Melon Fun

It's melon season, so...

And then they played at the playground...

Laughs

Pigtails

and friends

make for a fun day after school.

I've picked up Jalking again

I never thought I'd be blogging about this but I have been trying to exercise more lately.... (now don't spark up too quickly) For all you athletes, this might piss you off or make you laugh. I'm hoping for laughter being the latter. No big New Years resolution reason why, I simply re-prioritized my time. I have eliminated a lot of distractions via social media sites in the past year, subsequently I don't sit in front of a screen in hopes for someone to converse with me. My current thought: "Wow, ironic I am typing this on a social media site to you guys." ... My face is pink and my head is low.

 Instead I am conversing if you will with my body. My natural rhythm of when I have those endorphinal energy spurts and trying to enjoy those moments. Lately I have been jogg slash walking in the mornings on the Bike Path when I take The Boy to school. I can drop him off by 7:50 and get a full thirty minute -jalk- in. I am constantly moving with the kids and lifting them. The girls are almost the same weight at 28-32 pounds. So this is more or less about a chance to start the day well and to give my mind some to to listen to my breathing and heart beat align with this and some of this that flow together. It allows me to be in a mindset of appreciation of my surroundings. The way music and mind are meant to.

douglaspage photo

I talked to Lauren today and told her I was running lately, then quickly retorted my statement and said " No, no I'm jogging...with some walking brakes! Ya, I'm definitely not running." I said this because I remembered what running means to her, it means actual running.This would make a lot more sense if you knew her, she is a health and fitness guru. Do you know people like this? She just laughs and tells me good job. Have I mentioned yet we've been friends for fifteen years and even as kids she was an amazing athlete? Yes, she knows I'm a -jalker- not a runner. And we're still friends.

The Shave Ice Experience

If you have been to Hawaii, especially the North Shore of Oahu, then you'll know all about the love Hawaii has for Italian Shave Ice. People wait in lines for more than an hour to eat this colorful, sugarful treat. Fortunately I know of a place that you can go to at 11:30 am and not have to wait. Though it's not on my list of favorite desserts, (it's way too sweet for me) Nana promised the girls a Shave Ice.

 Nana said "Never again, and I was wearing white shorts!" But these three blondes sure do take a good picture!

One who sees happiness doesn't even need to open his eyes

It's amazing how we live in such abundance and still can feel unsatisfied. Last night my husband and I were staring into the abyss of our pantry and refrigerator and with a sigh said "What is there to eat?" We have a full pantry and pretty full fridge yet still I was discontent with my choices for a meal. I am constantly fighting my emotions, praying I remember I am not my feelings. I simply just feel them. We recently watched This_Emotional_Life and it was a eye opener to me. What I took from it was emotions are so important yet they should not be why we do what we do, there is more of a core sense of truth we all have in us. 

You ask anyone and we know to murder someone is a violation of human nature, in fact we all hurt over the same things. We all desire love, connection and when those things are threatened we feel wronged by a person, but why? Our core sense of truth, our conscience is intentionally placed in all of us. Knowing I was designed a certain way with a working conscience and body also comforts me of a design to my life. The patterns of who I see and meet, the way our lives are weaved with others-all with intention. A dear friend to me has a saying and when I always think of him I think of him saying this-

"We are all connected."-Chris Roberts

Stay connected.

Our cottage part 2

Going through one winter on the North Shore meant a rainy season we weren't expecting. It rains almost everyday here in Pupukea-the whole year.We bought a dehumidifier which lets us know every morning we are up to eighty percent humidity in the house and we dump out a container of water outside every night. We had to get rid of several leather items, including the sofas. We went with washable and removable fabric instead. All and all it was an experience I'll always remember because now I have to check my shoes every week and wipe off mildew.

We also did some house and mind cleansing since the last house post so I wanted to give you all an update. Looking back on our moving experience we made a lot productive choices and some...well, mediocre ones. If only some other family of five we knew moved across the country before we did to give us some tips. For example: "You do not need those books on making soap, you won't have time to make your own soap for another 3 years and at that point you will want to take a class vs. reading a book." When you think you've gone through your treasures go through it at least 3 more times.

                                                                        August 2011:

May 2012: 

Learning to be aware of what makes up our home is always a challenge for balance. Items of value-our family games, anything to make our kitchen experience fun, books, instruments are what we have and enjoy. We are to the point that unless we are getting rid of one thing another item should not come into our house. We waited patiently since moving here and found an amazing wooden play set on Craigslist for $200. It was almost completely put together and only a 25 minute drive. Rather than the 6 boxes of pieces, a 45 minute drive to Costco, and $1,300 on a single swing set that was estimated at 23 hours of work. No-thank-you!

That's Richard's garden near the play set, growing abundantly. He loves to watch the plants, he even talks to them. The seed company we buy from High Mowing have been reliable every year.