Home Again - Home Again

 We had a small amount of time at the airport before our flight left at 11:00 a.m.  We had time to do a little bit of shopping.  I had been looking for a shirt with turtles down the sleeve and finally found one at the airport!  

Neal bought a couple things at the airport as well.  Long 6 hour flight home and so good to hear and feel the wheels touch the ground in Salt Lake.  I do love home!  

Tucker was so good to pick up Sprout from the boarding place and take care of him until it was time to come pick us up.  He brought the little guy with him.  We were all happy to see each other.  Thanks, Tucker for taking good care of my little Sprout and for taking us at 4:00 in the morning to leave on our trip and then picking us up late at night coming home. 

Sunday - Final Day

 Emmi had invited a couple from her Bishopric to come for dinner at 4:00 p.m.  She wanted Neal and I to meet them and also wanted them to meet her grandparents.  We had two wards that Neal wanted to visit this morning to see a few more people that were on his list.  While we were at the second ward Emmi got a text from the couple that there was a medical emergency in the family and they had to cancel.  We were all disappointed.  So looking forward to meeting them.  Emmi has talked so much about how much she loves them.  But, as it was, the day turned out almost perfect.  We got home from our meetings about 2:00 and started dinner.  We had steak and potatoes, veggies, salads and dessert.  

So many memories created!

After dinner we took the table out on the lanai and played games until it was almost too dark to see the cards.  It was such a relaxing and fun evening to spend with Emmi.  We ended the day by watching House Sitter and then off to bed.  Up at 6:00 in the morning to shower, pack and be on our way to the airport.  Left Honolulu at 11:00 a.m. and arrived in Salt Lake at 9:30 p.m.  Tucker had picked up Sprout from Dogtopia and brought him to the airport.  Happy dog, happy mommy!  So good to see that little guy.  Got to bed about midnight and up at 3:15 for the temple assignment.  

I don't even know how to properly thank my Emmi Girl for hosting us and driving us all over both islands.  She was so much fun to be with and so good with Neal.  I love you Emmi and am so proud of you.  Thank you for your love, your time and your patience.  Saying goodbye at the airport was tough for both of us.  Always tears will flow but they are a mixture of happy and sad tears.  Love you so very much my Emmi Girl.

An Amazing Day - Day Nine

 Neal found out that Walker, Spencer's son, was somewhere in Hawaii.  After lots of questions and pleading he was able to get Walker's phone number and found out that he not only lives on Ohau but that he is only about 20 minutes away from Emmi.  We haven seen Walker since he was about 7 or 8 years old.  Spencer has chosen to not have any contact with Neal for close to 18 years and in doing that has kept Walker away from Neal as well.  I don't understand why Spencer has chosen to distance himself from Neal or why he feels he has to protect Walker from Neal.  Even Neal's kids are very reluctant to give Neal any information about Spencer or Walker.  With that said, our experience with Walker yesterday was amazing, fun, relaxed and genuine.  

We picked Walker up around 10:00 and began our day long adventure of seeing more of the island and getting to know Walker.  He talked a little about his life's journey.   When Walker was 3 months old, his mother, Shelly, left Spencer.  At some point Walker and his mother moved to California and lived out of a van.  I don't know for how long.  Walker did go back to live with Spencer and at 16 left his dad.  He had no contact with Spencer for over 4 years.  He eventually joined the Army and has been in the army for the last 5 years.  He also takes care and supports his mother.  I was impressed with how he has taken responsibility for his life.  He is a great young man and I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to get to know him.  He is very open to love and being loved and getting to know this side of the family.

We stopped at Mokule'la Beach for a little while.

Getting ready to head to our next stop.  Which was lunch.

We had a delicious lunch at Seven Brothers.  Has to be on my list of great hamburgers and fries!!  Emmi informed me that these boys are LDS.  I figured there had to be some connection with the church when I saw this sign in their establishment on a surf board.  One has to LOVE our "Mormon" phrases!!

Wandered around La'ie shopping center and then Sip for a soda.  There are two reasons why I'm laughing so hard.  First of all I told Neal and Walker to lean in so Emmi could snap a picture.  Instead of leaning in and toward Neal I leaned in and against Emmi thus eliminating me from the picture.  Yes, I did get the giggles.  Then Emmi told me a story about Annie at the eye doctor and I totally lost it.  So we were laughing with Annie and she wasn't even there!  I love my life (most of the time).  I love being happy, seeing the humor in things and laughing so hard I can't breathe!

Our next stop was the visitors center.  Apparently Walker had a buddy in Texas who was in the army, had been on a mission and shared a lot with Walker about the gospel and the church.  Walker had also done some research on his own.  We spent about 2 hours going through the visitors center with the missionaries.  We watched three short videos and then spent a fun time with the elders and the sisters.  They are all so young and so fun to chat with.

I noticed that Walker asked one of the sisters if he could have a Book of Mormon and spent a good half hour talking with one of the missionaries while the rest of us were kind of hanging out with the other missionaries.  

I think it was about 6:30ish when we left the center and began our journey toward home.  We stopped at a Kawela beach to enjoy the sunset and soak in the memories of the day.

I was excited to see two large turtles on the beach.  We do live in such a beautiful world.

Emmi happened to snap this photo.  I kind of remember the moment as a rather emotional one.  I was looking out at the ocean, the sun setting and feeling happy all over.  Happy and thankful that I have a granddaughter who loves me deeply and I love her.  And for her selfless time and energy giving so freely to her grandparents.  Happy that I am healthy at 81.  Happy that I am able to enjoy all of God's creations.  Happy that I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and that I have a strong testimony of my Savior and the plan of salvation.  Just plain happy.

They are amazing to me!  I never tire of seeing them.

All in all it was an almost perfect day.  We said our goodbyes to Walker and told him we would keep in touch.  We were hoping to meet his mom but by the time we got back she had already gone to bed.  We headed home, making one stop at the grocery store for a few last minute items for Sunday dinner.  We played a game of Shanghi and Nine and then off to bed.  

Friday - Day Eight

 Emmi had a training this morning that was mandatory.  She left about 7:00 and got back about 11:00.  We decided that golf was what we all wanted to do today.  Emmi drove us to a 3 par golf course and we played 9 holes.  It was very hot today and some wind.  Emmi got a birdie on the 9th hole.  Nice way to end her golf game.

We then drove to a fun place for a late lunch and early dinner.   The place is called 604.  Delicious food.  Emmi had pulled pork and rice, Neal had fish and I had a good old hamburger with delicious fries.

Our seats were on the ocean side.  The little birds were, of course, looking for a hand out.  I couldn't resist feeding them.  The fun thing is that they would eat the little bits of bread right out of my hand.  How fun was that.  I'm sure it would have freaked Mallory out.  She isn't a bird lover.  But, I loved it.  

On the way home we stopped at Baskin Robbins for some ice cream that we brought home for later.  It was nice for us to be home by 6:00.  We are all very tired.  It has been a long week so far.  Two more days to go and then home bound!!  

Thursday - Day Seven

 Thursday was a busy and kind of a long day.  The way the bird flies, it is a short distance from A to Z but the traffic and the roads can add minutes and hours to a destination.  Today was the Polynesian Cultural Center which I will refer to as the PCC.  Emmi and I whipped up a batch of banana bread and while it was cooking she ran Neal to find another of his missionary people.  I stayed back and tended the bread, folded a load of laundry and washed dishes.  Emmi and Neal were gone about an hour and a half.  He was able to find the person he was looking for.  We sampled the banana bread, which was delicious, and then headed out to the PCC.  

Our first step was to check in and then we went into the huge buffet.  Emmi and I laughed at Neal.  He had barely grabbed a plate when he spotted the desserts and had a cookie on it.

This is his dessert plate.

Music and decor.  All very native and Hawaiian.  Neal requested a couple songs and gave them a tip.

Neal found the ice cream.

Emmi noticed that the ice cream cone had Hawaii stamped on it.  Very fun!

We ate so much we just had to sit and let the food settle before going anywhere.

After a delicious Buffett we went into the shopping area and found the pole with all the states on it.  

Emmi and I ventured into a Christmas Shop and I found these plates and bowl.  They were marked down from $40.00 a plate and $60.00 for the large bowl to $5.00 for the plates and $15.00 for the bowl.  I just couldn't pass that up.  The only sad thing was that they only had five plates left.  I bought what they had.  The actually had two large bowls but I didn't see the need for two of them, even at that reduced price.  No way to get them home so I'll leave them with Emmi to enjoy this Christmas.

We also found a shirt for Neal and Emmi and I got t-shirts.

We hauled our purchases back to the car and then went into the open arena for the show, which I will add was amazing.  

We got home about 9:30.  Emmi and Neal had a lengthy discussion about how Saturday with Walker was going to go.  As we all know, discussions with Neal are trying at best.  Emmi sent me this picture on my phone with the comment underneath that said:  "Me in the car for the last hour."  I laughed so hard!