4.28.2013

unsearchable things


it's interesting to me to see how in love with certain places people can be.
maybe it's the tropics or their momma's kitchen table or the mountains or out on the ocean or anywhere...
but we all have what we'd call our happiest place.
and because many people have indicated that i now live in their happy place it makes me really think.
because i DO love God's beautiful ocean and the amazing surroundings that are now close enough for me to drive to in an afternoon.
but, i had that in california too.
and it makes me wonder if you, who live in oregon or illinois or texas or new york or montana or washington or everywhere, have that close enough to drive to in an afternoon, too.
i just wonder if what we really love is actually the place that we happen go to to recharge.
our vacation place.
our sabbath.
the place where we take a break from our everyday stress and worries.
because i have been living in the state of hawaii for four months now and i just this weekend really felt like i loved it for the first time.
and it was when we took a family sabbath to maui.
now, it's tempting to think that we should live there instead of where we DO live.
you see?
even for the girl who lives in paradise, there is still something to wish for....
but i realize that what is so great about maui or wherever you are wishing to be, is that it's vacation.
us reeds can be living right in the middle of what you may call paradise and not see it because of our jobs, our lives, or responsibilities.
we have to leave to get our rest.
it makes me wonder if that is a lesson to take with me from this adventure through paradise.
we won't be here forever.
this job assignment isn't permanent.
we may end up someplace that some may call ordinary.
but i just wonder if there will be places of sabbath all around just waiting to be enjoyed.
i wonder if you have them too....


4.17.2013

o, well hello...

i took a month to collect myself.

moving is craaaaaaazy.



homeschooling is...challenging.




hawaii is...very different than i am used to.




but overall, this has been a good month.
the hard ones usually are.
good, not easy.
one of my favorite parts was this....


she came to celebrate our birthdays together.
it was a relief, ya know?
just to have your friend with you for a few days.


and reedo treated us to the James Taylor concert in honolulu


 it was very sweet.
my siblings and i grew up listening to him.
i knew the words to every song.
we sang along and called my other sister to listen together.
james taylor is 65 years old and he sounds just the same as he ever has.
he is such a romantic and i just love him.
my kids fall asleep to him singing to them "carolina in my mind" and "sweet baby james."
what a treat to see him in person.
it was familiar.
and that is just what i needed.


on my birthday we celebrated by hiking through beautiful trees and tropical loveliness to a little waterfall.




sweatiest day of my life.
but so great.
really.



a few things you may not know about my new home 
(i certainly didn't)

1. things take a little longer here.


not sure if it's the aloha spirit or the fact that it is an island 2500 miles away from anything else...but yep, you need patience here. 
what seems awesome and "kick back" on vacation is not as cool in real life :)
but i'm learning.

2. i do not need half of my clothing.


it is hot here. 
not burning hot. 
the weather forecast for as far as the eye can see is 81 degrees. and that is a sweaty 81 degrees.
all we ever want to wear is bathing suits, sundresses or shorts and tank tops.
all day.
til bedtime when it gets down to like 77 degrees. 
so my jeans and boots and sweaters and even long sleeved shirts? going bye bye until the next move.

3. the beach here is much more comfortable than the california beaches.

the water is so warm.
the air is so warm. 
less people are looking at each other and comparing.
there are tons of lagoon type beaches where mommies don't have to stress as much. 
the beach is definately growing on me.
the hawaiian beach, that is. 
i was never that much of a fan before.