Merry Christmas to you all...(it's so nice to say that and not worry about being politically correct!)
Our 15 year-old daughter and almost 17 year-old son will be arriving on Tuesday and will leave us again on Sunday. We have only less than a week with them and then we won't see them again until June or July. We miss them terribly and are looking forward to showing them around the Island...can't wait to taken 'em to the volcano, Hapuna, maybe see some whales, tide pools, etc.
Things are tight for us money-wise and I too have had to struggle to feel the spirit of Christmas this year. But having them here for even a short while has reminded me what a true "gift" is.
So, up went our tree and while I was putting some of the ornaments on it that they made when they were just wee ones in school made me smile. Nothing like the ornaments with the crooked edges and funny stick people santas. The ones with their school pictures when they were in kindergarten and first grade made my heart grow a couple sizes.
2006 was a challenging year. This forum has been a very good neighborhood for us. The generosity that is shown here is unmatched. People freely share their experiences so that others who have a dream to live here may have a more clear pathway to Hawai'i. It's not all candy-coated...there are challenges to be sure.
Punaweb reminds me of the dream and why we needed to shake up our lives and live them instead of just "existing." Thanks so much Rob for moderating a sometimes challenging neighborhood and promoting community in Puna...it's good to be home. Merry Christmas.
Carrie
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art/dreamhawaii.Cfm
