LOVE

One of our family goals during this time away is having more intentional conversations. We are beginning a discussion/study on the Fruit of the Spirit, from Galatians 5:22. The first fruit we are reflecting on is love. So many thoughts and emotions come to mind when we think of that word. And our culture has influenced our beliefs about what love is as well. But what we know to be true is that love is action...much more than a feeling or emotion. Love is demonstrated by our words and actions. We see this perfect example in Jesus in that he died for our sins on the cross...the ultimate sacrifice...and redemption in His resurrection. I am so thankful for this beautiful example and abounding grace that encourages us to strive to live a more full and free life, despite our sinful nature. Thank you, Jesus! 

Luke’s thoughts about love were “sacrifice and thinking of others before yourself”. Wow, we can learn a lot from a 6 year old. Lawson and Lilly added that they can show love by being kind and selfless. As you can imagine, we are challenged with selfish, cranky attitudes on a daily (well, hourly) basis. Despite our best intentions to love each other well, we are human and don’t get it right! Can’t you relate?!  But I am thankful for our time to be more intentional, hold each other accountable and remind each other of grace and forgiveness that can transcend the hurt we cause each other. Thank you, Jesus!

We are so incredibly loved by God. It’s beyond our human understanding. I want everyone who reads this to believe that more and more each day. Because when we really believe we are loved (fully known yet fully loved), our lives will be radically different. God demonstrates His love for us through Creation... what an amazing experience we have to see such beauty in this world. I truly believe that it all points us back to our Creator, revealing His glory and majesty. And it fills my heart with gratitude, humility and awe. We are on the Big Island of Hawaii now...and the landscape is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Dark, lava rock lay cover over the ground with grand mountains as the backdrop. And lush, green and colorful scenery line the coast, where the waters are blue and clear. It is fascinating and unique. Thank you, Jesus!

We are staying in a condo in the Mauna Lani area...and it has been nice to have a bit more space than the 1 hotel room we were in before. Ha! We have enjoyed cooking some meals and having some downtime in between exploring this Big Island. We went to an authentic luau at the Royal Kona, which was such a fun experience. We saw the poi come out of the earth oven. We got “tattoos” and flower leis. We ate a feast of Hawaiian food, drank mai tais and then watched authentic dances from all of the Polynesian islands. What a treat! 

The adventure continues...
I hope you will enjoy the ride with us.

And so it begins...

Our family made it to the Aloha State! It is beautiful—full of sunshine, blue waters, surfers, palm trees and mountains. The day of travel was the beginning of quite an adventure. Some of the most notable things about the experience were:

• 5 checked bags, 5 carry-ons, 5 backpacks, 2 golf bags, 1 surf board. Pretty impressive for 6 months, right?!
•TSA Precheck—I signed us up for this and am so glad I did! No quart sized baggies, no removing shoes, no removing items from our carry-ons. Simple. Easy. Yes, please.
•Kids sat several rows back from us—this wasn’t on purpose (totally). Cabell and I were given seats in the comfort section since Owen was going to be riding with us. And the kids weren’t given those seats. I thought we would be able to work it out when we got there, but no luck with 2 full flights. Oh well....it worked out for Mom and Dad—ha!
•Cokes and Sprites were flowing for the kids.
•No TVs on the flight from Denver to Honolulu. Apparently, they got rid of the TV’s and you have to use your own device to stream their entertainment. Well, that’s a bit of a problem when your kids don’t have their own devices. Oh well... they were several rows back and had to work out sharing.
•Awake for 22 hours—with the 6 hour time difference, we were told to stay awake as long as possible on the day of arrival. We arrived at 1pm Hawaii time and stayed up until 8pm. Wow, jet lag is the real deal. I wondered why Luke was so whiny the next day....um, this is why.

But we made it!

We do not move into our rental house until July 22, so we are island hopping for 20 days. We are staying in Waikiki for the first 5 nights. Then off to the Big Island and then Maui. The paradise pace isn’t quite in effect yet, as many of you may understand when traveling with kids. But day by day, we will get there. 

We’ve explored Waikiki Beach, driven to Kailua where we will be living, and explored beaches and bays around the island. One of my goals is to swim more with my kids (I know that sounds silly, but I’m just not a huge swimmer...I like to stay dry and watch.) Yesterday, as I was getting into the beautiful water, Luke said, “Get your bathing suit wet, Mom. That’s how the fun begins.” Ha! So I went for it. 

So far, life is good, beautiful and focused on family. Here are some pics from exploring in Oahu.

Overwhelmed

That word, overwhelmed. It can give off quite a vibe...chaos, craziness, “too much”. Stress, burden, anxiety. But on the opposite side of the “overwhelmed” spectrum, there is also abundance, gratitude and humility. I have felt both ends of the spectrum this week in big, deep ways.

Packing for a family of 5 for 6 months (let’s be honest, I packed for 4 and someone else packed for 1), cleaning house for a 6 month tenant to move into, finalizing travel plans, and mentally preparing to be away from friends and family for an extended period of time, hugely topped with the sudden passing of our precious pup, Owen. Feeling overwhelmed has been an understatement, particularly sadness in mourning the loss of our dog. Yet, amidst it all, the way that our friends and family have shown up for us has been equally as overwhelming. God’s love and peace have surrounded us. From farewell dinner gatherings, help with the kids, texts, calls, extra packing hands and “last” dinner or hang out dates...to prayers, encouragement and a sense of genuine support for the adventure that our family is going on, we have been humbled. Incredibly humbled. How do we deserve all this love? Despite other people’s own busy lives, they have made time to celebrate with us, cry with us, and send us off with strong arms of support. They have been intentional in their relationships with us. How could I ever fully thank these precious people? 

As I ponder all that has occurred, particularly over the last week, I feel challenged...and I hope to challenge you as well. Do I give to others the same that has been given to me? Do I put others before myself in times of praise as well as suffering? God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our first lesson of this family sabbatical is to examine the way that we care for others. It is a divine act when we sacrifice our time, our homes, and our money to love and serve others. And it points us to Jesus—the ultimate sacrifice.

So as we embark on Day 1, my prayer for us andfor you is that God may “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Life is short, friends. Live it well. Live it fully. Live it with passion and purpose. What are you waiting for?

And finally, a blessing from Psalm 90:17:

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us.” 

Use this time away, God, to deepen our family’s relationships, to grow our hearts and minds and to pursue what You have planned for us. You have work for us to do on this journey...and time will reveal exactly what that is....in our new paradise pace. Amen.