


 Thankful for Harrison loving all things Hawaiian. He loves the local fave of Musubi. We bought a rice cooker, and viola, can whip this up! It's pretty tasty, just don't look at the SPAM before it's cooked ;) Thankful for our friend 2 houses down, that heard we were attempting homemade Musubi, and ran to the store to get us our very own Musubi press! The aloha vibe here is so beautiful.



 Matt captured my heart so full. Watching a friend's wedding video, at sunset, kidfree. Insert every single heart emoji. 

 
Thankful for Matt and Harrison having the entire month of Nov off!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are adventuring, but also working! Matt is such a good sub, and my friends love when he can help in their class! I love having Harrison lead my centers too. My class just loves him!

  Thankful for my team. 1st grade teachers are literally the bomb.com.  Thursday before the long weekend was our school's fun fair. Each grade level had to run a booth to make some moola. Ours was hair spray and ice cream/waters. Clearly I wanted to model some hairspray stencils! Not a flattering pic of me, but Shae - in the plaid and Crish spraying, are just amazing peeps. Love love love them!

 Thankful for our fun Friday in Waikiki! And for free parking at the meters all day!


 We left the beach just famished, and couldn't be happier to have found a parking spot at our fave taco place. Eating outside. Beach breeze. Fresh guac. Mango lemonade and a crazy surfer server, made for the best lunch/dinner!


Then..... we were like let's go across the street from the taco joint for sunset. And we did. And we loved the low tide, and lots of fishies and met another Hudson! The other Hudson was not a good listener, and the dude from the luau had to RESCUE him from almost drowning!! The kid was unattended and gurgling water. Made my heart so thankful that our Hudson is almost always in a life vest, no matter the depth of water, and for our Hudson listening and staying close to momma! His fake smile just kills me.

 That sunset glow, on that handsome fella.

 There's the luau! We loved watching it, for free! We have yet to attend an authentic luau, but this made us feel like we had!





Hugs to you all as your begin the Thanksgiving countdown!
www.swtblessings.com has a great November devotion on Strength!
 The verses she uses have been very encouraging! Enjoy!
XO