Thursday, November 22, 2007

I give thanks...


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Thanksgiving

(Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer)

Let us give thanks to God above, Thanks for expressions of His love, Seen in the book of nature, grandTaught by His love on every hand. Let us be thankful in our hearts, Thankful for all the truth imparts, For the religion of our Lord, All that is taught us in His word. Let us be thankful for a land, That will for such religion stand; One that protects it by the law, One that before it stands in awe. Thankful for all things let us be, Though there be woes and misery; Lessons they bring us for our good-Later 'twill all be understood. Thankful for peace o'er land and sea, Thankful for signs of liberty, Thankful for homes, for life and health, Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth. Thankful for friends and loved ones, too, Thankful for all things, good and true, Thankful for harvest in the fall, Thankful to Him who gave it all.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Hawaiian paradise, Hawaiian heaven, land of make-believe come true...


So, I just got back yesterday from a lovely 5 day turned 7 day trip to Oahu. My travel partner was my lovely sister-in-law Sharon. Shane suggested months ago she take a trip to Hawaii with me after she made many mentionings of wanting to take a trip back. He offered to take time off from work and watch the boys full-time (bless his heart). The most ideal way to get to Hawaii is of course by air via Continental, since we have buddy pass hook-ups with Quinn and sometimes Megan. Getting on the flight from Houston was relatively easy, but getting back was another story. However, I think I'll just focus on the wonderful parts of our journey. Here is how it went down:


Nov.1st, Thursday:

Arrival to Honolulu, hook-up at the car rental place with a Sebring convertible (woohoo!), ate at Macky's shrimp truck in Haleiwa (yummy coconut shrimp, and our best meal on the island), went to sleep.


Nov. 2nd, Friday:

Ate spam, eggs and rice for breakfast at McD's in Haleiwa, bought nerdy tourist hats at Matsumotos (to keep the sun at bay), toured the Dole plantation and spent way too much money on pearls! Went on a tour of Laie town where I saw our old home at 55-455 Moana St. which will within the next year be torn down with all the rest of the old faculty houses. Drove to the beautiful Laie point, took a walk around the temple grounds and made a few purchases at the BYU bookstore. Took a walk down the shores of Hukilau beach, ate at the shrimp truck in Kahuku (not as good as Macky's), stopped off at Sunset beach to see my friend Emma Leigh, then went home and went to sleep (jet-lag will do that).


Nov. 3rd, Saturday:

The hunt is on for malasadas, rice cakes and shave-ice, oh, and chocolate haupia pie. We know where to get the shave-ice and haupia pie, but the other two we are desperate to find! We know where not to go to hang out with other haule's (Haleiwa cafe). Drove to the swap meet with the top down. Note: heard our "theme" song for the trip for the second time ('sweet escape' by Gwen Stefani). Drove the long way to Honolulu and were in absolute awe of the Ko'olau mountains! Got sunburned from having the top down and from being at the swap meet. Took the long way home via the north shore again so we could sample choc. haupia pie. Delicious! The food at Ted's bakery wasn't so delicious, though. Later on we had dinner with Sharon's cousin and hostess while in Hawaii, Jackie.


More of the trip to come...