Waterfalls, Birthday, Baptism, Remodeling, and the New Land

October 25 - 9 Days Sugar-free

     Wow!  This has been an awesome weekend.  Here are some quick snippets of our high-lights:  

Hidden Waterfalls

     I like having visitors because it forces us away from our regular lives to do touristy things.  On Friday, our good friends the Robertsons came for a visit.  We had heard about a secret location near Hilo called Narnia Falls.  There is no exact address for these falls.  We needed a Local to pin a place on google maps where we could find the trail head. We drove up to the Pin, parked our vehicles near a chain fence, walked down an abandoned alley, and then to our right was a quading trail.  We followed the trail thru the back country for 35 mins, until we came to a water tower.  Here, we turned right, and started a descent into jungle.  Suddenly, we could hear rapids.  Excited that we may have actually found what we were searching for (not just on a wilderness walk, lost with no cell service-you start to wonder after 35 mins with directions like that) we began walking more briskly.  The jungle opened up into a beautiful clearing.  From our vantage point we could see 6 cascading waterfalls, completely secluded, and untouched by man.  It was like a picture out of a movie.  Just amazing!  

I would have liked to get more pictures, but it is impossible to swim and carry a camera at the same time.  You will just have to come visit and see it for yourself :)

     We climbed down the lava rock, and swam across the first pool.  The water was cool but refreshing.  Then we scaled the hillside, down some more rocks to the base of the closest waterfall.  We swam in it's pool, and explored for a couple hours.  We could have spent all day there.  The whole time, I couldn't believe that what we were doing and seeing was real. So grateful we took the risk to discover it.  A high-light of my life. 

I have a 13 year old!

   We had to rush back from the waterfall because we had planned a birthday surprise for Rebekah that afternoon.  We booked a horseback ride for her at Silver Crest Farms.  They took her on a trail ride through orchards, and up to an ocean look out.  They had a young Gypsy Vanner, that she was allowed to play with.  

 

     Rebekah has felt so deprived from her country life in Alberta.  She is in love with horses and has been riding for 5 years.  So this just made her weekend- couldn't stop smiling.

     I am still in shock that I am the parent of a 13 year old.  It wasn't that long ago that I was that age.  My 13th birthday was awful though.  I had planned to invite some friends over and go to the water slides.  But that morning, I was blessed with the arrival of my menstrual flow!  My mom had not warned me about it.  I was horrified to discover it only hours before people were suppose to be arriving.  Needless to say, we did not go to the water slides.  

Langford, BC before Bear Mountain

     My mom forgot to arrange for a cake, so "Happy Birthday" was sung to me over vanilla ice cream.  We ended up having a water fight at my house; coloring our hair with Koolaid (I chose purple, and  it took months to come out); exploring an abandoned cabin in my backyard, in which a bat flew out of a cranny, all 8 girls started screaming and running for the door hysterically, and then the bat got entangled in one persons hair); ending the night sleeping out on the trampoline, telling ghost stories, gossiping, playing truth or dare, and finally singing ourselves to sleep with camp songs.  It makes for a good laugh now.

Summer got Baptized

     My 8 year old daughter, Summer, decided to get baptized and become an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday.  We had the ordinance done at our local church building.  Our ward Ohana (family in Hawaiian) came to show their support and love.  The girls Summer's age brought homemade laies to place around her neck as an official welcome.  

     Our baptisms are performed by immersion (body is placed fully under the water).  After Summer came out of the water, and I was toweling her off, she did a fist pump into the air and shouted "Yeah, I'm finally baptized!"  She was very happy, and had been looking forward to this day for sometime.

Remodeling a foreclosure

     We bought a foreclosed home back in September.  It is 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, 1250 sq feet, and built in 1985.  We have spent the past few weeks remodeling it.  We installed new cabinets.  We gutted the bathrooms and updated them.  New light fixtures, windows, and flooring.  We put in a dehumidifier, and are spraying for pests.  I have been painting up a storm, with many blisters to show for it.  All fun bright colors-oranges, yellows, greens, aquas.  We move in on Oct 31.  So this upcoming week will be many late nights, cleaning, and moving.  Excited to have our own place again.

The New Land

     It is not a myth.  Hawaii indeed has hundreds of hectares of new land created by the volcano Kilauea.  This morning, Nathan and I took a walk along it's cliff edge in Kalapana.  Some radical Hawaiians have signs posted around it proclaiming the lands independence from the USA.  They call it the Kingdom of Hawaii. It is composed of stunning fields of smooth lava rock, with palm trees popping up here and there in the cracks.  There are pockets of clean black sand near the shore line.  

We are planning to return one morning to watch the sunrise.  Should be a romantic date on the eastern most tip of Hawaii.  We will make sure to wave to the Californians. 

This is the new land.  In the background, you can see the volcano Kilauea smoking (it's not cloud)

Black sand

I got drenched taking that last picture for you!

My heart is full.  

Chicken with an identity crisis

      Day 5 - no sugar, but I really wanted it.  

(I did find that nuts help to satisfy that craving)

      This morning, we were awoken by a hen crowing outside our bedroom window.  A hen with an identity crisis.  A hen that believes it is a rooster!   Raptor (name given to the hen by the property care taker) reliably performs the task of alerting us that the sun is up, every morning at 6 am. She crows and crows and crows and crows and crows and crows and crows and crows -you get the idea...like the alarm on that annoying clock that makes you grind your teeth every time it beeps!  Except ours in one that will never shut off.  

     I'd understand if it was a rooster, but it is indeed an egg-laying hen, a feral one that has decided to make the under belly of the deck, on our rental, it's  home.  I had accepted the fact that this hen will continue to do this until the day we leave... but today she crossed the line!  After waking Nathan and I up, she preceded to waddle over to every other bedroom window in this rental and do the same thing!  Within 15 mins the whole household had been awaken...every child. Now she had evoked the wrath of a parent.  A parent who values sleep.  A parent who knows the awfulness of a child awaken prematurely.  The entire day becomes an unraveling mess of tantrums, moodiness, arguing, whining.  Aaahhh!  We didn't know this rental already had a tenant.

    So, having found ourselves with an extra hour of time, we headed out on brisk walk.  The hen followed us down the driveway.  Nathan chased it back with an umbrella, which he wished was a taser.  

     This event led me to ponder the many roles I have in my life.  Mother, wife, student, child, daughter-in-law, sister, aunt, friend, teacher...I can't even name them all.  So many demands that can sometimes feel like they are stretching me too much.  My most time sensitive and important role feeling like mother. Hoping to gain some insight from their replies, I asked my children:  What do you think my most important job is as your mother? 

    Rebekah (13 yrs)- "I don't know.  Where's your phone?  I need it."

     Alanna (10 yrs) - "Give me a few seconds to think about that...I'd either say help us when we need help, or cheer us up when we are sad."

     Summer (8 yrs)- "To keep me safe."

     Dallin (5 yrs) - "To clean up the house and get me cereal."

      Assesment:  well, other than discovering that one of my children is far too entitled, I only heard what I already knew.  Nurture.  It comes way more naturally to me now than it did 13 years ago.  The first time I held a baby in my arms, it was a feeling of relief and panic... relief that I was finally no longer pregnant...panic because I was suddenly under the realization that I had no idea what I was doing.  I still worry that I'm running out of time to get them prepared and equipted to function independently from mom and dad.  It definitely takes a village to raise a child.  Hopefully they will have all the right people placed into their life path to help them become the best person they can be - athlete, musician, scientist, humanitarian, CEO, firefighter, parent, sibling - whatever the identity they choose.

      Changing the world one diaper change at a time! (I think that's a real quote)  So relieved I'm done with diapers :)  I still remember the day I changed 11 diapers within 8 hours!  It was a low point for me- lots of tears.  But oh so worth it!

Laundry and Friends

Day 4 - October 20 th, still no sugar :)

     Today was Laundry Day.  Yes, it gets it's own day in the week.  We have a minimum of 8 loads x 60 mins each = 8 hours, plus a couple more additional hours to gather & sort, and then to forget it's Laundry Day in between cycles.  

    With so many hours confined to the house, it gives me the perfect opportunity to make some phone calls.  Today I got to talk with 2 of my friends from back home. They were hour long conversations interrupted constantly by children needing food and kissed boo-boo's, people at the door, people wanting use of the very phone I was talking on...but it was all very delightful, and a real part of being a stay at home mom.  We seek support, comfort, and encouragement from others like us.  I need to know that I'm not the only one whose child thinks mommy's shirt is a kleenex.  I need to know that other peoples kids also spill everything they touch on the ground...is that a super power?  I need to know that after 13 years, I'm still not the only mom who is finding poo smeared underwear in her children's laundry baskets- that should just go straight into the garbage!  I need someone to tell me that it is okay that my son still has no sense of personal boundaries, and that the senior he is repeatedly bumping into at the Costco check-out line up is going to be okay too (even if it's not true).      Thank you friends!  I love you for telling me what I need to hear, to get me through the difficult moment, until I'm strong enough to handle the truth.  I love you for waiting to tell me the truth until you understand that I'm in a good place to receive constructive criticism.  Thank you for being sensitive to my feelings, and situation; and for not judging me.  We all know there are enough people out there in the world to put down and stomp on others.

     It is friends, who help me get through the monotony of housework.  Friends, who make me laugh so hard I cry.  Friends, who make my burdens light.  Friends, who help me never feel alone.  There is amazing power in true friendship.

  Found this anonymous quote on google.  With all my many moves, this sums it up pretty perfectly:

Lunch (all meal ideas are on a student budget)

Daily Exercise:  Lava Tree State Park.

 Minutes from my house, and yes the sign is hand painted.  That's just how we roll in Hawaii.  We seem to be stuck in the 1980's.  I have also seen signs advertising big community events written with spray paint on tarps, roped to trees.  

What is a Lava Tree?

To sum it up, a mold cast from lava when it hits a tree.

More pictures from our walk/skip/run/walk/run/stop/run/stop/walk/skip/push/run/sulk walk...

Dinner: Taco Tuesday!

Nature - my stress relief

DAY 3 - Monday, October 19th

Student Budget, Stress, and Nature
      So since we've moved to Hawaii, we've had to cut down on expenses.  We no longer subscribe to cable, we have cut down to one cell phone (that is shared by everyone-I know crazy!), and we have cut back to one vehicle.  Because the bus system is not reliable here (never comes when the schedule says it should), I have been driving Nathan into school every morning.
      Today, I decided that I would take advantage of being in town.  Dallin and I went on a nature walk through the gardens in Hilo, along the waterfront.  So glad we did!

Dallin loves to take selfies- I have to delete hundreds off the phone weekly.

     I forgot how much I love being in the outdoors.  There is something very healing about feeling warmth on your skin, and breathing fresh air.  I love hearing the sounds of the waves splashing against the rocks.  I love feeling the breeze as it whips through my hair.  I love looking at all of God's beautiful creations, and watching others enjoying them too.

Banyan Tree:  all the trees along this street were planted by famous people.
My 2 favorites are Amelia Earhart, and Cecil DeMille

     I feel so peaceful surrounded by nature- close to being at one with the universe.  Nature is a good outlet for me to be in when I need to relieve stress.  It takes me away from sugar, and gets me moving.  I feel I do my best resting and clearest thinking in the outdoors.  I can just exist.

      

     Dallin did not leave a single bridge undiscovered.  He walked along the sea wall, and chased the birds.

     On Coconut Island, there was a group of adults sweating through their morning work out...Dallin decided to join in running around the block, and doing stretches along side them.  I loved it!  I secretly wished that I had the guts to do all the same things...could you imagine how ridiculous that would be for an adult to do?! But probably very liberating to not be worried about what others think of me :)

The volcano in the background is called Mauna Kea.  Scientists have put large telescope on top because it boast the best star gazing from the northern hemisphere.  It is also a very sacred volcano to the Hawaiian people- birthing the island. It is rare to have such a good view of it- normally it's covered by billowy clouds.

Lunch

Dinner (left over from last night): Chilli on Cornbread

Pinterest
      For our Family Home Evening activity this evening, we decided to make a Halloween wreath from Pinterest.  I had discovered it four Halloweens ago, and was only now finally getting around to create one of my own.  I love Pinterest, but it's not because I'm a crafter, or creative.  I love to steal other people's great ideas! But I mostly love it because I am an organizational freak.  It gives me a thrill to sort through all those pins, hand select my favorites, and categorize them into my personal boards...just to look at.  Each board represents who I am.  But I rarely ever actually do anything with those wonderful boards.  Tonight was an exception- to the children's delight.
     Here's the final product, only cost $11:

Spiritual Health

Day 2  Sunday, Oct 18th

Exercise:  a 45 min walk this morning.  Love my walking buddy!

Breakfast was leftover oatmeal with strawberries and peanut butter toast
Dinner was chilli and cornbread.
Sorry, I was bad at taking pictures today.  This will also be a short entry because I have to fight for computer time with 5 other people.

    Today I wanted to address my spiritual health.  We quickly rushed into church at 1pm, and was stopped at the door by a bishopric member.  He put his arm around me and asked "Are you happy in Hawaii?"  Wow.  He caught me off guard.  I had just been arguing with Nathan in the car about our lack of time to accomplish our to-do list this week.  "I'd like to be"  I replied, "but I need some of the stress in my life to go away."
    There's that word again...Stress.  I thought, if I wait to be happy until my life is stress free, then I may never experience it.  So I need to choose to be happy right now, despite my circumstances.  I need to surround myself with good, uplifting people and things.  I need to smile more.  I need to count my blessings more.
   During the sacrament meeting, a 25 year old gave a talk about that exact message.  She said this quote by Mother Theresa, which I absolutely love:  "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love."

   Sometimes I  feel that the small things I do at home, and for those around me are really quite meaningless on the worlds scale of value.  But I just need to keep in mind the eternal perspective.  Remind myself that it is these small things done with great love that change people, change the world.  And most importantly, change me into my best self.
It's time:  for me to commit to reading my scriptures daily again.  To commit to more frequent personal prayer (on my knees, not laying down in bed half asleep).  I know that when I do these things, I will have enabling power and strength to conquer my cravings and temptations.  Many of which I had today!  But I said no!

Happy Day 2

 

It's time: to commit to make a change and JUST DO IT!

    Sugar-I love it! I hate it!  Few things give me more pleasure than browsing through all the holiday chocolates at Costco, and dreaming of opening each one- by myself, beside a fire, sampling and savoring.  Or going into an old fashion candy store...the smell in the air of fudge, ice cream, chocolate!  All the beautiful and bright packaging of sweets makes me feel so happy, and hungry.  I am definitely in love with sugar.  My husband should feel jealous.

    But I definitely hate it too (though my hate is usually short lived).  I hate what it does too my body after the high from eating it has worn off.  I hate the added weight.  I hate how much work goes into burning off the calories of a mere chocolate bar.  I hate that it makes me feel sluggish, unmotivated, and moody.  This relationship and struggle needs to end!  It's time.

       I have decided to finally commit today to living a longer, better, stronger, happier life.  It begins with my health.  A few mornings ago, I managed to eat 2 Pop Tarts, a bowl of Captain Crunch, Nutella on graham crackers, and 4 fruit-by-the-foots all before noon.  Feeling depressed about possessing no self-control, I suddenly broke down and began crying hysterically.  What is wrong with me?! I wondered and shouted all at the same time.  Why can't I say no to sugar?  I want to fit my clothes!  I want my wedding ring to fit my finger again! I want to stop struggling with temptation and weight! I want to feel healthy and beautiful! I want to live to be strong and free of health problems so that when I'm an old granny, I can still be independent, and play with my adorable grand kids (yes, I've already imagined time with them)!
      All my previous attempts at diets and work outs had been in vain.  With pathetic determination, I turned on a beginners cardio video on You Tube.  I cleared the floor and began my desperate attempt to burn some of the 2000 calories I had just consumed in the previous 4 hours.  15 calories in, I was out of breathe and failing to keep up with the instructor.  I ran to my bed, and collapsed in more tears and prayer.  "Please give me the strength to commit to change this time"... to say no to the things that are harmful to my health and well-being...to be a better wife, and mom...to be in charge of my life and not continue to let sugar reign supreme!

So I arised this morning...it's time.

DAY 1- Saturday, Oct 17th

      I knew I would need support to make my goals happen.  So that's how this blog came about.  I've never done one before, but I'm hoping it will help me feel accountable to myself and/or the bigger world out there...I will feel the need to continue to commit and not let us down :)
So here I am: makeup less, literally just hopped out of bed.  These are the classic before shots:

 

I suppose I could have tried to dress nicer for you, but when in Rome....or Hilo, do as the Hawaiians do!  No makeup.  No bra.  It gives you an amazing sense of freedom.

Next I went to the scale to record the classic weigh-in:

Always a bit discouraging, so I will only be weighing myself once a week.  I was 115 lbs fourteen years ago.  If you include pregnancies, I've put on, and lost over 160 lbs!  Crazy to think of it that way.  This is the most I have weighed since being pregnant.  I don't want to go back to 115 lbs...I was a teenager then, but I would like to be in a healthy weight range for my age and height...125-135 lbs.

What happened?

1. My love affair with sugar. I definitely turn to it for stress relief and comfort. As I've watched certain documentaries(see netflix: Forks Over Knives), they have pointed out the fact that sugar is addictive.  It has it's arms wrapped tightly around me.  Where are the pliers?
2. Age.  I am getting old.  My body cannot eat the way it use to when I was in my 20's.  I don't digest things the same way.  I need to feed it differently...learning how.
3. Baking.  I enjoy baking.  I have a talent for it.  But I also eat what I bake... a lot of it.  Body composition is formed 80% from what we eat, 20% by exercise.  I might need to find a new talent.
4. Boredom.  If I don't keep busy, I end up lounging around the house and eating.  I usually eat the snacks that are easiest to grab...something processed...equals low nutrition value, high calories.  I must fight this by choosing to keep busy in low stress activities...so that the sugar cycle doesn't continue.

Back to DAY 1

      My first resolve was to make myself a nutritious breakfast.  I walked out of the kitchen and began pulling out the supplies for homemade apple-cinnamon oatmeal.  I stepped on a puddle of melted ice cream that had found it's way to the floor last night during dessert.

     I place the apple I was about to slice up on the counter, and went to the laundry room to grab paper towel.  Minutes later, the mess was cleaned up off my foot and floor, but the apple was missing.  Puzzled, I though maybe I had misplaced it.  No....

Breakfast was yummy though...and sugar-free.

      On the schedule for today was a Health Expo at the Civic Auditorium presented by the Blue Zones Project.  Everything was free, and fun for the whole family.  We were given T-shirts and gift bags that included a copy of Dan Buettner's book The Blue Zones Solution.

     We each got to pick a fresh fruit or vege from a farmer's market stand... coming away with lime, chives, lettuce, bananas, dragon fruit, and ginger.  We got to choose plants to take home for our garden (wheat grass, pumpkin, and beans were our pick).  We sampled healthy foods made from recipes in his book.  We answered questions about health to win prizes.  There were cooking demos, and the kids pedaled a bike that powered a smoothie blender.  Did not have a chance to take advantage of the free 45 minute massages :(  But I did get a chance to have a free body composition analysis done.  It told me I needed to lose 5-9 lbs to be in the right weight zone for my age and height.  And a positive: I have the perfect amount of muscle mass.  I joined Nathan and the kids outside for Sumo, bounce houses, Velcro walls, face painting, bike rodeos, and photo booths...all free!  Nathan commented in shock that it was such a welcomed experience to attend a well organized event that he didn't once have to pull out his wallet for.  Such a fun, inspirational morning!

BLUE ZONES - what is this all about?  

        Dan Buettner was part of a team sponsored by National Geographic to do a 10 year study of communities around the world.  The purpose was to discover where people are living the longest and healthiest lives.  They found 5 places: Island of Ikaria in Greece, Island of Sardinia in Italy, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Island of Okinawa Japan, and Loma Linda California (Seventh Day Adventist community).  

       They then looked at what all these places and people had in common that was producing a longer, healthier life.  Factors included: strong social networks of 7 or more people (who they talked to face to face on a regular basis); low stress lives; continuing independence for as long as possible, and diet.

       Diet: 95% plant based.  People in Blue Zone areas eat fruits, vegetables, beans, tofu, lentils, nuts, and seeds.  These are rich with disease-fighting nutrients.  They also eat whole foods- foods not processed in factories.  They limit meat to 2-3 times a week.  They favor fish.  Dairy is also limited to 2-3 times a week.  Beans are the most important source of protein (eating 1 cup daily).  They snack on nuts and seeds.  They eat whole grain, or sour dough breads.  They eat no added sugar items, only things sweetened naturally or with honey.

      This is what I'm attempting to accomplish in my own life. My paternal grandparents lived and ate this way.

      That star is their Blue Zone.  They grew most all their food in a giant garden.  They had apple trees, and raspberry bushes.  I remember seeing rows of tomatoes ripening in their hallway. Meals were always made of delicious whole foods.  The only time I can even recall eating something processed was when my grandmother would buy ego waffles for a special treat Sunday mornings when the grandchildren were visiting.  She made buns, pies, cinnamon buns, and jams.  They snacked on a jar of sunflower seeds, and dried banana chips. They would fry up fish and wild game caught by the hunters in the family.  My grandparents lived a strong and active life style maintaining their home and yard.  It was relatively stress free and simple (possessing very few of the modern technology that we use to make our lives "easier" but yet, more complicated all at the same time).  No computer, no cell phones, no microwave.  The home was heated by a wood stove.  Laundry was hung to dry on a clothes line.  Their home was situated on a lake that they played in often.  It was also the place for many social gatherings.  They had a network of good neighbors and friends, who they daily talked with, or wrote weekly letters to.  They lived into their 80's, relatively disease-free, physically strong,and actively independent for most of that time.  It really wasn't until the last 5 years of their lives that they needed family/doctor care and support.  That appeals to me.  I don't want to be suffering for 15 + years with my health before I finally croak.  So... stronger, better, happier, healthier for longer!...that's the goal.

Lunch

      Exercise.  My goal is to do some everyday.  I will never be a runner.  I've tried, but I don't enjoy it. In fact, I dread it. I will acknowledge though, that when I have ran in the past, it is the quickest way I have seen desired results for my body.  I also love the way my body looks when I run.  But it is more than I can do right now.  So I'm currently going to stick to activities I love (self motivation)...hiking, walking, dancing, bike riding, adventuring.

   So with that spirit, this afternoon I opted to walk to the house we are remodeling instead of riding in the van with Nathan.  I had to time my expedition perfectly between the tropical rain storms we have been experiencing.  It was a beautiful stroll...so many pleasing sight for the eye and mind to behold out here in the volcanic jungle.

Dinner: Ginger Chicken and Bokchoy Stirfry 

      I spent the evening watching past Once Upon a Time episodes with the girls. This TV show is a huge hit in Hawaii, therefore a major topic of conversation at school.  We had never viewed it before, and I decided that we would start from season one- together!  (Groan from my 13 year old)
It was a good plan because my children have been quite horrified watching the happily ever afters of their beloved Disney characters shattered with violence.

      They made popcorn for us to share.  They are very good at helping me remember my commitments to health and no sugar.

Successful Day 1!  Yipee and Yahoo!