Farm Days

We received the most wonderful opportunity to hang out on a farm in Maui over several days. Fresh air, real farm life, and new sights around every corner. Deveraux learned how to take care and groom a horse and we met many other animals along the way like goats, hogs, pigs, and dogs. A highlight was picking up fresh eggs from the hen house! It was so good for Deveraux to be around the animals and Julie was wonderful in encouraging Deveraux to face her fears and jump in and work with the animals. Not owning animals I think we miss out on an opportunity to take care of something and I think it builds confidence. Although, I am not ready to take on animals, I will head out to the farm any day!!
Oh and Bo bo (Anderson) got to ride his first horse and did not want to get down!!

Crazy Paints!!

Just let it go and have fun with paints!

Our family in Maui

Oh my what a week we had, I loved our full house! We often didn't know the time and just let ourselves enjoy the sun, surf, and most of all each other! It was wonderful!! We celebrated my birthday and Roy's b-day and so Deveraux wanted to know whose b-day next? So we thought let's celebrate Drew's b-day a month early! So we did! A highlight day was hanging out at baby beach for hours with need to pack up and get home. We had a good sister time with a walk on the beach, a swim at a resort pool and a good dinner. We were blessed indeed and it was so good to have everyone here and at our home.

She's 40!

my morning greeting! Aloha!

So it happened, I turned 40! I said I would let you know about my 40 list, I did do many of the 40 things and I felt more mindful of my regular life. We only have today. As we know, no day is promised, I am ever mindful of that in these days which I will get to in a later blog! I want to just give a quick update on my birthday which was such a wonderful celebration!

The first and best surprise was Heather my sister showing up on my door step totally surprising me as I did not think she was going to be able to come. I was stunned as I opened my front door and there was Heather, but of course she would come.

The morning of my birthday was the best. I was surrounded by my family, Heather, and the Bergstroms greeted me in our bedroom with everyone so full with a Maui week ahead! I loved having everyone in our house! Heather made Deveraux and Anderson T-shirts that said, "My mom is 40!" Andrew and I took a morning run (something that doesn't happen anymore) and Andrew surprised me with a beautiful new camera that I have been wanting. We had breakfast on our lanai with everyone and my sisters surprised with with charms throughout the day from all of those dear who are near and far. I was then surprised (are you hearing a theme :)) by all my Maui friends gathering at our local coffee shop for a party. I looked around that table feeling so blessed by the friendships that had been born in Maui. We were given keys to the place and had full access to the coffee bar...does it get any better???

The evening involved dinner at a favorite sushi restaurant, swimming in our favorite resort pool, and desert at home with more charms and life giving words. Our dear Maui Ohana (family in Maui) showed up at the door later that night to celebrate.

It was a full day filled with much love. I felt very celebrated and cared for. I missed my mom not being with us as well as friends from afar but I felt so much love and I told Drew that morning, I am just full. What a good feeling!!

turning 40!

I have been saying I am turning 40 for awhile, I am sure so I get used to it slowly. I was doing okay about it and then I read a friend's blog (hi Kris) that had a 40 countdown of things she wanted to do. Of course, I thought, "oh no, I don't have my countdown. What can I try to accomplish in 5 days." (ha ha, my birthday is Sunday)

Heather, my sister, and I talked about it and had some good thoughts about turning 40 and some funny ones. So this blog is dedicated to my sisters.

40 Things I want to do before I turn 40..this week (have done and and will do)
1. love my husband and celebrate how hard he works
2. love my children and not yell when one of them spills a protein drink all over my clean car
3. take them on fun outings like the beach, story time, and ballet class
4. do as many "under ducks" at the swings that they ask for
5. Have a Bible study in my house and savor the opportunity
6. get my guitar strings fixed and play b/c I love it and so do my kiddos
7. make the grocery store trip really really fun
8. with my kids make muffins and bread for my family coming and not worry about mess or time just enjoy it
9. Read my Bible and enjoy it not just get through it
10. jog!
11. dance
12. sleep
13. watch some really good entertaining tv and enjoy it
14. say good-bye to Oprah
15. enjoy school time with Deveraux
16. read some truck books to Anderson
17. read my favorite stories growing up to Deveraux
18. watch a sunset
19. water my garden and hope my gingers will grow
20. take some great pictures
21. breathe
22. pray
23. surrender to Jesus
24. clean my house and enjoy the process (a little)
25. hang something pretty in my house or arrange a new shelf
26. call a dear friend
27. call my great aunt because I love her
28. receive the Bergstroms with much love
29. be a blessing to my family
30. enjoy my Maui friends
31. read an old journal
32. make dinner (something that does not always come easy)
33. eat well
34. drink lots of water!
35. take a walk with a dear pregnant friend who is past her due date
36. love my husband
37. be kind
38. savor
39. love
40. Live in gratitude and thanksgiving to Jesus for all my many blessings!

I can do this!
You see these are all the things I already do and will continue to do. I hope I do them more mindfully which writing the list makes me see this and do them more fully. Turning 40 is important but it is also another day in a long line of days and I will just keep on keeping on. I do hope to pursue a few things like guitar, singing, and photography and that is good. I do think, have I accomplished what I wanted to? Yes, for today. I have loved, I have failed, I have needed saving Grace, I have the most amazing family that claim me as theirs.

I read an old journal last week where at 25 Andrew asked me if I wanted to go to Nashville and check it out b/c I had some singing dreams, so now I ask, "what if...?" I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know the path I am on is the path I choose and I stand in gratitude. I really cannot imagine my life without Deveraux and Anderson and for them I would not change anything.

And Andrew reminded me my life is half over, which is encouraging, a whole half, who knows what will happen!!
(I will let you know if I accomplished my list)

Our girl

"The more I think about Jesus, the more I love Him."

Deveraux said the other day

waking to a rainbow

His mercies are new every morning!

A Maui favorite, a rainbow. The other morning we woke up to one from our lanai. Those who have been on Maui know this site. A promise, a new beginning. Each day offers this to each of us.