Sunshine Coast

Day trip up the Sunshine Coast to Mooloolaba Beach
 #softsand #iheartnature #outofthecity#australianadventures

Traditions Run True

Traditions still run true even in places far from home- from Christmas Eve service to opening PJs on Christmas Eve to delicious Christmas breakfast. Such loving, generous, and welcoming people! Thank you all for letting me be a part of the YWAM family.

 #christmasinaustralia#australiaadventures #christmastraditions#ihearttheholidays

Pockets of Nature

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  Walked miles around Brisbane today looking for those pockets of nature among the skyscrapers. The South Bank was by far my favorite with little reminders of Hawaii scattered here and there.  

  #australiaadventures #legsaretired#iheartnature#naturecityblend#citiesonariverarethebest#christmaseveeve

The Land Where Plam Trees Sway

There is always that one neighborhood.

Dusting Off the Old Skills

Tapped into my old, cloth framing skills from my Hobby Lobby frame shop days. Love the result! Merry Christmas Hannah- that tea towel was such a great find! #stillgottheskills#christmasisalmosthere #lacing101

Dancing Through the Decades

I was asked to take part in a dancing production lead by Denise Westbrook (unfortunately no relation.)  Her dedication and energy made the show a great success as she invested so much time and energy into every aspect of the show. I danced with the 60s go-go girls and enjoyed every minute! Thanks Denise!

Fresh Friday

 Let the picking for this year's Christmas wreaths begin! Couldn't have asked for better weather. Gotta love the holidays in Hawaii.

Working with Your Hands

Today at the 3rd Annual Art is Life Festival I had the privilege of spending time with local artisans that love working with their hands. I arrived at the event thinking I was only going to stay about an hour. I felt obligated to go as it was a function orchestrated by my place of employment. Little did I know that I would not only get to cross one item off my Hawaii bucket list, I would get to cross a second one off as well.

The medium of choice: nature. Such a brilliant combination as I love nature and I love working with my hands. I felt I was among family.

The final result: a bowl made from a coconut frond and a lauhala bracelet.

Mahalo to Pi'ilani for her well of knowledge and patience with her students

 

Halloween Creation

I was stuck for the longest time on what to be for Halloween this year. I have created this $5 rule for myself and wanted this year to be no different. Last year I worked for weeks on the costume and had the idea months ahead of time. This year though time was ticking away.

Then, the student at school were doing research on the ancient civilizations. I was looking over the shoulder of the Egypt group when it hit me. An Egyptian costume would be too perfect!

So, for a week after school, I pulled out the cardboard, glue, and paint. The dining room table became my creativity station as I pushed myself to see things differently and use what I had.

The result was fantastic!! As I have learned in the past, costumes are all about the details. This year was no different as the transformation took place. And thankfully, it was a durable costume because I had three events to attend. This year I was unrecognizable to people I see every week! Their reactions where glorious. And to top it all off, I walked away with first place in the costume contest! Such a sweet victory indeed.

 

Nature's Whisperings

So thankful for the sunshine this morning and having a place where my soul finds what it needs. #iheartnature #fingerprintsofgod #bigislandbliss #eventherockscryout #oceans #gratefulheart

The Garden Isle

Of the eight main islands of Hawaii, I have officially now been to four of them. This last adventure to Kauai was different than the rest in that I did something that I had never really done before: I traveled the tip solo.

Beautiful view of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Haulalai on the Big Island as I headed west

Perks: 1. I could go where I wanted when I wanted. 2. I had plenty of storage space in the car 3. I had no one to get in a argument with, I could only blame myself if things went wrong. 4. Didn’t have to share tent space. 5. I was super efficient.

Flip-side: 1. No one to bounce ideas off of and do something that I might not have otherwise done because I would never have thought of it 2. I had to navigate and drive at the same time in a place I had never been before. Another set of eyes is priceless when you are trying to find a road sign at night when it is raining. 3. Sharing the experience 4. Safety concerns are more at ease when you have a buddy. 5. Sharing food and other expenses are cut in half at least. (This was a hard one to swallow for me.)

With all of the pros and cons, the Garden Isle lived up to its hype. Beauty around every turn! Still I found myself leaving knowing fully that I had to return. I was told five days was enough. But for me it wasn't. I didn’t even interact with the Napali Coast!

Traveling solo I imagine gets easier the more you do it. Like going to the movies by yourself, the uncomfortable feeling passes over time. I did find that I was not the only solo traveler out there and had a really great conversation with one of them as she was on a journey to make sense of some big shifts in her life. Would that conversation have happened if I was with one else? Maybe, maybe not. But it was one of those moments when I had to push myself to be there and interact with those around me; because sometimes all someone needs is for you to listen.