Half a Heart

Would you pluck a fish out of the ocean and plop it on the sand, expecting it to grow legs to survive? That's how I feel. Like a plucked fish on land. I need to exchange my sea legs for snow boots.
I spoke to my sister when I got into Peoria...She urged me to call my grandfather ASAP. "He's been crying since your car pulled out," she says. "He's not sleeping, eating or going out with friends because he misses you." Why don't you just fillet my heart?
My brain's on autopilot: Make dinner, unpack, get the house in order for the kids, et cetera. I can't let it communicate with my heart much because I'll break down.
Half my heart is floating over the Pacific Ocean, broken in a gazillion pieces to latch onto each family member I love (my stepdad [who's more like my dad], mom, sister, brother, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins)...the other is here with Jeff. It's hard to function with just half a heart!

Ohana Christmas

I spent Christmas Eve re-connecting with family I haven't seen in over a decade...and also connecting with family I've never met before. Lots of hugs...game playing...and spectacular food. My heart will always be torn in two, with a portion in the Midwest and the largest part here in Hawaii. The island of Oahu will always be my home. I have mixed feelings about abandoning my island heritage and my family to plant roots in Central Illinois. But someday I'll return to Hawaii for good with Jeff and my kids in tow--even if it takes a decade to return home!

Alas, here's a snapshot of the centerpiece my mom purchased for my dining room table. I don't know why she warned me about it beforehand and made it sound scary! Her goal is to class up my house. So she bought me a beautiful candle stand & salt-and-pepper shakers from William-Sonoma, along with a red table runner and kitchen towels. She (along with my stepdad and brother) also wants to buy us a new sofa but I asked her for bedroom furniture instead. I've been doing without a dresser and bed headboard for years...our bedroom looks like a dumping ground for Goodwill. So I'd like it to be a little nicer...

Since Jeff & I are getting furniture as our big gift, we just opened a few gifts and watched my family tear open presents--it was hilarious. My mom got two designer purses and squealed, "You can never have too many purses or shoes!" Oh goodness...this is where I get my purse fetish. Jeff and I stepped into the Kate Spade store along Waikiki and my palms got sweaty. I thought, ok it's between my purse habit or adopting a baby. I guess I'll take the baby. 
I hope you're enjoying lots of time with family this Christmas season! I'm wishing you lots of love and aloha from my hometown. I'm praying for ice in Chicago so that our plane is delayed!

Hungry for Hawaii

Snorkeling all day in Hanauma Bay made me hungry for Hawaii's soul food--poke. World renown chefs are adapting this island specialty as their own--chopped up pieces of raw fish marinated in spices and herbs...and often mixed with seaweed and other relish. Jeff's afraid I'll get mercury poisoning because I'm stuffing my face with this stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner! It's hard to resist when I know I won't get it back in Peoria.

The cuisine in Hawaii makes me cry, I've missed it so much. Here's a sample menu of what I've eaten today: Breakfast: bagels with guava cream cheese and pass-o-guava juice (I had malasadas yesterday); Lunch: taco poke (raw octopus pieces marinated in hot spices and onions), spam & rice, and butter mochi; Dinner: Salmon poke (raw salmon marinated in an onion relish and soy sauce). Dessert: mochi marinated in a sweet teriyaki sauce. The other night Jeff pleaded, "Could we please have chicken wings or something normal for a change?" Ahhhh....normal is such a relative term. 

Holiday Lights Tour

If you ever plan to spend the Christmas season on Oahu, you should go on an evening boat tour of Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Navy offers free, 30-minute boat tours during three days in December featuring Christmas music...The boats glide past submarines that are decked out in dazzling red and green lights. Jeff caught his first glimpse of the USS Arizona and wandered through the museum. Hawaii boasts an impressive fleet of submarines...I didn't even realize until last night how many the island had.  

Of course, the big news on the island now is the impending arrival of President Obama. There's a no-fly zone stretching over a ten-mile radius of Kailua, so Jeff and I thought we'd head to Kailua Beach before Obama's scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. Lord knows how many restrictions the Secret Service will impose when he arrives! Most presidents stay at Ford Island when they visit Hawaii...but Obama's a local and I'm sure he wants his kids to enjoy the beaches and hang-outs he did as a child. Maybe I'll bump into him at Leonard's when I grab my malasadas tomorrow! (If you're from Hawaii, you know what I'm talking about)...

Surf's Up!

Every winter, the North Shore on Oahu serves up some of the most impressive ocean swells in the world. For a lot of residents on the island, this only means one thing: Surf's Up! This afternoon, Jeff and I sprawled out on Waimea Beach, mesmerized by those who were daring enough to ride the waves. The month of December can bring swells of 25 feet and higher. Jeff wasn't expert enough to even attempt to get on a board there...

But he did surf at Waikiki Beach! He rented a surf board for two hours...but he couldn't quite make it an hour without quitting. Did I mention we're both terribly out of shape? Once he caught a wave, he called it good. 

Waikiki Beach is renown for being a tourist trap, but it's also the spot where surfing has its ancestral roots. The Hawaiian Kings surfed there...and it's also one of the best places for beginning surfers because the waves are so rolling and gentle. 

Jeff can't get enough of the water...I can't get enough of the sun. He's trying to convince me to go deep sea diving. I think I'll stick to the land, thank you!

Do No Harm

I'm super geeked out on LOST--you know, the most brilliant TV show ever made?! I'm thrilled that the show is filmed on my island of Oahu. While Jeff is fast asleep--can you believe I still wake up at 4:45am Hawaii time?--I'm doing some serious research to find all the LOST locations I can on the island.

And I was psyched to discover that two Christmases ago, when my family took us to the Kahala Resort restaurant as a post-wedding celebration, the same spot where we snapped photos turned out to be the exact place where Jack's flashback wedding scene was filmed in the episode Do No Harm. They exchanged vows at this exact Koko Head gazebo Jeff and I are at!!! Is that the coolest?

And here's a snapshot of Jeff at the crash site of Oceanic Flight 815--Mokule'ia Beach. When my stepdad returned home from work last night, he told me that a patient of his (who works as a teacher at Waipahu High School) got to sit through a day of filming for the upcoming season of LOST. They apparently turned her classroom into a principal's office for the final season (her scene should appear in an episode airing in February). She said the guy who plays John Locke is incredibly nice and by far the sweetest of the actors. They all signed an autographed picture for her and she made a copy for me. I'm so thrilled. It will be proudly displayed on my desk at work!
Ok I'm signing off for now to wake up my husband. I can't take it any longer! I've got the island scoped out for cool photo ops!

O Christmas Tree

I kid you not when I say we've got the tree Jeff grew up with as a child in our home. Even worse--it's decorated with the same ornaments Jeff grew up with, too! Please rescue me from the '70's tree. I'm having an ornament give-away--for those of you interested in angel doilies and Santa trolls, please email me. It's all yours! I'll even throw in the wooden Big Bird ornament, although my husband would probably argue it's an antique.
The day after Jeff's birthday we celebrated an early Christmas with Max and Laney. My life has been spinning at 150 mph ever since this weekend. I've got at least ten things a day to do to check off on my list.

It was definitely not wise of me to accept a freelance writing job on top of my daily work and family responsibilities! Tonight I conducted a phone interview while chopping onions for my bake potato soup after flying in the door from the bank, Wal-Mart, and Kroger. I don't remember the last time I was this busy...it's a little overwhelming to get everything done by Christmas, isn't it?
It's the only time of year I wish I was a man--no pressure to bake, wrap gifts beautifully, cook and clean, pick the perfect presents...the list goes on and on. Tonight I'm taking a nice long break to try to regain some peace to celebrate the true meaning of the season amid the madness!

365 Reasons Why...

37 years ago my husband wailed into the world. I'm forever grateful that my in-laws met, made, and raised such an incredible man. No one makes my heart sing like Jeff does. No one makes me laugh harder or drives me crazier, either.
Jeff restores my faith in men every day. He's so good-hearted, faithful, and FUN!
The two little loves of his life concur. Max and Delaney decorated a can entitled "365 Reasons Why We Love You," and inside they wrote on several slips of paper reasons why they appreciate their dad, so when he's having a bad day he can pull out a slip of paper and get a little lift.

I was kind of surprised by some of the things they wrote:
"You don't let us eat junk food all the time like some dads do."
"You tuck us in at night and give good hugs and kisses."
"You take time to do devotions with us."
"You play games with us."
"You're funny and teach us magic tricks."
"You love the Lord and take us to church weekly."
And my personal favorite:
"You married Catherine." (And no, I did not make them write this)!
Happy Birthday, honey! You are well loved, admired and adored!

Snuggie vs. the Softie Wrap

For months, I said I wouldn't be caught dead in a Snuggie. But when the temperature dipped to zero, so did my will-power. Yesterday, as the wind howled at 45 mph, I found myself wrapped in a sensation that's swept the nation. And of course, I had to bring it to work to show it off to my co-host! Scott ridiculed my blanket with sleeves. So I had him try it on. What do you think? Is Scott pretty in pink?

Unbeknownst to me, Scott's wife purchased him a Snuggie knockoff called the "Softie Wrap." He got to try on his early Christmas present this morning! See that grin on his face? He mocks it but I know he loves it!
Did you cave, too, and buy yourself one of these for Christmas? I can't wait to wear it on the airplane! Of course, at that point my husband might request a seat a few aisles down!

...Not even a mouse

During the Christmas season I love to hear classics like "Breath of Heaven," a song told from Mary's perspective...and "Joseph's Lullaby," which offers a peek into Joseph's heart. But have you ever thought about the birth of Christ from the animal's perspectives as they watched history unfold in their stable? Over the weekend the kids performed in our church's annual Christmas program--this one entitled, "Not Even a Mouse."

It's a story of Sarah church mouse who learned about her ancestors, Hannah and Anna, and their trip to Bethlehem to witness the birth of the Messiah. Laney played one of the twin mice and Max played the part of the donkey. It was pretty cute...and I left the play meditating on 1 Cor. 1:28: He chose the lowly things of this world. Thank goodness He did!

Christmas Caroling

For some, it's an ancient and honored tradition. For others, it's a lesson in public humiliation. (Just kidding). My mother-in-law had the best of intentions when she tried to round up the family to go Christmas caroling in her neighborhood. Delaney's been begging to go and she didn't want to disappoint her. All the guys refused to participate--even my husband, who just hours before entertained a thousand church go-ers in an Elf costume! Go figure...

In any case, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law led Max and Delaney in singing "Joy to the World," "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" to some friends in the area...all of whom were pretty surprised when they opened their doors. No one wants to hear me sing, so I snapped photos instead!
My precious niece (who Jeff affectionately nicknamed "Beezus") kept belting out "Jingle Bells." She stole the show.
Have you gone Christmas caroling lately? I often think of it as a vanishing holiday tradition in this day and age.

J.Elf

No, you're not delusional. You really are looking at a picture of Jeff in an Elf costume! He read announcements in church decked out in elf gear for comedic effect. Delaney's squeal when he walked out on stage was priceless. My family's overdosing on holiday cheer this weekend. As I write this I'm blasting Amy Grant's Christmas music while the kids are tangled in Christmas lights...they're decorating our little Charlie Brown tree and poking fun at ornaments from Christmases past.

This holiday season I'm especially grateful for the dear friends Jeff and I have made over the years. We spent all of Friday and Saturday night gift swapping, playing games, and enjoying the company of a close group of friends we've treasured over the past three years. These friendships have enriched our lives beyond measure...But I can't say the same thing about the gifts we get at our annual "Goodwill Swap." Jeff brought home two large, ceramic Chinese lions which he proudly displayed on our fireplace mantel...to my chagrin! Seriously, if anyone wants 'em, send me an email before I take them back to Goodwill! Happy Hot-Chocolate Sipping, everyone!

Teddy Bear Christmas

'Tis the season of holiday parties, frantic shopping and Christmas programs galore. Jeff and I have one Christmas program down and three more to go to support the kids. Max and his classmates performed in a play called "Teddy Bear Christmas" on Tuesday. It was pretty cute and parents especially appreciated that it was short. Every play should have a 30 minute cap, you know what I'm saying? :) Max did a great job...

But of course his big sister, Delaney, egged him on by saying she thinks her play this Friday will be better than the one Max performed in. "I've got the lead role so I'm practically on stage the whole time," she explained. "And it's for a more mature audience." It took everything I had not to bust out laughing...Someone's gotta bring that drama queen back down to earth!

Thanksgiving

The flu slammed our family pre-Thanksgiving so I apologize for my absence in cyberspace! Here's a snapshot of the kids on Thanksgiving Day. Jeff was in heaven as we celebrated the holiday weekend with his extended family. I don't know anyone on earth who loves his family more than my husband. He could play game after game with his brothers 'till kingdom come. Meanwhile, my idea of holiday heaven is being locked away with my husband on a tropical island, enjoying his company without interruption.
I fell in love with Jeff around this time of year three years ago...what really drew me to him was his sacrificial love for his children and family. Little did I know I'd be signing up for an indefinite amount of snowy winters once we said "I do."
This is always a difficult season for me because I'm thousands of miles away from home. I broke out in tears last night, begging Jeff to let me move back to Hawaii. I don't know if I can handle another winter storm and I long to be with my loved ones. But my husband is a loyal family guy to the core, which I both love and hate. He can't imagine moving away from his kids until they're off to college.
I love Jeff enough to make this sacrifice for now...but let me tell you, I'm counting down the days 'till Max turns 18! Then I'll be saying so long to snow for good!