July 31

Logan turned 11 years old today. His birthdays are decidedly bittersweet for me; on one hand, it's a chance to celebrate and remember the little boy who made me --a woman who always wanted to have a bunch of girls-- love being a mom to little boys. On the other, we're just remembering him; we don't get to see him or hold him or dance with him or be with him. The separation may be temporary, but it feels stark and very, very real when his birthday rolls around.

It was, however, a nice enough day, I guess. We watched the Logan birthday videos this morning. (If I can offer up any bit of advice, I'd tell you to take video of your children. It's a gift to have those snippets to look back on.) We went to Target, where we bought a pair of "Cars 3" cars as "presents" (that will, in reality, be used by Brady). Then we had lunch at Outback, home of that "good brown bread", as Logan called it. Then we each chose a balloon at Party City and did a release at his grave site; it was a warm, bright, blue day, and we watched them float into the distance until they were but tiny pinpricks in the sky. From there we headed to Baskin-Robbins for some ice cream, and then came back to the house, where we made his birthday cake --chocolate with chocolate frosting, of course-- and had dinner: spaghetti and meatballs. While we ate, we camped in front of the TV and watched "Cars 2." And then there was the happy birthday song and the cake, complete with candles we all helped to extinguish for him when the time came.

So yes, it was a good day, or as good as it can be without him here with us. There were no soul-jolting hellos from beyond, but Lambie joined us all day and there were a handful of Corvettes and, of course, that lovely, cloudless blue sky that reminds me of his blue, blue eyes was overhead. So though it's never really enough, it's good. And I'm so very grateful for good. And I'm grateful to have had a day devoted to my Sunshine. And beyond all of that, I'm thankful he was here, if only for a little while. Happy birthday, Logan. I love you.

July 30

I'm always a little nervous when we get together with another family for a social activity. Some of us are on the shy side of the spectrum, so I harbor nagging concerns that personalities won't mesh and conversation won't flow. So while we drove over to my friend's house this evening for one such outing, I silently prayed that it would go well (because I really, really wanted it to go well).

And fortunately, it did. The kiddos all got along well and had fun in the pool. (So much fun, in fact, that both Isaac and Brady --who've been up until almost midnight several times this past week-- were asleep by the time their heads met their pillows.) And us parents had a good time, too, I think. (I can only speak for myself, but I enjoyed myself.)

Tomorrow --Logan's birthday-- will no doubt usher in many mixed emotions and I'll deal with them and process them as they arise. But tonight, I'm thankful to have had a really nice evening.

July 29

A lot of interesting old things have emerged as Adam has worked his way through the garage this week. This is one of them:

It's probably not obvious, but it's a dolphin Pillow Pet. These things were insanely popular when Abby, Logan, and Isaac were all very small. I remember the day they came running in the door following a Saturday afternoon outing to Fry's exclaming "we got Pillow Pets!!" They were all just so happy that the sight made an instant --and lasting-- impression on my heart.

Anyway, we wound up accumulating several, including a bunch that Logan was given during his time as an inpatient. But I didn't really remember this one until Abby picked it up and asked if I remembered where I'd gotten it. I said no, and she told me that she'd wanted to get me one for Mother's Day but worried that it might not be something I would like, so she convinced Logan to give it to me. And since Abby was his best friend, he did just that.

So I picked it up and brought it inside. I wish I could remember, but honestly, a lot of smaller memories --back before I started trying hard to savor each moment and when I was the very tired mom of multiple very small children-- have faded. Although I don't really remember myself, I'm thankful that Abby was here to remind me.

July 28

Abby and I didn't get to have our customary window shopping outings while we were on Kaua'i, so before we all headed up north to have dinner with Adam's parents this evening, she and I took a trip to Target. Somewhere between the Lunchables and the coffee creamer, she said she wanted to take a selfie with the spatula we were buying. (Because that's legitmately why we went to Target: to buy a new spatula.) So we did just that.

I've said it in the past but it bears repetition: this girl cracks me up. Yes, sometimes she most definitely drives me crazy; there are probably very few pre-teens and teenagers who do not drive their parents nuts so I figure we're in good company on that one. But she's also smart and funny and quick-witted and creative, and she definitely keeps me on my toes. And for all of that, I'm thankful.

July 27

Adam decided he wanted to work on cleaning out the garage today. At one point, he brought me a stack of old cards and notes he'd found. They were a collection of things we'd written to one another, wedding cards, a picture to me from Logan, and even a photo of my grandparents.

Reading the sweet notes we wrote to one another before life got more complicated, tracing Logan's "signature" -- the spots where the marker held by his little fingers touched the paper--, looking at an old photo shoot proof sheet featuring toddler Abby and baby Logan... it was all a blessed blast from the past. And sometimes, that's just what I need.

July 26

One night while we were on Kaua'i, Logan was in one of my dreams. It was a notable experience because I can count the number of times that's happened over the last five years on one hand. In fact, I remember how I desperately tried to will him into my dreams right after he died, but of course, it didn't work. Anyway, in this dream, he was still the size of a five-year old, and we walked together in silence. Twice, we stopped, and he hugged me and said "I love you." The last bit was especially poignant because, unless I'm forgetting, I can count the number of times he's spoken to me in a dream on less than one hand.

I don't know why he shows up when he does, and aside from storing up that dream like a little jewel in my heart, I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it until today. In this case, I think maybe he appeared for two reasons: firstly to remind me that he's always with me --even when we're on vacation-- and also because his 11th birthday is next Monday. It's not that I could ever, ever forget; it's just nice to think that he --or perhaps God, since I have no idea how it all works beyond what I can see-- knows that I remember and that it's an important date to me.

(Note: The pic is from December of 2007 when we took a ride on the Train of Lights. Simpler times for sure.)

July 25

Today was mostly about re-adapting to Pacific time: sleeping in followed by some shopping to replenish the mostly empty fridge. Adam and I had a nice solo trip to Costco, and then I hit Target and Safeway by myself later on in the day. I like my alone-time, but my favorite part of my Tuesday came this evening.

In case it wasn't abundantly clear, we made frequent use of the Scrabble board at the clubhouse while we were on Kaua'i. After realizing we didn't even have it at home, I bought my own super edition via Amazon. It arrived yesterday, and we christened it this evening, with me, Abby, Isaac, and Adam (with an assist by Brady) all taking part.

It's just a lot of fun --and a great big blessing-- to be able to play games --and increasingly intelligent gamees, I'd like to add-- with my people.

July 24

And just like that, we're home again.

After getting up a bit earlier than usual (and to the sounds of heavy rain -- I have to tell you, it's much easier to leave Kaua'i when the skies are dumping buckets than when it's sunny and beautiful), we put our luggage in the car, left the keys on the counter (as requested), and "checked out" of our rental house. Then we headed over to the club, where we met up with Adam's aunt, uncle, cousins, and their kids --who all happened to be visiting Kaua'i from Boise-- for breakfast and some chat-time. (Talk about last minute, I know! We hadn't all realized we were there at the same time until just a few days ago. Oops.) Abby had a grand time with the Abby Wight Admiration Society (as I jokingly call Adam's cousin Brian's daughters, since they apparently adore her) while Isaac (and Brady, to a degree) had fun with little Dom. It was so nice to have a chance to spend even a little time with family we so rarely see.

From there, it was off to lunch (Costco, because, well, Costco is easy and they have the cheapest gas station on the island), and then to the airport. Things went smoothly enough until we realized, while sitting at the gate, that Brady didn't have Little Beggar, the 30+ year old stuffed puppy dog that my grandma gave him a few years back. Both Adam and I ran around trying to find cell signal (because the inside of Lihue airport is basically a huge dead-zone, save a few very small spaces) and sent emails to the property manager asking her to pleasepleaseplease ask the cleaning crew if they'd found him. (So say some prayers that Beggar's just extended his vacation by a few days and didn't actually move to Kaua'i for good.)

And then, of course, we flew home. And six or seven thankfully uneventful hours later, here I am, back in the corner of my usual couch (it's a sectional, lest that sounds odd) trying to figure out what I want to write. I guess part of me wants to put some kind of bow on the past three weeks, but I can't really boil an experience as rich and full as ours down into a single pithy remark. So I won't. Instead, I'll say that we were blessed with a wonderful time, but it's a blessing to be home now, too. It's a good reminder to remember to be thankful no matter where I am in this life. (And I guess I did just boil it down, didn't I? Sneaky, sneaky me.)

July 23

Today marked our last full day on Kaua'i. We've done a lot over the last three weeks so it's ironic that it feels like the time has flown by at warp speed. We started the day as we so often have by walking over to the clubhouse so I could get my coffee. (Well, Adam, Brady, and I did. Isaac and Abby opted to stay behind.) We didn't really have a plan in place, so we decided while sitting there on the lanai, looking out over that beautiful, expansive lawn and the ocean beyond, that we'd head back to Kapa'a to do the second half of the Ke Ala Hele Makalae East Shore Beach Path. (We did the first portion on July 13.)

We started at Kealia Beach and walked the trail along the ocean. Although the forecast originally called for rain, the sun was out and the sky was mostly blue, so other than air that was a wee bit warmer (and stiller) than we might've liked, the conditions made for a pleasant enough stroll. We stopped for a brief look at the Pineapple Dump (see how happy Brady is? The other two weren't even interested enough to come join us), and then finished up at Donkey Beach before taking a brief break and then backtracking to the car.

From there, it was lunch at Bubba's (after a ridiculously long wait; seriously one of the most frustrating experiences of the trip -- fast food should not take an hour to make. But given that that's my biggest gripe for the last three weeks, I'd say we're doing pretty well), and then back to the house to change for the pool and a game of Scrabble at the clubhouse. After dinner, we closed out the evening with a stroll over to Uncle's for shave ice (and snow for the Little Boys. The pic on the bottom right is from the walk home afterward. The path between the shopping center and the street our house is on is illuminated by these cute little solar-powered lamps. I liked the effect). Well, that's how the kids closed out the evening. We'll be folding and packing for a while longer, but it's okay.

What to say, what to say. I've enjoyed the past three weeks immensely. I'm glad that Adam at long last found a good time to take his sabbatical, and I'm thankful that we were able to come here to soak up some aloha spirit. Kaua'i truly is a restful place, and it's been a huge blessing to be immersed in this little slice of God's handiwork for an extended period of time.

July 22

We took the requisite relaxed approach to today. After Adam whipped up some bacon and eggs for the youngsters (top left -- they even looked up from their devices for three seconds so I could snap a pic), the two of us headed over to the clubhouse for some coffee and light breakfast of our own. (I'm starting to love blueberries and homemade granola in milk. I'll miss it when we go home.)

Then in the early-afternoon hours, we headed to the pool. (Well, they headed to the pool. I headed to the fitness center and then to the pool.) It was an on-again, off-again overcast day that seemed to threaten showers fairly regularly, but not much rain actually fell, so we all had a good time in the water: Abby and Isaac engaged in a butterfly stroke battle (which, thankfully for her ego, Abby won), and Isaac showed off his handstands. Then after that, more Scrabble at the clubhouse was on the menu; I won with a few assists from Abby. (And I've enjoyed playing it so much that I ordered Super Scrabble from Amazon yesterday. Boo yah!) And then, finally, it was on to dinner at Pizzetta in Koloa Town.

We've done a lot during our time here in Kaua'i. We've seen a lot of sights, hiked a bunch of trails, and spent a lot of time together. And I've learned that though the kids may bicker and though I may get frustrated at times, there's really no one else with whom I'd rather spend my time. Family is a blessing.

July 21

After breakfast this morning, we headed eastward. Following a quick stop to look at the 'Opaeka'a Falls (since Brady wanted to see a waterfall and we were headed in that direction anyway; you can make them out over Abby's shoulder in the lower left pic), we parked at the trail head for the Kuilau Ridge Trail. It was by leaps and bounds the grossest hike we've taken this trip -- it was super duper muddy and our shoes were completely encrusted with red and brown dirt by the time we got back to the car (see lower right pic).

But the views along the way were pretty spectacular. From the lush, bold green of the forest to the views along the ridgeline, it was a pretty walk. (And not difficult at all, save the mud.) We stopped at the picnic area and turned back after snacking on some PB sandwiches. There were two trails that took off from there: the one listed in our trusty guidebook, but it had definitely seen better days and was badly eroded so we decided it was a no-go, and a second unlisted one that went off to the right. We went a little ways on that offshoot, but came to what can best be described as a monster truck driver's mug bogging dream and opted to go back. (Well, I decided we could go back. Others among us waggled their already-filthy shoes and lobbied to slog on through the yuck.)

Then this afternoon, we took a walk over to the Spouting Horn (since it's very close to where we're staying), and then stopped at the club house for a game of Scrabble. After dinner, it was on to Uncle's for some shave ice (cherry, pineapple, and peach for me) and some Friday night atmosphere at the nearby shopping center. It was a very pleasant evening, but of course, since this is Kaua'i, it started pouring while we were walking home (in the dark). We all started running, and I can tell you for sure that anyone wanting to survive a zombie apocalpyse (or other traumatizing event during which the slowest is eaten) should hang out with me. I will insure your safety.

All joking aside, it was a very nice day. Not perfect --I don't love being rained on and I certainly don't like being coated in mud-- but filled with plenty of good moments.

July 20

Per the unofficial official schedule, today was a low-key day, but this time, we didn't just hang around the house and the pools. I awoke to another rainbow, and then all of the boys joined me for breakfast at the club. (Abby passed since she's been staying up late reading fan fiction for "The Outsiders" and "High School Musical." I wish that was a joke but it's not.) After breakfast (and getting caught in another little rainstorm followed by some time at the house), we headed over to the Kickshaws food truck for lunch, since Isaac's teacher mentioned that they served up awesome burgers and they were closed when we tried to go Tuesday. She was right! I had a grilled cheese that was just amazing, and Adam, Abby, and Isaac gobbled up their 100% Awesome Burgers, which --as Adam noted-- were made from 80% beef and 20% ground bacon. (Yup. Bacon.) The only one not so thrilled was Brady, who's picky palate wasn't pleased with the gourmet grilled cheese. Definitely his loss there.

From there, we drove to Salt Pond Beach in Hanapepe for some ocean-time. Adam and the Little Boys quickly wound up in the water, with Brady consistently trying to drag them further and further out and me consistently nagging Adam about not going out too far. I got in for a short time, too, while Abby spent her time lying on a towel listening to music. (Probably Taylor Swift. Again.) I'm not really a big beach person so we only stayed about an hour before we headed back to The Fresh Shave for more shave ice, and then to the house. I spent some time at the fitness center while everyone else hung out at home, and then we all headed back to the club for dinner, where Brady and Abby both donned Adam's aviator-style sunglasses at different points and we told them of the greatness of Top Gun.

And that brings me to this moment on the couch. It's a little later than I might like because we took our time over dinner (where I drank several cups of decaf coffee that I'm seriously hoping was actually decaf because if not... whoooo-eee), but I feel a sense of thankfulness for all of these experiences, both the mundane and the spectacular.

July 19

We originally had plans to walk the second half of a trail we took last week, but the forecast called for rain on the east side of the island today so we opted to stay to the south (originally, anyway). We bumpity-bumped down an old sugar cane road from the end of Po'ipu Road to the far side of Gillin's Beach (where we had a close encounter with a sunbathing monk seal and played in the ocean on July 9).

We parked and took a brief hike by the ocean, past the Kawailoa Bay, the lithified cliffs, and Kamala Point (where we got a nice faceful of seaspray courtesy of the choppy waters), to the very small (and kind of appallingly trash-laden) Ha'ula Beach. We spent a few minutes there before heading over toward the cliffs, which gave a really nice view of the waves rolling in (and the chance to see some really interesting rock formations up close). From there, we walked a short distance to a labyrinth that someone clearly put a lot of time and love into putting together in memory of his wife. We all walked through it and it would've been lovely to share a quiet moment together at the end point, but a certain short person was extra temperamental so we headed back toward the car. On the way, we stopped to examine a pair of dry blowholes. (That's Abby doing the Marilyn Monroe in the center pic. It's hard to tell, but the rush of air blew her skort way, way up!) When we'd finally almost reached the car, the kiddos spotted a rope swing near the water and of course, everyone had to take a turn before we could go.

From there, we hit Keoki's Paradise for lunch, and then opted to head eastward after all to see the Wailua Falls. On the way back we took a quick Costco run and then had Uncle's shave ice in Lihue. (Then we sat in horrible traffic for an hour, but eh, it happens, even in paradise.) We finished the day off at the house playing a rousing round of Linda's Grandmother's card game (it's a family-thing. And I win so infrequently that I'll say that I won. Woohoo!) The kids --and especially the Little Boys-- had an excess of energy tonight and were literally dancing all over the place at random moments, so our lower-key adventure day definitely didn't wear them out! But it was a nice day, and that's always a good thing.

July 18

I jumped out of bed much earlier than usual this morning when my senses detected the magical combination of rain on the roof and streaks of glistening sunlight. Given that we haven't seen many this trip, I was pleased to find a huge rainbow arching its way across the sky when I peered out the dining room window. It was the kind that was so big that my phone couldn't capture it all unless it was in pano mode.

After my sojourn to get my coffee followed by a few hours at home, we took a rec from one of Isaac's third grade teachers (hi Leslee!) and headed across town for some organic shave ice at The Fresh Shave. (Good stuff, for the record, and definitely very fresh! The items are all named after various facial hair styles, and the Handle Bar --fresh pineapple on coconut-- was delicious. Adam and Isaac each had the Fu Manchu (strawberry banana) while Abby and Brady went with the Caterpillar (orange creamsicle)). The burger food truck she suggested is closed on Tuesdays, so we wound up visiting the Kauai Food Truck in old town Koloa instead. After waiting for quite some time for our burgers (and being accosted by a number of hungry chickens, who received ample chunks of bread from some local children but seemed interested in nothing less than more, more, more!), we opted to get our food to go and headed back to the house.

Post-lunch (which was okay... not the best, but not the worst), the boys went to the pools and I went to the fitness center while Abby stayed behind for some alone-time. (And so she could listen to music on YouTube. The wifi here isn't the greatest so we put a moratorium on her streaming capability while others are trying to use the internet.) Post-workout, I headed to the pools to watch them, and was surprised to find they had the entire place to themselves. Isaac demonstrated the handstand he's been working on, and both did a few launchers. Then it was more chill time at the house and dinner, and then dessert and a game of Scrabble at the clubhouse.

A quiet kind of day sewn together with ordinary stitches in time, but a blessed one nonetheless.

July 17

Today we tackled the trail to the Waipo'o Falls in the Waimea Canyon. (I think Adam picked it because he wanted to go to Jo Jo's again.) We started off at the Pu'u Hinahina Lookout and it rained on and off as we traversed the rocks on the way down (and then up and then down... it couldn't make up its mind). There was plenty of loose, fine dirt and fallen leaves everywhere, so it was a little scary at times. We walked through really dense patches of forest (where beautiful little wildflowers provided splashes of color against the mostly green and red-dirt backdrop) and up and down steep, rocky terrain.

We made it to the edge of the cliff (literally. It scared the heck out of me) and stopped short of the falls because we weren't sure about how the kids would manage being so close to the edge (given that it's a cliff and all). And also my terror-thing. When I get near cliffs, my feet seem to grow cement shoes and I feel like I'm literally stuck in place.

So we stopped for a while, took some pics, and sat on a big boulder with a nice view of the canyon (and the conga line of helicopters that flew through practically at eye-level at times) and the ocean in the distance, which we could still see even though it wasn't a totally clear day. Abby even felt charitable enough to share an earbud with Isaac, and the two of them sat peacefully on the boulder listening to Taylor Swift.

Kind of ironically (given the aforementioned terror), I ventured furthest down the trail because I hoped for a better view. I'm not sure that I got one, but I did get to see something cool: someone erected a small white cross on the edge of the cliff. I wasn't about to get a closer look, but I took comfort in the symbolism: even when we're on the edge of life's cliffs, He's still with us. Kind of neat, I thought. The cross is actually visible in the larger version of the pic in the lower lefthand corner; it's under the tree to the left.

When we headed back, we opted to skip the top part of the trail (which was super steep and probably damp from the rainfall) and instead walked an old, four-wheel-drive-only path back to Waimea Canyon Road. From there, we (very carefully) walked the last half-mile back to the car in the (wet) grass along the side of the road. And then, of course, we went to Jo Jo's, where I discovered that the Ha Coffee shave ice is actually mostly vanilla cream. Good, but way sweeter than I wanted! The rest of the day we spent at the house, and then it was on to the clubhouse to snag some dessert.

A blessed day with another adventure for the memory bank.

July 16

My legs were screaming at me after yesterday's 3 1/4 mile uphill trek, so it was a good thing that today was a scheduled down day.

It consisted primarily of breakfast and the fitness center for me and Abby (who tried out a treadmill for the first time ever and didn't fall off -- I consider that a victory) and swimming at the pools for the boys. Then it was back to the house to hang out, play cards, and eat dinner, and then back to the club for some dessert (and a round of Scrabble) this evening.

It's quiet now; Adam is reading to the Little Boys, Abby is on the love seat reading something on her phone, and I'm on the couch. It's a nice place; very tranquil and clean and full of light (well, during the daytime hours. It's dark now, duh me). It was frustrating when we had to make a last-minute change because Adam's parents' house was unexpectedly unavailable, but I think it's worked out well (and I've definitely burned a lot of extra calories being a bit further from the club). And I'm thankful that we're here.

July 15

Today, we returned to Waimea Canyon Road in order to traverse the Awa'awapuhi Trail, which is a 6.5 mile loop --the first half downhill, the return trip uphill so yeah... yikes-- out to a view of the NaPali Coast. The heading in part wasn't really an issue for most of us; I'm generally the slowpoke, and the continual downward grade combined with my less-than-awesome knees and my penchant for making sure I don't twist, break, or otherwise injury any body parts made for slow going as I tried to control my gait (and not trip. Fortunately, I only wiped out once. Unfortunately, I wiped out once). It was, for the most part, a shady, pleasant enough journey, though I wasn't a huge fan of the brief segments of the trail that skirted sharp drop-offs. (See the pic in the lower righthand corner: the orange dot is Brady. Next to him on the left: a grassy cliff. It looks a little less menacing with the trees and assorted greenery, but trust me: if you were to slip and fall, you'd continue falling for some time.)

When we reached the lookout points, we stopped to have some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as we looked out at the Pacific and some of the coastline. None of us wanted to get too close to the ledge so we passed on the last tiny portion of the trail: the ridge walk, which is literally a walk along a bare ridge that must give a spectacular view of what's below (see the right middle picture. The small bit of trail in the center of the image is part of said ridge walk. This is as close as I got to it because I'm not fond of heights. And I didn't want to toss my cookies).

The walk back to the car was pretty brutal, or as close to pretty brutal as a 3.25 mile uphill walk can be. About halfway through the return trip, Isaac suggested we take a very brief side-excursion up a hill, and much to Abby's consternation, Adam and I took him up on the offer and scurried up a dirt mound, where we found what might've been the best view of the day. I may have had a little bit of trouble getting down after a good wind kicked up and I lost some of my bearings, but slow and steady did the trick.

We were all pretty tired and sweaty by the time we made it back to where we started, but by God's grace we did just that. The rest of the afternoon was a slow one; just some Jo Jo's in Waimea and then back to the house for some R&R. A good day. My legs will no doubt scream at me tomorrow, but I'm thankful that I'm getting the chance to see cool new-to-me sights.

July 14

It was a low-key Friday. We didn't have any grand adventures; in fact, we spent the entire day shuttling between the house and the club. I headed off by myself at about 9 AM to get my coffee before hitting the treadmill in the fitness center for an hour. When I finished up there, I joined Adam and the kiddos, changed into my swim suit... and got. Into. The. Pool. I know. Not a big deal for most people, but don't underestimate my distaste for water. It was nice to hang with the fam on a floatie, and it was nice to go from pool to pool to hot tub, checking them all out, but I was also perfectly happy to return to dry land for a pit stop at the club house. (The Makai pools are a collection of little pools attached to a much bigger pool.) I was especially glad to after I knicked one of my heels on a rock. Ouch.

I spent the afternoon at the house re-reading a Kindle book that I don't really remember, and then after dinner, we headed back over to the club house for dessert (they have little containers of Lappert's ice cream, candy bars, Kind Bars... lots of nice little treats). We wound up hanging out on the lanai while we played a succession of games; we all played Jenga, and then while the Little Boys played chess (yes, really) and PacMan on the old arcade game inside, Abby, Adam, and I got out the Scrabble board and got to it linguistics-style.

Then after the sun had set and the sky's light began to fade, we walked the path back to the house. And that's where I am now. I'm not sure what I'll do next; I'm curious about my book, so that's a good bet. But no matter what I do, I finish today feeling blessed by all of this fun family time I've had so far. (And the bonus: no surprise torrential rain today; just clear skies all around.)

July 13

After a week-plus of beautiful, sunny skies, today served as a stark reminder that the weather on Kaua'i can be a bit unpredictable. With that said, this entry shall be known as A Tale of Two Weather Patterns.

Mid-morning, we decided to head to Kapa'a on the eastern side of the island for a walk along a portion of the paved Ke Ala Hele Makalae Trail. (Read: a task that was much easier than our previous hikes this trip.) We walked from Lihi Park in Kapa'a to the far side of Kealia Beach before snapping a selfie and then turning around to head back. It was a lovely day and though the air was hot and sticky (as usual), the breeze from the Pacific was refreshing. At one point --somewhere near the Kapa'a Lookout-- I looked out over the water and remarked to the boys (I would say everyone but Abby had her earbuds in and was listening to Taylor Swift songs) that it was raining over the ocean. A few minutes later, as if on cue, the skies overhead darkened and the clouds rolled in and let loose with what can only be described as a torrential downpour. We sought shelter underneath a tree and waited the five minutes we knew it would take for the showers to pass. And of course we took a selfie under that tree. We were all pretty soaked by the time we moved on, but the sun did its work fairly handily and we were reasonably dry by the time we'd crossed into the town and settled into Bubba's for lunch (where Brady was terrorized by a chicken. There was nothing particularly terrifying about said chicken; he just took exception to it wandering around, which, for the record, is an extraordinarily commonplace sight on Kaua'i. There's a reason the country music station is called Rooster Country).

It stayed sunny until we got back to the car and we drove in and out of cloudbursts as we headed to Costco and then, a little later, back to the house.

The skies seemed mostly clear and sunny shortly after our arrival and I wondered aloud if it'd been nice here all day, so I decided to head to the clubhouse by myself for a little while. I got about halfway there when --since I'd been so bold as to muse about today's weather-- the skies once again let loose with yet more torrential rain. This time, since I was walking along a golf course, there was really nowhere to seek shelter, so I blindly wandered the path back toward the house. Fortunately for me, Adam saw me coming and was standing at the door with a beach towel as I fumbled up the steps to the front porch. They were all quite amused. I didn't find it quite as funny, especially when, after I'd changed out of my soaked clothes, I looked out the window and the sun was again shining brightly.

Later, after dinner, we walked to the nearby shopping center for (what else?) shave ice for dessert. By the time we took the trail back, the sun had dropped below the horizon. Abby, Isaac, and Brady walked ahead of us, arms linked, and sang. First it was Olaf's song from Frozen, and then they moved on to Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me". Adam and I smiled as we listened to their little impromptu choral performance, and we really smiled when we heard the second selection, since Logan proclaimed it Lambie's Song so very long ago.

Anyway, that's today, for the most part. It was a good day. It was a wet day. And it was a day that we'll probably remember bits and pieces of for a long time to come.

July 12

Today was a pool day, but it was also the day we chose to head out to Polihale for the sunset. Polihale is a long expanse of beach that runs from the southwestern portion of the island until it meets the NaPali Coast. It's kind of a pain to get there --though I have to say, having a big, four wheel drive SUV helped to quell the usual bumpity-bumpfest!-- but the beach itself is stunning (probably because it's NOT easy to reach) and well-worth what Isaac terms a Pothole Adventure.

Anyhow, we left at around 5 PM and stopped at McD's to pick up dinner. Then it was off to the west coast. When we were here last year, the day we chose to watch the sunset (and I know that sounds weird because "island" should be synonomous with "ubiquitous sunset availability", but because of the orientation of the island, Polihale is pretty much the only place on Kauai where you can watch the sun dip into the ocean) was very cloudy, but not today. There were a few clouds here and there and a few on the horizon that did wind up obstructing the view a wee bit, but it was still beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that it's really hard to choose photos to use here.

Hawaii does, of course, emanate an innately restful vibe, but there's something about watching a gorgeous sunset that just makes me go... ahhh. A beautiful, colorful blessing. And watching the kiddos stand at water's edge looking out across the ocean together, and watching Brady and Isaac get a little too close to the waves (which resulted in them both getting quite wet and riding home in their underpants)... all memories I'll store away in my heart, no doubt.

July 11

Today was "driving day," which means we went from our roost on the south shore all the way up the eastern side of the island, and from the northeast all the way over to where the road ends on the northwest. (Got that?) Our first stop was the Kilauea lighthouse and wildlife preserve. The weather was, for the most part, really pleasant; it's been rainy during every other jaunt we've had to the north shore, so it was a nice change of pace. Abby was delighted to find that the albatross were still roosting (not really; she's scared of them) and was even more delighted to read about another kind of bird that lives on Kaua'i that has a seven-foot wingspan. (Again, not delighted.)

From there, we stopped in Hanalei (which, if you've never been, is kind of like Hawaii's Berkeley. Seriously. I couldn't get into the car to leave because the guy parked next to us had one shoeless, tanned foot sticking out of the driver's side door while he smoked his joint) with the intention of having Bubba's, but discovered upon arrival that said burger joint had closed down earlier this year. (It was a total bummer because it was how Adam had bribed burger-loving Abby into risking an encounter with her winged foes. Oops.) So we went across the street and had different (very, very salty) burgers instead, and the Little Boys encountered an extremely chatty little boy who was clearly very extroverted and looking to expand his social circle during his Hawai'i vacation. The boys weren't quite sure what to do with him.

Then it was off to the end of the road, where Ke'e Beach meets the stunningly beautiful NaPali Coast. (No exaggeration there.) We parked, then trekked down the beach a little ways past most of the sunners to an expanse of mostly unspoiled sand. We found a pair of rope swings and my compadres took turns swinging while I walked to the edge of the water with Lambie and wrote Logan's name in the sand. (It's something we do when we go to beaches. I haven't given the motivation much thought but I guess maybe it's our way of saying hi.)

By then it was already 4:30, so we headed back home. Traffic slowed things down quite a lot, but at least we had some beautiful scenery to study along the way. Then it was dinner at a nearby restaurant; my knees were sore from sitting still in the car, so after we ordered, I circled the shopping center, and every time I passed by our table, they made a show of waving at me. Har har. (Okay, so it was a little bit funny.)

Anyway, that's our day. It's always hard to choose photos for Driving Day because we saw so many beautiful things, so these are just a sampling. But wow, I have to tell you, God's creation is just incredible.

July 10

Today was, once again, about swimming (for everyone else) and the fitness center (for me). Then tonight, after an afternoon spent mostly at the rental house, we put on our nice clothes and had a sunset dinner at the club.

Good food, some of my favorite people, and a lovely venue made for a pleasant experience. But the most memorable part of the day came as we walked home afterward. Since Adam's parents' house wound up being unexpectedly unavailable, we're renting a house that's a little further than usual from the club. The walk back to said house involves a stroll along the golf course, and tonight, save a plethora of stars glittering overhead, it was pretty much pitch black out, which meant that it was rather difficult to see the healthy population of frogs who came out for some after-dark play time. Adam activated his phone's flashlight (while I struggled to figure out how to turn on mine -- darn you, Apple, and your iPhone 7 trickery) and he and the (terrified) kids walked in a huddle just a few steps ahead of me. There was much screaming (by the kiddos) and much snickering (by Adam and me) as we completed that relatively brief 15-minute walk. There were assurances that no one had ever been eaten by a frog and shrieks whenever one appeared in our path.

I don't love frogs myself, but I do love how they created such an sense of togetherness for us. There's nothing like a scary situation --or the illusion of a scary situation-- to bring people together. So yep: even scary things can be blessings.

July 9

Today was an adventure day, and unlike our other adventure days this past week, we did something we'd already done on a previous trip to Kaua'i: we took a hike out to Gillin's Beach. We started at Shipwrecks Beach in Poipu and followed the trail along the ocean, up and down along the jagged coastline. It's a lovely stroll, though it was warm, humid day --more humid than it's been most of the week-- so the sun certainly did a thorough job of tiring us out.

When we got to Gillin's, we found the beach mostly empty save a few folks in beach chairs and a monk seal (!) soaking up some rays. (We took a selfie with him on our way out). The Little Boys and Adam had fun standing in the water as the waves rolled in, and giggled fiendishly as the force of the ocean knocked them around a bit. Abby amused herself first by singing Moana songs while sitting at the edge of the water, and then later by burying herself under an impressive mound of sand. I'm not a huge ocean-person, so I stayed mostly dry and wandered up and down the coastline.

After the hike back to the car (and it's a serious walk -- three miles each way) we headed back to the house to hose ourselves down, and then out for some shave ice. Then dinner, then a walk to the club for some ice cream, then back again. And that brings me to now.

So here's my reflection for today. While I watched Adam and the boys in the water, I remembered enjoying the same activity with my grandma in Ocean City, Maryland. We'd stand there holding hands just a few feet into the Atlantic and let the waves crash into us. Every now and then the force would knock me over, and I remember how she'd quickly scoop me back to my feet. And then we'd start all over again. That was a long time ago, but I remember it like it was just a few years ago. Watching my kiddos enjoy the same activities I enjoyed when I was their age is a blessing. And those memories... they're priceless.

July 8

In keeping with our trend, today was a low-key one. We mostly hung around the house and chilled. Brady walked over to the club with me this morning (because he remembered the oatmeal that's available) so he was my little coffee date. We sat on the lanai and watched the ocean and chit-chatted about this and that. At one point, it started to rain (which is a totally normal occurrence on a given day) and we watched as a rainbow formed over the ocean.

Otherwise, back at the house, Abby did some writing, the Little Boys played video games, Adam took a nap, and I painted my nails. Then, when I decided that we needed to do something, we all walked back over to the club, where we had some snacks, Adam read a little to Abby while the chicos played air hockey, and then we played horseshoes. (Yup, horseshoes. I'd forgotten how difficult it can be!)

But one of my favorite moments of the day came after the sun had set and we'd returned to the house. I'm not sure exactly why, but Abby consented when Isaac asked if he could hug her goodnight. (She almost always says no way.) So he hugged her, which prompted Brady to join in on the hugfest. And then for several minutes after the initial hugging began, they wandered around the first floor en-masse, hugging and giggling. She pretended not to like the attention, but I know she did: I could see it in her smile and in how she continued to play along. I love it when they're willing to cop to their love for one another. It makes an entire day seem more worthwhile.

July 7

We've settled into something of a one-day-on, one-day-off kind of routine, meaning we do something adventurous one day and lie around at the pool (or if you're me, you go to the fitness center and watch the ocean and/or TV while walking on the treadmill) on the next. Today was an "on" day, so we suited up relatively early and headed for the eastern side of the island and the Kuamoo-Nounou Trail, which takes hikers over the so-termed Sleeping Giant's belly and ends with a scenic overlook.

It was, as was Tuesday's adventure, a tougher row to hoe than I might have expected. The first part of the hike courses through beautiful nature --trees, moss, and pretty wildflowers, some of which Isaac and Brady "adopted" in order to entertain themselves as they walked along-- and is nice and easy, for the most part, but the last stretch was basically uphill, uphill, uphill. My legs were still a little jelly-like from The Swamp Trail so I wasn't sure I'd make it at times, but, like before, we persevered at made it to the top. (But not the very tippy-top. Super steep climbs over jagged rocks are not for me.)

Afterward, we headed back toward Koloa and fulfilled one of Abby's wishes by stopping for lunch at Bubba's (where Isaac also got to indulge his love of onion rings). Then there was more shave ice. (Since it was literally right next door. Well, since it was literally right next door and since that's what we do on Kaua'i: eat frozen flavored sugar water over and over again. Mmm-mmm good. For the record, I had cherry and pineapple. Cherry is almost always a winner and it was definitely up to snuff, but didn't love the pineapple.)

Beautiful weather and great company all-around. A good, good day, sponsored as always by the Good, Good Father. I know we're so very blessed to be here.

July 6

Compared to yesterday's big activity bonanza, today was very low-key: just the club pools, the grocery store, the farm, and some shave ice.

Top left: the pools. If you look very closely, you can see Adam, Isaac, Brady, and Abby. Abby is a coral-colored dot on the right-hand side of the image. Top left: my view while they were in the pool; I'm not really a water person so pool-time for the others is coffee-and-fitness-center time for me. Bottom left: At the farm. There was some kind of fruit out of Adam's reach, so he recruited Brady's assistance. (It was a success. And all of the kiddos had a shot at being the official helper, too. Also we still don't know what kind of fruit it is that he retrieved.) Bottom right: Shave ice at Koloa Shave Ice. There was a huge group in front of us so it took quite a while, but it's always tasty!

Big observations today? Nope. Just, as I've noted before, that it's nice to have a slow, nowhere-you've-gotta-be kind of day now and again. (And it's also nice that the sunburn I got yesterday after inadvertently missing a few small spots on my shoulders looks far worse than it feels. A practical, small to mid-sized blessing right there.)

July 5

It's 31,500 steps later for me and I'm about ready to head to bed (even though the clock tells me it's only 8:30). Today we hit the road bound for Waimea and the road to the Waimea Canyon. As the crow flies, Waimea isn't actually all that far from Koloa (where we're staying), but of course, everything takes a little longer (and speed limits are much lower) in Hawai'i so you roll with it.

Adam found a new-to-us hiking trail, and after we'd hit the Waimea Canyon and Kalalau lookout points (which were both quite clear today -- they're the bottom left and center photos), we went adventuring. And an adventure it was: since we rented a four-wheel drive truck this time, he opted for a four-wheel drive only access road, and it was a stomach-churner. (Two notable points: he actually had to get out of the car to remove a fallen tree branch from our path, and one section of the road was badly washed out and resulted in a very bumpy ride that elicited a range of reactions, from me squeezing my eyes shut and holding my breath to Abby and the Little Boys humming the music from Indiana Jones. But I digress.) We arrived at the trail head for the Alakai Swamp Trail unscathed and set off for our 3.5 mile (each way... that's seven total for you number lovers out there) hike. The trail wasn't exactly what we'd expected: there were several steep climbs and descents, and it covered a wide range of terrain, from thick forest featuring heavy foliage to barren swamp land (which, as I read a few minutes ago, is actually the world's highest altitude swamp. There's your random nugget for today). We even climbed down (and then back up) a succession of steps that totaled 262.

At several points, I wanted to turn back. I wasn't sure that my knees-of-specious-quality could handle the inconsistent terrain (or the return voyage back up all. Those. Stairs). And I wasn't so sold on the succession of boards in various stages of repair that'd been set up to make the journey through the swamp less... swampish. (Though as an aside, both Isaac and Brady lost shoes in the mud (and recovered them, but there's nothing quite like the sucking sound mud can make when it's trying to eat a shoe. It was gross but totally made me laugh out loud.) Anyway, my desire to see something neat outweighed my frustration over the path, so we pressed onward, and it's good that we did, because we wound up enjoying a breathtaking view in person. (See the big photo.) Since it's a fairly low-traffic island destination, the Kilohana Lookout point is very small. But the impact is huge, and we were blessed that today was so clear that we could look out into the distance and see not only Hanalei on the North Shore, but also a little white dot that we're pretty sure was the Kilauea Lighthouse. Then on the way back home, we stopped by Jojo's for some shave ice (of course).

So to sum it all up, have faith, keep going, and you'll see amazing things in this life, even if it seems like those amazing things are taking a very long time to show up.

July 4

I'm a big get-up-and-go'er when I'm on vacation. I like to see as many sights as possible since I'm never quite sure when I'll be paying a return visit to a given locale. But today was a low-key one, devoted mostly to pool-going and hanging around the house.

At about 9:15, we headed over to the club so the kiddos and Adam could swim. While they got their water on, I sipped a cuppa joe and then headed over to the fitness center for a while before we all hit the walking trail again bound for our first shave ice of the trip. (At Uncle's, for the record. Always a good pick.)

Then it was back home for some card games and rest (for us older people) before dinner, which involved a change of clothes and a return trip to the club for a 4th of July burger bar feast, where my charming daughter and her miraculous metabolism munched down not one or two delicious cheeseburgers, but three. After sunset, we trouped back home again, and that's where I am right now, sitting at the dining room table, listening to Adam read to Abby under the continuous hum of the air conditioner.

It's nice to have a chill day now and then, I think. Though I'm inclined to go-go-go, it was nice to just take it easy, and we're blessed to have the opportunity to do just that.

July 3

We got up (relatively) early this morning, drove to Oakland, and boarded a plane bound for Kaua'i. With the exception of a few minor tantrums from the boys and a walk that went on just a wee bit too long as we tried to navigate from the house to the club for the first time, it was a pleasant enough day.

After we'd all gotten drinks, the boys played a short round of croquet, Abby lounged in a hammock, and I stared out at the glittering Pacific, we left the club and headed back toward the house. We hadn't gotten far when, just as I noticed a rainbow in the distance, Abby remarked 'hey, it's raining a little.' And then, because this is Kaua'i (where the weather changes every few seconds), it started pouring. The downpour didn't last long; in fact, by the time we got inside 15 minutes later, you'd have been hard-pressed to tell that it'd rained at all, save our wet clothes, because the sun was once again shining and the skies were mostly clear and blue.

Anyway, to my point: we all experience those sudden downpours in life that catch us off guard. So the age-old question comes into play: do you get mad, or do you dance? Us? Today, we danced.

July 2

Life can be hard, so I like glitter.

I guess that sounds kind of weird, but stay with me for a sec. There are lots of things about this human existence that simply aren't any fun: sickness, sadness, frustration, struggles -- all hard.

So what on earth does this have to do with glitter? This: even when we feel like we're surrounded by darkness, we can almost always find a single point of light. And glitter reflects light in different directions all at once, which, in a way, spreads it around.

July 1

It was, for the most part, just a normal Saturday: lunch at Red Tractor, some shopping time with my girl, dinner, an evening walk, and a board game. At lunchtime, the Little Boys twittered back and forth like they usually do, which made me smile:

(This pic is pretty terrible, but hey, it was in the moment and the moments aren't always photo-perfect.) Their interactions aren't always harmonious --and in fact, they bickered in the car on the way home-- but it stirs my heart to see them having fun together, whispering in one another's ears and giggling.