Wishing You A Happy Memorial Day

A Hawaiian Second Honeymoon!

Dave and I had the privilege of spending 2 glorious weeks in Hawaii for our 30^th Wedding Anniversary!  Looking back over the years, it has been quite a journey.  Every marriage has its ups and downs, but it seems like few people commit to making it through them any more. Dave and I are truly best friends, and more in love today than we were 30 years ago, simply because we’ve grown a little wiser, endured many hardships, laughed together, cried together, got mad at each, made up (that’s the fun part) and determined from the day of our wedding that we would see it through!  Recently someone asked me what the secret to our marriage was.  I answered,  “For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do us part.”  We said those words 30 years ago on May 2^nd, and plan to stick by them for the next 30.  It’s not always easy, but it is worth the effort to invest in your marriage.

The man I love!

We have been planning this Happy Hawaii event for over 5 years now, saving, dreaming, talking about it.  And it truly ended up to be everything we imagined and more.  My sweet hubby spent hours researching and putting this trip together to make it extra special.
I’d thought I’d share some of our pics from the trip with you, so you could have just a little taste of our vacation.

The first part of our trip we spent in Kauai and it was a busy week.
  Here are a few of the hightlights:

Finding secret beaches at 6 am in the morning since we couldn't sleep because of the time change.

A trip to the Kilauea lighthouse

 
An ATV ride through a gorgeous Kaui ranch

A Sunset Cruise along the Napali Coast

After a wonderful week in Kauai, we headed off to Lanai, an island we had never visited before.  We weren’t sure what to expect and had had so much fun in Kauai, that we wondered if we should have spent both weeks there.  In getting off the plane, we instantly realized that Lanai is a true paradise on earth.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  We stayed in the Lodge at Koele, which is a Four Seasons Resort.  Talk about being treated like royalty!  When we got to the hotel, they presented us with Hawaiian leis, a warm cloth to wipe our hands and face, and a glass of pineapple orange juice.  It was amazing.  Evidently they knew it was our 30^th Anniversary, because they upgraded us to a room that had the best view over the grounds of any room in the entire place.  The staff was so friendly, and they waited on us hand and foot the entire time we were there.  I am sure it will spoil everyday life for us forever!

View from our room window and lanai

The week in Lanai was spent relaxing more, laying on the beach, or by the pool, and catching up on some reading, although we did do some exploring as well.

Hiking Munro Trail

This is a Jackson's Chameleon that we came across on our way back.

This little cardinal became our daily visitor as we had coffee on the lanai outside our room.

I encourage you to invest in your marriage.  Sometimes it’s hard when you still have children at home, and their demands are pulling you all different directions.  Even in the busyness, plan time for you and your spouse.  Don’t wait.  Too many times I hear that once the kids are gone and couples are now empty nesters, that they don’t have anything in common anymore because they never took the time to invest in one another all along.  Plan that date night regularly, and make your marriage a priority.  It will be an example to your children of your commitment to each other.
It will also be well worth it when you are celebrating your 30 years or more together!

Janna

Making Memories to Last a Lifetime

You may remember that Janna and I have another sister who lives in Belgrade, MT.  She is between us in age and ahead of us in the creativity department.  In April of 2006, Barb sent me a birthday card telling me of a tradition she wanted to start of sending the same birthday card back and forth to one another.  The idea was to attach a note including an interesting thing that had happened that year along with any other family news or tidbits.  I was completely intrigued by the idea, and tucked the card away where I would remember to get it out for her December birthday.  When December came, I not only remembered that I that was returning the card, but also found it (wonder of wonders) and included my newsy note.  Year after year we have sent the card back and forth.  It took about four years to completely cover the card with our notes.  Then we started attaching pages with staples and paper clips.

In April of this year, I was somewhat surprised to receive a package in the mail from Barb.  When I opened it, I saw that our birthday card had been converted to a “birthday notebook”.  She had cleverly decorated the front of a spiral bound blank page notebook.  On the first page, the original card was displayed.  And on the pages following, she attached the notes, now separated, each one on its own page. 

I cannot tell you what a treasure this has become.  As I review the notes, I see that all kinds of things have been documented over the past 5 years.  The 400^th birthday of the founding of Jamestown on April 29, 1607 (April 29^th is my birthday.  I may look like it some days, but I was not born in 1607), current books we are reading, results of presidential elections, movies of interest, new hobbies we are pursuing, national disasters such as Katrina, as well as the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan this year, what our kids are doing,  and the loss of our grandmother.  Along with these bits of historical journaling, we have shared our lives and hearts with each other. 

 Each year I look forward to getting the card in the mail and seeing what news will be included.  As I take a few minutes to read over the notes we have written to one another, I am grateful for a sister who had such an awesome idea and for the many ways she has enriched my life.  Our goal is to send the card/notebook back and forth for 20 years.  I will be 75 then.   I keep you “posted” when we make it!

RomaLee

It's in the Valley's I Grow!

I've always loved this poem, and so decided to share it with you this week.  I hope it's a blessing to all of you who may be in the valley right now. ~ Janna 

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe,

It's then I have to remember

That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

I would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn

And my growth is very slow,

Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing.

My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing

When I picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valley's I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

Written by Jan Eggleston