Ko'olina

I am going through this experience twice-
both times through child's eyes.
I am an infant to all this. I have never lived somewhere tropical, been swimming in the ocean, or seen just magnificent foliage.
Noelle looks at everything eagerly. We took her for a walk in her hiking backpack to break it in and she just cooed the whole time. I TOTALLY know how she feels.
Everyday I feel SO grateful that i get to have this experience. It has made me appreciate the obvious blessings, but as my heart opens up in gratitude it remembers even more to be thankful for. Its the magic factor. When I first went to Europe I just felt humbled, given perspective, and like I was seeing this secret messages from Heavenly Father, sent just for me. I felt it again when I lived in Russia, and when I was at BYU. I have missed it.

Today was great. The legacy of the Monday luncheons lives on. (Thanks to Ariella the best hostess EVER and my inspiration). We had a small group from our ward come to our house. Other than the fact my house being WAY too hot it was really fun.

Jason called at lunch to check on me. I told him my face was melting off. I was sure if I looked in the mirror i would see my eyeball keeping level with my nose. Feeling spontaneous I insisted we go to the beach for FHE.

This is where I explain that I am the same person who went swimming at MIDNIGHT in a glacier lake. I am also the person who thought nothing of riding my bike to Chapel of the Sacred Heart to go swimming ALL by MYSELF in the middle of a storm. I also went swimming in a gushing waterfall, at night, and jumped from a rock. Then I got married and my thrill seeking ended.

So with that background information, please tell me why I am slightly nervous to swim in perfectly clear, perfectly safe water? I put on the snorkel and nearly died of a salty water overdose when a fish swam by. The ocean is their home you know. It wasn't like they invited me!

Noelle was equally eager, but unsure. I couldn't stop laughing at her. When we put her in the sand she tried to run because she doesn't like the feel of it on her feet. I waded out into the ocean with her and she seemed pretty intrigued with the waves, but insistent that her feet not get sandy. In fact as the water came in she would laugh, as the tide went back she fussed because she would see sand in between her toes. Funny baby!

We stayed until the sun was setting. It was magical, peaceful, and perfect. I am so excited to share this with people as they come to visit! (BTW The Maughan hotel is booked through November with the exception of July).