JULY 2018
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)
WEEK 1 ~ 7/1/2018
Hey Wonderful Family,
Do you have any clue how amazing you are and how much you are loved, remembered and prayed for? Probably not. So I’ll tell you, I love you more than sleeping-in, and staying up late…and that’s a lot.
1) We took the 4 senior Hansen kiddos to an RV park retreat 25th & 26th. Stickers, play doh, picnic, splash pad, pass the pigs, balloon stomp. We love you Dalia, Tesila, Rockwell and Violet. Next time we’ll capture Hatcher too!
2) CarLa needs some mechanical attention so we’ve scheduled a private retreat for her July 6th-20th at a Seattle RV Service Center
The Hansen’s flew off to Alaska so we are stalling in Anacortes/San Juan Islands until our appointment date.
3) The surrounding area is quite nice. We’ll watch the fireworks over Fidalgo Bay but we’ll be missing games and picnicking with you.
4) Happy 4th of July!
Coming this week:
July 4th - fireworks, picnics, ladder ball
July 6th - we fly to Hawaii while CarLa is out of commission (Molokai)
July 7th - Tyson will mark his 36th birthday
WEEK 2 ~ 7/8/2018
Greetings ~
Last Friday we left CarLa in Seattle for maintenance so we moved…to Hawaii! We now live in Molokai (until the 13th). Next week we move to Oahu.
1) Assisted by of a piece of driftwood and a rock we share this pretty sweet timed selfie.
2) My second favorite flower…bird of paradise.
3) “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move as far as you can. as much as you can, across the ocean or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food.” ~ Anthoney Bourdain, influential celebrity chef (1956-2018)
4) Eating the food of Molokai. A few purchases from the local farmers market. Red avocado and purple beans.
5) Lesson from Sunday School
"More gratitude give me, More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory, More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows, More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial, More praise for relief.”
Thank you for your goodness, for trying each day to be a little better, for loving each other, for being amazing. Keep it simple.
July is National “Anti-Boredom Month"
2nd ~ I forgot “I Forgot Day"
This coming week:
10th ~ "Teddy Bear Picnic Day"
12th ~ "Greg-Will-Be-46" Day
13th ~ we move to Oahu (before returning to Seattle and CarLa on the 20th)
It’s always nice to hear from you.
WEEK 3 ~ 7/15/2018
ALOHA, dearly beloved children,
Moloka'i, a feast for your eyes…
Late night, dark alley. The perfect setting for a hot bread run behind Kanemitsu's Bakery from 7:30 pm to 11 pm. We ordered “the works”, a hot 12” circle loaf split and spread with strawberries, blueberries, cream cheese, cinnamon and butter.
Kalaupapa sure is one breathtaking setting for having been a place of exile on Molokai before there was a cure for leprosy. Surrounded by ocean on three sides and the world’s highest sea cliffs (3,313 feet) on the 4th side ill-fated Hawaiians were banished here beginning in 1866. In the early days ‘patients’ were left here without adequate housing, food, and healthcare.
It’s victims were subjected to horrific conditions escalated by lawless predators among their ranks prior to volunteers such as Father Damien and Sister Marianne (now catholic saints) arriving in 1873 and 1888 respectively.
If you come here, get yourself down to the valley whether by mule, foot, or flight. Patients have been free to leave since 1969, most stayed. Today only 7 survivors remain.
We stayed on Molokai until Friday, July 13th. I recommend small airline travel. A mere 55 minutes from Molokai's front porch to Oahu's tarmac.
10:33 locked up our condo
10:57 checked in at airport
11:05 boarded 9-seater flight
11:27 touched down in Honolulu
Diamond Head
The Northwest heat wave (today). On par with Mississippi, Utah and Hawaii.
My artist brother Chris knows how to flip flapjacks for his grandsons.
Today’s SS lesson - Enduring
Jesus suffered for our sins, pains, depression, anguish, infirmities and fears. He knows how to help us, inspire us, comfort us, and strengthen us so we may endure. If we could hear Heavenly Father’s voice he would be saying “I love you. I sustain you. I am with you. Do not give up. Repent and endure in the path that I have shown you. And I assure you that we will see each other again in our celestial home."
Coming this week:
18th - Jerel’s birthday
19th - we fly back to Seattle to pick up CarLa
21st - Jerry’s birthday
WEEK 4 ~ ...
WEEK 5 ~ 7/29/2018
This is your mother checking in,
Return from Oahu to pick up CarLa. Check.
Spend time with the Hansens. Check. Can’t wait to see you again (and your sibs) at Fort Stevens. Let’s think about meeting at the Astoria Column Saturday, August 25th for a picnic lunch prior to checking in to our campground. Menu outlines will be emailed to each of you this week. Counting down and excited!!! Jami, let us know what we can provide to make your cross-country trip easier for your family.
Tally Uncle Chris Creek’s pancakes commemorating Shark Week. Check.
(including a ‘lemon' shark, a cross bred shark+T-rex, if Sasquatch hosted Shark Week, and the after party)
Last week:
23rd ~ Taggart is now the big "ONE-OH”! (that’s 1-O)
24th ~ Luke celebrated turning double pick-up sticks. (that’s II)
25th ~ Maggie blew out NINE candles!
TODAY is Jami’s 1/2 BIRTHDAY! Wa-hoo.
Watch the rebroadcast of the Pioneer Day concert. It was SOOOO VERY good!
Coming soon…
July 31st ~ Chloe will be SIX!
August 5th ~ Slater will be SEVEN!
We love you forever!
