Thanksgiving Week ~ Friday

I say it often, but I always mean it ~ I am SO thankful for my health.  I never want to take it for granted that I can get out of bed with ease each morning, tie on my shoes and go for a run.  I know many who are not that fortunate.  And after yesterday's meal, I really need to go running!!

I'll be back Monday with a full report of our time here in Florida.

Thanksgiving Week ~ Thursday ~ Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am especially thankful for friends and family this year. And if you're reading this post, that means YOU.  There have been so many who text, email, or call to check on me.  I really can't imagine life with you.  With the loss of Dad this year, my immediate family is smaller, but my family has grown.  I've gained a whole new branch on my family tree - my New Life Pentecostal family!

Happy Thanksgiving! I love you!  I hope you're having a wonderful day, that you're with loved ones, enjoying time together and delicious food.

Thanksgiving Week ~ Wednesday

I am thankful for taste buds!  We will be feasting tomorrow and I'm so glad I can tell the difference between turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie!

Wouldn't it be sad if everything tasted the same?

Thanksgiving Week ~ Tuesday

I want to say how thankful I am for the beautiful world God created!  Man is good at making messes, but when God was finished with His creation He said it was very good.

We've lived across the ocean this year, with some very beautiful scenery.

Moon setting over Diamond Head

Sun rising over Koko Head

Rainbow after a shower

Maui Sunset

North Shore, Oahu

We live in California, a place that has some very beautiful scenery.

Majestic Yosemite

A lonely dirt trail - because I never know what kind of creature will be on the trail with me - rabbits, squirrels, birds, coyotes, deer, bears, and cows!

Las Llajas Canyon

Pacific Ocean from Santa Barbara

We're across the country this week, looking at beautiful scenery.

El Governor Motel, Mexico Beach, Florida

Soft sand and the Gulf of Mexico

God did very good!

Thanksgiving Week ~ Monday

We are on our way to Florida this morning for the annual McElhaney family gathering.  If I include where we were last Thursday (Hawaii), we will be in each U.S. time zone with the exception of Alaska:

Honolulu - HAST
Simi Valley - PST
Phoenix (we have a layover here) - MST
Atlanta (our flight lands here) - EST
Mexico Beach, FL (our final destination) CST

I've scheduled my posts for the week - I have so much in my heart that I'm thankful for! I got these done in advance because we aren't planning on taking a laptop with us.  It's time for family!

Since we are probably on an airplane as you are reading this, I want to give thanks for traveling mercies.  Just this year we have taken nine round trip flights to Hawaii, Les has traveled to Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, DC, New York, and Philadelphia!  I am thankful that each trip has been without incident.  Flights have been long, some with lengthy delays, we're usually exhausted when we land, but we have landed safely each time.

I am also thankful for God's protection when we are on the road - especially when Les is on his bike or I'm running!  I've read plenty of stories about cyclists and runners getting hurt.  Les is never out for a ride without my prayers.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. " Psalm 4:8

Vog and Wind

I learned a new word this week - Vog.  Wikipedia gives a very good description:

Vog is a form of air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by an erupting volcano react with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. The word is a portmanteau (combination of two or more words) of the words "volcanic", "smog", and "fog". The term is in common use in the Hawaiian islands, where the Kīlauea volcano, on the Island of Hawaiʻi (aka "The Big Island"), has been erupting continuously since 1983. Based on June 2008 measurements, Kīlauea emits 2,000–4,000 tons of sulfur dioxide every day.

The Big Island is approximately 200 miles from Oahu, but when Kona winds blow (instead of Trade winds) the entire state can be affected.  Several people at New Life mentioned this condition last weekend.  It isn't visible on Hawaii, so when I heard the word "vog" I thought they were saying "fog" and looked for a marine layer!

We flew home last night and were greeted with Santa Ana winds.  I thought about running this morning, I was awake around 6:30.  I wanted to get a trail run in, but as I laid (or is it lay?) there in my warm cozy bed, I listened.  The wind was howling!  It was shaking the house.  When I finally got up, I checked the weather app and it was blowing 19 mph with 46 mph gusts!  I know one thing, the trail run would have been an adventure.  Maybe tomorrow...

So a little recap:

Trade Winds blow most of the time in the Islands, bringing a gentle cooling effect and pineapple mist (light rain).
Kona Winds blow from the south bringing vog and hot, sticky weather.
Santa Ana Winds blow in the Southland and typically bring hot, dry weather.

Can you guess which one I like best?

Thankful Thursday: Repost ~ A Heart of Thanks

I am so thankful for my godly Mother.  I could list all my family members, and I am thankful for them, but today I just want to focus on Mom.  Her prayers and faithfulness will always be remembered.  I am so thankful for her Bible, filled with wisdom and encouragement.

I posted this a couple of years ago and it's still true today. I wrote about my Mom being "a woman in her 50s" and here I am edging very close to that age myself!  Just as Mom wrote many years ago, no matter what comes my way I have a lot to be thankful for anyway.

November 4, 2011

I was in the grocery store on Monday. The "Seasonal" aisle was in transition ~ going from Halloween candy and decorations to Christmas. I know it's this way every year, but I can't help but wonder ~ what happened to Thanksgiving?

Not the greatness of our troubles, but the littleness of our spirit,
makes us complain.
~ Mom's Bible (found written in both the front and back covers)

This quote was recorded in the Bible of a woman in her 50s who had been through troubles in her life. Let me give you a glimpse of the young woman she was...

Christmas, 1964. She would turn 25 one week later. She had four children under the age of six. Her third child was diagnosed with a disease she'd never heard of and didn't understand. In my baby book she recorded the following:

Kathy's first Christmas was marred by Rodney being in the hospital. She got lots of gifts...

Kathy spent the day with Irene Wilkinson. We had planned a beautiful Christmas - spending the day at home with the children. Of course, our plans were shattered by Rodney's sudden attack. Kim and Rickey spent Christmas with Grandpa Hogan and Grandma Luella. We spent the day running back and forth between the hospital and home. We've got a lot to be thankful for anyway.

Gives new meaning to "Not the greatness of our troubles, but the littleness of our spirit, makes us complain," doesn't it? Many times in her life, Mom had great troubles, but not a small spirit. Rod spent his second Christmas in the hospital, while I was with a dear family friend, but... We've got a lot to be thankful for anyway.

What a beautiful spirit of thanks! I don't want to just be thankful in November, but I want a heart of thanks, no matter the season.

Gratitude is a seasoning for all seasons.
~ Mom's Bible

Christmas Is Coming ~ Hawaiian Style!

Santa arrived at Ala Moana Center last week.  I'm afraid he's going to overheat in his red suit.

I'll be celebrating my 50th Christmas this year and I still don't want my picture taken with the jolly old elf!

Decorations are popping up everywhere...

The Ralph Lauren display included snow.  I had trouble with that!

Especially when the outside temperature was this!

The weather outside is far from frightful, shave ice is so delightful...
Since we've no place to go... surf's up!!!

Weekend Wrap Up

We had a really fun and busy weekend!   It started with Ladies Night Out on Friday night.  Seventeen ladies from New Life Pentecostal joined the fun at Auntie Pasto's in Kunia!

The portions were huge!  Les was happy to eat my leftovers on Saturday.

Sis. Acasio was the last one to get her food.  She asked for a discount and the manager gave everyone at our table 20% off!

While we were waiting for our food, Sis. Mac got a very special call - Facetime with Pastor McGriffin in the Philippines!

We also had a special guest join us.  Sis. Cyndy White is a missionary to the country of Jordan.  After our meal she shared some of her burden.  The country of Jordan is 88% Muslim and it is against the law to convert anyone, but there are many international workers in the country and they are exempt from that law.  They have a Filipino congregation, along with a Sri Lankan work.  She is also involved in outreach to shelters, prisons, and refugees.  She only has two weeks left on her deputation schedule before she returns "home."  We're praying that her budget will be full and running over! (Like her plate of lasagna!)

Saturday afternoon was Praise Team practice.  I have enjoyed so much being a part of this team.  They are willing to let me join in when we are in town and it is fun to sing without the pressure of playing or being in charge!  Bro. Ryan does such a great job.  He is extremely talented in playing and singing, but has the most humble spirit.  He is very sensitive to the moving of the Spirit in service.  He is also very patient with us!

Following practice was Church Ohana (Family) Prayer.  We learned that Bro. Justin was going to be deployed to the Philippines to help in the rescue efforts.  We also prayed for Sis. Remy's family - one of her uncles and two aunts lived in Tacloban, the area hit hardest by Typhoon Haiyan, and they have not heard from them since.  Please pray for those needs!

Sunday evening was another great service!  The faces of the new ones who have recently been baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost brings such joy.  Les filled in since Pastor McGriffin was still out of town.  He preached, "Dethroning God."  It is impossible to remove God from his heavenly throne, but we can dethrone Him from the thrones of our hearts.

I'm so glad to be part of God's family.  Worshiping, fellowshipping, singing, laughing, eating, and praying together - God's family is the finest!

Moonlit Monday

This is what I saw as I headed out for my run at about 5:30 this morning:

 

Five miles later, the sun still wasn't completely up and the moon was setting over Diamond Head...

A great way to start the week!

Honolulu Zoo

One of the first "purchases" I made when we came to Hawaii in January was an annual pass to the Honolulu Zoo.  I'm so glad I did!  I have enjoyed going about once a month.  I never catch all the animals awake and active on the same day, but I've seen them all in action now.  It was cloudy, with the threat of rain yesterday, but I decided to take a stroll anyway.

The tortoises were chowing down...

Indian elephants

Wart Hog

I love that the giraffes and zebras live together peacefully...

This wild African dog rarely makes an appearance...

Chimpanzee

Baboon

I watched the lions for about 15 minutes.  The cubs have grown so much!  They will be a year old next month.  I heard more than one visitor say, "Four females and one male."  One of the cubs is a male, but his mane will not start coming in until he is 18 months and won't be fully grown until he is about five years old.

 The porcupine was enjoying a pumpkin!

Beautiful Sumatran tiger

I ate lunch at the zoo and this peacock walked right up to my table. I guess he was hoping I'd share!

I heard a voice as I neared the sloth cage.  A worker was in the cage with him.  When he turned his back to talk to someone, the sloth nudged him - it really seemed to enjoy being rubbed on!

The rain held off until I was about a mile from home.  I've grown quite use to it and was glad it was just sprinkling instead of pouring! 

When is the last time you visited a zoo?  Favorite animal?