Christmas is Coming

It is a unique experience to be in Hawaii at Christmastime. I’ve been able to recognize how much of the traditions, surroundings and atmosphere effect the “Christmas spirit”. I was distraught about it for a few days...not feeling like it was Christmas and wondering what to do about it! And you know what zaps it instantly? Seeing a roach crawl up the wall!  It’s not cold, I’m wearing shorts, there are no fires being built in the fireplace, it’s too hot for hot chocolate, we don’t have our usual decorations adorning the house and we certainly don’t have a calendar full of festive parties to attend. So I was challenged—what is Christmas really all about? Yes, those things may uplift our spirits and bring cozy, warm feelings, but the atmosphere of Christmas is so much more than all of that. What my heart and soul long for is that the gift of Christ’s birth shape this season. This year may feel different, but God’s divine, miraculous and loving gift for us does not change, not matter the circumstance.

There is something quite freeing about recognizing our expectations, acknowledging what we feel, and then changing our perspective. Since I have this new awareness, I’m able to experience the Christmas spirit in new and unique ways. I’m reading Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp. I listen to Emily P. Freeman’s Quiet Collection for Christmas. I made a commitment to walk the beach each morning while listening to Christmas music. (Hillsong Worship, Christmas: The Peace Project on Spotify) My mind can focus, my heart can rejoice and my soul can be filled with gratitude—not only for the incredible beauty that surrounds me, but for the incredible gift I’ve been given in Jesus. God Himself. Hope. Peace. The promise of Emmanuel-God with us.

I see the waves break, the water rushing up the shore, then easing back. I see the water seep deep into the sand as it settles. Watch it here.  Oh Lord, may your Spirit seep deep into my soul this season. May the songs we sing, the conversations we have, the fellowship with family and friends reflect Your glory and Your truth. May our hearts be filled with joy and gratitude for the amazing love you’ve demonstrated to us.

We took Lilly to her first concert and saw Lauren Daigle in Honolulu. As she sang her song, Everything, my eyes welled up with tears. “You give me everything. You give me everything. You give me everything I need.” I am overwhelmed with the love, the mercy and the provision of our Father to give us just what we need...everything we need. And it sometimes is very different than what we were expecting.

So as December is upon me, I will take notice and celebrate the unique opportunity that my family has. Palm trees with lights. Days on the beach. Cooler evenings. A little 4 foot artificial tree. Mailing Christmas packages afar. Songs of Christmas joy and celebration. Time with new friends. Making memories to last a lifetime.

Take heart, friends. However your circumstances are different this year—good or bad—God is near. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Your battle is not lost in His sight. You are not alone. You are loved. And worth so much in His sight. 

Merry Christmas. Mele Kalikimaka.

Molly

Decisions

We have been in the routine of daily life here on Oahu. School days, volleyball and basketball, homework, dinner, bedtime. But mixed in is the beauty that surrounds us, new friendships, and abundant family time. The social commitments are little to none which allows for the late afternoons to be free to walk the beach, read a book, or swim in the pool. The kids can play outside--shooting hoops, riding the skateboard, roaming the street with our little neighborhood friend, and just be. That also means that the "togetherness" brings about bickering, noise, and irritable attitudes. But I believe it's a gift--to have the time, the close quarters, the lack of "outlets"--to work out conflicts, cultivate respect and build a closer family. At least that’s what I tell myself. I know that God is present and desires for us to draw closer to Him in the good and the hard.

My aunt and uncle, Bunny and Wes, were able to experience some of our normal routine as they came for a visit from Atlanta. What a time we had! It was so nice to have guests that brought new conversation and abundant laughter! We showed them our favorite places and they lived in our day-to-day rhythm. They also went out on their own and explored the island. We are so grateful that they made the long trip to see us... and look forward to our other family members coming in for the holidays!

We’ve had some fun times over the last few weeks— Lawson making the varsity basketball team, Halloween, Luke’s 7th birthday (or should I say Kai?), pet sitting a baby tortoise, watching our first professional surf competition, Ohana Day at school, my Juice Plus vendor table there, Lilly performing in the talent show, and being part of our friends’ fini flight and retirement from the Air Force.

On that note, we were in a decision-making period for a couple of weeks---do we stay in Hawaii and finish out the school year or do we head back to Virginia in January as planned? The details and factors we were considering were varied and wide. I won't go into them, but we made lists, had conversations and really processed what both sides of the coin would look like. No matter what type of decision you are making, whether big or small, it can be a burden until a decision is actually made. I believe that with prayer and consideration for God's ultimate desire for our family, He gives peace--deep, inner, soul peace that "transcends understanding"--when His best is discovered. Cabell and I both feel peaceful about coming home in January and we are thankful to have the burden of that decision gone. We can focus on our last 2 months with intention, purpose, freedom and fun. Praise God!

Though we cannot bring the weather back with us, the Pacific Ocean, or the Ko'olau Mountains, there are many aspects of this experience that we, with intention, can bring back to Richmond. So we have to ask ourselves: what do we want for our family?
• slower pace of life
• control of our schedules
• boundaries with work
• boundaries with technology use and time
• getting outside more
• having family time—having fun and having meaningful conversations

                                                                 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I find Emily P. Freeman's podcast, The Next Right Thing, so helpful and encouraging. It is a podcast all about making decisions. She is so helpful in her wisdom and practical steps in determining just what your next right thing is...to ultimately give guidance in decision-making. In her podcast #101: Reading Your Headlines, Emily asks us to consider what it’s like to read the headlines of our own lives. To have an awareness of what our souls are longing for. She points out, "Your desire is an important headline to know because what you want will shape your next right thing for better or for worse, so knowing and naming what you want in the presence of God is actually a gift because you can either move forward towards it in love or you can let it go with both eyes open. But denying desire to avoid seeming selfish or grabby, that's a false humility and it has to stop. Because like I said, what you want is what you want whether you admit it or not. Knowing what you want is not the same thing as getting what you want or demanding what you want. Desire is a gift when we open it in the presence of God. What happens as a result of that? That's not my business, but knowing it, confessing, admitting it? That's an important part of paying attention to my own life."

Pay attention, friends. Be honest with yourselves. What do you want? What are the deep desires in your heart? May we be brave enough to think bigger and deeper. God has made us each uniquely, for a purpose, and with Him, we have the ability to do great things. “Desire is a gift when we open it in the presence of God.”

XOXO Molly

Mountains

Majestic. Mighty. Massive.
Amazing. Beautiful.
Grand. Glorious. God.
Lush. Chiseled. Strong.

These are all words that my family has used when asked to describe the mountains that we have seen in Hawaii. Each of the words are unique and descriptive... and illustrate the incredible sight that is before us as we drive to and from school, after school practices and the grocery store. This massive, firm foundation running through the island is steadfast.

Psalm 95:4-5 says: In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

I continue to be mesmerized by the mountains here... and their beauty never dulls in my sight. I always notice them and am in awe of them. Driving to Honolulu from Kailua, we ascend and get an even closer view as the tunnel runs right through it. It is simply stunning! My kids now mimic me and the sound I make when they come into sight. Ha! Lawson's basketball practice is on a court in a valley with the most beautiful view of the mountains surrounding him. I encouraged him to notice and take a mental snapshot of this incredibly unique situation!

The fascinating thing is that as beautiful as the mountains are from down below, there is a craving to get to the top and see the view from high above. It draws you to want to look up.

We went for a hike this weekend... one that we have been wanting to experience. It's called Pillbox and it overlooks Lanikai Beach and the Mokuluas. As we journeyed up and then back down, my thoughts were flooded with the similarities between hiking up a mountain and going through life. The journey is difficult at times. There are obstacles along the way. And some people do it differently than you. Some go fast and like to push through the challenges as quickly as possible. Others prefer the journey to be slow and controlled, to avoid extra difficulty if possible. We all have different fears along the way. Slipping, falling, the sheer height of it all. But we all follow someone ahead of us. We need a leader. And, we all need helping hands along the way... help that may look different, yet all are packaged blessings.

We got to the trail entrance with no expectations. All we had seen were people up at the top, gazing out over the Pacific ocean view. We had no assumption about how difficult the trail would be and did not know what to expect. But we were excited. Ready to see that view. Ready to get to the top. The trail started with a pretty extreme incline, rocky terrain and dusty gravel scattered around. Just as we were surprised by the sudden intensity of the trail, difficult paths that show up in our lives can similarly surprise us. A diagnosis. A death. A broken relationship. Challenges with children. They can catch us by surprise and what lies ahead of us seems daunting and scary. But we forge ahead. Because we have to. Because we are on a new path and have to move forward, one step at a time. We follow our leader because He promises to be with us and knows which way is best. He is our protector. We grab on to the tree branches that line the path... the helping hands of those that love and care for us. In fact, we can choose a particular path based on how it looks and if there is help along the way. Sure, we can choose the path without the branches to grab, but we risk falling. Why not take the path that offers help, a support or a guide to lean on?

As I climbed certain parts of this hiking trail, I noticed that just when I needed a break, a break was given. A spot with a view opened up where the wind would cool us down. We could look down and see how far we’d come, all while looking up to see where we were headed. We had to watch where were going to avoid rocks or holes or branches... but when we looked up, we saw the beauty. And then, we made it to the top and there was a sense of accomplishment and victory. Despite the rugged trail, the obstacles, the heat and exhaustion, we made it! And the reward of a spectacular view filled our mind and soul.

Going back down the trail was another type of challenge, but we were familiar with it then and knew what to watch out for. We used our muscles differently and enjoyed the journey without as much fear and anticipation.

What is the mountain you are facing this day? Know and believe that you have a God who created the mountains and is allowing the difficulty you face to be in your life. He promises to be with you and never leave you. He can guide you along the right paths where love, support and help are available to you. Look up. Notice how far you’ve come and the beauty that lies ahead. Victory. Know that He watches over you and will never grow tired or weary.

Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

XOXO Molly

Fall Break--Sailing and Slawek

For the first time, we had a week off of school in October for a fall break. What a welcomed time away from school and the daily routine! We decided last minute to take an adventure and do something that our family hasn't done before. We chartered a catamaran and sailed around some of the Hawaiian islands! It was truly dreamy and a memory that will last a lifetime. Having this opportunity is such a radical blessing and we decided to take advantage of being where we are and see the islands from a different perspective.

We love to surprise our kids, so on Saturday morning, October 5th, we had backpacks packed and called an Uber. The kids had no idea what was coming and it was fun to hear their guesses. "The Disney hotel? Surfing at Waikiki? A cruise?" ha! We pulled up to the harbor which was overlooked by many hotels. As they turned around and gazed up at the Prince Hotel (thinking that was it!), we redirected their attention to the catamaran on the other side, as Sławek came to greet us. Sławek. Pronounced "Swavek" as he is from Poland. I will return to him in a bit...as he was truly the gem behind our entire experience. But first, back to the surprise. Well, you can watch it for yourself here. I love watching them process information and seeing how it takes a minute to really grasp what's going on. Isn't that the case for all of us? Whether good news or bad, we take it in, process it and react. I find it fascinating as people all react differently. Ok, I'm getting off track.

We set sail and to summarize, we sailed around Molokai, Lanai and Maui. I really hadn't heard much of Molokai and Lanai before being on island... but wow! Those are breathtaking islands and definitely worth visiting. And to see them from the water was spectacular. To be able to see something from a different perspective is incredible--there is so much beauty that can only be seen from the water. There is life and another world beneath the sea that can only be seen by being part of it. Isn't life like that? We know what we know... but when we can catch a glimpse from a different perspective, it changes how we look at things, good or bad. And that is a blessing.

Some awesome highlights:
• crossing the channels--big waves and bouncing like a wild ride

• swimming with wild dolphins--there are no words to describe my joy in this! After seeing them swimming alongside the boat up front, we jumped in the water with them where the depth was 2000 feet!
• sleeping on the boat as it rocked us to sleep--Lilly slept outside on the net all the nights except 1! I slept with her one night. How amazing to wake in the night and look up to a galaxy of bright stars?!

• having Captain Kim prepare our meals--the fresh fish was delightful!

• anchoring at Five Needles (Molokai), Manele Bay (Lanai) and Honolua Bay (Maui)

• snorkeling--seeing so many fish, schools of them, eels, sea turtles and I saw a spotted eagle ray!
• exploring Lanai--we were able to go on land and drive around the island. It is small and quaint and beautiful! There is a Four Seasons there which is a must-see and up the mountain is Lanai City, which is basically a grassy park surrounded by anything you might need. Bank. Restaurant. Market. Movie theatre. Shops. District Court with jail--funniest thing I've seen as it was a shed with 2 doors. Adult timeout! There was also a Ranch with goats and horses and donkeys that we were able to go visit.

• seeing the Leper Colony on Molokai through binoculars--so much history there--and there are still about 6 people living there with leprosy. It is a protected area so we could not get off the boat.
• the beauty of the north side of Molokai which has the tallest sea cliffs in the world! and seeing so many waterfalls

• sitting on the nets of the catamaran and sailing

• riding on the dingy to shore or just for a joy ride (the kids loved this!)

• paddleboarding and attempting some yoga poses on the board. Lilly is so good!

• kayaking

• jumping off the front hulls and jumping off the top of the boat at the back!
• jumping off of Black Rock
• fishing off the back of the boat--Lawson worked his almost teenage muscles pulling the fish in!

• kids' taking a nature walk through the "jungle" with Slawek and swinging on vines
• playing with Rita--the Captain's 3-legged chihuahua

• Luke changing his name to Kai (nicknames include Aladdin and Tarzan)
• lots of quiet and downtime while sailing--either lying down enjoying the ride, reading, playing games, watching movies or riding on the front of the boat. The sounds of wind and waves is perfection.

Now back to Sławek. Have you every encountered someone that truly changed your entire experience? That gave such care and compassion to you or your family that it made a lasting impact? That is what happened with this dear, Polish, servant-hearted man. He would tell us that being able to help our family have a great experience brought him such joy. He got joy out of serving us drinks and cleaning up our meals and making sure our kids were having fun? He got joy out of finding the best snorkeling spots for us, following along in the kayak to retrieve Luke when he got tired, and never actually snorkeling himself? He got joy out of downloading music that he heard us talking about without us even asking. This man was a living example of what we try to teach our kids daily--kindness, eagerness to help and the ability to take initiative. Thinking of others, having joy in your work and patience with others. He was not only willing to help out, he looked for ways to help out. He never grew tired of us or annoyed with the kids. Our children gravitated towards him because they were drawn to his kind spirit. Luke especially--they had a special bond and it was really sweet to see. I am confident that the Lord brought Sławek into our lives for a reason. Yes, our faith is strong and we look to Jesus as the ultimate example, but Sławek demonstrated so many character traits that we strive to teach our kids (and are still learning ourselves). We are so thankful! The day after we got home, we had a time of reflection about the trip and the whole experience of it and Sławek was at the top of all of our lists. So thank you, our friend, and we look forward to seeing you again!

We are forever grateful for our time in Hawaii, the friendships we have made, the kids' new friendships and the intentional family time that we have been blessed with. We do not take it for granted. Our sailing adventure was a joy and we are so thankful!

XOXO Molly