Tired, So Tired, So Tired

Each day, at the end, I pray thanks and gratitude for the day.  Usually, it's about all I can utter because I'm so very tired.  This is exhausting, but very wonderful at the same time.  Right now, the work schedule is heavy, but I'm hoping it will slow down a bit at some point.  Not exactly sure when that will happen.
We had our first bout of sickness.  I knew it would happen, it was bound to.  Hana Girl got a stomach bug, but seems to be fine now.  She was a trooper, saying she's fine, even when she was green.  Her color is back and we only missed one school visit, so she could get the rest needed to recover.
So, yesterday we worked all day and today we took life easy easy.  I did quite a bit of planning and arranging and the girls some homeschooling.  We had a nice lunch a mellow evening and will get back to busy, tomorrow.
There are so many things I'd like to write about as I drive, but can't type and watch the road at the same time.  I would like to quickly comment on my experiences with driving here in the mainland....It's a challenge, but not as bad (so far) as I predicted.
Bye for Now...I'm going to bed.

Small Towns and Long Roads

I'd really like to write about my feelings about all of the small towns we've passed and all of the long roads I've taken, but I'm just too tired.  I need to find a way to write my blog while I'm driving and all the thinking is going on in my head.

Good Brother

I've had the wonderful opportunity to spend the last five days with my brother, his wife, and my niece and nephew.  It has been so nice to spend time with family.  I'm always somewhat envious of my friends in Hawaii that are surrounded by all their family members.  It always seems like so much fun.  I know it must have its moments, but for the most part...you really just can't beat being with family.  One especially fun thing has been seeing my brother with his little boy and girl.  He's such a good dad!  It's heartwarming to watch.  I'm very proud of him.  So grateful this trip has provided the chance to be with family members.

Worship His Majesty

A day at Yosemite. You know that movie, "Vacation," with Chevy Chase, and he goes to the Grand Canyon, and he gets out of the car, takes a look, nods his head twice and then they jump back in the car. I have to admit, that's something I can relate to. Beautiful landscape, scenery, or even oceans don't always evoke as much appreciation from me as they probably should. Today, we went on a full day tour of Yosemite National Park. Having had more than my fill of mountain driving on the edges of steep cliffs with twists and turns like spaghetti tangled in the meatballs, I signed us up for the full package: driver, guide, and education all in one. So, after not breathing for most of the ride down into the valley, I was finally there and able to look around. It was AMAZING! All I could think of is God's magnificent creation. I was completely overwhelmed and even moved to tears. This completely surprised me. I surprised myself. I didn't know I had it in me. I think living in Hawaii, a place of such beauty, I have almsot become "used to it." This was a different beauty. It struck me. It was powerful and huge and inspiring and wild. I really loved it. I'm so glad I visited Yosemite National Park. I was going to cut it....that would've been a great loss. Most of all, I feel such a great sense of how big and powerful God is. His Majesty. It made me desire to Worship His Majesty. Grateful and Thankful and Amazed.

We're the Candleabra Tree

I know, I know, I know...I have to do better with the blogging.  I'm good on FB, but not so much here, and I've been told (a few times) that some people don't have Facebook.  I promise to do better.  So, day before yesterday, I visited all these crazy sights (designed just to be crazy and fun for tourists) along the northern California coast.  It was a very fun and interesting day.  Many things stood out for me, but I'm going to keep it brief...I loved the Trees of Mystery because it was amazing to see the tall redwoods and the unique trees.  One tree in particular was a Candelabra Tree.  It had a tree growing horizontally, and from that tree there were about four trees growing vertically.  It really struck me how the horizontal tree was feeding the vertical trees nutrients from the earth while the vertical trees fed the horizontal tree with photosynthesis from the sun.  It's neat how the strengths of one helped the strengths of the other and vice versa.  I think this works in life with me and Mike and with me and the girls.  When you recognize your strengths and the strengths of your partners and then work together, it's a beautiful thing.  So, on this trip, Hana Girl is the detail girl:  she keeps our accounting and daily budget, she makes sure we're on schedule(though we dont' always listen to her) and she has us completely organized.  Kealia is the joy and enthusiasm/ Cruise Director.  She is the one all gung ho to do all the unusual and fun things.  So, we drive to the home built entirely from one tree trunk and Hana Girl says, "I'll wait in the car," and Kealia's enthusiasm kicks in and gets us all going and soon we're skipping to the tree.  I'm the one that is focused on safety, manners, homeschooling, and being the mom. I vacillate between being more like Hana Girl and Kealia, but it varies depending on the situation.  Back to the tree...Hana Girl is the horizontal steady base.  Kealia is in the clouds and soaking up the sun.  Together, we're a perfect team!  Loving being with my girls!  

Expectation vs. Reality: Yes, Yes, and Yes

Wow, so blogging on the road is fairly difficult.  I just don't have the time.  I imagined this trip for so long I just wasn't quite sure what it would actually be like.  So, I thought I'd make a blog about how the trip is meeting what I had imagined.
*So, so far, it's easier than I expected.  The driving has its moments, but if it's not raining, and it's daylight, then, it's not bad.  I don't even mind rush hour because it means we can go slower.  Sometimes it's a challenge for me to keep up the 70 mile per hour thing but other times, I find myself going faster.  It all depends upon how far I'm going.
*Visiting friends has been the highlight.  I felt a little nervous to see people and to STAY and feel like an imposition on people I haven't seen in a long long time, but it has been wonderful and my friends have shared a ton of aloha with us. The Rogers, the Andersons, my former students, Deison, Lauwa'e, and Cheryl.  I've also loved having a hotel room, to just catch a breath.
*Our van is a tad bit more crowded than I had imagined, but I think we'll do some downsizing today.  It's very nice to have our own van.  It's like a relief or a piece of home.
*Food has been fun and delicious and amazing.  We are trying very hard not to overdo it, and though it hasn't been healthy food, we have tried to not eat toooooo tooooo much.  We walk a lot, also, which hopefully is doing something.  We've also done a good job of getting our rest.
*Budget-so far, ok.
*Keeping up with my work is ok.  I sometimes would rather be doing other things, but priorities....that's all I can say.
*Meeting fun people-YES!  Lots of happy, kind, fun, and funny people.  There are standouts! and there are the everyday friendly folks!  We love them all.
*Freedom from everyday life is also fun.  We have work, we have schedules, but it's different and it's something I am really grateful for.
*Me and the girls stuck in a van...well, sometimes they get mad at me, and sometimes we get mad at Kealia, and sometimes we get mad at Hana Girl, and sometimes Kealia and Hana Girl fight.  I tried something new...I let them have a whole fight and I didn't say a word.  It was hard; however, at the end, they were fine, they got over it, and so, maybe I'll try that some more.  The best part of us...we don't stay mad.
*Missing Mike-Ugh!  That's ALL I can say!  Much much worse than I expected.  Awful.  Twice I've checked air fares to come home and see him...but, I'm hanging on.  FaceTime HELPS!  We get Mike on the phone and pass him around.  It's kind of like he's been shrunk into a little guy the size of the phone and we show him around and the girls say, "I want daddy now," and we give them the phone.  It's funny.

*Is it still exciting?  Yes.  Am I glad we're doing it?  Yes.  Am I happy to keep going?  Yes.
So far, Yes, Yes, and Yes.

Running in Circles, Eating Donuts, Flying Fish, Gross Gum Wall

Today we played tourist in the city of Seattle.  We started our morning at a leisurely pace, which was nice for a change, and found our way to, Top Pot Donuts.  We were attracted there by the giant donut on top of the building.  Knowing that we are already planning on visiting donut places throughout the trip, we were excited for our first donut visit.  It did not disappoint.  They were delicious, the atmosphere was coffee shop relaxing.  Of course, the friendliness we experienced yesterday, proved to be present again today.  Oh, I didn't tell you about yesterday!  It was unbelievable.  I don't have time for all the details, but I will tell you that our town car driver was very kind and went out of his way to show us some sights as we drove to Matson to pick up our car.  When we got to Matson, everyone was very friendly.  I had to go around to the back to get the van and my girls waited out front.  A guy named Cookie bought my girls donuts.  Another guy named Joe, insisted they go inside, and when I told him that I had told them, but they weren't listening, he forced them inside.  (They weren't being defiant, just trying to have good manners.)  Then, my battery wouldn't start, so the Matson guys jumped my car.  They were worried about us, so Joe drove his car for me to follow him, all the way to a gas station, near our place we'd be staying.  He even called to check on us later in the evening.
There was more to yesterday, but I better move on with today...well actually, I'm going to let Kealia tell you about today.  She wrote a beautiful journal entry...so the rest is by her:

Even though this has been only my 2nd day of my trip, I'm only starting my journal today and tomorrow, we go to Tulalip.
Today, we did a lot of tings.  We went to the top of the space needle and I have pictures to prove it.  We ran outside around about five times.  Then when we got back down to earth, we went to Pike's Market.  We watched them throw fish and crabs.
Then, next we went down to the Gum wall.  it's a combination of some really gross gum, a covered old movie theatre, and a lot of support from Seattle community.  What I really think is that a group of kids always used to hang out there so they started sticking gum on the wall, too lazy to walk to the trash can.  Later, it became abandoned from all the graffiti and gum and became a world land mark. ( I actually stuck gum on the wall too! Hee Hee)
The last thing we did was go to the Pacific Science Center.  There were so many different exhibits.  My favorites were the butterfly house and the live bugs.  I really liked the Butterfly House because there were so many different species.  I liked the live bugs because I got to hold alive Madagascar Hissing Cockroach.  There were millipedes, cockroaches, centipedes, scorpions, and bees.  There was also a type of stick bug.  There was also an Awesome Psychic Powers show and it was funny and cool.  The guy was not really a magician but taught us about the scientific method.  His last trick was so hard, but eventually I figured it out.  This was my exciting day in seattle.  Hope that you have a day like this too.

The "But" Hurts

In about a week, I could change this title to, "The BUTT Hurts," because though I drive to Kona or Hilo for about an hour one way, at least once a week, I'm sure it will be nothing compared to the driving I'm about to begin doing.  This title though, is more fitting for how I feel now...today...when the, "But," hurts.  

So, I know I'm fortunate to be able to take this amazing trip around the United States for 5 1/2 months.  And I know it's going to be the trip of a lifetime.  I'm sure I'm going to see amazing sights, beautiful scenery, and gorgeous landscapes.  I know it's a great educational experience for the girls.  It will indeed be great to see my family and friends all along the way.  I'm certain I will enjoy the many museums, science centers and farmer's markets in fabulous cities.  Spending this quality time, at this time, with my girls is invaluable.  I am aware that this is a chance to make a difference as an educator and give future students opportunities.  BUT...(And that's the "But," that Hurts)...

I'm really sad to leave my wonderful husband and best friend, Mike.  I miss him already and it hurts.  This trip seemed like such a great idea for the last eight years while I was planning it, but now the reality of having found a love that brings me so much strength, hope, happiness, and just plain old fun, makes the trip feel like a separation and leaves me feeling a sadness that I had not expected.  We planned this trip before we met Mike and I told him about it on our 2nd date, but not until the last couple of months has leaving him for this adventure, really set it.  To make it worse...he's so supportive and encouraging...telling me to go and make him and Darel proud.  A double whammy!  Who would want to leave such a selfless, generous, and humble man...not to mention very handsome and constantly funny.  So, yeah, yeah, yeah, to all the things I mentioned first, but man, does the BUT hurt!