More remembering with posts to come

Letʻs see...since my last topics to post about - Swap Meet, Pearl Harbor, Dinner with Aunty Peggy Uncle Larryʻs family, PCC!!!, Thursday - traffic accident blocking road (Iʻm grateful because by the time we got to Sunset Beach House, waters were calmer and I wasnʻt AS afraid to get in!), Sunset beach house with Jennifer, Saralyn, Adrienne, all the kids, beautiful waters, sunset, etc.  Donʻt be haters, but I didnʻt bring my phone or camera because I think of sand and water as harmful to the high tech gadgets but my cousins all had ʻem right there on the beach?  So, I guess there is still much to learn.

I just booked a flight to Kuaui for the weekend to visit with my cousin Abraham.  I am sooo excited to finally see another island.  In all my trips and visits, Iʻve never been off the Oahu.

I come back on Sunday night and I WILL swim Monday- Wed, no doubt!!

Hugs to all my peeps,

Sharon

Hawaii - notes with posts to COME!

Friday Night arrival, Jacob and the drive, Laie Point, Drop off, Grandma's surprise - no SLEEP!

Saturday - wake up crack of humid dawn, Reunion FUN, Kenji's arrival, Bon Dance

Sunday - Breakfast (he/she/it?), omlet, Church, House looky loos, Park for dinner, cards, comedy dvd

Monday - Up and at 'em...Kenji and I drive grandma's car to town - very little time spent actually LOST...Grandpa's gravesite, IHop, buying t-shirts, fabric land!!!, (I even talked Kenji into some fabric for the family)!...getting ready now for dinner in town and then hanging out with Peggy and Larry's family then hopefully Benny Boy's family too.

Hugs and aloha from HI,
Sharon

Going to Hawaii!!!

I'll be back in two weeks with photos and stories, oh the stories. Maybe I will take the puter and write them as they happen. My family is soooo dang hilarious and it just won't be the same unless I get some stories posted soon after they happen or I'll forget.

Talk to you all soon!

Sharon

Pack 7275!!!!

It has been great serving as the committee chair for the last 3, almost 4 years and now i've been released as of next Sunday. While I'm thrilled I get to have some time back, I'm disappointed in the reasons why I'm being released and I can only hope and pray that the 7 boys we have now will continue to have an amazing Scout experience. And that the den leader will continue (she may be burned out as well?!?!?!).




The primary president and I don't exactly get along. For her, it's all about the $$...and while sometimes I feel like she has some good questions, she's asked and we've (the charter rep and I) ansered them multiple times. It's sooo extremely frustrating. Her husband came up to day camp and I heard him ask 3 times the same ? to different people hoping he could ask his way into the answer he wanted to hear. It's so child-like - it's ANNOYING. Mommy, can I go to the movies with Kimmie...I don't care. Go ask your dad. Daddy, mommy said I could go...what did Kimmie's mom say? I mean, come on folks.

And tonight I'm feeling like a total loser. I am sure my pride is a bit injured, not so much by the release but with the fact that I can't get along with someone with whom I feel like I should be able to. People are just people.

well, there's my moan of the day. There is sooo much more to talk about but I'm too tired. I'm going to sleep well tonight (I HOPE!)

Sharon

A bad day...

started out with me waking up tired. I know how trivial that sounds but still. And then I realized I need to take a quick shower and nope, instead when I turned the shower on water squirted me directly in the face. I turned the water off and reached up and the hose fell off in my hand. I was sooooo peeved!!! No shower for me today.

Then, Kirsten tried to blame me and said it was fine last night and i said, oh really? So when I turned the water on this AM it squirted me? Anyway...

I am really going to try and not be passive agressive. People want to tell me way too much. It's ok to be quiet sometimes. I came home from the 4th of July Celebrations to a quiet and peaceful home. I listened to lds radio (it repeats which was a disappointment) but I caught up on all my friends blogs and just lounged. watched episodes of Burn Notice and then she came home. She wanted to tell me that someone she knew had like 50 graduations in her direct family and to be perfectly honest, I could have given a rat's behind about it. Just ask my mom, if it doesn't have anything to do with me, I don't care. I know that seems a little tyranical and masochistic but geesh, some lady who lives on 150 acres a bazillion miles away does not affect me...unless she votes.

it's ok to be quiet sometimes.

Sharon

If these didn't describe me, I wouldn't post them...

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT 'LIVING IN OREGON !

If someone in a Home Depot (Lowe's, red vest) store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Oregon . (of course they weren't wearing the little orange vest but I needed something and was in a hurry and I knew they would never NOT help me!)

If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon . Guilty.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon . (Of course but I just blamed it on being a social being?!?!?)

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon . Of course! Because I'm 45 mintues from everywhere (salem, Portland and the Coast)

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon. That's just the way it is here, ok!

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon - just for record here...I didn't install the lights, they came with the house BUT I still make sure they work and replace the bulbs regularly and leave the door unlocked. I do live in the COUNTRY afterall.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon. Amen. Let this past winter be testimony enough.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon. And more road construction this summer than ever before.

If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon . Oh man, I just got off the phone with WOW (Western OR Waste) cancelling our day camp's recycling bin (I got a pack to do it for free!)

If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon . I don't know anyone who has AC and everyone I know has a boat (or canoe or kayak).

If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Oregon - o,k, it's true. But it's more about character and being a law abiding citizen than anything else.

If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup , Abiqua, Issaquah , Oregon , Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Oregon . I love how almost 2/3 of these are WASHINGTON state cities...but since I'm home grown there, I know how to say them. ;)

If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Oregon. I believe there is one outdoor pool in my entire COUNTY.

If you know that Boring is a city and not just a feeling, you live in Oregon. Do I get bonus points for having been to Boring?

If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Oregon . Um, yeah, Thai is my favorite.

If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon . Duh, I work for the BSA.

If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon . Actually, I only used my Mt. Bike in Utah..crazy I know but I got fat living in OR (also a very unoregonian thing to do)

If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon . For sure but now that I wear glasses, I have an umbrella. I hate getting rain drops on my clean lenses.

If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon. Remember those lenses - they are transition!!! Oh yeah, baby. But i used to have to buy new ones at least twice a summer.

Friendships...

Wow, I have just spent the last several hours catching up on folks who I wouldn't normally get to see and hear how their families are doing. I think I'm much more grateful for blogging as the new letter every day. Pictures can be included and folks, it's free!

Maleen and her baby girls and for her, let the games begin!! Hahaha..Leila and her beautiful family. Carrie Gunn and her adopted baby boy with Dave and Laura...Candace and her boys and their summer play. SOOO MUCH FUN catching up and after yesterday's BBQ, it makes me want to make all my friends have a blog. It's really a shame more don't.

Anyway...

Earlier at church it just sort of came up, probably when we were talking about doing your calling to the best of your ability and I thought this AM about some reasons why people don't go after that 100th sheep, they stay with the 90 and 9 and almost word for word one of the boys in my class gave the list of excuses I'd already thought of. I said, let's talk about that. Let's reason it through. If I stopped coming to church, one week, maybe two, you all might think I'm busy, that I went to visit my family or have to work. That might even go for 3 weeks. But then what? Someone comes over and I tell a little lie. I didn't really have to work, I was just tired and didn't get up. People start to judge me. I feel judged or am afraid of their verdicts.

There are so many people who know the gospel and have testimonies of the Prophet Joesph but who are not in the habit of attending church and slight alterations to schedules can shake 'em up. Then when they try to come back, thedy are afraid of US. Yes, u and me. We could rattle their cage for not being there, etc. Sure, it's not our fault and stuff but word for word the kid said "but you know better'. DOn't we all know better sometimes and still flub up? I know I do.

I love teaching and learning with my class. We sing an opening song in Sunday School. They all love to sing and so we do it. It helps bring the spirit and we're starting to get to know one another. After all, I've only been their teacher for 4 Sunday's now.

Hugs,

Sharon

Let Freedom Ring...

What a funtastic weekend was had. It's hard to celebrate Independence day as we become more and more socialist...but to stay positive for the sake of the young'uns.

Kirsten and I both had to just a little bit of work and then we were off - we ate Mexican (which she hated, lol) and landed at my parents around 2:30 ish. The plan was to eat, stay the night and Kirsten would leave for camping at her other friend's sometime on the 4th. We would head over for the planned bbq at David and Leilani's.

We needed some things for dinner that night and dad was fixing his water line (I think the county was responsible, but who am I?) and so he dropped me at Winco while he went to the plumbing store. When we got home my car was gone. I said hey dad, where's my car? He said, what do I know, I drove you! We get inside and promptly learn that mom took a spill just a mere 15 minutes after we'd gone and was now at the hospital. She broke her walker and thank goodness not her head, neck, knees or any other bones (even though she wanted her knees to be broken so she could get them replaced!).

Alas, 5 hours later and we were definitely tired of watching the kids...don't get me wrong, we had a blast with them but it was getting LATE and they were very grumpy from being so tired. Kids need regemine and sleep. I don't know who raised my siblings but they evidently don't believe in bed time.

Still, it was fun. July 4th - we wake up to someone's alarm going off. Evidently they had left for the weekend and not turned it off and had their windows wide open. it went off promptly at 6:00 AM and bugged the living crap out of me. Kirsten came in my room and was like, turn your alarm off only to realize it WASN'T mine!

Hazel Dell Ward had a flag raising and breakfast. We went and arrived just on time. It was so lovely to see everyone - Nell's mom and step dad back from their mission...Nell's oldest sister and the Baldwins, the Miles's...everyone. Just so fun. And the food - 4 different kinds of pancakes? Whoo hoo. It's been awhile since I made myself pancakes for breakfast so it was nice to have banana and apple. :)

The weather was to die for. It was about 70 at 8 AM and just gorgeous. One really funny thing was that the kids kept biffing it. Hard. Keli'i started the whole thing off. Janell said maybe it was her shoes but when other kids started hitting the pavement, we began to wonder if the heat had made the ground swell or something.

We were home by 10 AM. Kirsten left around noon. We left for David and Leilani's around 3:30 or so. Way too much food for so few peoples. Food coming out of our ear corns. I stayed until around 9:30 and then headed home.

David's friend Everett came over, Steve Johnson and his wife and baby boy were there. Nell and the kids were there until about 4 or so. The kids need naps, even when socializing. It makes them moody which makes their mom's cranky (or their aunties).

The kids are so cute. They are old enough now to tell me the funniest things. They are learning to play, share and take turns. They played this fishing game and had to take turns and besides only Aukai knowing his colors, all went well.

Aukai saw an airplane and the moon and I told him some poeple have a job to go the moon for work, called astronauts and the next day at the BBQ he told everyone he was going to work on the moon!!! yeah....aunties work is all done. Hey, they make lots of money and he WILL do better than his dad. :)

I have so pics and Neoleen took lots of cute ones and hopefully my mom can figure out how to forward them to me so I can post them.

I'll blog about today soon. And I'll fill you in on how day camp went and what it will mean to be on furlough.

Talk at you soon.