It's Fall...Maui Style

So we don't have leaves falling or the fall smell in the air...but we do have a real live Pumpkin Farm in upcountry Kula!

What a fun way to celebrate such a wonderful season!

A surrendered life

I am so glad God is in charge! He cares about us, even the gardens we grow! We have loved our sunflowers, our first flowers we have grown from seeds. I hope God smiles down on the flowers we grow!

I had an overwhelming "momma" day. I sometimes feel very incompetent for this role at times. Then I receive a call from a friend who needs prayer and in the same hour hear of another friend who has just had her apartment smoked out by a fire above her and will lose belongings. I am glad God is in charge.

Why do I wait so long in the day to turn it over to Him. Why do I think I can "go it alone"... no amount of love I have for those in my care is enough, I need God. I have been thinking, "I just need a balanced life and then all will be good." I don't think God is in the business of balanced lives, He wants surrendered ones!

I am glad God is in charge! If I will just live that truth!

Morning

My hope is that these two will be great friends!

Morning at Kapalua Beach...so thankful I get to be at home with these two~

Good days...

We had one of those really good days at the beach last week. The kind where you just feel full inside and wish time could just stop. We were at Flemming beach near our house. Flemming holds a lot of memories for us as many talks have happened and big decisions made, like me saying yes to another year on Maui (now here we are 8 years later and counting...) and we also celebrated Deveraux's 2nd and 4th birthdays there and one of my birthdays, and it's one of Andrew's favorite surf spots. It is special. Well the good thing about good moments is they are not planned or anticipated, that is probably what makes them good. I was also caught without a camera (something hard for me) and so this piece of wood is what I have to remember the day.

We came upon the biggest hole I have seen someone dig in the sand. Well Anderson knew it had been made for him as he ran to it. Deveraux not far behind ran into it as well. Then they just played...running, jumping, sliding, running from one hole to another, crashing into each other. There is such joy to be found in this kind of a moment and sadness. I was reminded that our children won't be children forever, they won't run with abandon as we watch them giggle and tumble and be ours in way they won't be ours one day. Their moment caused me much joy and yet I couldn't help but think, oh but this won't last. This is a good reminder because knowing this helps me to engage and try (a battle) to not always be about the task. There will always be something to do (wash a dish, wipe a counter, pick up a toy) and there will be an ache about wanting more or "when this happens...."or planning the next thing. I have been more in touch with the brevity I have these little ones in this way and I want to savor each moment. They are so eager for engagement, play, attention, love, at any moment and I want to be also!

So my prayer...Lord, help me to just be in the day, content, alive, seeking, some struggle of course, but victory. Knowing these days won't last forever and life isn't just about getting things done. It is about stopping, enjoying, your will Lord, how do you want me to serve. Lord, I want what you want, it's the only thing that makes sense because I know me. Have your way.

Hula Girl!

We have begun a new adventure in island life...HULA!

Deveraux is trying out Hula lessons, mostly Tahitian dance. We have been very proud of her for starting something unfamiliar and being a standout amongst the locals with her blonde hair. Getting the hips to move is challenging but she is there each week ready to join in. Her teachers are friends from when I was teaching at the intermediate school. We had asked them to give her a Hawaiian name at her church dedication when she was month old. They gave her the name, Makana Makamae Maikalani which means the precious gift from heaven.

I also had an adventure of making a "hip" which is the grass skirt (I have included a picture). You know you are in Hawaii when you run out of leaves so you run outside and grab some leafs off the nearest tree to finish your daughters skirt!

Who knows for how long and where this journey will take us..for now we will listen to the drum beat! Anderson might need to wait alittle while before he starts hula.....

Drewy's 40th

The dreaded day came (according to Andrew). The day Andrew celebrated 40 years. I call them blessed days and we tried to reframe the day for him by having an evening of celebrating his wonderful life. We celebrated at our new home which felt meaningful and a good way to continue to build important memories. The gathering was intimate, yet it felt as though we were surrounded as we read all the wonderful words and memories from so many loved ones. This was indeed the highlight. We had so many responses. Each one taking on a life of it's own. The next thing we knew it was time for cake. We laughed, we remembered, we shed some tears and just had grateful hearts for the man in our presence and for all the precious moments shared with so many. Many of you know Andrew's penchant for asking questions to others...well we got him back and he enjoyed every minute of it! We ended the evening with gifts, including two original pieces of art. Turning 40 isn't so bad.

Surf's Up

Just wanted to mark an important event in the Gallagher home...Deveraux catching a wave and engaging with the ocean. Maui has been Deveraux's home with the exception of 6 months in Breckenridge. Of course, we have had the desire that she would love the ocean and the waves but she has been cautious about them and rightly so. But lately she has been starting to enjoy it's tumbles and unpredictability and especially having older cousins helped even more. So Deveraux tried out boogie boarding, paddle surfing, and just has enjoyed being tossed here and there. The highlight was watching dada and Deveraux paddle out on his board and catch a wave together. It was a good day.