Thanksgiving

Ryan and I drove back to Nashville after I got off work on Wednesday so we could spend Thanksgiving with family. We had to drive back Thursday night so I could be back for work on Friday. It was busy, but we were able to spend some good time with Ryan's mom, Brandon, Jill and the kids.

After some preparation to get the food ready for dinner, we all went to take some family pictures. Jill has such an eye for photography and was able to get some priceless pictures. It was fun, though at times it was stressful to get Joshua, Aby and Wally to all sit still at the same time. They were pretty cute.

We spent Thanksgiving at Jill's mom's house with her family. The food was great, and we were stuffed, just as one should be on Thanksgiving.

When we got back to Brandon and Jill's, we played an intense game of Apples to Apples, and then Ryan and I packed up and drove home.

It was a great day, and we have some wonderful pictures to help us remember it.

Brandon's Surprise 30th

Ryan's brother, Brandon, turns 30 next month, so his wife, Jill, decided to throw him a surprise birthday party. She threw it a month early so Brandon wouldn't be suspicious. Their mom was able to fly into Nashville to help celebrate. Ryan and I drove down to Nashville Sunday morning so we could pick her up at the airport by noon.

We had six hours to kill until the party, so we ran a couple errands for the party and watched the new James Bond movie, which by the way is pretty good.

The party started at 6, and Brandon and Jill arrived around 7. Brandon had no clue, and his reaction was priceless! The party was fun, though we were exhausted by the time it was over.

Ryan and I stayed in Nashville until early Tuesday morning so we could spend some extra time with everyone. On Monday we just hung out and played with the kids. These pictures of Aby are from breakfast at a local restaurant. She was so funny with the basket--she's quite a ham.

I have a busy work schedule this week, so we needed to make two quick trips to Nashville, instead of one long one. We're excited to spend Thanksgiving in Nashville with family and will leave tonight (Wednesday) after I get off work and come back tomorrow night so I'll be back for work on Friday. It's a lot of driving in a short amount of time, but what a blessing it is to spend time with family.

Father, please help me to recognize and appreciate the abundance of blessings you have given me. May we never cease to thank and praise you for your love and who you are.

Balloon Festival and Huber Farm

Again, this is a little late, but Brandon, Jill, Joshua and Aby came to Louisville September 30-October 1 to take part in two staples of Louisville culture.

The Adam Matthews Balloon Festival is a weekend of hot air balloon races and nightly balloon glows, in which all the balloons, while anchored to the ground, are lit up at night. It is then followed by a fireworks display. Since Ryan and I have never been to the Balloon Festival, we didn't know what time the festivities began. We decided to go right after we finished dinner. Well, we were late. We got there right before they started deflating the hot air balloons, which means we didn't see much of the balloon glow. We did stay for some of the fireworks show, which Joshua wasn't too excited about since he doesn't like loud noises. He covered his ears most of the time, but toward the end, he agreed to uncover them and decided it wasn't too bad after all.

The next day we headed out to Joe Huber Farm, which is located in Starlight, Indiana. To those who live in Texas, that probably sounds like a long way since in Texas you can drive for like ten hours and still be in the same state. However, we are only about five minutes from the Indiana border.

Anyway, Joe Huber Farm is a local farm and winery that allows people to come and pick their own fruits and vegetables. They also have lots of different activities--a corn maze, a petting zoo, slides for the kids, wagon rides out to the orchards or out to feed the goats and horses.

We rode out to feed the animals. Joshua and Aby really enjoyed it, but the goats started getting a little too aggressive for sweet Aby as they climbed onto the side of the wagon and nibbled on her clothes. We made it back in one piece, though.

There's also an Apple Launch and a Corn Cannon. They have these giant slingshots set up on the edge of a small lake, with a board set up in the middle lake. The idea is to use the slingshots to send old apples hurling at the target. The Corn Cannon uses a similar concept, but the target is on the opposite side of the lake, and it uses an air cannon instead of a slingshot.

Ryan and Brandon had fun launching the fruits and veggies across the water, but they eventually made up their own game. The idea was to launch the apples across the lake with the slingshots. They successfully did this, but almost hit an unsuspecting person sitting on the wagon that was headed to feed the animals.

There is also an amazing restaurant there with the best homecooking. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh corn and green beans. The pumpkin pie is also terrific. Mmm! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

It was a wonderful weekend. We're already planning on next year, but next time we'll get there in time to enjoy the Balloon Festival and see the balloon glow.

A Little Late, but the Fourth of July

I was looking back through some of our old pictures and decided to type an entry about our trip to Nashville to see Brandon, Jill, Joshua and Aby for the Fourth of July.

They were so sweet to invite us down for the weekend. It worked out perfectly because I hadn't started working yet, and Ryan worked from home for his company in Houston. He was thus able to work from Nashville because all he needed was internet service. Anyway, we had so much fun. For any of you who have seen Ryan and his brother, Brandon, together, you know that there is always plenty of laughing involved.

On the afternoon of the Fourth, the boys played soccer. I caught this picture at one point, when Aby got stuck inside the house while Joshua and Wally were outside. It was too cute!

As the sun started to go down, we began shooting off some fireworks in the driveway. Poor Joshua doesn't like loud noises, so Jill had to keep his ears covered so he didn't get upset. We decided to save the bigger ones until after the kids went to bed. Wally, had gotten his paws muddy, so after Joshua and Aby took their baths for the night, Joshua helped Ryan give Wally's paws a bath.


After the kids went to sleep, we went back outside and shot off some more fireworks. Brandon shot one off that went up about five feet and then made a 90 degree turn and shot off toward one of the houses down the street. Luckily, it didn't hit anything, so no damage was done. It was a lot of fun hanging out as one big family.

Autumn in Louisville

Ok, so for those of you who live in Texas, the leaves really do change colors in the fall--and not just from green to brown. The trees in Louisville the last few weeks have been decorated with leaves that are bright orange, yellow, red and pink. It is so beautiful!

Ryan and I recently went hiking in Bernheim Forest, which is about 25 minutes south of Louisville, and I was able to take some really pretty pictures of the trees there. Of course, everyone there probably thought I was crazy taking pictures of leaves, but this is a treat for us Texans.

The weather here has been great, though it keeps fluctuating. One day the high will be 70, and then a week later the high will be 45 and then it will go back up again. I can't wait for the snow to come. I think I was probably five years old the last time I had a "White Christmas". Thank you, Lord, for your creativity in each of the four seasons!

Nothing is Constant

Nothing in this world is constant. People fail you. Success is fleeting. Seasons change. The ground beneath us crumbles in earthquakes. But our Lord, He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. When everything around us is going crazy, we can count on Him to be there. He never leaves us. I can't tell you how many times I've turned my back on God, or just put Him completely to the side, but He mercifully forgives me and welcomes me back with open arms. It reminds me of the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. This son turns away from his father, asking for his share of the inheritance so he may leave his family and be free to do whatever he chooses. After squandering away his inheritance, the son realizes his mistake. He returns to his father, hoping to be allowed to be a mere servant in his father's house. He recognizes his sin and anticipates the consequences. However, upon returning, his father has compassion and runs to embrace and kiss his lost son. The father gives his son the best robe, a ring, sandals, a fattened calf. Our Father in Heaven is just like this. He celebrates us even though we do nothing to deserve it.

Today I come to a greater appreciation of the gifts God has given me. My husband, whom I adore, was so perfectly created for me. Wally, our sweet dog, couldn't possibly be more loving or well-behaved. I have a wonderful family, great friends, a roof over my head, food, water and the list goes on and on. I am so quick to wonder why things don't always go my way, why I don't have certain things, etc., but the Lord is so good, and He blesses me so much each day.

I love being outside. It doesn't matter what I'm doing. I can be running, playing or just sitting, gazing out at the world around me. Nature is where I am most aware of God's presence, and He knows that. He continually speaks to me through that. Whether it is through a beautiful sunset or sunrise or watching squirrels scamper about, He knows my heart, and He gives me glimpses of His beauty. He puts so much thought into each sunset He paints for me. No two are the same, and His creativity never ceases. Praise the Lord for his artistic abilities!

Wally Bear

We have the sweetest dog ever! A miniature cocker spaniel. His name is Wally, and he's two years old. He has eyelashes that go down past his chin, and he has the best disposition. He's so playful and yet so loving. He loves to cuddle and take naps. He's smart too! He rings a bell when he needs to go potty. He jumps off the bed at night when we turn off the light. He's wonderful! He even tries to comfort you when you're upset. When we're laying in bed, Wally often likes to lay between us with his head on the pillow too.

Every day when Ryan gets home from work, Wally hears the sound of Ryan's car alarm. He jumps up, runs downstairs to the door, then turns around and runs to get his bone. When Ryan walks in, Wally brings him his bone so they can play.

My friend, Kimberly, sent me an email recently that got me thinking about dogs and Wally, in particular. I've cut and pasted some of it below.


A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. -Sigmund Freud

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. -Robert Benchley

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.


I think God has given us such a gift in dogs. They're so unselfish and loving. They're nicer to us than we are to them. They love us even when we neglect them. They always forgive. They're loyal and constant. I think that the Lord uses Wally to give me a better understanding of how Christ loves us.

Kaua'i Day 12: Pool Time!

June 13, 2006 Though we slept well that night, we were sad to awaken and realize that this was the last day of our trip in Hawaii. After so many perfect days in paradise, it would be very difficult to leave.

We gathered our belongings and made our way to Kuhio’s Restaurant, which was part of the Marriott. Breakfast was great, but we were eager to test this pool that we had been eyeing for so long.

It was perfect, and we found a great spot in the middle of the pool to lay out and read. We took breaks by jumping in the pool and playing volleyball at this net that was set up. At one point, two little girls joined us. One of them had Down’s syndrome and instantly took to Ryan. She climbed all over him, like a monkey in a tree. She enjoyed sitting on his shoulders the most. However, if Ryan allowed her hands to get too close to the water, she would reach down and continually splash it up into his face. Though she didn’t say much, she was very sweet and enjoyed playing volleyball with us.

It was time to leave, so we drove back to Princeville to pick up our luggage and repack for our trip home. This was a deliberate process because we had to arrange things in a specific way so we wouldn’t have to pay extra fees at the airport for our suitcases being too heavy.

We stopped for lunch at Hanalei Gourmet, where we were able to watch some of the Mavs game. We then went to Lappert’s for our last Kauai ice cream and wondered through the Princeville Shops while we savored our treats. It was sad to head to the airport and leave the Garden Island behind. So many precious memories and beautiful sights.

We still had a lot of traveling ahead of us. Five and a half hours to Los Angeles and three hours to DFW. We would stay in Arlington for a few days to visit family before driving more than 13 hours to Louisville, where we would start a new chapter in our lives.

Kaua'i Day 11: More Sightseeing and Beach Time

June 12, 2006 FIFA World Cup 2006. USA vs. Czech Republic. A heart-wrenching loss for the US, which began at 5am. I was crushed, as sweet Kelli slept in the upstairs loft. Trying to put the devastating defeat behind us, we headed to a nearby restaurant called Obsessions for breakfast. We were definitely disappointed in the food and headed up to Waimea Canyon for some sightseeing. Waimea Canyon is considered the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. From the cliffs of the canyon, we were able to look out and see both Waipo’o Falls and Wailua Falls. It was a hazy morning, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

We hit the shower at Neil’s and packed our stuff to leave and get some lunch at the Kalaheo Café. The sandwiches were great, and we drove on to Spouting Horn, which is Kauai’s saltwater version of Old Faithful. We passed the Tree Tunnel along the way, which is simply a long, narrow road canopied by trees. Spouting Horn was fun, though it was tough to get a good picture of the water blowing into the sky. We checked out the shops that were there and then went to JoJo’s for some shaved ice and ice cream. That may sound like two different things, but they actually put the ice cream at the bottom of the snow cones in Kauai.

We made several quick stops, trying to see the sights on our last full day in Kauai. We stopped at Black Sand Beach, the Russian Fort, Salt Pond Beach (our campsite that night) and finally headed back to the Marriott Beach. We didn’t see any turtles but were able to play in the water and rest and read on the beach. Before leaving, we jumped in one of the many hot tubs surrounding the Marriott pool, again marveling at its size and beauty and vowed to spend our last day there.

As the sun began to go down, we headed to Pomodoro’s for an Italian dinner. We loved everything about the restaurant; so much so that we were oblivious to how dark it was outside. We quickly headed to Salt Pond Beach to set up camp. Thank God, there weren’t any spiders.

Kaua'i Day 10: Mavs Game and Sunset

June 11, 2006 We awoke again to the sound of roosters. And once again, we rolled over and went back to sleep. Our first stop after packing up our tent and backpacks was to drop off the cooler we had rented from Kayak Kauai. Then, it was off to the gorgeous Princeville Hotel for an elaborate breakfast buffet. The food was amazing and the view was even better. Once again, though, we left the camera in the car.

After breakfast, we headed to see three caves on the northwestern most part of the island that is accessible by car. They were large and dark. Once again, I was amazed by God’s creativity. We then headed to the Kauai Craft Fair to pick up some souvenirs for everyone back home. On the way to Neil’s cabin, we picked up a Brick Oven pizza for lunch, which we ate while we watched the Mavs game. This cabin, by the way, was remarkable. It was perfect—a living area, a kitchen, a bathroom and a loft bedroom with attached balcony and most importantly, ESPN 2.

It was a relaxing afternoon, and we topped it off by driving to Polihale Beach, where we watched the sunset. This is the most western place in the United States, so we were the last ones to see the sun go down that day. My, was it beautiful! The wide expanse of soft sand against the endless ocean waves was just breathtaking. I can’t remember ever being so at peace as I was that evening. God is such a wonderful artist, painting the bright orange sunrays amidst the clouds and reflecting off the water.

On our way back to Neil’s, we picked up some ice cream at Big Save, and yes, that is what we had for dinner that night.

Kaua'i Day 9: Kayaking and Sightseeing

June 10, 2006 Cock-a-doodle-doo!! That’s what we awoke to this morning. It’s amazing that roosters really do call out like this in the early morning hours. We rolled over and went back to sleep for a couple more hours before getting up and packing our tent. We then headed to Bali Hai Restaurant for a nice breakfast.

After breakfast, we headed to Kayak Kauai and rented a two-person kayak. We navigated (poorly, I might add) through a series of very tight turns amidst muddy banks and bushes before making it out to the Hanalei River. We had high hopes of paddling our way all the way up the river and then back out to the ocean and Hanalei Bay. However, as we paddled away, our kayak filled with muddy water and with the sun beating down us, we quickly revised our plans. We didn’t make it all the way up the river, nor did we make it to the ocean, but we did have a lot of fun and even sat just to take in God’s creation. Exhausted, we headed back to the dock, again running into muddy banks.

Our next stop was the Kilaeua Lighthouse, which is Hawaii’s northernmost point. We enjoyed it, but we were getting hungry for lunch, so we headed to Lighthouse Bistro for some good sandwiches and fries. In hopes of avoiding another bad dining experience, we decided we would return to the same restaurant for dinner.

In between our meals, we checked out Anini Beach, where we would be camping that night, and hung out at the Bali Hai pool. Dinner that night was a little disappointing, but we were excited to set up camp at Anini. We were much faster that night and were even able to walk down closer to the water to catch a quick glimpse of the sunset. Another peaceful night of rest listening to the endless waves.

Kaua'i Day 8: Camping on the Beach

June 9, 2006 Today began the camping portion of our trip. It was a hectic morning as we got ready, ate breakfast, hurried to pack all of our suitcases and get out of our condo by 11a.m. We stored our luggage in the Bali Hai office and only kept with us the things we would need for our camping adventures the next few days.

We then headed to Waioli Beach, where we hung out for a while as we enjoyed the big waves. After relaxing at the beach, we headed to Tropical Taco for lunch. Feeling refreshed, we drove around to several beaches before settling at River Beach. The ocean was too rough to play in, but there was a gentle river that ran through and drained into the ocean. This provided a great place to read for a little while and then take a nap. That is until an over-friendly dog came and licked my face. The dog belonged to some people nearby, but boy was I startled.

That night we headed to CJ’s Steak and Fish Restaurant for dinner. The food there left much to be desired. We were glad to get out of there and head off to set up camp. Unfortunately, we got to Haena Beach just as it was getting dark, which left us scrambling to get things settled. Once we were settled, we walked closer to the water, where we got to see the very end of the sunset.

As we settled in our tent that night, we were able to relax as the sound of the waves against the shore lulled us to sleep.

Kaua`i Day 7: Timeshares, Game 1 and Gaylord's

June 8, 2006 Aloha! It's a day to earn the discount we used for our helicopter tour and the coupon we'll use tonight at dinner...which means...a dull day of timeshare presentations. Our first was with Pahio, which is the resort who owns the Bali Hai Villas, where we're staying. It was pleasant enough; we got out of there in just less than 90 minutes.

Then we headed to Kauai Coast Resort in Kapaa. This was a Shell presentation, which was a waste of time. Not because the information or offer wasn't good, but because we were there 4 hours as if we were going to buy and yet didn't. It was very tempting...probably a very good deal, and Kelli and I, at different times, were ready to sign. But it was too quick, we decided. So we left.

The concierge gave us a tip for a nearby sports bar, where we wanted to watch Game 1 of the NBA Finals. As late as we were, we thought we'd just catch the second half, but we were surprised not even to miss the opening tip. Of course, Mavs won.

We were able to move up our "romantic table" reservations at Gaylord's, and we were armed with a hard-earned $100 gift certificate we were determined to make the most of. We ordered appetizers, pricey entrees and desserts, which were delicious.

But the exceptional food wasn't the main attraction at this romantic dinner. Nor was the view we shared of the immaculate Gaylord's grounds. No...as day turned to night at this "romantic" restaurant, Gaylord's seemingly turned to Gaylord of the Gnats.

A plague on both your appetizers...Flying pests vied for their share of our baked brie and fruit, our Caesar salad, Kelli's strawberry-banana-pineapple smoothie too. One met its end in my iced tea. We decided this course wasn't worth it, so Justin the Food Runner adiosed our plates and replaced my tea.

Prime Rib of Pork with Red Bliss Potatoes and Gorgonzola Fritters and Ribs with Red Bliss Potatoes and Onion Rings were served. Termites were too before our final bites.

Kel chose not to smash the two who landed in front of her. I chose differently. See I don't like flying bugs. Actually I don't like crawling kinds either. But two in a row settled before me, as if they were certain my fear would keep me from killing them. They were very wrong. Employing the only weapon I had -- a dessert menu -- with shocking speed and force, I sandwiched the first as it apparently was considering the pineapple creme brulee and the Kailua Mud Pie, then, without hesitation, smooshed the second under the bulk of that sweet book. I set aside my dessert menu, as cooly as a vaquero holsters his pistola after standoff success.

Our waitress came clean on her next stop: Yeah, the termites always come out of the ground at night and attack the "romantic" table. Thanks, Jennifer, I can still feel them on me...

But it's not Jennifer's betrayal that stung the worst. No, I just met Jennifer. Now, Kelli, on the other hand...she cut me real deep. As Jennifer gathered our things to relocate us out of Egypt, she picked up my weapon. Sure, it crossed my mind that our server was now handling the resting place of two of Gaylord's former guests. That was her tip, I resolved, for withholding what I consider critical intel that this romantic table for two would actually accommodate countless flying things. Now, Kelli thought differently...

Pointing at me like a taddling third grader, Kelli said, "He killed two termites in that menu you're holding." You guessed it, Jennifer was appalled and I was exposed, with no defense and no support, but Kelli's conscience was clear. So her betrayal was probably worth it.

Thankfully, I'm gracious enough to get past the offense to enjoy dessert. My Mud Pie didn't dissappoint and Kel's Fried Chocolate Truffles were wonderful. That is, until Kel pointed out the big brown spider hovering over me. He was 6 inches long if he was a centimeter, and all I could think about was Arachniphobia.

Justin attempted comfort. "Yeah, those are exactly like the spiders on Arachniphobia!" (How comforting, Justin.) "But you have nothing to worry about...they're not poisonous."

And, honestly, that did comfort me...until I realized he didn't mean they don't bite, he just meant their bite wasn't deadly. Whatever, who wants to be bitten at all.

Justin kept offering, "Now, if you were to go to Salt Pond Beach Park at night, you can see these covering everything, crawling all over you." (Where was that, Justin? Salt Pond? Yeah, that's where we're camping Monday night. Excellent!)

Leave us alone, Justin. Leave us alone forever.

Gaylord's capped a memorable day.

Kaua`i Day 6: Cock-A-Doodle-Doo...BANG! BANG!

June 7, 2006 The roosters woke us again at the crack of dawn. I can relate to Vincent Gambini -- you remember, Ralph Macchio's Brooklyn-trained attorney cousin? Anyhow, had I a pistol, I would surely race out to the lanai and fire in all directions...

We planned to wake early for a kayak today; however, we're still spent from the wicked hike we took at Kalalau. So we laid low today.

You know I'm a huge soccer fan, and there's no way I'm going to miss the first World Cup game for U.S. So though we were to camp the last four nights of our stay in Kauai, we'll find accommodations (w/cable TV) for Sunday night; that way I may catch Monday's early morning match versus Czech Republic.

We called around to get the cheapest place with cable in the south side of the island. We found a good deal with Neil, an English carpenter who's just finishing his newest property.

He said we'd better come see the joint before agreeing to stay, to be sure we like the place and, more importantly, that it has ESPN2 so we don't miss the game.

We made the hour-plus drive to Waimea and finally found the one-bedroom house Neil's built with his two hands in just under a year.

Neil's a gifted carpenter. The place was great and indeed had ESPN2, so we were convinced. We had a nice two-hour conversation with the Brit, who'd moved to Kauai after a world surfing tour in 1980.

It was nearly 2 p.m. before we left Neil's, so we hustled to Kalaheo for Brick Oven Pizza, another Glasscock favorite. The medium, half-cheese, half-sausage pie hit the spot. And we made our way back to Kapaa for fair shopping, which was disappointing. However, Kealia Beach delighted once more.

A set of Wave Submission sent salt water in, out, back in and out of my nose and mouth. Feel the burn. Suddenly, I became more concerned with Frodo's travels, so we returned to the blanket and sand for a few hours of reading...very relaxing with the crashing waves before us.

We took short reading breaks to watch a private surfing competition. The surfers were like 8 years old but very good. Their coach kept score with a stick and the sand. Fascinating.

We watched the sun set again in Princeville, finished leftovers for dinner and watched Glory Road before lights out.

Kaua`i Day 5: How do you say "Na Pali" in Mainlandish?

June 6, 2006 "The Cliffs," that's what "Na Pali" means. And we hiked 'em.

We got up early to start our trek, but after getting ready and picking up our picnic sammiches from Mango Mama's, we weren't at the start of Kalalau Trail till around 10 a.m. The authors of our guidebook, Kauai Trailblazer, keep using words like "pesky" and "only for the experienced hiker" to describe the trails these rookie hikers have opted to blaze on these islands; but BP and KP insist this route leads to breathtaking views, so we're game.

The first of this trail is a steep climb over big, round rocks and continues to up and down, in and out for 2 miles, with plenty of those vistas along the path that our friends promised.

We were rewarded with a rest at a hikers-only beach at the close of our 2-hour, 2-mile hike into Kalalau. Sure, a round of Wave Submission would've been just what we needed to recharge for the next 2 miles to Hanakapiai Falls, but we heeded the sign warning us that Wave Submission had turned to Life Submission for lots of visitors. So we sat on the shore and enjoyed our organic sammiches. I was surprised to enjoy the shredded carrot and cucumber atop my TLTAS sammich; and Kelli was more surprised to cherish the organic PB (as you know she's a Jiff girl). As we scarfed, to the left, we noted a small cave we wanted to explore before rejoining the path.

We ducked under the low ceiling of the cave and, after crawling under an even lower ceiling, we were able to stand in almost utter darkness and silence. Cool indeed. We followed the light to our exit and found another beach, which we would've loved to enjoy longer; however, we were losing day and our packs were unattended on the other beach and our Aloha would've been challenged had we tarried so long that our belongings were taken.

But they were there. So we rinsed off our feet and Keens and made our way back to the path that leads to the Falls. Very different, not on the cliffs of the Pacific, but through the jungle whose cliffs plunged toward a rocky ravine. A very, very narrow path gave us about 1.5 feet to place our feet carefully. The overgrown path didn't help; to our right were scratchy branches and bushes which tangled the trekking poles.

We were about a quarter mile into this hike before we surveyed our time and water and energy, deciding to turn back toward the Grand Prix, air conditioning, cold water and the hot tub. Certainly was a good idea, because halfway back we ran out of water, were baking in the Hawaiian heat and were mocked by some naked native ("naked" includes being slipperless) who was running through the path.

Egads, 6 hours after we first set out, by the time we were through, we were spent like we've never been spent. A nice young kane sold us cold water when we reached the bottom. As we made our way to the car, another tourist surely broke something on his minivan in this root-ridden, chicken-infested, makeshift parking lot; I only mention it to share his so-fitting response to the loud bang we all heard, "It's a rental."

In our slow crawl back to the villas, we stopped at a local shave ice stand and took the Glasscocks' recommendation to try a shave ice with ice cream on the bottom...delic! (By the way, Ed, I also truly appreciate your Kauai Pie tip!)

Time in the hot tub and pool were therapeutic. Dinner at Beach House was the best meal we've had in Hawaii, I think.

My favorite day in Kauai!

Kaua`i Day 4: Poor Planning, Perfect Timing

June 5, 2006 Day 4 had a disappointing start. We haven't planned our days in Kauai as well as we did last week in Maui. Wasn't till around 2 that we finished a mediocre lunch -- by the way, I'm not allergic to seafood as I expected...I just don't like the stuff -- we headed to the southside of the island, hoping to salvage our day.

We stopped at the Parks and Recreation office in Lihue to get replacement camping permits (since we somehow lost our original set). The ranger gave us a tip on nearby Kalapaki Beach, just a few blocks down the way, next to the Kauai Marriot.

What a treat it was. Despite our aimless intentions, just as we set foot in the sand, we heard rumors of a turtle sighting. Sure enough, Herbie and his friend were just off the shore (Kelli likes to name the turtles we meet, especially if they befriend us). We swam with Herbie for about 20 minutes before having a go at Wave Submission. Waves were pretty weak however in this bay; this is a much better spot for controlled swimming.

So we gave up on the game and turned to the sand to lay out and read. On one of the planes over to Hawaii, Kelli started A Voice in the Wind, the first in Francine Rivers' three-book Mark of the Lion series; while I picked up Lord of the Rings again (I joined Frodo and friends like 4 years ago and set him aside for a while). Anyway, we read for a couple hours and really enjoyed it.

I hit the Marriot for a potty break and was wowwed by the pool on the way in. The enormous pool was shaped in an octagon, I think, and had something like 5 hot tubs...very cool and we plan on returning to it before our United flight takes us back to the mainland.

We caught a wonderful sunset on the way home, just outside the Princeville Hotel (Princeville is an area of tourist accommodations on the north side of the island).

Beat, we rested the rest of the night. We made taco salad for dinner and watched the series finale of "Everwood" before falling asleep.

Once again, you never know how a hard day will end...

Kaua`i Day 3: Worship, Waves and Waterfalls

June 4, 2006 After a very short but scenic run down to the Princeville Hotel and cliffed coastline, Kelli and I went to Amazing Grace Baptist Church, which meets in the Hanalei elementary school.

What a refreshing experience. We're used to worshipping with thousands every Sunday. This day, however, we worshipped with tens. But it was worship. It was nice not to be so structured. Pastor Roy strummed his guitar while leading us through hymns. Then came communion, which was meaningful -- however, as we took the bread, dogs seemed to be suffering in the distance -- still have no clue why they were barking so. Next was a time of testimony, where attendees volunteered to share either a verse or encouragment or an anecdote of God's work. Pastor Roy taught out of Isaiah 64:7 and Philippians 4:8, encouraging us to think positively, knowing all the Lord's done.

We made chili dogs for lunch and headed to Kapa'a...

Are my drawers still on?
After getting some Kaua`i slippers, we settled at Kealia Beach. Immediately we got into the wavy water. This clearly is a popular surf spot...big, fast waves. We didn't have our boards, otherwise we'd have shredded the waves with the rest of the locals. Instead Kelli came up with a game in which the player jumps as the wave meets the player; the wave then carries the player closer to the beach. Fun game. I made some revisions, though. I ended up playing Wave Submission, where the player surrenders all control to oncoming waves. The player may not attempt to gain control by placing his/her feet on the ocean floor or by paddling to equilibrium. Players must truly submit to the waves' wishes.

In my most exciting round of Wave Submission, three consecutive waves tossed and turned me, against my will, before leaving me upside down and 30 yards from where I started. I only had the where-with-all to ask, "Are my drawers till on?" They were, and a few minutes later, the dizziness was gone.

At 3 p.m., we rushed to wash off the sand -- which later we found embedded in our skin -- in time to make our 3:45 check-in at Heli USA, where we were to tour the heart of Kaua`i, lush canyons and abundant waterfalls viewed only by air.

I didn't pay attention during the safety debriefing for the heli-tour, so I mistakenly opened the life jacket and embarrassed myself before taking off. The crew then held my hand through remaining pre-flight procedures. Since we shared the flight only with one honeymooning couple from Arizona -- no doubt depressed by the day before's end of the Suns season -- Go Mavs! Anyway, with only 4 passengers, we all got a window view. Incredible views! My favorite were the Na Pali Coastline and Waimea Canyon. We also saw several sights featured in such movies as Six Days, Seven Nights and Jurassic Park (a glary shot of Jurassic Falls is above).

We landed safely and headed south to the Kaua`i Fair, where a vendor's cousin put serious pressure on us to buy a necklace. The necklace was pretty and matched the necklace I bought in Maui. The lady said something about how Hawaiian "lovebirds" are supposed to express their commitment through matching necklaces and that this necklace was the only that would match the one I was wearing...then something about birds being more free than humans...and we were sold. It is a nice necklace.

Dinner at Hukilau Linai was good. Our waitress was interested and thorough...at times we felt awkward. She was highly disappointed when Kel ordered a caesar salad for dinner, which Kel planned so she could get the Old Hawaiian Chocolate Cake with ice cream.

We rented First Daughter from Foodland. It was corny but entertaining.

Kaua`i Days 1 and 2: Lost Luggage and Laying Low

We arrived late in Lihue, Kaua`i, after arriving late for our flight from Maui, which meant our luggage would be coming the next morning.

One benefit of our tardiness, was the Alamo Midsize cars were all gone, so we got a fullsize upgrade for free. Our maroon Pontiac Grand Prix got us 26 miles down the one Kauai highway in great comfort.

We checked into our Pahio villa at the airport, so when we pulled into the driveway, all we had to do is walk up and open Unit 1022's door. When we did, we were surprised to discover a two-bedroom, two-bath unit. King and whirlpool tub/shower in the Master; full kitchen and peaceful lanai -- where we intend to eat all our villa-based meals. All to say, we're most pleased with the Pahio Bali Hai Villas! No wonder vacation owners are only allowed to stay here once every 3 years. Play your cards right, and we'll aim to bring you here with us in 2009.

Thank you, Lord, for this sweet blessing! May we experience your glory these 11 days.

Saturday we spent recuperating and preparing for our days ahead. We had an Island Orientation Breakfast at Bali Hai, where we signed up for a helicopter tour. After breakfast, we drove back to the Lihue Airport to retrieve our luggage.

We later stocked up our kitchen with food so we could eat some of our meals out on our beautiful lanai. We watched the Mavs game and spent the day relaxing.

Maui

We're back on the mainland. I hope you've followed our Kauai blog. We didn't have Internet access our first week in Hawaii. So I'd like to summarize the first 7.5 days of this Kelli's-Now-an-Optometrist graduation trip.

Most of all, catch this: These 2.5 weeks in Hawaii finish with me most in love with Kelli and most in awe of God's power and creativity and grace! This was a trip that we'll treasure always.

Now, to Maui, our favorite Hawaiian island...

Day 1: May 26, 2006
Kelli's last Boards exam, my seminary finals and final lesson in Beyond, Kel's graduation from optometry school, a move to Kentucky...all built anticipation for Maui day.

We left DFW early, then caught a few hours of the fourth "24" season during our extended layover in San Francisco, then off to Lihue, Kauai.

We got into Kauai around 4 p.m. before connecting to our inter-island flight to Maui, which we reached around 7:30 p.m. (Hawaii time). To say the very least, by the time we got to Maui, we were far over all this travel (16 hours in a Penske truck to Louisville, 12 hours of flights and layovers to DFW for Kelli's sisters graduation, and the 17 hours travelling to Hawaii)...all this in a week. So we were pretty bummed to hear the Thrifty clerk tell us it would take us 45 minutes to drive from the airport to the pink pyramind metropolis that is the Kaanapali Embassy Suites. She did assign us a yellow Jeep Wrangler, though, so all was forgiven.

After check-in, we grabbed a quick dinner at Dollie's (a concierge recommendation...really the only nearby grindspot still open) and hit the hay.

Day 2: May 27, 2006
Rise and shine! We slept like lava rocks and accepted the hotel's invitation to an island orientation breakfast. We were looking forward to the fresh pineapple that captured our fruit affections in our Hawaiian honeymoon. And the Embassy Suites didn't disappoint...Breakfast and Maui tips were nice; they even did silly magic tricks and gave us one free admission to the local magic show, which, um, we didn't use. We did, however, schedule a snorkeling trip to Molokini and Turtle Town...you need no photo to picture Kelli's excited smile at the thought of swimming with turtles!

In our own island orientation, we putted around Maui to see in daylight what we drove past the night before. We stopped at a scenic lookout along the west coast and had a tasty lunch in Maalea. While balancing my responsibilities as the driver (not only carrying precious cargo, but also trying to honor the natives' wishes that mainlanders not speed, which proved tough for this Houston-trained racer), we set our favorite radio stations on our Maui ride. Didn't take long for us to realize the Hawaiians obsession with Kelly Clarkson; they love her! Every other song is "Breakaway" or "Because of You." And you know we're Kelly Clarkson fans, though my Profile doesn't reveal that, nor does it admit my fancy for Justin Timberlake's tunes (but oh how my dogs dance at the hearing of JT's beats). (RYAN, before publishing this blog, delete any mention of Justin Timberlake...keep that admission between you and the Lord...don't forget.)

A certain few songs stand out in our memories of our honeymoon trip to the Big Island and Oahu, and we like to listen to them now and again to conjure recollection. For the same reason, we've turned to iTunes to build our Maui-Kauai play list -- which you can purchase at iTunes Music Store, just search Ryan and Kelli's Maui-Kauai Tunes (don't do that, you'll find nothing). As I type, I'm listening to our play list and am enjoying memories of those vast, lush valleys smack dab in the middle of Maui's north half; exceedingly more stunning than "The Valley Island" moniker suggests.

We spent a few hours at the pool and then at a secluded portion of Kaanapali Beach, where Kelli promises she saw Fred the Turtle 22 times, though we haven't the pictures to prove it since we left our camera in the room. Bummer. If proof is what you need, I stand as an eyewitness to Kelli's discovery, and should you and I meet at a body of water, I do a spot-on impression of Fred the Turtle.

The evening in Lahaina Town was fun, despite our wasteful dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. If you collect Hard Rock Cafe Tees and just have to have the Maui version, fine; but too many fine eateries line Front Street to spend your time and money at Hard Rock. Surely, Scoops, the Lappert's Ice Cream-serving treat spot could redeem dinner. Yes, Ed, it did, and your Kauai Pie rants weren't misplaced. Yummy! (I should say that this Lappert's plug does not have the approval of Dr. Bishop. No offense, Glasscocks, Kelli just doesn't like coffee-flavored anything. She did, however, make peace with the Hawaiian ice cream maker in Kauai.)

Day 3: May 28, 2006
Laps at the hotel pool begun the day. Then we stocked our kitchenette with cereal flakes and milk for Maui breakfasts.

Determined never again to pick a meal spot so whimsically, we followed a local recommendation to Aloha Mixed Plate...good call; the ribs and chicken and smoothie pleased. A neighboring diner even captured our pose along with the restaurant's impressive beachside view; his wife was kind too, calling Kelli's board shorts "darlin." (Now I've resolved to use "darlin" as often as possible.)

That afternoon, we browsed local shops and split time between cat naps and the Mavs-Suns game.

Another night in Lahaina. We shared a darlin dinner and incredible sunset at Pacific'O. Then we hit the remaining Front Street shops, when, all of a sudden, an attempt was made on my life. We were admiring a local's wares when a mango jumped off the tree above us and narily missed its target -- my head. "That mango almost knocked you out!" a passerby declared. "I know," I replied. "It was a close one."

And as we finished Season 4 that night, I couldn't help but think...gee, if I were Jack Bauer, that mango wouldn't have reached the pavement before I foiled his assasination schemes. No, were I Jack Bauer, that bananas mango would've been served that morning at some island orientation breakfast...not hanging in wait, watching for its mark to happen by. (I'd go on...believe me...but this fantasy's gone on long enough. That Jack Bauer's one bad mamma jamma, though, right!?!) Fruit and felons, beware!

Day 4: May 29, 2006
Quicksilver was to anchor's away early, so my cell phone's alarm started us toward our Maalea departure. A rare Monk Seal saw us out of the harbor. The boat ride to the Molokini Crater was awesome. Sun shining, waves crashing, Kelli beaming...this would be a fine day indeed.

Not much to say about snorkeling at Molokini, but Turtle Town, now that's a different story. We must've swam with at least five different turtles. And we were playing with a baby turtle when the Quicksilver horn sounded, calling us back to the ship. When we turned in our fins and masks, we saw we were two of the last to re-board. The rest of the 100-plus snorkelers were either eating lunch or in line to start. Over lunch, Captain Mike showed us the southwest coast of Maui and suggested beaches and other snorkeling spots.

The anchor's ropes were housed beneath our seats, so we got plenty of time to observe one senior crewmember of the Quicksilver. His name escapes me, but his voice is vibrant in my memory. That's because he'd fade in and out of an accent. Most of the time, R.J. -- that's his name, R.J. -- sounded like any other former Californian EMT. But when asked about Hawaiian to-dos, well, then R.J. would slide into surfer speak. Lots of "bras" and "mans" and "yahs" were dropped when pointing out preferred surf spots. Then -- and this was bizarre -- he infused an Irish accent into his mainland-turned-local talk. I'm still confused. But it was fun; the snorkeling trip was wonderful!

We hit the pool that afternoon before driving north to Kapalua.I just had to stop by the clubhouse at the renowned Kapalua golf course in search of an affordable souveneir, in tribute to one of my dearest friends, who, at a tender age had his left breast branded with the Kapalua butterfly. Sure enough, I found a fitting cap (and, later, a more fitting shirt).

Then we dined at another sunset favorite, Plantation House. Another dear friend turned us on to this marvelous view of the dynamic north side of Maui, its tall, green trees, manicured greens, varied flowers, dramatic cliffs and scenic sea. Great tip, Justin.

Thank you, Lord, for this spectacular day!

Day 5: May 30, 2006
2:45 a.m., and we're off to Haleakala. Ahead of us is a 2-hour drive to and up Maui's volcano. Watching a Haleakala Sunrise tops nearly everyone's list of Maui musts, so we weren't going to miss it, and we're so blessed we didn't.

As the topless yellow Jeep climbed to 10,000 feet, we were shivering. It was very cold that morning, above the clouds and above the wind protection the volcano's outer walls had given us previous days. So very, very worth it, though. The sunrise was inspiring.

We were exhausted driving back to the hotel, but we got back around 8:30, so we had the whole day before us and even time for a nap...

We met up with the Hemphills at lunch. Stephen and Karyn are great friends from Houston. We met in our Sunday school class and became friends in our home group. The Hemphills were oft Wally Bear's loving caretakers while Kelli and I vacationed.

We caught up over pizza at BJ's in Lahaina, snuck in a quick snorkel/hike near Kapalua, watched the Mavs game and the sunset at our hotel, then broke bread at Roy's. The Hemphills were kind enough to give us a large chunk of their vacation, and the time flew. Good friends are a treasure.

Day 6: May 31, 2006
After our insanely early morning at Haleakala, we woke questioning the benefits of the Road to Hana. Some have called it overrated, while others cite Hana as their favorite Maui site. Honestly, when the alarm woke us, I was skeptical about a full day in the car. So I texted my best bud for his opinion. He was persuasive, so we gassed up the Jeep and made our way to Hana. Wasn't long before our decision was affirmed. The most amazing views of the most beautiful place I know...

We negotiated the more than 50 one-lane bridges and 617 haripin turns all the way to our favorite day of the entire Hawaiian trip. We took hundreds of Hana photos, visited the Blue Pool and the famed Seven Pools. We even made the 4-mile roundtrip hike to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls.

The Jeep begged us to take the forbidden route home, so we complied and found facinating returns for our small risk. So, if you're in Maui, spend at least a day -- two would be better -- in Hana! And stop at the roadside taco and smoothie stands near Mile Marker 29.

Day 7: June 1, 2006
Day 7 was to begin with a timeshare presentation, in consideration for the deep discount the hotel scored us on the Quicksilver Snorkel Trip. Surprise, surprise, though, as the sales pitch began, as we were enjoying the free breakfast, the lady said we could be dismissed since we don't own a home (a pre-requisite for their timeshare program). So we got our snorkel discount and breakfast without suffering through their 90-minute spiel. Sweet, to the beach, Kelli!

We aimed at the southwest side of Maui for snorkeling. Makenna and Wailea are known for their fish-infested waters. We heard about a short but "pesky" hike to the "Aquarium," supposedly the very best spot on Maui. The hike was more than pesky. We traversed slippery shore rocks at the beginning of the hike because we had to thread the Pacific and private land. Next we had to climb insecure lava rock piles for like an hour and got lost many times, nearly giving up till we met some Germans who were making their way over the lava rock wall, just leaving the Aquarium. Another Houstonian couple followed us over the tall lava lid and down into the water. And, again, the difficult hike was worth it. Loads and loads of fish.

But when we got out of the water, we had to hike back. Though it was another hour-and-a-half, sunburning trek, we at least stuck to the trail on this leg.

We were starving and exhausted, so we mimicked the Hemphills and fixed our Mexican food fix at Fred's in Wailea, where we also watched the Mavs bully the Suns.

By the time we got back to the hotel, we were done. Burned and still exhausted, we watched the Spelling Bee all night. Awesome!

Day 8: June 2, 2006
With our last few hours on Maui, we did some last-minute shopping, and we toured the north side of Maui. It was a relaxing afternoon; just what we needed to ready ourselves for Kauai!