Given My Wings.

Sketch. Paint. Run. Hike. Sew. Design. Sculpt. Bike. Swim. Cook. Laugh. Dance. Rock Climb. Surf. Pray. Yoga. Learn Guitar. Play Piano. Dinner Party. Tea Party. Garden. Love. Sing. Photograph. Learn. Play.

I'm hoping to do more of these things this coming year.

2009 wasn't my favourite, but I do know that it often takes hardship to get us where we need to be. Had I not faced the challenges that 2009 dealt, I wouldn't be in the process of starting something new. I wouldn't realize how much I value my family and friends. I wouldn't rest in the arms of my loving God.

There were times over this past year that I felt completely lost. When you feel lost, you search.

In my searching I found God and He gave me an excitement for my future that I haven't felt since before realizing my dream of becoming a doctor wasn't God's plan for my life.

The year was difficult, it forced some tough questions and rendered some heart-breaking answers (and I'm not out of the "woods" yet), but my life has been given a direction, I have been given fresh hope and an excitement that just isn't going away. God has set my foot on a new path, and he keeps on showing me that it is good.

Hindsight delivers a realization that I have been feeling lost for quite some time, and I am sure that much of the depression I have been dealing with over the years has been greatly due to that (major revelation just now).

Stress and hardship build strength. They can force you towards a new path. Comfort can't do that. Instead, it can often breed laziness and taking things for granted. When times are easy, we pat ourselves on the back. When times are hard, we're brought to our knees (and even our faces)...

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

                   Isaiah 40:29-31

I am weary but You're increasing my strength, You've put me up on wings like eagles. My prayer is that I will love bigger than I ever have before and learn to really live.

Spending My Life On the Couch, Or Not.

I'm about 4 pages deep in my "Young, Broke and Fabulous" book, and have scribbled about 3 pages of notes... it's been a while since my last distance ed. class- clearly I've forgotten how to summarize.

Even though I should be trying to be good with my money right now, I'm in denial. Quirky, silly stuff is my downfall. Today I bought Scotty a $3 "Obama" t-shirt from one of the million "ABC" stores because I thought it was funny. Suze (the author) would probably b---- slap me.


I'm not feeling burnt-out any longer and there's a big part of me that it ready to jump back into those crazy work weeks, even though I would most likely find myself on a crash-and-burn course in 3 days. I think a big part of it is that I am worried about having free time. I know I need to have a game plan for all that empty space in my day planner (anal much?). I'm hoping to compile a list of all the things I wanted to do but didn't have time for as well as all the things I wanted to try but was too chicken (triathlon? dance classes?) and then I'll let that overly-organized part of myself loose to set some mini-goals so that I don't have so much empty free time (to me: empty free time=wasting time doing nothing=depression=being struck in a rut). I want to make the most of these moments God is giving me. I've never felt more rested than after working on something I'm truly passionate about and/or finding a little adventure. I know I need to approach my job and life differently, I need to make sure that my "off time" allows me to recharge my batteries so that I can bring more to the table with the girls I work with, to my friends, family and husband. God has really been putting it on my heart to be more intentional. I don't want to miss out simply because I'm stretched to thin.

We went to a Christmas Eve (actually it was the eve of Christmas Eve) service at New Hope church. About 10,000 people attend (hence the eve-eve service) and it was easy to see why. They have a huge list of ministries that members can get involved in including, creative design, dance ministry (from hip hop to hula), jujitsu, prison ministry, surf, and video/play production just to name a few. The Christmas Eve production featured singers, hip-hop, hula dancers, drama and my favourite part was when two guys came out on the electric guitar and did the Trans-Siberian orchestra "Christmas Canon." Domi and Ang said that one of the past productions featured the skate ministry and they had a half-pipe on the stage! To get an idea of the kind of productions this church puts on, you have to watch this video (click here mom) and be prepared: the you might even feel the Spirit move through Youtube... I think a huge reason why this church is growing so rapidly is that the congregation is so involved (Domi was part of the outrigger canoe club)- members can discover their passions and gifts (outside the regular musical and drama gifts that most churches value) and meet other people who love God while doing it (I think a lot of churches can learn from what God is doing in Oahu).

Anyways, at the Christmas Eve service the pastor said, "A lot of you put so much effort into making a living that you never make a life." My eyes immediately started stinging and I had to bite down hard on my tongue. That one line stuck with me and I've been turning it over and over in my head ever since.

I don't believe anything to be coincidence. Hawaii isn't just a vacation, God has been doing much work in my heart leading up to coming here. This time will serve as a break and the opportunity to step back from my life and really examine it in light of the Spirit pushing me to live intentionally rather than simply survive- to make life and not just a living. I've been so bogged down that I couldn't see what needed to be changed... God is beginning to show me that.

He needed to bring me to broken so that I could see that this isn't working.

(** didn't that video give you goosebumps?**)

Mowgli love couch

Man I miss this little guy. Kind of want someone to put their phone on speaker so that I can talk to him and hear him meow in the background... crazy cat lady? Yes.

We got this couch from the side of the road last spring. Red velvet- mmmmm. The mainland is the BEST place for free furniture in spring, and I might live in the mecca. Tsawwassen does the most amazing spring cleaning every April. People get rid of CRAZY good stuff. Got my pink flippers, Laurentian bike, lawn chairs, and some lamp shades just to name a few.

Mowgli loves the red velvet and straddles the back of that thing daily. He wants to get maximum contact between his body and the velvet. He slithers back and forth across the back of the couch in this position, and rubs all his fur off on it, so I gotta have hella lint rollers on hand.

Week two in Hawaii. I'm beginning to loosen up a bit... man I was wound tight.

Scotty answered the door the other morning to a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses and totally startled the ladies. One of them said, "Oh, this isn't a Filipino home?" (we're in a Filipino neighbourhood). She practically threw a tract at him and ran.

Bananas.

Merry Christmas One and all!

Originally, I had thought that Scotty and I would totally forgo the gifts this year, but it turned out that our gracious hosts were totally available to spend the day with us! So Christmas Eve, while the guys went to the Hawaii Bowl, Ang and I set out to make Christmas in Kalihi special.

Turns out that when you don't put any expectations on Christmas and don't take the gift portion very seriously, it makes for a pretty damn great day.

We got back from the North Shore around 2 pm.

A note to my ladies in newer relationships: you can get what you wanted or get a surprise, but never both. I tend to opt for having my expectations met... note the handwriting.

Very personalized. What a nice touch.

My favourite nickname on here is "squishy bottom"... the slightly insulting, albeit not intentionally so, love-talk makes it more authentic.

On Christmas Eve, after returning from one heck of a Filipino Christmas Eve party (that also will be featured on here mom), we tried really hard to convince the boys it would be a good idea to open our stockings right then.
Wouldn't want to put any undue strain on the wall... those stockings look pretty full.
Domi and Ang did open one gift: Christmas pj's. I would feel a little inferior to them, but they're newly weds... it's okay for them to be better.
Turns out that Scotty brought plaid pants too... so I was the only odd one out in my gold satin pants.

It's okay that I'm different.
Dog the Bounty Hunter *may* have helped Santa stuff my stocking... maybe there's a fugitive in there.
We tried our darnedest to convince the boys to open the stockings that night, they just gave us this look.

Fare game.

They were right, it was better on Christmas Day.
We didn't have a Christmas tree, so Santa stacked our stuff up on the bistro.
Domi actually got Ang this gift himself, and wrapped it. I appreciate that he was being thrifty and environmentally friendly.
Prior to gift opening, the Canadians limbered up with a little dance party... the local ignored our shenanigans. We can't help but be nerdy tourists.
Scotty dresses in a lot of free t-shirts and clothing he's had for at least 10 years. He could care less about fashion, but many would be surprised to know that he uses a Ralph Lauren towel whenever he goes to the beach. He's had that thing since I met him back in '98. We've been making fun of him pretty hard for his pretentious designer towel, and then on Christmas Eve, when walking into the outlet, Ang burst into a fit of laughter and pointed to a big stack of them on display.
Scotty was really impressed that we actually found the same towel (and for $12). I picked one up for myself (a plain turquoise one... don't wanna steal his thunder with the teddy bear) because I want to look pretentious too.

Domi couldn't wait to see what we got him.

Yep. They're pretty cute.

"First-Christmas-as-a-newlywed-couple-ornament" for Ang. Domi brought his game!

She had a little trouble spelling her name. Happens to us all. I won't judge, Tiger's put her through so much.

That was so nice of you Barack- it really made his day.

Every 5 minutes, the ad for this cologne comes on TV. At first I thought it was a screw-up in the cable provider... it's pretty graphic (I'm sure you can youtube it). It came on so much that it became laughable... especially because we tried to convince Scotty that it would attract all the aquatic life if he put it on before snorkeling (but the joke came out funnier). Plus it's "Sexy x2."

Scotty sprayed some on his armpit (confused at what to actually do with cologne) when he got it and sent Domi's allergies into overdrive for the next 2 hours... good thing it was only 99 cents (or maybe that's why the allergic reaction).
For the little person in the tummy... some people name their unborn baby "peanut" or "pea" or some other type of food... after this shot was taken, Angela lovingly named her bump "Spiderman."

Then Scotty named his holiday weight gain bump "Doctor Octopus."
You would almost think I didn't pick it out.
We gifted Ang this little pram necklace from New York. Bought at my new favourite shop on the island "House of Leaves." The wheels even work... the mama-to-be liked it quite a lot.
Then, "Bam," I was smacked in the face with a gift from the Doliente's that made me jump up and start chanting....

"I'M GOING TO 'STOMP!' I'M GOING TO 'STOMP!'" over and over and over again. When it didn't seem like things were going to settle down (they were escalating) someone (one of the boys) told me to sit down (couldn't tell you who, everything was a blur to me after getting that gift).
The cherry on top was that Ang flew up just about as quickly as I did to join in on the panic-dance... even though she's the one who gave the gift.
I paid back the excitement with these muumuu's for both of us.
Hawaii doesn't know what hit them.
When I pulled this out of my stocking (bought by Ang at Kmart the day before), Domi burst into laughter in the middle of taking my picture... tourists are fun. What Hawaiian would buy this for their friend's stocking?

You're welcome.

Couldn't pass up on getting "Spiderman" (they have no idea what the sex of the baby is FYI) these little polo shoes even though Domi says Ralph Lauren is "too white" for him. They'll have to figure out a plan for dressing the baby... like sunday-tuesdays and alternating saturdays the baby gets to dress Hawaiian/Filipino and the other days Ang gets to dress it "preppy white kid."
I stuffed my own stocking, yet I still find the gifts funny.

Traditionally, others wait for my reaction to my gifts. This year, I got to see what others' reactions were to my gifts.

And before you judge the "can-cozy"-I find thong swimwear funny. I took a lot of pictures of them in Cuba last year. Butt cheeks make me giggle... Merry Christmas.
The full extent of my score. Bit of a leopard print scheme happening.

Think I'm singing the themesong to "Three's Company" here

Despite appearances, I swear I am not under the influence of anything (I've been partying with a pregnant girl). Scotty made the comment last night while the pack of 20 hyena's started up into another laughing fit, "I would say that you girls are just laughing because you're overtired, but that's not even true. You guys wake up in the morning like this and it just continues all day."

Welcome to CIT '98.

Did You See That!?!

Christmas Morning we woke up at 7am and headed to the North Shore. There was word that the waves were 40-50 ft.... WHAT!?!?!

First stop was the rock-point-cliff-thing that was featured in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (the one they jumped off). It looked a lot different with all the huge waves crashing around. Ang cleverly pointed out that it was Hawaii's version of a "White Christmas" with all the foam... clever Ang.

We were having fun snappin' pics and then Domi said "it's gonna rain" and started walking back to the car... within 30 seconds the rain started to fall, and then got pretty heavy. The pregnant lady (Ang) darted ahead sprinting for the car, while I trotted along behind her yelling for her not to run.
Made it back to the car (last) and headed for breakfast at Ted's- a favourite among locals.

Spam and Eggs (and fried rice)... they really make that here.
I've been waking up every morning with sore abs. I assumed it was the surfing one day and paddle boarding the next day, but we did no activities on Christmas Day and I still woke up sore... then I realized it's from all the laughing. I'll admit that I have a ridiculous laugh. People often laugh at my laugh... now there's two of us. It sounds like a pack of 20 hyena's all day every day.
Domi's face says it all.

While the waves weren't 40-50 ft- they were big enough to shut the beach down. Domi said they were probably about 25ft, but they would call them 10ft? I guess they under exaggerate here.

We got to see them from every angle.
There were so many lunatics climbing under the red tape to go surf.

We weren't the only ones watching the surf on Christmas morning.

I even got a video of one of the best rides by total fluke. If you listen, you'll hear Scotty singing some song he made up... he does that a lot. There was so much mist in the air that it's kinda foggy... but it's still the coolest thing I've ever seen.