Zoo

Missing Hawai'i

Easter Day 2007

Because of my surgery we moved an Easter celebration from our house to our friends'. It was nice, and we walked to a park to egg hunt via the fox and the hound method. (The fox found the egg, howled, and the hound came to retrieve it.)

Cleaning of the Shire

I am participating in a Bible study on the book of Daniel currently. Beth Moore, the instructor via DVD, mentioned that Daniel was conspicuously missing from the firey furnace scenario that involved his three friends: Azariah, Hananiah, and Mishael (aka Abednego, Shadrach, and Meshach). She added it was a divine set up for a step up. In other words, without their fearless leader, the threesome had to decide for themselves to obey God.

That idea reminds me of one of my absolute favorite parts of LOTR--The Cleaning of the Shire. Yes, the Hobbits were now without their fearless leaderS and had to take charge and purge the Shire of evil themselves. Gives me chicken skin (goose bumps to non-Hawaiian locals) to think about that scene. (If you are wondering where that is in the movie, unfortunately it is not there! Read the end of the trilogy, and you'll see what I mean.)

Hawai'i--March 2007

Our trip to Hawai'i to visit family and friends was relaxing, as we were able to get a cabin on the beach in Waimanalo. Makana was drawn to the water; as soon as the door opened, she would head out toward it. :) That is why Dave dubbed her, "Honu," Hawaiian Sea Turtle. She loved the beach. Her hair immediately went curly as the humid air hit it as we got off the plane.

We enjoyed spending each morning watching God paint the sky as we prayed and read his word. :) May I recommend it as a fabulous way to start a day?

Makana's birthday party pics are still on the way from Uncle Jeffo, so there is more to come! :) (That's where our family's and friends' faces show up.)

It was a good time to catch up with people we haven't seen in a LONG time, like Lori (Karratti), Arlene and Don, Pat, and so many of our family members! Thanks for making the time for us! Aloha! :)

Back then--1979

Dave's family drove cross-country and viewed the sunrise at the Grand Canyon. His Mom provided this image as a trip back to Memory Lane. :)

The Huge Abyss

This place is certainly a testimony to God's amazing creativity! Even Makana was awed by it!

New England 2

More pics from our trip to the northeast that is still getting snow! :)

True Love

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. --Romans 5.8.

God on a cross. Humanity at its worst. Divinity at its best.--Max Lucado, NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR, p 162.

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Mark it down. God's greatest creation is not the flung stars or the gorged canyons; it's his eternal plan to reach his children. --Max Lucado, AND THE ANGELS WERE SILENT.

The unsearchable riches of Christ . . . this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.--Ephesians 3.8, 9.

The Hunt Is On

Okay, so we couldn't resist doing the frivolous bunny/chick thing. The base offered an egg hunt for the kids, so we took advantage of it. Each child was assigned to find only one egg (specific color and sticker), and then they turned it in for a goodie bag. Marvelous idea! :) Makana didn't much care for her pale pink egg with rabbits, but she surely enjoyed an array of others. She'd walk a few steps, pick up an egg or two, examine them, and then move on to others. Hey, and she has that squat move down! I've never seen a child enjoy an egg hunt like she did. We probaby followed her around for at least a good hour. The eggs don't last that long in our family's egg hunt back at home at my cousin Sun Lee's house.

Set Free?

Hopelessly stranded on death row, Barabbas wasn't about to balk at a granted stay of execution. Maybe he didn't understand mercy and surely he didn't deserve it, but he wasn't about to refuse it. We might do well to realize that our plight isn't too different than that of Barabbas. We, too, are prisoners with no chance for appeal. But why some prefer to stay in prison while the cell door has been unlocked is a mystery worth pondering. --Max Lucado, NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR, pp 76, 77.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then. --Galatians 5.1

Easter Heart Preparation

Hell is the chosen place of the person who loves self more than God, who loves sin more than his Savior, who loves this world more than God's world. Judgment is that moment when God looks at the rebellious and says, "Your choice will be honored."--Max Lucado, AND THE ANGELS WERE SILENT.

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious an dcompassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.--Joel 2.13