Good Sleeping Weather

Today we woke up to gloriously sunny skies. The mountaintops were even clear, having shed their regurlar cloak of clouds. It's beautiful, and warm. Everything Hawaii is known for.

This afternoon the clouds have started rolling in, but it's still a far cry from yesterday, when it rained nearly all day long--save my morning run.

The last several days have been a bit cooler (as in it only gets up to 80 or 82) and it's funny to hear the locals call the overcast days "chilly." We've heard more than once when it's cloudy and slightly cooler with nice breezes, it's "good sleeping weather." Something neither Erik or I had ever heard of before moving to the Islands. We all know it can be tough to sleep when it's too warm, but good sleeping weather...that's a new one.

Regardless of the weather, we're very thankful for our home. Several people have asked for photos and we're "mostly" moved in and decorated so I figured it was time I share for those of you who won't be visiting any time soon.

Speaking of visitors, our first house guest, my friend Lynne, comes tonight.

Alright, onto the photos of the home God's blessed us with here in Honolulu.

THE ENTRY:
LIVING AREA:
LIVING AREA:
LIVING AREA/ MY "OFFICE":
BEDROOM:


BEDROOM:
EN SUITE BATH:
2ND BATH:
KITCHEN:

Grateful

It feels surreal to be wearing shorts on Thanksgiving instead of a sweater. Instead of bundling up and fighting traffic down I-5 for dinner at the in-laws, instead we headed to a rainforest trail that led to a waterfall at the back of a nearby valley. This is our new reality, but we're really enjoying it.

We are grateful for beautiful places to explore. We a grateful for family and friends – back in Seattle and spread across the globe – who love and support us. We are grateful for sunshine nearly every day, which does wonders for the attitudes of a couple Seattle kids. We are grateful to have landed at a church that is so loving and welcoming. We are grateful to have each other to lean on as we adjust to a radically new life in Hawaii.

Most of all, we are grateful for a good God who chooses to make us his children. We are grateful for a God who then blesses his kids with all the wonderful things listed above, and so much more.

We are deeply grateful this Thanksgiving!
 

How to Cook a Parrotfish

Does anybody know how to cook a parrotfish?

Just a quick post to say that we are often surprised at the uniqueness of shopping in Hawaii. Yes, things are more expensive than Seattle. Yes, some of our favorites just can't be found here. But then, sometimes you walk into a grocery store and see something so bizarre (to us... for now) that it makes us think, "Wow! We really live here?!"

Blessed

Sitting here, looking out my window at palm trees, blue sky, fluffy white clouds and various shades of blue stretching to the horizon I feel blessed.

To be honest, and this may shock some of you who know how much I like change, I'm loving living in Hawaii. Sunshine daily. A wonderful church. An incredible place to call home. Only being cold if the air conditioning is too high. It's going well.

Granted, there are still challenges, and I miss friends, family and Mr. Jude dearly, but overall I'm amazed at how good our God is. Could it be, could I actually like change? I never thought it was possible. But today, I'm thankful.

Tsunami Tests and Moving Challenges

The first Tsunami test alarm went off today. Thankfully I remembered our friends David and Mariko saying they test the alarm system the first of the month, so I didn’t’ have a heart attack. However, Mariko’s dog, Marley isn’t a fan of the siren. I’m guessing Jude won’t be either.

We moved into our new place on Saturday. We had lots of help and got everything “in” in just a few hours. Most things are put away with the exception of photos and artwork and some other things that will find their home in our home soon, at least I hope it’s soon.

We really like the condo we moved in to. There are always a few things you would change about your home, as there are here—like white carpet. YIKES!—but overall we’re feeling blessed by the home God has given us.

My desk is in front of our large window and looks out at the ocean. Erik keeps staring out at the view and saying he hopes he never takes it for granted, I agree. Our God is good.

And yet, things are still challenging. We know we are supposed to be here and just to make it harder it seems the enemy has decided to throw some challenges at us.

The day we moved in, we weren’t quite used to our parking spots and our car may have “kissed” a pole. Ok, it has a lovely dent and scratch on it now which will need to be repaired soon so it doesn’t rust with the salt water and humidity here. Joy.

Then after a long, tiring day we brought home Taco Del Mar for dinner. Remember that white carpet? Salsa and it met in a rather disasters way. Praise Jesus for the reminder of Oxy Clean and the possibility that our carpet was scotch guarded. After lots of scrubbing and prayers it’s clean.

Sunday, the day after we moved in, we heard from our renters and our sink in Seattle had backed up, spewing water, etc. all over the kitchen. REALLY? $500 later and it should be fixed.

Ok, Satan. You might want to deter us but we know that in spite of these challenges, we’re following God’s will. Thankfully we’re getting them taken care of but man, why can’t it be easier to do God’s will sometimes?

Those things aside we’re making our new home in the Islands. We went shopping to get some needed items and stock the pantry and fridge and it’s feeling more like “home,” although I think I’ll still be referring to Seattle as “home” for a while.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, central AC rocks!

Cockroaches are gross, but the beaches are beautiful.

In the 12 days I’ve been in Hawaii, I’ve seen at least six cockroaches and been to the beach once. I’m hoping that ration reverses itself soon, but I hear it’s cockroach season. We’ve been keeping quite busy with Erik working full time and us trying to get accustomed to life here. Next weekend we move into the apartment/condo we rented in the Hawaii Kai area of Honolulu, so we aren’t quite settled yet. I’m looking forward to organizing our home, putting away our stuff and decorating our new space. I’m hoping it doesn’t come with any bugs, but I guess if it does, that’s just part of living in Hawaii.

Living in Hawaii. That sentence seems surreal. Like many things have lately. I’m struggling to wrap my head around the fact we “live” here. A woman at church told me it took her over a year to stop feeling like she was on “vacation.” I don’t mind vacation, in fact I love it, and Hawaii has been one of my favorite places to visit, but living here feels different. I can’t help but think that everything is still waiting for us at “home” in our condo in Seattle. That we’ll leave soon and walk into our place in Magnolia to be greeted by the affectionate barks of Jude wanting to be let out of his kennel. But no, for now, we live here. God has called us here and while there are many places that I wouldn’t be as excited about living, for me, change is still change. And it’s hard. I’m keep going back to the truth that Jesus is good and He called us here. I just don’t know my place here yet and that will probably take time.

I also miss everyone in Seattle. I miss my family and my friends and Jude (who won’t get to join us until the end of the year). I got a wonderful photo book from my parents of photos from the last few weeks before we left. I loved looking at it but it brought a flood of tears that took quite a while to subside. I miss them. I miss my nephews. I’m fearful of just being the aunt who lives “really far away” and missing their lives. Of missing the day-to-day lives of people who are dear to me. Coffee with friends, running with Beth. Dinner dates with other couples. Long face-to-face talks. I’ve gotten to talk to several people on the phone and exchanged emails with others, but it’s just not the same.

The people here are wonderfully gracious. Everyone is helpful and welcoming and generous. People at the church genuinely seem excited we’re here. I was greeted at the airport by nearly a dozen people—some of whom I’d never even met, others who I’d only spoken to a handful of times. That is mind-blowing to me. In a good way.

My work has picked up this week, which is good but also challenging as Erik and my schedules don’t fully line up. We’re still working on figuring that (and everything else) out but trusting God will bless us with time together to explore our new Island home. I’m not sure when it will happen again but I’m looking forward to sitting in my new red beach chair, digging my toes in the sand and feeling the intense sun on my skin. Yep. I’m a sun girl for sure. For now, I’ll settle for running, driving and walking by the beaches and catching a glimpse of the water multiple times a day.