Hawaii nei

I'm having a fabulous week at home in Hawaii. Not much time to sit and relax, but that's ok.

Sunday: Arrived around noon. Like it was my first time to Hawaii, I sat in the plane with my nose pressed against the glass, taking in all the sights of the island and the ocean. Ted and Matt Stout picked me up, and they laughed at my goofy statements like "look, there's H-2!" and "look, there's the gulch!". Mom and I enjoyed our reunion with a long hug, and we talked story the rest of the day and night. I also started reading 6 months of mail, got through about 1/3 of it.

Monday: Met with Woody our contractor at 9am to review the repairs he did while we have been gone (more rain damage, so he replaced the siding on the driveway side, installed new windows and window sills in Amy's rooms). We discussed additional work to be done like wood laminate flooring downstairs, berber carpet the stairs and the upstairs bedrooms, remove upstairs wallpaper and paint, window coverings for the new upstairs windows, new stairway rail, ceiling fan for Mom's room, rain gutters. Also read more mail, got through most of it. And our home computer virus protection expired, so I bought a new one and installed it.

Tuesday: Got through the rest of the mail finally. Spent most of the day getting my church clerk files and records organized to give to Ellen who will be taking over this function. I've enjoyed this ministry but it's time to pass this one to someone else since I've been away for so long. I'm looking forward to new ministry and pray for God's direction, particularly with Dan returning in January, it will be interesting to see what God has in store for the both of us, together and individually. I took Mom to Longs and Safeway also, she doesn't get out much so this was great fun. And I did sneak in a few short naps today.

Wednesday: Met with Woody and 2 of his subcontractors to measure floors, discuss colors, etc. We'll meet on Friday at Lowes to select materials. Then I visiting church to drop off the church clerk materials to Ellen and visit with whoever. Janice made jook (chinese rice soup) and shared some with me - YUM! I miss local food so much. Hugs all around from Pat, Derrick, Ellen, Janice, and Lori and Michi from the preschool. I saw the new flat panel screens in the sanctuary and the new welcome booth, very nice. Then I had lunch with my bosses Deanna and Clyde, and they surprised me with 2 other co-workers joining us, Sean and Sungho. Next, a visit at my workplace to see everyone else, and answer a few questions from Azure who is helping my bosses while I'm gone. I miss them all so much and am so grateful for their gifts to us. Later, Mom and I enjoyed visits with good friends Carol Ann, and then Carlene who also brought local food! Dinner of beef stew and garlic shoyu chicken with rice and mac salad - yum!

Thursday: Taking Mom to the pulmonary doctor this morning, hope he can help her breathing and exhausting cough. I hope to dig in and do some serious cleaning upstairs and packing/sending Amy's stuff, in prep for the renovation work that will start next week.

Friday & Saturday: More cleaning, etc. then Saturday night we'll attend the church cantata.

Sunday: I want to see as many church friends as possible, so will attend 7am and 9:30am services, 9:30 with Mom, then try to see those going into the 10:45am service. I'll leave for the airport at 1pm, my flight departs at 3:15pm, and I will probably be asleep before the plane leaves the tarmack!

Gratefully,
Debbie