90th Annual Maui County Fair

Haʻaheo, Ruby, Kamahiwa, Kamalani, and Dystiney

The County Fair is so much fun!  Now that the kiddos are older we can really enjoy our time!  They get to hang out with friends and ride the rides in the Joy Zone while Mom gets to look at the crafts, exhibits, and enjoy food and entertainment.  As I walk around and see all the youth that go to the Fair, I am truly grateful for my children and the lives they lives as examples of the believers.  They have a good influence on the kids they hang out with.  A friend and I were just talking about how important it is that we help our children be the influence instead of being influenced.  I love the fact that their friends choose to hang out with our family!

Piʻikea and I watching Josh Tatofi sing!

I also feel blessed to be able to spend time with my nieces and nephews, who are like my own children and to see the smiles on their faces as they enjoy the Fair, too!  The best part was watching the Hypnotist with them!  Lots of laughter!  

This is Llewellyn's 14th year volunteering at the Fair!  He started in 1998 when Kamalani was at Pūnana Leo preschool.  Even after our children got older, he has chosen to still volunteer his time each year for the entire Fair.  I am so proud of the work he does and his willingness to be a volunteer in our community.  I am also grateful that our community can come together at this annual event and it still feels like a "small town" affair!

Fall is here!

Fall has officially arrived!  In the Continental U.S. the leaves are changing color, sweaters and jackets are coming out of the closets, and the brilliant features of fall are visible to the naked eye.  Here in Hawai'i it's a little different.  The leaves do not change color and we're not quite ready to bring out our sweaters and jackets.  So how do we know that summer has gone and fall has arrived on an island like Maui?

First quarter of the school year is coming to an end.  That's my signal that fall is here.  We are preparing for fall break and there is excitement in the air, yes, fall is here.  I can see the Ferris Wheel, Merry Go Round, and other rides set up and ready for our annual county fair.  The food booths have been constructed and soon we'll be able to smell the delicious food of fall.  Traffic signs have been posted announcing road closures for our annual parade.  Fall is here.  The sun shines on my face earlier in the morning and our magnificent Maui sun sets a little sooner.  The nights are longer when fall is here.  Our family gathers around the tube for the Season Premiere of our favorite TV shows when fall is here and we have the blessed opportunity of hearing from our Prophets and Church Leaders when fall is here.

So, as you can see, fall is a little different on my island Maui.  But when you pay attention you can surely count the many ways that we recognize . . . Fall is here!

Blessings in Trials

Summer has come and gone.  It was a great 8 weeks off with my children and family.  We enjoyed every minute of summer.  As summer came to a close I found myself in a very scary predicament - JOBLESS.  My contract ended at Kalama Intermediate on July 24th.  I had applied for several different positions at Kamehameha Schools and in the Department of Education, but I did not get any of the jobs.  I even applied outside of the teaching field, but to no avail!  Talk about disappointment and depression!  I began to question everything and wondering what I was doing wrong.  I worried about our income, paying bills, not having medical and dental.  Through it all I was constantly reminded through prayer and counsel from family and friends to TRUST IN THE LORD.  To let go and let God place me where I needed to be.  But it wasnʻt easy.  The bills kept coming, we kept falling farther and farther behind and it created so much stress in our home.  We made lots of changes, moved in with my parents and downsized our budget dramatically.  With every change we made, Heavenly Father provided an answer to prayer both temporally and spiritually.  We got a van for $1100 and no longer had a $400 monthly car payment.  Plus, we could fit everyone!  Mom and Dad made a huge sacrifice and moved their bedroom downstairs so we could have all three bedrooms upstairs.  The kids qualified for 100% full medical coverage.  Then, out of the blue, a friend of mine called and said she would be leaving her teaching position at Baldwin and moving off island.  She asked me to apply for the Hawaiian language and hula position.  On August 1st I started my new job!

So letʻs look back at the events that took place and see how God was there through it all.  I didnʻt fail those job interviews, instead, the Lord closed those doors because He knew He had something even better planned for me.  My new job is a 5 minute drive from home.  I am at school with Kamalei, Kamaehu, Lamakū, Kaleohano, Knyte and Ruby - my kids!  I can help them immediately when they need it.  My classroom is a safe zone for any and all students.  The students choose to hang out in my room, have lunch, socialize, sing, play music, etc.  When Jayvaughn passed away, I was here on campus and able to help my own children as well as the students who mourned his passing.  When Lamakū got very ill with his diabetes and not allowed to leave the classroom, I was here to help him, get him the medical attention he needed and ensure that an incident like that would never happen again.  I have been able to get Kamalei qualified for additional academic services he has needed.  I can easily check in with teachers to check on their progress.  I am saving over $200 a month on gas.  I am teaching in a field that I love and feel most confident in.  I have a full block (70 minutes) of prep time.  The list goes on and on.  These are just some of the blessings.  The countless more that I cannot even recall.  The point is this - GODʻS PLAN IS ALWAYS BIGGER AND BETTER THAN ANY PLAN WE CAN MAKE.  We just have to have enough faith and patience to allow His plan to work in our lives.  I am so grateful for this trial.  I am thankful that through trials I am able to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and our family grows closer as well.  I am thankful that I now have a new found compassion for others who are or will be placed in the same situation and by sharing my experience, I can give them hope.

With God, all things are possible.

Summer Lovin'!  The month of May was a blur with school ending and preparing for summer break.  I want to make sure I get some blogs in before the month of June whisks by!  To begin summer we made of list of things we want to do (the kids and I).  Beach, picnic at Giggle Hill, Maui Ocean Center, picnic at Rice Park with sliding card boards of course, Barnes & Nobles, pool, sunset barbeque, waffle dessert night, camping, and trip to Moloka'i made the top 10.  So far we've done the beach, Barnes & Nobles, and waffle dessert night.  Staying up late and sleeping in is a big hit this summer, too!

Hawaiian beauties enjoying the beach.  Wahikuli, Lahaina, Maui 2012

Kawa'as spending the day at the beach with Aunty Mona, Uncle Dave, and Uilani.

Of course we have some more mondane goals as well like organizing the house, cleaning out the garage, and downsizing our wardrobes.  It's been so much fun having my nieces and nephews over, too.  For years my sister was the stay at home and she picked up the slack during breaks from school, but now, she's a working Mama and I have the pleasure of returning the favor.  Ka'iliwai practically lives here!  That little 4 year old makes us all smile!

Summer has also brought Righteous Youth lots & lots of gigs!  They have been busy almost every weekend since mid-May singing and performing for graduation parties, baby lu'aus, sweet sixteens, and weddings.  With each performance I see them growing in their music and performing skills.  Their success is because they keep God first in their lives and acknowledge Him in all that they do.

Baby lu'au

Ku'u's Sweet Sixteen

We still have lots on our list to do.  It's been a blessed summer so far and we're looking forward to the remaining activities, especially our trip to Moloka'i.

More to come . . .