With all the flurry, excitement and gratitude for our new granddaughter, I am a little behind in my posts. However, catching up will be worth the wait. 
The third week of February, Tyson and Breanna, came to visit us in paradise. They left 8° weather and arrived in Hawaii to a utopian 80°.

Sunset Beach 

Laie Temple

Visitors Center

We introduced them to snorkeling at Turtle Bay and then they went off on their own adventures. 

They got some incredible underwater pictures of fish, turtles and an octopus. 

Our three Polynesians in their new ties!

Okay, this was just a funny experience. Scraping the barrel. Begging. Call it what you want.

Tyson, Breanna, Elder Cameron and I headed to Hanauma Bay to do some snorkeling. We had spent the morning at Aloha Stadium
checking out the swap meet. We got to the Bay in the afternoon (bad idea) and the sign said the parking lot was full. As we drove away, some cars came out. Figuring that would allow more in, Tyson turned around and tried to enter. The attendant wouldn't let us come in. Tyson explained several reasons why we should be admitted, but, we were denied. Not ready to give up, he asked if he could "drop his mother off and then they would come back out and walk from a different parking lot?" The attendant asked if we had a handicap sticker. No, we didn't. Here's my favorite, desperate part...Tyson said..."do you want to look at her?"

I about fell out of the car laughing. Did he really just say that? 

Needless to say, we did not get into the Bay.

Two days later, when the wind wasn't blowing and the waves weren't raucous, we left at 6 a.m. and got a prime parking spot at Hanauma
Bay, for a beautiful day of snorkeling! Life is good and so is never giving up! I love you, Tyson!

                                              Aloha 

                                      ~ February 25, 2016 ~

"Your newest granddaughter arrived IN THE LOBBY at 12:10. 
She weighs a healthy 7.13.  Both mom and baby are doing well."

Our son-in-law, Steve, let us know as soon as he could, considering such exciting circumstances. Looks like we have an over-achiever.

Kelsie Hurst~Aloha

From pigs to podiatry. Sweet, Sister Oostyen was limping, so, of course, I asked her why. She has plantar fasciitis and for those of you who have experienced it, know how much it hurts, especially, when you walk on it. Elder Cameron has experience with wrapping injured ankles and feet, so I offered his services. He made an "office call" and got her taped up.  Life is much better, when your feet don't hurt! 

Aloha

If you think animals have rights, you will want to skip this post.
Last Saturday, our Young Single Adult Branch had a pig roast. This is not the Polynesian tradition of burying and steaming the pig, overnight. This is.....dig hole, build a fire, truss a pig, and turn it for several hours over aforementioned fire. Then, turn a bunch of hungry kids loose to consume every, juicy, morsel. The thing is, the crispy, a little bit hairy skin, is the sought after treat. Bleh! It is not what 4-H pigs look like, either. I think the pictures say it all!

Aloha

Even in paradise...especially in paradise, the laundry must still be 
done. These white shirts, drying in the tropical breeze, make me happy.

Speaking of happy, Elder Cameron made this cookie dough, so he could bake some for "our Elders" when they come over. They are always hungry, plus, he likes to make cookies. Well, they came over, but the cookies weren't baked. Jokingly, we offered them some dough. Nailed it! They wanted some! So Elder Cameron got each one of them some dough in a bowl, with a spoon. Then they found out we had heavy whipping cream. "No Way"! (I think they yelled that).  Cookies and cream and then back to work!

Aloha

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is the fifth apostle to visit Oahu in the past three months. We can't begin to express how blessed we are and there isn't any way to put into print, the spirit and the love of Heavenly Father, they each bring. You can see it in their countenance and feel it in their words.
Elder Holland was accompanied by Donald L. Hallstrom, Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy and Aley K. Auna, Area Authority of Hawaii. The three of them spoke to the missionaries on the islands for nearly four hours. Those of us listening and learning did not want them to stop. 
This disciple of Jesus Christ, Elder Holland, reminded us that... "the heavens are not closed and there is a prophet on the earth that speaks for God, who has given us the Book of Mormon as the greatest, tangible, sign of the restoration of His gospel".
That is why we are here in Hawaii. To share that message.

               Elder Auna                  Elder Hallstrom                  Elder Holland 

          Elder Dyer on the piano. It was a sweet and memorable day.

                                                   Aloha

p.s. I took this before the meeting started. Elder Cameron didn't even notice.