~ qwiki ~

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that he didn't trust me so much.

~ Mother Teresa

stress of surgery!

Well gang ~

If you haven't heard by now...I was feeling really nauseated, thought it was the flu, went to my doctor, who confirmed the flu but also sent me for an ultrasound (no, NOT hāpai)! They found a gall stone so big the gastroenterologist said, "you're going to the hospital right NOW."

I was so caught off guard that I had the worst anxiety attack EVER. I was in tears, especially since I knew Dad was on his way with my boys + I didn't want them to see me like that - they were already scared enough by the fact I had to have surgery! How totally messed up.

Anyway, I was supposed to stay two nights, which I wanted to do because I was still in so much pain. But then another nurse came in + said I had to go home. WHAT! Apparently she didn't get the memo that they just pulled my whole gall bladder out through my piko as opposed to just zapped a gall stone with a laser (which is an outpatient procedure)! So...there I was, kicked to the curb a mere 24 hours later.

I'm still on a mostly liquid diet; thank God for Jamba! Oh + hey, don't even get me started on having to take two weeks off from a job I just started! I love it + thank ke Akua every day that everyone is so wonderful. I hate that this had to happen right when I was getting into the swing of things there. *sigh*

My medication has kicked in again so it's la la nighty time for me...

Love you all, KKLL + mahalo for all your prayers!  *:)

hauʻoli lā makuahine!

We just enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day + I was reminded of how blessed we are, so I'm dusting off one of my favorite posts to share a message that is still close to my heart...

Having grown up with just a younger sister, I was not prepared for having two boys. They constantly surprise me with the things they do + the way they think - never a dull moment! There truly is something to that men=mars/women=venus theory.

It's been just the three of us (+ my parents) since my boys were 1 + 3 years old, so we are especially close...they're 13 + 15 now, but I still feel so blessed that we have in incredibly special bond. We're an affectionate ʻohana that frequently says "I love you" + fills each other's "lovetanks."

When my sister had her first child, my niece filled a space in my heart I didn't even know existed. She's my sweetiegirl + I'm her auntiemommy...she's come to church with me since she was three months old, and my choir director loves that she's the "keiki alto." She's my little shadow, a true child of my heart. She now has a little brother who's really great at filling lovetanks...I feel so blessed to have these four keiki to bring so much joy, laughter + love into my life.

ʻAe, mahalo ke Akua no nā keiki. I am so grateful for such precious blessings!

he makana
A valuable and lasting lesson from my mommy: "catch your child doing something right." Focus on the positive, not the negative.

Mahalo ke Akua no kuʻu makuahine, no nā makuahine i keia ao...thank you Lord for my mommy, and for all the mothers of this world.

Olioli i Ke Ala Hou

After tears of pain
And years of silence
I’m breaking free
From domestic violence
.
We live with my parents
Where the language is love
No swearing or yelling
That ends with a shove
.
The words are soft-spoken
And don’t cut like a knife
“Olioli i ke ala hou”
Celebrate a new way of life
.
My boys won’t grow up
Thinking that it’s okay
To use size, strength, or words
To get their own way
.
The best gift of all
Is the opportunity to start
The process of healing
My soul and my heart.

~ qwiki ~

Aloha e na hoaloha ~ We have all been touched in one way or another by violence against women or girls. I've been reading about Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman + her work with UNIFEM. If you have a moment, please - add your name! http://www.saynotoviolence.org/index.htm

a courageous man

Kit came into my life when I was so young. He was my landlord. When I got married, he helped us get our first home, where we lived when my boys were born.

Over the years, my life's path meandered to + fro, circling like that little kid's in the Family Circle comic strip. Turns out Kit + Shelly live right up the street from where I ended up. They've seen my boys grow up. We always take the time to at least wave or say hello in passing, sometimes stopping to chat. They've always been so nice + friendly. Years ago, I heard Kit became a pastor for Hope Chapel in Kihei. Then a while ago, I heard he had cancer. Of course I started praying.

I just found out he has a blog. I immediately liked it, and not just because he uses the same template I do! His faith and courage shine through the stories of his journey, which also happens to be the name of his blog (The Journey: http://kit-blog1.blogspot.com).

Feel free to stop by + get a piece of peace.

Blessings + prayers for you always Kit! Ke Akua pu.

a hui hou

Aloha to dear friend Stan Lynch, gifted photographer + videographer who left us too soon. He covered my wedding many years ago + provided the official mauihulagirl photo. We are keeping his 'ohana in our hearts + prayers.

~ qwiki ~

I have been a long time supporter of the Komen Foundation, spearheading events such as Denim Day at my workplace to raise funds for breast cancer research. Please visit http://www.komen.org/ to see how + when you can help! Mahalo.