Roses are Yellow

I have always wanted to have roses in the yard and this house has them.

Roses are beautiful and smell so sweet.

My roses are not picture perfect roses but they are beautiful to me. I wanted them for a long time.

Michael is not one to bring home flowers. I love flowers but I don't need to have him bring them to me to show me he loves me.

I am just grateful that he does.

Oh be careful little mouth what you say

Can this children's son be true? I was talking to my mom the other day. I shared that I knew that she and my dad had struggled over the years. I have always thought they handled things so well and they have. So I had a confession.

I told her that I was even afraid to say it out loud but.... (cover your ears... I mean close your eyes!) I wasn't sure that we had "suffered" really. I mean Michael has been out of work several times, but God has always been there for us.

If something did happen I didn't think I could handle it. I mean God doesn't give what you can't handle right? Mom gave me wise words. She said that if it happened I might just "rise to the occasion".

My parents have always risen to their occasion. In the face of adversity they have climbed. I'm sure I can too.

Thanks Mom.

Home Is Where Your Story Begins

That is what is over my stove. I love it because it's true!

Today Kyra baked Chocolate Chip cookies. It was really needed here.

It is comfort food when you need a quick fix.

I can't wait for Michael to come home. He is making his own stories. He is hiking Diamond head in Hawaii.

We should have cookies when he comes home. I like it best when our stories are made together.

Meet my accident prone daughter.

My daughter is beautiful and accident prone.

Here are just two pictures of the bones she has broken. (She has actually broken both elbows and both ankles!)

So it was no surprise that she got hurt yesterday.

You see...

She decided to play with Kyle's yoga ball.

You can see Kyle sitting nicely on it for school. (We learned that it is helpful for him since he was diagnosed with auditory processing disorder.)

She had already mutilated her ball. (She thinks I believe that a pencil fell into it.)

So she decided to roll on her tummy using Kyle's ball. As she was rolling she went to far tried to grab the table and had the ball at her feet and twisted as she fell to the ground. Her back arched backward. (Think of a cat and she did the opposite.) Mind you I am not even home!! (I had to go pick up the Durango from the shop.) This is always a parent's fear!



24 hours later and Ibuprofen...... Off to the doctor we go....

Gratefully, we think nothing is broken. Official diagnosis is "back strain". The doctor did note that she had a compressed vertebrae that would need to be looked at IF she was not better in 3 weeks. He was pretty sure that it was smaller only because she is still growing. Whew!

So what now?

Lots of Rest!!!

Murphy's Law

It never fails.

Murphy comes to visit when your husband goes out of town. I had a feeling....if it was going to happen it would happen while he is gone and it did.

We just purchased a "new to us" vehicle. A Dodge Durango. After searching high and low ( and believe me we were tired of looking!) this was the first one that did not smell of smoke. It had everything we wanted in it. Leather, dual air, third row seating so the kids would quit hitting each other... (just kidding... ok...not). So we bought the Durango.

And what happens?

Yep. Mater gets to visit us tonight. We went to the library and then over to a game store. Kyle noticed "smoke" coming from the engine. We carefully open th

e hood (We waited till after we went in the store) and it looks like a hose broke. Antifreeze everywhere! *Sigh* What do I do now?

All 20 years of being an Air Force wife and I have never had to deal with anything "on my own". I have always lived around family or had plenty of friends to call on to help in any situation. So I wasn't sure this sticker applied to me tonight.

I did what any girl would do when hubby is gone. I called my dad.

Then I called the one and only friend I have in the area (since we just moved). She was gracious enough to come and rescue us. We all made it home safely.

And Michael.... well he's off enjoying the North Shore of Hawaii on his off time.

And tomorrow is.....

See you later Mr. Murphy!

Two Weeks

Michael is off today to do his "Two Weeks". Most people think when someone is deployed they go off to Iraq or Afghanistan and believe me they are usually right. Michael has done time there too. This time though he is off to Hawaii. Yep, those little islands in the Pacific.

So in honor of his adventure I am going to share the top 5 things in Hawaii that I think Michael would like to do.

1. Pearl Harbor

Michael's number one thing on his "to do list" during his visit is go to Pearl Harbor. This is a vital piece of our history and if you are in the area you should visit it.

Pearl Harbor is comprised of five historic sites honoring the events occurring at this National Historic Landmark.

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” —Franklin Delano Roosevelt

2. The Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is Hawaii’s #1 visitor attraction, with villages and exhibits representing the 8 cultures of Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga, and Easter Island. While there you must go to the Ali'i Luau. I hear it is the best!

3. The Dole Plantation

Now who doesn't love Pineapple? Ok, put your hand down Michael. Even if your not a pineapple lover you can enjoy this plantation! With a garden tour, plantation express, and the world's largest maze you could spend the whole day here!

Now this looks refreshing! I would get this if I were there!

4. Oahu Hummer Tours

While Michael will probably not do this (It is rather pricey) I am sure this would be on his list.

There are certainly no shortage of movies and television shows that have been filmed over the Hawaiian Islands. Modern day hits like LOST and Jurrasic Park, and the classic Magnum PI are just a few! One of the most popular filming location though would have to be on the historic Kualoa Ranch. There have been dozens of movies filmed on this location alone.

Movie locations you will see on the tour:

• Jurassic Park
• LOST
• Windtalkers
• Tears of the Sun
• Godzilla
• George of the Jungle
• Mighty Joe Young
• Pearl harbor
• 50 First Dates
• Snakes on a Plane
• You Me and Dupree
• And Others..

Last but not least.......

5. The Beach

Even if you are not a swimmer or a sunbather you

must visit the beach. Sun, Surf, and Sand. It is what Hawaii is all about! Just make sure you take your swimsuit, suntan lotion, and maybe a beer or fruity drink with an umbrella!

Also as one of Hawaii's most abounding animals, dolphins jumping out of Honolulu's beautiful waters is not such a rare sight to see.

I hope you enjoyed the top 5 places.

A hui hou kakou!!

We live on a farm!

That was the title of the book Dianne taught Billy and I to read when we were little
Who knew that it would come true!







We really like it in the country. We live on a 32 acre farm that is farmed by Porter Farms. Luckily we do not have to actually "farm" the land because I don't have a green thumb at all! Mr. Porter grows lots of things. Right now he is growing tomatoes, green beans, watermelons, and sweet potatoes. I think we could make a meal off of that! Here are a couple pictures of the "farm" or our back yard!


You can see one of the three ponds in this second picture.



We have been in our new house for about 2 months now. Our house is just right. I feel like Goldilocks from Goldilocks and the 3 bears. Our first house was just a little small, our last house was a little big, and this house is "Just Right"!
Because we live in the country we have well water. Now my grandma says well water is the best... I am still learning to get used to it. Around this area they cover the actual well with a wishing well. I think it is cute.


One of my favorite spots outside is the court yard. This is before we put our patio set and grill out there.



I snapped a couple pictures of favorite places in the house. The first is the fireplace in the living room. I need a bigger picture to put over it but for now this one that my friend painted works. I also of course have my bull dog at the bottom!




Next is the dining room. I love my dining set so here is a picture of it. :)




We just acquired this piece of furniture. It is Pap-Pap's table. We bought chairs and Kyle put them together and stained them. It seems like it belongs here.



This last room is my number one favorite room. It is the school room. It is light and bright. It is a big room and we are ready to use it!




So that is our new little house. We love it. We hope you will come and visit and enjoy our farm with us!