Missing You!

It's been almost 2 months since my sister visited with her whole family. I missed her the day she left. But I miss her even more now. We had so much fun having her in our home, playing with her kids and especially holding baby Maeve. My girls love to nurture and love other children. It was a fight to see who got to hold the baby next. It does feel so good to hold a baby, especially one as adorable as Maeve.

North to Kapalua

On Friday, after Whale Watching we hopped in the car and started driving North to a place called Kapalua. This is the place where the Ritz Carlton is situated along with a golf course called the Plantation. It's on this golf course that the PGA's first tournament is played every year. It's like $600 to play 18 holes of golf.
We stopped off at several different beaches.

We experienced snorkeling for the first time on one of these beaches.  I think it was Honolua Beach.  But I can't remember and I'm too lazy to pull out my Maui Revealed book to find out.

Snorkeling is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.  Especially when doing it for the first time.  Someone told me it was just like breathing but it had to be more complicated then that!  You could totally tell we were first timers.  We didn't know how to get out into the water without looking like complete retards.  I discovered that I had to be in the water before slipping on my flippers.  I knew I would be breathing through my mouth but I wasn't sure what was going to happen with my nose.  When I first went under I got a little frightened and sucked in with my nose causing my mask to suction to my face.  What a relief.  I thought to myself this is going to be easy!  And it was.  I didn't find out until almost the end of the trip that Brent was even more terrified then I was.  Of course he's to manly to tell me his true feelings. 

Beach hunting and snorkeling was a great way to end the day!!

I know landscape photos can be quite boring.  Well, get ready to be bored cuz most of this post is just of the beaches and ocean.   As I reviewed my photos I was sad that I didn't take MORE.  I always do that.  I never take enough photos. 
























Kapalua from a distance

Whale Watching!

The only thing I wanted to do in Hawaii was to see whales. Everything else we would do would just be a bonus.  Just as long as we got to see some whales. Boy, did I see whales!  I was shocked when driving from the airport to our hotel that I could see whales jumping in the ocean from the freeway. I thought,"That's not possible. I have to be on a boat to see one." Well, I was wrong. We saw whales from the freeway, from the beaches and from our hotel room. It was AMAZING!!! I feel so grateful for all the whales that I saw and the feeling that came from watching those magnificent creatures.


First in line, waiting to get on the boat!



Quintessential self portrait (which Brent loathes).



Looking out into the ocean, waiting...  For what?  
Notice Brent's super cute dimple?  I LOVE it!!



For the amazing show to start!!! 
This is the splash that followed the whale breaching!
Breathtaking, isn't it?



Another whale surfacing to breath.
Pictures just don't do justice to how spectacular these creatures truly are. 



A flying Fish!
Whales weren't the only things we experienced on the boat.  Leaving and returning back to the dock were schools of flying fish.  They would jump in front of the boat and fly outward from the bough.  It was almost whimsical to watch them.  I feel lucky to have gotten this photo of one.  Notice it's reflection in the calm ocean water?



I couldn't help but take a photo of the blue water. It was incredible how clear and distinct the color was. BREATHTAKING!!

The Adventure Begins!

Our adventure first started with a short plane ride from Salt Lake to Vegas.  Brooke, Brent's sister was gracious enough to pick us up from the airport, let us sleep in her bed, and then get up again at 4:00am in the morning to once again take a trip to the airport.  Much Mahalo to Brooke for making that sacrifice for us.  I LOVE being around Brooke.  She is super funny and such a joy to always be around.  I am so blessed to have so many great sister-in-laws.  We laughed all night long.  I wish I could have stayed up to laugh more, but bed called and so did Hawaii.


Me and Brooke
This photo also shows off my new hair cut!  Shorter then I requested, but still cute.



Stealing a Kiss
He hates it when I do that! 



So excited to be together.


Aside from the beach, our very first site seeing was done in a park, just in front of the harbor in down town Lahaina.  It's called Banyan Tree park due to the ginormous banyan tree that takes up the whole park.  It's one, solitude tree and it's pretty impressive.  We were there early enough to beat the crowds and lucky enough to get several pictures without a boat load of people.  The early bird sure does catch the worm, or the sites in our case.   We bought a book called Maui reveled and this park is featured in that book.  Luckily it was on the way to a much more important destination, Whale Watching with the Pacific Whale Foundation!!


Yes, it's one giant tree.



The main body of the tree.


Me, looking like such a tourist.

Back to Life, Back to Reality!!

Well, I'm home from Hawaii.  Back from watching whales breach at breakfast, watching whales from the freeway, watching whales from every beach in West Maui, snorkeling with turtles, hiking in lava fields, and driving the Hana Highway.  It was the most amazing experience of my entire life!  Being married to the hardest working tourist, he made sure we saw everything we possibly could while we were there.  And I am exhausted!  I need this weekend to recuperate from my vacation!  I can't wait to share with you this amazing adventure. 


The day before I left I had a nervous breakdown.  Full on with tears and boogers.  I cried to almost everyone on the phone.  I was making myself sick, literally, with worry.  It's hard leaving 6 kids behind.  I didn't worry so much about the kids, I knew they'd be fine.  I worried more for the people watching my children.  6 is a lot, I know that and I am so grateful to those that watched my kids.  All the finagaling that went into the schedules, backing bread, backing zucchini bread, making granola, and washing every last piece of clothing in the house, in addition to all the other bits and pieces that go into a trip was worth it.  All the worry before hand made my trip more enjoyable.  That and the confidence I had in those watching my kids.  I wont lie though, I did have to get a blessing before I left.  The stress was just too much. 


On my birthday Kevin texted to wish me a happy birthday.  I told him there was no better place to spend it.  He hoped I wasn't worrying about the kids.  I told him there was too much to do to even think about them.   I always end up worrying way more then is needed.  But isn't that what we do as mothers?  And in the end all the preparation, stress and worry is worth it. 

Tilapia and Mexican Rice

The other night was I late in getting dinner started. I wasn't sure what to do. I thought of what I had on hand and this is what I came up with. Tilapia seasoned with salt, pepper and chili powder and then broiled for just 8 minutes.  On the side, some spanish rice.  Which is so easy to make. 




Not only is it good looking, but it's good for you!

 For the fish:
1. Pre-heat oven to broil(high). Prepare a cookie sheet by covering it in foil.  Spray, or spread with your fingers, some oil.
2. Lay fish on prepared pan and sprinkle each fillet with salt, pepper and chili powder.  
3. Place cookie on wrack that is second from top.
4. Cook for just 7-8 minutes.

For Rice:
1.In a medium saucepan heat 1 TBL oil.
2. Add 1 onion, diced and 1 jalapeno pepper, diced.
3. Saute until just tender.
4. To softened veggies add 1 cup of rice and saute until they turn white and are toasted a bit.
5. Add 1 TBL chili powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2tsp garlic powder, and saute for about 3 minutes to toast the seasonings.
6. Add one can black beans that have been drained and rinsed, and 2 cups chicken broth.
7. Bring to a boil, cover with tight fitting lid, reduce heat to low(1), and let cook for 20 minutes.
8. After fluffing with a fork, add 3 green onions thinly sliced and 1/2 bunch of cilantro finely chopped.  

The fish is perfect for Fish Tacos!!  I would have done that but I had no corn tortillas or sour cream.  If you want to do fish tacos, finely dice an onion, to sour cream add the juice of a 1/2 lime, cilantro, salt, pepper, and finely slice some cabbage.  I heat my corn tortillas on a griddle.  Place largely diced fish first in tortilla, add sour cream, onion and cabbage.  The best Fish Tacos EVER!!!!
 

What's on my Mind

What does it mean to "put off the natural man"?  For me, that means letting go of one of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world, and I'm not exaggerating, because that's not something I do.   I love, love, love, love, to take my lunch downstairs and watch trash T.V.  More specifically, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Atlanta.  LOVE IT!! 

After attending Institute a couple of weeks ago things started to click in my brain.  Before healing can take place, we have to cleanse our Temples.  And that means putting off the natural man, letting go of Babylon.  Letting go of those things that are comfortable to us. 

And then it dawned on me, I have to let go of my trash t.v.  Those women represent EVERYTHING that I am trying so hard NOT to become.  They are the exact opposite of who I am trying to become. 

It's been hard for me.  Every time I put together my lunch, my first instinct is to head downstairs, hit the On Demand button and let myself tune out of the real world.  But when I do that I lose so much valuable time in the process.  Not only am I exposing myself to trash, I am being idle.  Ugh. 

Even though it's been hard, it's been a much more productive week for me.  I am getting so much more done around my home, it's amazing. 

But the most amazing thing about this whole experience, and I realize it's been just a week, is that I am closer to the spirit.  And that is my goal.  To do those things which will invite the spirit and help keep me close to Him.