December 15, 2013  Happy Birthday Papa.

December 12, was Papa's birthday.  We celebrated Sherleen and Papa's birthdays together.  I made a cake and salad and Sherleen made lasagna.  We had a fun night at their apartment.  The Coopers are the only couple that have an apartment big enough for 6 couples.   On our mission we are learning to be simple.  Paper plates, plastic utensils, no fancy table settings.  It's almost refreshing.   Most of us have a place setting for 4.   No one seems to care,  we are all in the same boat…but together it's all good food and laughter and friends.

One Cake, 6+3 for Sherleen and 7+1 for Papa

Serious Game planning!

Cooper and Phyzille's from Canada

Papa's new Ukulele

Practicing

Ti's the season of Christmas again.  This is a Christmas we will remember.  The season has only one minor change, it is now three degrees cooler.  We are receiving more rain and cloudy days but it's always barefoot warm, and no coat weather.  The Polynesians wear jackets and coats when it changes two or three degrees cooler.  I have just changed to my beach shoes and walk in the rain so not to ruin my leather sandals.  Oh, I learned to always carry an umbrella, even if it's sunny when I leave home. 

The lights, laughter and trees are all signs of Christmas here.  We are working at the PCC evenings and helping with the Christmas Lagoon.  This is a boat ride down the lagoon with stops for Christmas scenes of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, Shepard's in the fields of sheep, wise men traveling; and Christmas scenes from Germany, Russia, Spain and Hawaii.  There is music and narration throughout.  It's a beautiful way for the Hawaiians to celebrate the season with their family and friends.  There were 2,000 people the first night.  We help with crowd control and hot chocolate and cup a soup for the performers.  All in a days work.  Some days are long but we are enjoying the people and the customs.  So busy, we forget to be homesick.

The seamstress area made all the costumes for  the Christmas Lagoon which you will see in the following pictures.  We were able to take the canoe ride on Dec. 16 after we finished our assignments.  It was very spiritual and focused on the birth of Christ.

Entrance to Christmas Lagoon, notice it's the South Pole

Wise Men singing, we are in the boat.

German costumes we made

We worked last minute on the angels and wise men costumes.  We sew for three to four hours and leave article for someone else to continue.  I feel better when I have started and finished an article of clothing, but we were so rushed to get all the costumes finished we worked together.  If the article, dress, or suit wasn't finished we just left it at the machine for the next Sister to finish.   We always work on a last minute schedule.  I think it is the Polynesian way…..hang loose….and be happy.  It does all work out in the end.  

It was graduation Saturday.  We will miss the graduating students.   Papa helped at the Graduation and took these pictures.

We know students going back to China, Mongolia, Japan and Hong Kong.  Many others from all over the world are here too.  My amazement is when the marriages of two different cultures occur, which is often.  It's a miracle to see how love and understanding can join together and be happy.  I will be helping with two marriages this week.  I am helping with Katie's wedding cake and flowers on Wednesday.  She is the cute student in seamstress who is marrying a boy from Hong Kong.  She is from China.  Keke the volleyball player is marrying a boy from Tonga Tuesday, and we are involved with her wedding too.    The Volleyball Team just took second place in the Nation yesterday in Iowa.  The kids are flying back today.  I can't believe Keke is getting married in two days.  She will be very tired girl from the last 10 days of traveling with volleyball.  The kids are amazing.  They go to school, work 19 hours at the PCC, study and on Sundays fulfill their church callings.  They are strong kids.  By the way, Keke postponed her wedding.  I think that is a wise decision for her.

For now, we have solved the rats in the costume department.  I feel better going to work with that taken care of.  We have been without air conditioning for the past two weeks.  That is a big concern.  We are very hot some days.  When the palm trees are still, it's humid and hot.  Again it might be a season before the air conditioning is solved, because of the hang loose workers here.  Funny, here it is December and air conditioning is needed.

Today is December 18.   It has been a busy few days.   We have been working every other night for the Christmas Lagoon.

Papa spoke in church Sunday in our Ward for High Council.  Maybe he will send his talk or tell you about it.  Sunday and Monday we had rain, not a little rain, but buckets.  Flood alerts were ringing on our phones.  Saturday the North Shore was sunny and beautiful with good surfing waves.  We passed on our way to Costco, but didn't stop this time around.   We stopped at Ted's Bakery.  Famous for Masada's, cakes, pies.  These two kids were eating outside and I took their picture.  She is a beautiful girl, but look what she did to her body!

I am thankful my granddaughters keep their bodies sacred.

On the wall at Ted's Bakery

I drove to Honolulu Tuesday.  First time to drive around island.  Sherleen went with me.  We went to Walmart and Watanobes Floral.  It was a large wholesale floral warehouse.  I was in heaven!  Picked red roses and carnations, leather leaf and tiny white daisy's for Katy's wedding cake.  I was up til the wee hours with Susan Robinson arranging flowers and cake decor last night.  Today was Katy's wedding.  It was beautiful.  The temple ceremony was at 10:00 am, both in Chinese and English and her reception and party was at 2:00 pm.  Ron and Dennis picked up the cakes from Ted's bakery, and I put them together at noon.  Took some pictures of party for you to see.  Katy had her parents from China here, but Kevin's parents were not able to come.  Katy wore white temple dress for ceremony, wedding dress for part of the party then changed into a beautiful red wedding dress from China.


Beautiful day for a wedding.  This was taken as I walked into the Hawaii Temple this morning looking east toward the ocean.

Beautiful Morning

Kevin and Katy

 Chinese Wedding Dress

Katy and Kevin

Katy's mother in the blue dress

Bridesmaids

Wedding Cake

We received your pre-Christmas package Tammy/Mike.  Thanks for the socks and candy, calendars, shirt, apron and Christmas decor and Manger magnets.   We decided not to open gifts in socks until Christmas, is that ok?   It keeps us excited and guessing.  We love an appreciate all you do for us.  Also thanks for you birthday gifts, the aloha shirt is great and fits nicely into my wardrobe, the Utah calendar is beautiful and makes me homesick.   Also the candy will keep me over-sized.

Thanks Becky/Mark for the dominoes set, it will be a fun came to play with the missionaries.  We have not listened to the Piano Guys CD yet but I know we will like it.

Thanks Aimee/Scott for the little Swiss army knife.  I gave my old one to the TSA in August at the LAS airport.  They thought I would be a danger I guess.

Thanks to all of our kids for thinking of us while we are on our mission.

Each morning before I open my eyes I think, today I will wake up in my own bed.  Isn't that silly…then I realize I'm here and have to get myself going.  It's not bad after that first wake-up moment is over.   Then it's getting the old body to start moving, and the day is good.   I go outside and it is beautiful.   I start serving others and the Lord, and count my blessings to have righteous sons and daughters and beautiful grandchildren working hard, being good and doing good.

Thank you all for being a blessing in our lives.  We love and miss you this holiday season and hope your lives are full with the spirit of God in your homes.  We pray for a better world for our children, and a world where love and peace abound.