Random thoughts...

Tonight Honey Isaac & I gave my parents their Christmas gift.  Now before you gasp in horror at the thoughts of a Christmas gift given this early, let me explain...  My mom is pretty sensitive to the fact that Isaac & I are still early in our marriage & trying our darndest to pay off debt, save for future babies, and are traveling to beautiful but expensive Hawaii in a week.  So for the 3rd Christmas in a row they haven't asked for traditional gifts.  Rather she & my dad have asked to spend time with us or do something special or specific for the season.  This year my mom spent 2 weeks on vacation in Mexico (1st time she's EVER done this) and was totally stressed about getting & decorating their tree.


So for their Christmas gift, my mom & dad asked us to pick up their Christmas tree, get it set up & then decorate it for them.  We picked up the tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, in TRUE Christmas babe style (did I mention that my birthday is in 9 days???).  But then we waited to decorate until they were both home.  Well tonight we mosey-ed over to their house & decorated their tree.  It was fun to be with my parents again.  I'd seen my dad over the last few days - but it's always so funny and entertaining watching he & mom together.  


Sometimes I feel really guilty that that is our Christmas "gift" -- but then I remember why my mom asks for things like that & I'm grateful.  Grateful for an understanding momma, grateful that my parents don't EVER put pressure on us to wow them with material things, and grateful that I have a husband who loves being with my parents as much as they love being with him (have I ever mentioned that I sometimes wonder if they love him more than me???....hmm....).  We even had dinner together & my aunt joined.  It was a peaceful, enjoyable night.  And I'm so thankful that my parents don't make us feel like we have to shower them with un-ending amounts of gifts to show our love & appreciation for them. They're incredible blessings to us.


How do you handle gifts for parents??


And not to rub it in or anything -- but in one week I will be in beautiful, wonderful, warm, friendly, relaxing Hawaii for vacation! Can not wait -- after two weeks without my mom in the office I am beyond ready for some down time.  We'll be spending a couple days in Waikiki for my birthday & then the rest of the time with Isaac's family. Which will be nice -- we've been able to see them more than usual this year & it'll be nice to cap off the year with time in Hawaii again.  It's crazy how the time flies.  It seems like we were just in Hawaii with all of Isaac's family celebrating Christmas, digging for sand crabs & relaxing by the sea on Christmas day.  But here we find ourselves again, preparing for the anxiety of flying standy-by during the holidays & preparing to be with family.  I always tend to miss my family functions at Christmas -- but I know how much it means to be in Hawaii at Christmas for Isaac & so we go.  


Hope you preparing for Christmas in your own way also. Remember the reason for this joyous season -- the birth of our Saviour King, Christ Jesus!
<3

Days of Gratitude - Day 12, 13, & 14, 2011

Whoops! The weekend got away from me....perhaps because we had Hawaiian Feast to cook for & it was the 1st weekend post football.  Poor hubby's team lost in their 1st round playoff game on Friday night (it was an ugly game from start to finish....).  So I happily took the time away from blogging to snuggle, cook, to go to Target, and fully enjoy my husband for the first full weekend in about 3 months.  It was awesome!  But back to the series!

Day 12 - Today I was thankful for great friends, new & old to share our love for Hawaii and it's food. I was thankful for the giggles of our friend's little girls and how they shared how loud they could roar as a dinosaur.  And I was thankful for a husband who enjoys sharing our home with our dear friends!

Day 13 - Sunday I was thankful for a full morning spent sleeping in & snuggling with my husband.  And I was thankful for time to spend with my parents -- and primarily for the way that they have completely loved & accepted Isaac in to our family with ease & joy.  It's as though he as always been a part of our clan. It's a blessing to say the least.

Day 14 - Today I am most thankful for my parents & the fact that today marks their 31st anniversary.  It is an incredible feat in these days for a couple to stand together, for one another, for 31 years.  This was both their 2nd marriage and the fact that they stayed together thru thick & thin has blessed my brother & I infinitely.  So much so that it's hard to quite put in to words.  They've experienced some really hard times, times of uncertainty & pain, scary times when life seemed to be able to slip thru their fingers, and times of extreme joy & happiness.  They've given my brother & I a real, solid picture of what marriage is & can be when you stick together.  Sure they're not perfect, and never have claimed to be -- but what they have shown us is that it is worth it to work at it!  So Happy Anniversary to my wonderful parents (Greg & Amy)!

Palm Springs, Spring Break 2010

This will be our 1st week without football -- trying to help Ike adjust back to the normal routine without too much depression over the end of football.  Thankfully the big guy has something to look forward to.  He'll be coaching a team for the Tanoa Bowl -- a Polynesian bowl game for Polynesian high school students.  The goal is to get a full Polynesian team, or a team consisting primarily of Poly kids.  That'll be our New Year's Eve plans...haha But I'm proud of Isaac for taking this on. It's such a joy to watch him coach, to plan, & prepare for things like this.  He's so good at it!

Ok...that's enough boasting on my part :)

<3

Days of Gratitude - Day 10, 2011

Day 10 - Today I am grateful for the United States Marine Corps.  I am grateful for the role that this branch of the military played in the lives of my parents; and ultimately my life.  I am grateful for the sacrifice of the men & women who proudly wear the eagle, globe, & anchor (symbolizing the Marine Corps' presence in the sky, on land, & on the sea).  I am grateful for their dedication to excellence, protection, and pride in our nation.  And most of all, I am grateful for the incredible sacrifices made & being made by past, present, & future Marines.

Marine Corps Memorial, Washington D.C.

My Devil Dog Parents: GySgt & CWO-4

Check out my pops fresh off bootcamp graduation!

I swell with pride when it comes to my dad & mom and their service!

Happy Birthday Devil Dogs! Semper Fi

<3

Ohhhhh Family!

I am literally containing my hysterical laughing at my parents...they are freakin' hilarious sometimes. My crazy dad andhis random outbursts & my focused mom who makes her presence known at all times.

Even if they drive me nuts sometimes they're not all bad, thankfully.  I think I forget how fun & funny they are.  But tonight is a good reminder....  They're not all bad :)

<3