June 30

Sometimes I hate baseball.

Brady's team played in a tournament this weekend. They won rather easily yesterday. Brady didn't play in that game, save a stint as a pinch runner and one at-bat. But I didn't think much of it because there were more games to come and he's too good a player to sit for too long.

When they took the field for today's first game, he was once again on the bench. I wasn't delighted, but oh well -- he could always come in to pitch in relief. Or something. But that didn't happen.

The defense was a bit sloppy at times and they didn't convert several offensive opportunities, so they lost, which meant they had to play and win another game this evening in order to earn a berth in the championship game tomorrow evening. 

When that next game started, Brady was on the bench. Again. Honestly, I was angry. Really, really mad. He hasn't had much playing time over the past month and it's painful to see him standing alone in the dugout game after game, especially when I know how capable he is. When he's shown up for every practice and let the other kids go first and picked up balls so others didn't have to. When he's stayed behind to pack up gear and scurried behind the backstop to pick up foul balls. So I got up and watched from afar for a while, and prayed for the ability to keep myself in check because I could feel mama bear rising to the surface and I needed to keep her caged.

Anyway, the game didn't start off well at all. (I wasn't super surprised given that the lineup was much the same as the first game.) Our defense wasn't working, our kids weren't doing much offensively, and the other team --the same team that they so easily defeated yesterday-- quickly cruised to a five-run lead. 

And then at long last, with the bases loaded and one out in the third inning, something different happened: Brady came in to pitch. 

He let one inherited runner score and gave up a single run of his own later on, but he was, in short, fabulous. He pitched 4 2/3 innings --including a 4-pitch 7th-- and looked cool and calm on the mound. He had his curveball working early on, and when that pitch is working, it's nasty. (Ask the kid who struck out swinging wildly at a ball that hit the catcher's mitt an inch off the ground.)

In the end, they lost because our kids weren't able to get the bats going and the deficit was too much to overcome, but Brady's contribution to the effort was outstanding. I don't think I could be prouder of how he handled himself.

Still, the frustration lingers. Why did he sit for so long? I don't know. I may never know. But I hated sitting there watching him watch his teammates play, knowing that he wanted to be out there, too. Knowing that he could play at least as well as they were playing. Realizing that he was probably thinking that he sucked as a player because why else would he still be on the bench. My heart ached for him and I wanted to scoop him up and get him out of there and buy him an ice cream. Or a kitten. Or something that would override all of those feelings of inadequacy that were no doubt bubbling under his stoic surface. I wanted to rescue him from all of those feelings of inadequacy and rejection that have dogged me since I was young.

But, of course, I didn't do that because I can't. As much as I want to coat him in Teflon and protect him from all harm, that's not how life works. I can't always protect him, just like I can't protect Abby and Isaac and couldn't protect Logan. He has to figure out how to deal with hurt and frustration and disappointment and --if I may be so bold as to say it-- unfair situations on his own. And I have to watch while he does that. And offer support however I can. And that sense of powerlessness, it hurts. 

It's hard being a parent sometimes. But I'm working through it. And I'm grateful that God has changed my heart enough that I didn't explode, because Younger Me probably would have. Younger Me would've had a fit right then and there. 

I guess this is kind of a big ramble, but here's the bottom line: Despite all of the bad feelings, I'm grateful that when he did finally get a shot, he nailed it. Oh, did he nail it. I'm thankful that he showed what he could do and that he didn't let his bench-time get him down. I'm grateful for his resilience and stick-to-it-iveness. He didn't complain, he didn't get mad. He just went out there and did his job and turned in his team's best, most notable performance of the game. 

And even though I had to watch him hurt for a while, I got to watch the victory, too. It may not have been a team win, but it was a personal win, and those are huge. So for that, I am grateful.

June 29

Isaac had his first behind-the-wheel driving lesson today, so his permit is now officially valid.

So naturally, when we passed an empty elementary school parking lot on the way home, I pulled in so he could show me what he'd learned.

And honestly, for someone who'd never driven before, he did pretty well! He was relatively calm, listened to and responded to my corrections positively, and was actually enthusiastic about improving.

I was reasonably confident going in that he'd do just fine, and I'm grateful that my prediction panned out.

June 28

Isaac had a Nines game this morning in Dublin. He's the biggest wee figure in the photo.

At the plate he wound up going 0 for 1 with three walks. (After the game he shared his suspicion that they were pitching around him; apparently when he arrived at first base following walk number one, the first baseman greeted him with "you're huge." And then the pitchers in subsequent at-bats didn't give him anything near the plate).

Defensively he spent some time in left and center. And then, to my surprise, first base. I hadn't seen him play first base in a long while. And then, even more surprisingly, third base. I don't even remember the last time I'd seen him play third. But I'm glad he got the chance to play so many different positions (even though nothing really came in his direction).

And beyond that, he smiled throughout the game. He talked with the coaches who were there, joked with his teammates, and was fully involved in what was going on, even when he was on the bench. He was relaxed and happy, and it did my mama heart good to see him feeling content.

June 27

One not-awesome truth about the summer thus far is that Abby and I have butted heads more often than usual. But today was a good day for us. 

She joined me at the Mother Ship this morning and then after we dropped the boys off at church to help with VBS set-up, we went on a Costco run. It kinda sorta felt like old times.

And then this evening, she made excellent use of some of the ingredients we bought by making baked mac and cheese for dinner.

In short, we had what I'd term a pretty peaceful day. 

Relationships --especially between fledgling adults and their largely clueless parents-- are complicated, but I know we'll be okay. And I'm thankful for days like this one when things feel right.

June 26

It's been a mostly quiet mid-week day, with a pair of baseball practices attended and some errands run.

And now I'm winding up Wednesday with a viewing of some vintage episodes of "Columbo." I've seen them all before, of course, but there's something wonderfully nostalgic about watching them all over again.

And I'm thankful for small things that can provide familiar comforts.

June 25

Isaac hasn't been in a huge hurry to learn to drive, but today he took a big step toward making it happen: I took him over to the (very busy) DMV and he passed the written test. Permit achieved!

He was nervous going in, but afterward --after he'd passed and we were walking back to the car-- he was cheerfully chatty. Given that his days of late tend to be on the cloudy side, it made me happy to see outward signs of reawakened lightheartedness within.

He's a good kid, this third child of mine. And I am so very proud of who he is right now and of the adult I can see him gradually becoming.

June 24

In lieu of an official Bible study this morning, Tina invited the group over to her house for brunch.

As I stood nearby and watched her bustle around the kitchen, my thoughts were simple: in short, I loved her hospitality. She made an egg dish and oatmeal and had fresh strawberries and yogurt. And she provided a comfortable space where we could sit and visit with each other.

Given that this world is so often All About Me And What's Convenient For Me, I was thankful that she went the proverbial extra mile to express care for all of us. She certainly wasn't obligated to do so and it's a blessing that she did it anyway.

June 23

Isaac's TVBR journey came to a close this afternoon as the Royals beat the Mariners 4-2, which bumped their Big Season record to 11-9 and secured a second place finish in the league. He's pictured below with his coach and the other 15u kids who have officially aged out of the program.

TVBR became an option for Isaac near the end of his very frustrating freshman season, and I'll always be grateful that he was given the chance to join the team. And I'm grateful that his participation paved the way for Brady to earn a spot, too. 

I've seen both boys continue to grow and develop as players in multiple ways since they've joined up, so I'm thankful for the solid instruction they've received that's made that growth possible. It's definitely a blessing.

June 22

I'm not a huge Mickey D's stan, but as the day wore on, I developed a hankering for a McDonalds caramel iced coffee.

So I checked my app, realized that I could use points for a freebie, and headed out to satisfy my craving. 

Given that it was almost 100 degrees out today, it was a cool, refreshing treat that absolutely hit the spot. And I'm thankful for its sweet, chilled goodness. 

June 21

The boys had their second-to-last game of the Big Season this evening. At one point when they were both on the field, Adam went for a stroll down the first base line and returned with this image.

That's Brady in the foreground, and Isaac in the background; Brady in right field and Isaac in left. Both in ready position.

Although Brady hasn't played much (it's the nature of the beast for the 13s to play infrequently) it's always a blessing when we get to see them out on the field together for a few minutes.

It's a nice slice of life to look back on and smile over for sure: the time they both played for the Royals.

June 20

As the sun began to dip below the hills in the distance, I made a late-in-the-game decision to trot up to the deck to watch it disappear into the clouds. 

I hadn't been up the hill without shoes for quite some time, so I was rather dismayed to find --in my "hurry up or you'll miss it" state of mind-- that several of the steps had been overtaken by dry and very prickly weeds. The kind you absolutely cannot step on because, well, ouch. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

Anyway, I ouched my way to the top, took in the scene (which was indeed quite lovely) and then turned to look at what I'd had to overcome to get there. 

And of course, it made me think. We so often, in this human life we lead, have to work through difficult and often painful obstacles to get to "good" places. New jobs, new relationships, new homes all involve work and, in many cases, some degree of discomfort. 

So although I didn't love picking those spiky little balls from my skin, I'm grateful for the reminder that beautiful things can arise from difficult circumstances.

June 19

It was a lovely day to be outside.

And we had the chance to soak up some of the sun's rays late this afternoon during the boys' game.

I am grateful for sunshine and blue skies and light breezes and mild temperatures. It's easy to feel content when my surroundings are so pleasant.

June 18

When I got home from running errands this morning, I found my teenagers gathered on the living room floor, playing with a selection of their favorite stuffed animals.

The sight made me smile because I love it when they hang out together. I love the sound of their collective laughter and, as weird as it sounds, I love the strange scenarios they dream up for their animals when they join forces and get creative.

One of my most fervent prayers is that they will be good friends when they're adults, and scenes like this give me hope that it will happen.

June 17

When I got home from my Bible study and coffee meet-up with our pastor late this morning, I found Isaac sitting at the kitchen table with the remnants of a bowl of Lucky Charms.

And one of his treasured dogs.

I love that even at 16, he still walks around the house (and the yard) with his trio of beige stuffed dogs. It's cute and sweet and serves as a reminder that even though he's way bigger than I am, he's still a kid both chronologically and at heart.

And given that time seems to be passing more quickly by the hour, I'm thankful for that truth.

June 16

It's been a busy weekend, with Isaac's birthday yesterday and Father's Day today. But I think it's been a good one with plenty to celebrate. And plenty to reflect on, too.

It's something of a tender holiday for Adam, so my plan for the day was to just wing it based on what he decided he wanted to do in the moment. So I took the brositos for their game warmups this morning while he and Abby went to church. Then they joined us for the game itself. 

From there went headed to Outback for late lunch slash early dinner. It was surprisingly crowded for 2PMish, but we were able to get a table right away and enjoyed a very pleasant meal.

When we got home, Adam headed outside for a nap on the deck, and then after he awoke, we all --including Lambie-- gathered in the family room to watch "Taken." And then there were presents. And then the boys went up to bed and Abby went up to her room and it was mostly quiet. 

I think he had a good day. I hope he did. But it's hard to know because these holidays hit differently when you've lost a child; when you're missing someone who should still be with you. There's no way to make it better and celebrations can feel hollow. But he should be celebrated because he's a terrific dad to all four of our kids. And I am grateful for him.

June 15

Today is Isaac's 16th birthday. And it was a very Isaac kind of day, with an early baseball game and afternoon computer gaming with Adam and dinner at his fave-of-late, CPK (or California Pizza Kitchen, as he always calls it. He's never bought in to that particular acronym). And presents and a banana cake with banana filling and homemade chocolate frosting, shaped into the form of a glass of root beer by baking extraordinaire Abby.

All in all, he had a good day. He seemed genuinely happy and jovial and that's a huge blessing.

Now what can I say about this kid? Well, as the third of four and a middle child, I know he often feels like an afterthought. But I wish he realized that he's not. Far from it, really. Much of the time --especially when I watch him stay behind after games to help his coach break down equipment long after his teammates have skedaddled or the way he does potentially scary things like going to camp without knowing any of the other kids on the bus-- I marvel over how remarkable he is. How he takes risks and puts himself last and helps out and thinks carefully and deeply before responding to most situations. He's quietly remarkable. He doesn't draw attention to himself (and in fact, most of the time he tries to avoid being in the spotlight) so others often miss all the good that he does, but he does it anyway. Even when he gets zero credit. Even when no one but God notices. That's the real stuff right there; the real stuff of a good life.

He's always been a genuinely good, kind, thoughtful kid and brother, and I feel so blessed to be able to watch him grow into a young man who possesses those same traits. We need more people like him in this world. 

Happy 16th birthday, Isaac! I love you.

June 14

I don't recall if I've mentioned it here before, but I take medication for anxiety and depression. I've been taking it daily for a few years now, and it's made a substantial difference in my overall stasis and sense of mental well-being. The one downside is that should I forget my pill, I feel less than great the following day. And this, unfortunately, was one of those days.

It's a distinctive kind of off-feeling so I knew exactly what I'd done (or rather what I forgot to do) when I woke up from my fitful slumber this morning. I stumbled through coffee at the Mother Ship and a quick grocery store trip, and then headed home, where I spent most of the rest of the day lying low. Very low. Asleep, mostly. 

Then this evening, after I'd gotten up and eaten dinner, I looked out the window in our bedroom and saw this. And then a moment later, I got a text from Brady (who was at his friend Liam's house) that included his vantage point of this exact scene.

It made me smile for a few reasons. For one, I was touched that he knew I'd appreciate the sight so he took the time to send it my way. For another, he recognized the beauty on his own. I'm thankful that at 13 --when many kids are oblivious to lovely sights like this one-- he finds value in it. God's creations are beautiful and I'm thankful that I felt better enough this evening to see it twice -- once through my own eyes, and once through the eyes of my kiddo.

June 13

This is pretty much what summer vacation looks like at our house on an average Thursday:

Pajamas still on, attention focused on one of several different video games (save the two seconds it took to look over at me for a pic). Eyes not quite glazed over, but close. Medicine ball close at hand for the occasional and abrupt need to bounce and/or throw something at each other. 

That about sums it up.

And honestly, I think it's great, because I think they could both use some downtime; some time to just rest and be teenagers (and goofballs). So I'm grateful for scenes like this one and for the blessing of rest.

June 12

Isaac had his first Nines game today. (That's the summer team at his school.) 

He played in left and right fields and went 1 for 2 at the plate; the hit was a double down the left field line. He also scored their only run. (I think it was the only one, anyway. It's a casual kind of thing so my brain was set to casual mode.) It was a really nice start to the summer season for him.

Even better, I could tell that he was happy to be there. He's playing with several of the guys who were part of his old Spartans team and I know he's missed that group since it disbanded a few years ago.

It's a blessing to see my sweet Isaac out there enjoying himself.

June 11

Late this nearly 100 degree afternoon, after the boys had spent some time in the pool, Brady came into my room where I was organizing and asked if he could make grilled cheese. I said sure.

I came out to check on them a few minutes later and found him liberally buttering both sides of two slices of bread. Isaac was standing behind him laughing over the quantity of butter involved. (I was amused but not surprised because Brady is a butter fiend.)

Anyway, it made me smile to see Brady making his own food and it made me smile more to see the two of them laughing together and getting along well. 

Harmony is a blessing, especially when we have a long summer vacation ahead of us.

June 10

I was resting early this afternoon when I overheard a snippet of conversation between Abby and Isaac that made me smile.

On our last night in Kauai, Abby accidentally spilled some very red shave ice syrup on her very white skirt, and her initial efforts to remove the stains failed. This afternoon I overheard her asking Isaac how to use White Brite, also known as The Stuff He Uses To Keep His Baseball Pants White. (As an aside, why do baseball pants always need to be white? Why?) 

Then I heard Isaac reply "I'll go get you a bucket" and listened as he pitter-pattered down the stairs and into the garage.

In that moment, I was touched that he didn't just tell her what to do -- he went to find the bucket for her. It's practical, but it shows actual care and interest in truly helping out his sister. And I'm grateful to see that care in action. 

June 9

After a week of no baseball, the boys had a game this morning.

I initially worried that they'd struggle since they didn't so much as touch a bat during our time on Kauai, but I was quite wrong. Isaac played all three outfield positions and threw out a runner at home plate during his tenure in center. He also went 3 for 5 at the plate with two doubles and a walk. Pretty great for having had time off.

Brady had a pair of at-bats; no hits, but he successfully advanced runners on the basepath both times so it worked out okay. But his real success came on the mound when he threw two scoreless innings. Given that the game went 10 innings and (finally, mercifully) ended with a score of 18-16 (nope, not a typo), that's no small accomplishment.

After one of Brady's successful half-innings on the mound, the team had a quick pow-wow outside the dugout. As Isaac ran in from the outfield, he put an arm around Brady and they stood there, together, our numbers 77 and 88, listening to Coach Andrew give his motivational pep talk. I got up as fast as I could to try to take a pic, but Isaac dropped his arm just as I got into position. I can still see the scene in my mind's eye, though; the bigger brother supporting the little brother. Their care for one another is a blessing to them and to me.

June 8

And just like that, our getaway to Kauai is over and we're back in the nest. I guess it's true that time really does fly when you're having fun.

Save a trio of rambunctious teen boys in front of me on the second leg of the journey --the longer one of the two, from Honolulu to Oakland-- it was a blessedly easy and calm travel day. We got to the airport in Lihue in good time, had no wait at security, and arrived at our gate with ample time to spare. (So much time, in fact, that I was able to steal off to a shop with Abby so she could procure the necklace she'd been wanting and I could purchase a deck of cards for the brositos to help keep them occupied while we waited.)

It was, all in all, a lovely week away. I am grateful to Adam's parents for sharing their space with us and for being gracious hosts. I am grateful to my kiddos for behaving well (most of the time). And above all, I am grateful to God for creating a place as beautiful as Hawaii, and for making it possible for us to visit and experience the aloha spirit.

June 7

Our last full day on Kauai was a relaxed one, with no real planned outings and lots of time to just be.

I started off as I have each day with coffee and that delicious granola at the Clubhouse, again accompanied by the brositos, and, a little later on, Adam. They played pool and ping pong before Brady got bored and wanted to go back to the house, so he and Adam left while Isaac and I stayed behind to play on the pair of pinball machines located in the game room. (They were new additions since our last time here, and highly addictive, they are. I lost track of the number of times we both looked at each other, glassy-eyed with determination, and breathed "okay, one more game" before turning back to our respective machines. We were crazed.) 

But we eventually peeled ourselves off the pinball machines and made our way back to the house. I parked myself in a chair on the lanai with a can of Coke Zero. I sat there for some time, just looking out at the ocean in the distance and the ever-changing sky as sounds from a rousing round of Fast Food Franchise played out just behind me inside the house. (Isaac and Grandma had quite the battle going on.) 

When the lunch hour arrived, we loaded into the car and drove over to Bubba's to fulfill Abby's wish for a genuine Bubba Burger. (Because Abby really likes burgers.) And then it was back to the house, where I returned to the lanai and nodded off. I awoke just in time to join Abby and Adam's mom for our lei making class at the Clubhouse. Strangely enough, although my mother-in-law explained that there were several different teachers, we wound up with the same one we had when we took the class five years ago. I have to admit that although I'd forgotten the exact procedures for lei-making, I did find it easier to catch on this go-round. In some ways, it's actually quite similar to crochet and those similarities helped me out.

Anyway, we modeled our creations when we got back to the house and then Adam and his dad were gracious enough to try them on for us so we could snap a few pics for funsies. I told them they looked pretty.

Dinner was a smorgasboard of leftovers from the week. Some of us had a reasonable mix of the offerings, like nachos with cowboy caviar and soft tacos with ribs. Brady had bread and cheese. (Not grilled cheese, not a quesadilla. Just slices of bread and a pile of grated cheese. That's my kid.)

After dinner we took our last shave ice run of the week, and closed it out where we began last Saturday at Uncle's in the Kukuiula shopping center. The in-laws opted to pass, so Adam and the kids and I drove over and enjoyed our selections (which for me this go-round was cherry, grape, and strawberry. The ice was so fine and the portion so huge that it kinda-sorta cemented its placement as my favorite of the trip. Maybe. It's hard to choose a fave when it comes to shave ice in Hawaii. Brady and Isaac continued their trend of highly questionable flavor combos by choosing root beer, banana, and gummy bear for the former, and root beer, banana, and green apple for the latter. There are no words to adequately express my feelings about this). We had a good time sitting outside on the benches joking with one another while the kids spoke to each other using teen slang that Adam and I don't understand. (Skibiddi what?) It totally reminded me that we're old but it made my heart so happy to see them getting along so well. Sometimes they just gel and it's beautiful.

Anyway, it was dark when we got back, save the tiniest sliver of a moon and a sea of stars overhead. Adam's mom was standing by the gate waiting for us and ushered us to the street and encouraged us to look up. There were an incredible number of stars visible, so I stood there and took in the view. It's awe-inspiring to see so many tiny points of life and to realize just how tiny we truly are.

We concluded the day with a few rounds of Seven Up (a card game, not Heads Up Seven Up, although I admit that would be hilarious) and then headed off to bed. 

I'm an adventurer when it comes to vacation, but I'm grateful for the moments of rest that were built into today. And for those lazy moments spent with the most important people in my life.

June 6

Today was an Adventure Day, as I call them, which means that we (well, okay, Adam) did a little bit of research and picked a trail we wanted to hike. This time, however, we didn't make it mandatory; we said the kiddos could decide whether or not to go. Abby and Brady both passed, while Isaac chose to join us.

So the three of us left at 9:30 this morning after coffee-time for the Kuilau Ridge Trail located in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve. It's a path we've taken before and I expressed interest in doing it again because a) it's not terribly challenging and b) the views are spectacular. And it didn't disappoint at all: it was a bit muddy in places --although both Adam and I remembered it being muddier the last time-- but the views were just as lovely as I remembered. 

Afterward, we stopped in Lihue for some shave ice at the Uncle's located there -- strawberries and cream for me this time! When we got back to the house, we had a short time to rest before we joined the others in golf carts to ride around the course. My in-laws' house sits on the 9th hole so we see the golfers drive in and out all the time (and we also walked the entire course when we were here during a previous trip, as exhausting as that sounds even to my own ears!), but it's a pretty course with ocean views so it made for a nice excursion. I rode with Isaac driving for a short time and was happy to see that despite the lack of a learner's permit to date, he's a decent driver. 

Then after another short downtime, we went to the Clubhouse for dinner at the on-site restaurant. My choice-- a vegetarian curry-- was delicious. (Lick-the-bowl delicious, if I'm being truthful. I actually took a bite and my eyes automatically drifted shut while I savored the experience. It was that kind of good.) We followed that up by taking a few casual photos together before the sun went down (since we were dressed up and all) before the kiddos forayed into the game room for some ping pong (the bros) and DigDug (Abby. I too may have played some pinball. I hadn't seen a real, live pinball machine in a long while and I couldn't resist its siren call).

So that was today. Our time here on Kauai is drawing to a close, but I'm thankful for the blessing that it's been so far. 

June 5

Today we opted to go on a mini adventure. We all arose more or less when we felt like it. The brositos accompanied me to the Clubhouse so I could get my coffee (and a mini almond bear claw and house-made granola). But it wasn't the promise of food that compelled them to tag along; no, they wanted to play a few games of pool. So that's what they did as I looked on (although truth be told, my gaze flitted between them and the ocean).

Once we finished there, we returned to the house and after sunscreening, we piled into the car bound for Kapa'a and the Kauai Trail. It's an easy, paved path that runs alongside part of the eastern shore of the island and offers up gorgeous, sweeping views of the ocean. 

During our stroll under mostly cloudy skies, we took a brief detour to take a gander at the Pineapple Dump (which is literally the spot where remnants of pineapples were once dumped into the ocean) before continuing on to Paliku (also known as Donkey) Beach. The beach access trail was hidden behind a significant amount of overgrown greenery, but eagle eyed Adam spotted the sign and down we went (as jokes about feeling like Children of the Corn were bandied about). This time the kiddos were wearing swimwear, so despite the cooler water temp, they all had fun engaging in their chosen ocean activities: Abby mostly gazed out at the waves and let the water wash over her feet, while Isaac and Brady alternately splashed in the water and constructed sand structures.

Afterward, we returned to Koloa and stopped at The Fresh Shave's new permanent location for some shave ice. For the second day running I went with coffee and cream as my flavor profile, and the Dirt Squirrel didn't disappoint. I don't think any of the flavors disappointed, actually. There's something to be said for using fresh ingredients!

Then it was back to the house to chill. The boys, Adam, and his dad all played a game of Fast Food Franchise while I laid low until dinner time.

All in all, it was another good day in paradise. And I am grateful for the time and the experiences.

June 4

Today, we decided last night, would be Waimea Canyon day, which meant we'd drive up the canyon road, stop at all of the lookouts, take an easy hike through the forest, and finish with shave ice at one of our favorites, Jo Jo's.

And that's what we did, but as usual there were some bumps along the way. As it happened, the selected Kaluapuhi Trail wound up being very, very muddy in spots; as in our shoes quite often made sucking sounds as we cautiously moved along the relatively narrow and verging-on overgrown path. Abby wasn't thrilled by the dirt, but Isaac and Brady had a grand time figuring out clever ways to avoid the mud, and their gleefulness made me smile. 

Self-appointed navigator Brady did his best to warn us about exceptionally moist areas and gave suggestions for avoiding them, but I still had mud all over my shoes and up my legs by the time we hit pavement (which was, for the record, the Waimea Canyon Road, which has no sidewalks and is narrow and winding. We walked up a near-45 degree angle heading back to the car because there was no way I was going to slog through the mud again). Knowing that I would struggle with the incline, Isaac dropped back and walked with his hand on my back, making racecar noises to spur me along. I love that kid's ingenuity.

Anyway, we survived the walk along the road and got back to the car to find that the Kalalau Lookout was socked in, so Adam and I opted to continue along the closed-to-cars, pothole-ridden road to the final vista point for a looksee. The kids chose to stay by the car, assuming we'd only be gone for a short time. We both unfortunately underestimated the distance --which was closer to a mile one way than the anticipated quarter mile-- and were touched to see the three of them in the distance walking the path toward us as we headed back. We waved at them, and then they immediately turned back toward the car. I guess it was enough to know that we hadn't fallen off a cliff or been parent-napped by a lunatic so they didn't feel the need to catch up and walk with us. But Adam and I were heartened by how they stuck together.

And then it was back down, down, down the mountain behind what had to have been one of the slowest drivers in Hawaii. (Even Brady was groaning by the time the car finally turned off.) The Jo Jo's treats were as good as I remembered (at least mine was). I opted for the coffee-with-cream selection, which involved a cream-capped coffee shave ice atop a scoop of macadamia nut ice cream. Mmm, mmm, good.

When we got back to the house, we had time to shower and rest a little before heading out to Burgers, Brats, and Bourbon night by the Club pools. The food was great, as was the cocktail I had; I can't remember what it was called --something Sunset-- but it was crafted using Hawaiian-made bourbon. I'm not sure I'd had bourbon before but the drink was tasty enough that I opted for a second. I felt a bit toasty afterward, but it was a happy-toasty and Adam said I was acting fairly normally so I'm cool with it.

So that was our Tuesday. It wasn't perfect, but it was good nonetheless. And I am grateful to have new memories to look back on.

June 3

Today we got up early (and by early I mean 6 AM and not my usual "I'm a night person" brand of early), donned our swim apparel, and drove to the port at Eleele for our big adventure: a 5-hour sail and snorkel cruise along the Na Pali Coast aboard one of Captain Andy's 55-foot catamarans. 

Although neither Brady nor Isaac particularly enjoyed the snorkeling stop --neither could quite master the concept of mouth breathing-- and Abby and I opted out of it entirely (we took vibe'y photos of each other instead. I deliberately excluded those from the college), the rest of the voyage was a hit. The boys (including Adam) had a blast sitting in one of the bouncy hammocks in the front and got soaked repeatedly. (At one point Brady even moved out of the usual wet-zone and got smacked with a significant firehose-like blast of water that went between Adam and Isaac to get to him.) We got to see several dolphins, some just a few feet below, and Captain Lynn did an excellent job of sharing local lore. And the food served, especially the house-made coconut pineapple muffins and the white chocolate macadamia cookies, was excellent. 

The Na Pali Coast was, as anticipated, absolutely stunning. The sky was a bit overcast, but the magnitude of the bluffs and the height of the cliffs and the greenery and the waterfalls and the caves and the private beaches were intensely beautiful. I kept thinking "wow, God made all of this" and the thought re-amazed me over and over again. I stood there clutching the handrail, trying to take in as much of the scenery as I could as the boat traversed the waves. Save one moment when I lost my balance and my foot came down on some poor girl's toe (and fortunately she was extremely forgiving), my sea legs (and stomach) were surprisingly steady, which gave me hope that my early-stage plans for a cruise some day may pan out.

After we disembarked, our damp, salt-crusted selves headed back to the house, where Abby and Adam's mom decided to make banana bread and Adam, and boys, and I went over to the club pools. I'd had more than enough water for the day, but I did enjoy sitting under an umbrella while watching them do their aquatic thing. (It's a good thing we have a pool at home because they are total water boys.) Following pool-time we all realized how sun burned we'd gotten (well, except for Abby) and cringed over our red knees (because somehow several of us missed our knees, of all things) and faces. A little later, dinner was chicken and rice, and then, well, then it was about 8:30 and we were all pretty tired.

It was another lovely day on Kaua'i, and I am thankful for the hours and for the blessing of seeing the beauty and majesty of God's creation up close.

June 2

I'm recalling now just how incredibly difficult it is to boil an entire vacation day down to a handful of meaningful photos. Phew. But I tried.

When I got up this morning, I checked in with folks at the main house before heading over to the Clubhouse to procure a cuppa joe. I've been dreaming about the coffee here since our last trip was back in 2019, and sadly, it seems that they've changed to a different kind because the taste just wasn't the same. But don't get me wrong: It was still good and I still enjoyed sitting on the porch watching the ocean in the distance and making snide remarks to the cute little red-headed cardinal that showed up to steal whatever food I brought to the table. (He failed.)

Then we headed to a church in Koloa that my mother in law enjoys for a Sunday service before taking a quick grocery run. (Well, my in-laws went in for groceries. The rest of us walked around Koloa while we waited.) Following lunch back at the house, we sunscreened ourselves and piled into the car to go on our adventure. We bumpity-bumped our way down a rutted road and parked near start of the Makauwahi Cave Trail, which we'd actually never taken before. We saw the cave (which required a quick scoot on the knees to enter) and heard about its history from the docent on-site and then continued on to Lida's Field of Dreams, which is a sanctuary for wild tortoises. While there we encountered and interacted with several giant tortoises. (Fun fact: despite the reputation of the average turtle, these suckers can move pretty quickly! It was cool to watch them scooting along.)

From there we walked over to Gillin's Beach (which is a section of the broader Mahaulepu Beach). Our plan was to just walk along the sand and perhaps let the waves graze our toes, but the second Isaac and Brady felt the ocean water it was game on. Brady, for some reason I don't understand, decided that he wanted to plank in the water, so he did that. Not to be outdone, Isaac too began planking. At some point they were both smacked with waves. They were soaked and had pockets filled with sand by the time we left. It was messy for sure, but the joy on their faces as they splashed and threw fistfuls of sand into the ocean and maniacally laughed as the water rose and fell made me laugh. That joyfulness is priceless.

And then it was to Mango's for shave ice (cherry and pineapple for me, if you're keeping track), and then back to the house to shower and settle in for the evening. We dined on nachos and enjoyed the sound of wind ruffling the trees in the yard and on the golf course. 

All in all, it was a beautiful day. And I am grateful for it.

June 1

We arose early this morning, piled into the car, and drove to Oakland while munching on Mickey D's McMuffins. Our final destination: Kaua'i, following a brief stopover in Honolulu.

We've had some doozies when it comes to travel experiences, so I feel very blessed to report that both of our flights were on time. In fact, the first leg actually touched down 45 minutes ahead of schedule. ("Dogs and cats living together" kind of stuff right there.)

Anyway, our bags came out mercifully quickly and we headed out to the curb, where Adam's dad picked us up and shuttled us to the house lickety split. We hung around admiring the view for a little while before the boys changed into their trunks and we strolled over to the Club pools. I walked around for a short time checking to see what had changed since we were last here in 2019 before joining Abby and my in-laws beside the pools.

After Isaac pursued a chicken (center image) I enjoyed a lower octane version of one of my father-in-law's famous mai tais before we all sat down to a dinner of ribs and corn on the cob. Then after dinner we headed over to Uncle's Shave Ice for our first icy treat of the trip. As usual, I chose my trusty cherry and vanilla combo. Also as usual, the boys picked the most disgusting-sounding combination the could think so and then scarfed them down.

I would and could say more, but truthfully, I've fallen asleep twice while typing just this much. So for good travel days and for the week to come, I am thankful.