Papa D

(I will never forget this scene.  Bobo so disappointed with bags

packed ready to go and it all came to a halt.  Being a boy 

of course he will feel the disappointment and at the same

time taking in that he lost his grandpa.  Andrew, trying to

breathe in the news that his dad is now gone.  Bobo needed to 

release Andrew and he did but was it all so hard).

Papa D died unexpectedly this morning.  It does not feel very real right now, more like a bad dream.  A bit of a haze covers the morning.  I just feel so sad.  So sad.

He had a heart attack.  We don't know many details.

Tia and Papa D were on their way to picking up Bobo today for a fun weekend of paddling in Hood River.  The details had worked out with such ease.  We felt it was a "meant to be" weekend.

My heart utterly aches for Tia who dreaded this day and has lost the man who saved her out of such a horrible past life.  Who loved her man and more than many woman I know praised him on a regular basis in gratitude.  Drew, who has such a tender dad's hear was so torn between trying to salvage Bobo's weekend and be there for his mom.  Bobo, looking so disappointed and just trying to take it all in, eating his plane snacks not on his assigned seat but on the couch and realizing his dream weekend was not to be.

Plans.  Pain.

I feel such grief over the loss of this life.  Over pain that comes knocking without warning, and this kind of unexpected pain that doesn't actually knock, but kicks down the door demanding a response.  What choice of response besides whatever we feel in the moment as we unravel from such news.

I wanted to hop on that plane with Drew but for now we have children to tend.  I want to clean my whole house from top to bottom.  I want to move through this quickly. I like Deveraux want to make plans...but wait, didn't we just learn all our plans were foiled within minutes.

So we wait.  I will clean a bit.  "Home Alone" plays to give a break for a bit.  And we feel.  There just isn't a lot else to do or say.  I hope meaning will come.  I am glad Bobo had a plane ticket Andrew could use in his stay to get to Tia quickly. That detail was pretty amazing that he was on a flight within the hour of receiving the news.  That much Andrew felt clear about that after we prayed that he needed to go be with Tia.

I am glad we have Jesus to talk to.  It doesn't really make it clearer knowing Jesus right now.  But there is comfort that He is in control. There is some order within Him, even though our day does not seem orderly.

I will say his name.  And I will say Tia and Drew's name alongside his name on my lips.

After dropping Andrew at the airport, we stopped

at the beach to say a prayer for Papa D and to

throw a flower in the ocean in his name.

Summer coming to a close.

Summer.  Mid August.  Time to take stock.  It was a different sort of summer.  I had visions of beach days, hanging out, pink baby pool in the front yard running through the hose, Popsicles, and enjoying the different sets of guests gracing our home.  I knew once again we were staying on Maui for the summer and I was looking forward to staying put enjoying taking off my full time teacher hat.

Our household instead experienced a lot of sickness and Dev even had to go to the hospital for a 3 night stay.  She experienced low oxygen levels and was diagnosed with asthma. It was a stressful time and yet there was something strangely good about being so focused on her well being and Drew and I working as a team.  I enjoyed our time together hanging out in that sterile hospital room, I really liked taking care of her.  When she finally showed herself, as we had not seen for awhile, we realized how much we missed her as so many days were spent on the couch with low energy.  All the sickness made me appreciate health.  We did begin an old movie marathon watch, I want to pass down my growing up with Silver Screen, so far we have watched four and we will keep it alive in the Fall.  We are so proud of her as she attended her first sleep away camp. She is working on researching our fall trip to Boston and New York and having fun watching videos on the sights to see!

Cambria also gave us a little scare as she had her own respiratory battles but we worked through it mostly in the steam of the shower.  I had three goals for Cambria this summer; getting her used to the ocean, potty training, and weaning.  We are still working on those, some further along than others.  Her sickness delayed more movement in those areas.

Bobo stayed mostly well, his cold did not last as long.  We continued to enjoy his water pursuits as he continued to make connections with others, meet his hero Kai Lenny, and participate in a couple more contests.  He heads off next week for a race in Hood River, first time away from home and first time paddling a river.  We are so proud of his pursuit of passion.

Guests presented opportunities for conversation, engagement, getting out, and working through our expectations and relational dynamics.  It is good for us to share our home and sometimes stretch ourselves as well as receive from those who come to visit.  From May to August we will have had 7 sets of guests totaling 13 different faces.

And now planning for fall school, fall trip for our family, and seeing what needs to be tied up.. begins. I will have to do some check in's with myself to receive a temperature check but I feel good with a dash of apprehension for the school year.  It takes everything of me...I want to grow in still being a vessel poured out but not feeling depleted or defeated.  A big difference.

So with lists being continually added to and plans being made, we dive into a new season with new vision and fresh hope.

We bid Summer schedule a bittersweet good-bye and say hello to the new rhythm of Fall.

Summer Marches On...

Summer Marches on....

We've had this breathing apparatus as a part of our summer.

Bobo trying it out. 

Car wash time. 

I have been gathering with these ladies for a couple of years for

our keiki program at church and now we meet together in a Bible study.

I just loved this from a home school mama I follow,

we too have morning time but her vision is one that is beyond 

what I have seen yet aspire to.  

Here we all are at a checkup. I love our togetherness.

Dev still isn't fully back to normal, but as we found out

it will just take time.  

First time checking out books!

We really enjoyed "Dora's Sleepover."

Cole showing us his music stuff.

This was one of those Hawaii experiences. Bobo and I went to

harvest a taro patch with Archie and several others. 

Such a cool process to see.

I was a bit out of my comfort zone and I didn't realize

what a long day it was going to be and I had no

way of leaving until I found a ride.

But Bobo, who believes he is a bit Hawaiian 

loved the whole thing and stayed later than I did.

We got to try out what we had harvested.  

And I made it into the newspaper!

This was written by the photographer who filmed

the project with Bobo over the summer.

They had gone to the Taro patch during the filming.

Cozy

Still rockin' the whiskers. 

Water play!

This was going to be the summer to 

get Cambria to love the ocean.  We haven't

been as much, but baby beach is the place to be

for beach acclimating.

Cole's boat he worked on this summer. 

The Neeley's are here and we are having some 

Maui fun!

And we are watching ha'oli for a couple of days.

To be seen.  I have so much in my head and heart so much of the time.  To give you a fraction of it makes me feel connected to someone on this earth.  The only time we seem to have is at night.  The other night I could tell you tired you were and so I stopped talking. But I longed to tell you about my visit with Heather.  Then last night you fell asleep before we could talk.  Our only time to really talk in a day is when lately you are too tired to stay awake.  I feel lonely.  I have told you this before but I have no one else on island to really pour out to.  And especially now, I cannot meet with moms because our kids have been sick.

I have so much inside about faith right now and I don’t have a place to sort it through.  I grow weary of the one to always say, I need us to be connected or I need to be seen by you.  

I can tell in your irritated tone with me that we are not connected.  But often in these days, I am really needing to have you reach out to me.   (Just some honest feelings). 

So thankful for all the moments with the Neeley's

on this island. 

Someone found a hula outfit!

Good words.  

Dev had fun with Zach.

A big hug from the sweet Neeley's!

The Neeley's gifted us with this tent!

I LOVE that they love theatre!

Thanks neighbor for helping us hang a swing!

Homemade chicken noodle soup for healing!

We are on the quest to find leaves for a stone pathway.

Our neighbors are pretty great!

We hit the Gap to check out the fall clothes,

thinking about our Fall trip.

We liked this one!

She liked this one.

Which one do you think we bought?!?

Yup!  Mickey Won!

Love when they hold hands.

So we had 4 teenagers plus Cole descend on us for a week.

They were super respectful and we actually didn't see

them a whole lot.  They ventured out and stayed in

and had a great time.

A familiar scene for the summer.  Cole cooking.

Hanging out with Cole, we went out to Paia Fish Market.

Kinda me right now.

Surf contest at Launiapoko.  

Dev's room

Dev and I went to a choral concert for Dev's voice teacher.

It was great/

Last dinner with Cole, celebrating at Outback.

Celebration meal for the start of a new school year!

Drew sometimes thinks we are running a YMCA, all three tucked in!

Shower GOALS!

We recreated a beach scene for a few years ago.

And this one. 

Good-bye treats Cole made.

Counting the summer's earning!

They were doing something out there.

Packing time.  Bobo is headed to Hood River where is was

going to meet up with Andrew's parents who just happened

to be in Washington for a family members wedding.  We couldn't believe

how perfect it worked out, as if it were meant to be.

And I was sending Cole off to Colorado and College. 

Summer is coming to an end soon.