April is over?

Koko Head

      This month has been so good! I am trying to think of where to begin. First, Randy is in the middle of taking the physical test for applying with the Honolulu Fire Department. He went through the swimming/diving portion and got to climb up a 70 foot ladder yesterday! He did a great job and will be taking the second portion of the test this coming Friday. The first part was a written exam that he took back in June of 2012 and scored a 96% (yeah my babe is smart)! The final portion is an interview (it could be months if not longer before this part). So after this weekend we will be 2/3's of the way there!

     In other news we have had a few visitors over this month. Randy's cousins came down from Utah and Alaska for a vacation and appointed himself to be their personal tour guide. He took them kayaking, snorkeling, and even scored them free tickets to the PCC (thanks to some of our amazing friends). We also went to their beach house and spent some time hanging out. It was a cool experience for Randy to meet a few of his cousins who he hadn't seen in years!

Randy with the fam

    Jayli and Wyatt also came out to visit! They are staying in Wakiki, but came over to the North Shore to hang out with us this past Sunday. We made breakfast, went to church, then had some lunch and caught up. We ended the evening with a walk to the beach and playing some Boggle (Randy and I are in love with this game).  

    I am really enjoying my new job! It takes up a lot of my time, but it is VERY rewarding work. Everyone is so friendly to me and although I am still new and trying to figure everything out I feel a sense of peace because I know God is with me every step of the way. I am constantly trying to plan and implement new activities and create more time-efficient ways to do things through the day. The residents are friendly and very patient with me as I get to know them better. Randy has been such a support for me through this job too. Anytime I can't figure out a problem he is right there helping me find the solution.

    A couple weeks ago, I went on this INSANE hike called Stairway to Heaven. If you have not heard about or done it, definitely google it! I went with a group of women (some from my ward) and it was tough! These women are hard core because the majority of them have 3+ kids and are in phenomenal shape---super inspiring to see! Anyway, I guess this hike is possibly illegal? They have a guard by the entrance, but instead of telling us to leave he just cautioned us to be safe. It is very steep and on the day we went it had been raining, which made everything pretty slippery and even more sketch. Luckily, I made it to the top, but I will have to say I don't think I have sweat so much before in such a concentrated period of time! I plan to go again this weekend with Randy, since he has never done it, and with some friends!

Don't let these sweet smiles fool you---we are TOUGH!

      Randy and I have also been surfing a little more this month. He has even gone at night! I would have to say my favorite spots right now are Freddy's and Castles. These are smaller breaks and great places for beginners like myself. Randy has gone to Turkey Bowls and a few other places I can't ever remember the names of. I got a soft top board for $30!! You can't beat that!

Turkey Bowls

Castles

         We also recently got bikes from this guy named Richard on our street for $40 each! We love going for simple bike rides or riding to a specific beach on the bike trail or making a trip to Foodland for groceries. Seriously, we could not ask for a better place to live! We also bought some cheap tennis racquets and went to Sunset Elementary School (across from Pipe) and played tennis together for the first time since being here! We really enjoyed it and at first I was kicking Randy's butt until hunger and fatigue set in and then I was humbled.

Doing tricks on the way to the grocery store.

I even have a basket! 

 Other short adventerous bits from this month. 

•   We are in LOVE with peanut butter and banana shakes (we have tried to copy the Shark's Cove recipe)
• At times we go on walks down different streets in our area to check out the cool homes around us. When we went down Comsat road this CRAZY pigeon flew right to our feet and started dancing for us. Seriously, this thing was insanely tame and followed us as we tried to walk past him. I think he needs friends! 
• We have also been creating our own chocolate sauce made with no bad staff. aka butter or refined sugar and it is to die for! 
• The power went out two days in a row for a couple hours each, but we really didn't mind. It's so peaceful and I swear more people go out of their homes to hang out because they don't have tv! 
• We just discovered that there is a Goodwill in Wahiawa and love it! I got a ton of "professional" clothes for my new job at dirt cheap prices. 
• We have started getting into Dave Ramsey cd's. My sweet cousin and her husband got them for us as a wedding gift and I am so grateful to have them! Right now we are doing things with the intensity of the gazelle!
• Randy has come to discover that I do NOT like "double dipping" at Costco. (aka: taking more than one sample from each person giving out food). Randy was so shocked and almost disgusted that he began to challenge me to go get more samples. ha I don't know exactly what it is about taking more than one----I mean, I know they won't say no, but it just seems weird to take more. ha Anyway, don't worry everyone because Randy is slowly converting me to the double dipper ways! This past Costco trip I got two mini cups of ice cream and blue berries.
• Our car was having issues, but thankfully we have an amazing mechanic (Louis) who even drove the car back down to our house for us so we wouldn't have to take the bus. Whose mechanic does that?! 
• Randy has also found a new passion in life! Taking pictures of geckos. He will take the camera out to the plants in our front yard and try to take National Geographic worthy photos of these guys. 

Look how bright!

    So things are going well! I just have to acknowledge God through all of this! None of our successes would be possible it wasn't for Him. I am grateful that so much joy can be found in the small happenings of life! Trials definitely come to us all, but each time we ask for help we receive it! 

March Madness (in a good way)

This month was very busy and exciting! My mother and youngest sister came out to Hawaii to visit Randy and I. We had a blast! They arrived on the 9th and stayed till the 18th. We did a ton! I took them hiking to Kaena Point, visited the Dole Plantation and went downtown to Waikiki to check out International Market Place, went snorkeling and body boarding at Electric Beach, spent one whole day and night at the Polynesian Cultural Center at BYU-Hawaii, went to the Laie temple,took them to a local farmer's market, and relaxed at Waimea where Randy lost his wedding ring!

We also had fun eating good food. Elise turned 20 on the 10th so I made pizza and this AMAZING dessert called Jim Boles' Raspberry Torte Cake. It was to die for ... for reals! We also went to this farm in Kahuku and had the most amazing grilled veggie paninis and pizza (everything grown locally and super fresh). Towards the end of their trip we walked down to Ted's Bakery and bought a whole chocolate haupia cream pie.

Throughout their trip we also enjoyed really simple things like playing Boggle for a million hours on end. I don't know why this game is so amazing, but we seem to never get sick of it (same goes for Bananagrams and Catchphrase). I loved making these memories with my family, especially because Elise is leaving to go on a mission to Cordoba, Argentina. I am so proud of her and the good decisions and sacrifices she makes to serve others. She is a wonderful example for our family and is even known as the "golden child". She went into the mission training center (MTC) on the 27th. I know she will be a great missionary and has been preparing for this opportunity.

 It was also a wonderful experience to be in the temple with my mom and sister. There was something special about us being together in such a sacred place. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for eternal families and for the restoration of the gospel on the earth through Joseph Smith. I can't imagine my life without my Savior and the scriptures. I feel so much joy for all the blessings I have been given!

This leads into the next big event for this month in my life. I got a job!!! This was a miracle all on its own and I feel that the credit really has to be given to my Father in heaven. I will be working as the recreation director at Kahuku Medical Center. It is full-time, good pay, excellent benefits, and SUPER close to where I live! Now maybe this does not sound that miraculous to you, but if you understand where I live and how I found out about the job, made connections with people, etc. then you do begin to understand how there was so much being done for me than I could not have done myself.

I have been trying to get a job for quite some time and when you live on the North Shore with one vehicle to share, it can be tough. I was offered a few jobs in town, but the commute was going to be 2 1/2 hours each way (no I am not joking) by bus. I became frustrated and at times felt desperate to take anything, even if it did not pay much, but Randy and many others told me to hold out and keep looking. This is another time where Randy stays calm and positive while I kind of spaz out and he ends up being right!

I know God listens to my prayers AND answers them ... in His timing. The trick is to be patient and remain faithful while you wait on His timetable. I finally prayed for help and asked for very specific things concerning a job. I finished the prayer by letting Him know that if this was not His will for me I would do whatever needed to be done. I also know God wants us to have full joy in our lives so I tried to also remember this while going through this process. And sure enough, I got an amazing job and received EVERY single thing I asked for PLUS more! I ended up crying at one point because I could feel the love God had for me so much. I know I am just one small person on this earth, but I know God is concerned about the small things going on in my life and in the lives of everyone on this planet! Sorry if this is somewhat long-winded. I just feel the need to show my gratitude and recognize that these things were made possible because of Him.

Another great thing: Randy received an email from the Honolulu Fire Department a few days ago to let him know they will be starting the second part of the application process (the physical) at the end of April! After this part is the interview. Slowly but surely we are making progress and moving forward with this!

 One other cool thing I did this month was go surfing with my friend Lezlie at Castles at 6 am (I know - super early). She let me use one her long boards and all on my own I was able to paddle into a wave and stand up for more than 5 seconds! It was such a cool feeling! I can see why people like this sport so much. ha Anyway, it just made me so happy. I love actually being able to notice progress when you are learning to do something new.

It was also Randy's birthday this month of the 22nd. He asked if I would make Jim Boles' Raspberry Torte cake and guacamole. He is not the biggest fan of birthday parties so we went spent the day together at home.

My wonderful husband!

 Also, today was Easter Sunday. Church was great. One of our 14 year-old sunday school students offered to teach the lesson (who even does that?!) and did an excellent job teaching us all about the last week of the Savior's life. I know He suffered for my sins and died for me and because of His atonement I will have the opportunity to return to live with Him again. AMEN.