Christmas is coming and more activities

The ocean has been very angry for the past month. High tides and large waves have washed away many of the northern beaches. They have had to change the prime surfing spot where they roped off the road and closed it to swimming because it is now a 20 foot drop-off from the road. The televised surfing competition was moved farther up north and the traffic is horrendous on the weekends, even more than usual. Nevertheless, it is so beautiful to watch an reminds me of Old Faithful.

This was another week of concerts, firesides, work and parties. It was a week full of many activities and of which included food of sorts.

Sunday started the week with a fantastic fireside featuring keiki from the surrounding towns being looked after by our Savior. What a beautiful setting.

Polly likes us to arrive early so we can get a seat so we go and enjoy the quiet before the concert. Here we are, Raeola, me, Polly, and Linda, my hale sisters.

The center was decorated with at least 20 trees or more all decorated in glorious splendor. This one was decorated by our YSA 2nd stake.

The keiki's were from all different nationalities. 

Thursday brought another big party. The maintenance Christmas party.

This was one of the biggest parties we have had all year. Mohea began planning this party last January before I arrived. She didn't want any credit for all she did.

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We had food and more food and more food. Green salad, taro, rice, mashed potatoes, and meats and fish galore,  TWO LITTLE PIGGIES, hams, turkeys, lamb, salmon, smoked salmon, clams, mussels, shrimp, laulalu, and many I couldn't even name, watermelon otai's and desserts from the missionaries.

This little piggy didn't make it to market but yum, yum, he was a good little piggy.

Jared was the chosen one to keep the flies away. Notice his palm flyswatter and yes, this is a warehouse. 

Then I had to try it out. 

Everyone had to work to get this party to work out!

The salmon was my favorite.

Kei, Lucy and Pua around the Christmas tree complete with more than 100 wrapped gifts for the employees. The party was a complete success.

Christmas lights at the PCC. I love the decorated palms. It seems so foreign to me.

P-Day came around again this week so off to the big city we went. We decided on China Town. This was not my favorite place in Hawaii but it was very interesting. Here is a picture of the Smith's Union Bar. It is the oldest bar in Honolulu and was there during WWII. It was a favorite of the sailors during WWII. Didn't look like it would fit many people. As we were walking by a policeman went inside and escorted this gentleman out and off down the street while three ladies missionaries and others looked on.

                       

 I loved the architecture of this building. It reminds me of the Capitol Theater and the Eccles in Logan.

Next it was off to the tabernacle to watch the Christmas Concert. It was the highlight of our day. It was presented by the Honolulu stake and has been presented every year since 1980. 31 years straight. e first adults grandchildren are in it now. 

The tabernacle is a beautiful building with a mosaic of our Savior on the front.

Let the Holiday's Begin

We rejoice in Christ's first arrival and His humble birth and now look forward to His second coming. 

D&C 128:23-24

23 Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

24 Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.

Christmas Trees from the PCC Islands

FIJI

Tahiti

Aeotearoa 

Cook Islands

SAMOA

TONGA

HAWAII

ISLAND BUFFET

OUR HALE

We decided not to decorate our humble abode for Christmas. Then Raeola bought a small Christmas tree and someone added a nativity then Polly remembered the Christmas box left over from last year and we put together a few things and here we have a modestly decorated room to let in the Christmas Spirit. I love it💝

AND THEN THE PARTIES BEGIN:

The first party was for the entire PCC.

Each department was asked to do a lip sync. 💋 There were about five groups that participated. The talent was extraordinary.😎Our department did a lip 💋sync to "O Christmas Tree "(Philippine style). We had over fifty people in our group. I was one cute chick. Chick's are big in Hawaii. We won first prize with a huge basket of goodies.😍

More Hot Mama Chicks

What do we do next?

Why more parties, of course! - We have a single sister's get together about once a month. On P-Day we went to Kaula to a little place called "A Cup of Tea"  (of course it was non-caffeinated!) My favorite was the peppermint. 
It was so quaint and decorated so beautiful for Christmas. The menu included tea, salad, finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and of course ICE CREAM! 
We had all the sister's attend except one. What a fun afternoon.



This is the nativity scene on BYU-H campus. The way is lit by all the palm trees until we come to the circle of flags and there we see the scene of what we celebrate at this time of the year.

THE FIRST GIFT OF CHRISTMAS!

A Week of Giving Thanks!

At this time of  gloom and destruction throughout the world  I would like to give thanks for all the blessings I receive because of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love this quote by President Gordon B Hinkley:
We have every reason to be optimistic in this world. Tragedy is around, yes. Problems everywhere, yes. But ... you can't, you don't, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen.
Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Opportunities will eventually open to you. do not let the prophets of gloom endanger your possibilities. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine. The Lord's plan is a plan of happiness. The way will be lighter, the worries will be fewer, the confrontations will be less difficult if we cultivate a spirit of happiness.

During the last week I had so much to be thankful for. My beautiful daughter, Tracy and granddaughter Zoe came to visit me leaving the rest of their family behind and we spent a fun and beautiful Thanksgiving week. I was so grateful to have them here. We had a great deal of fun even though the weather didn't cooperate at times and it was a bit on the chilly side.

Of course when you come to visit the first place we go to is the PCC. This is also the place where we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Junior and Almira Ah You and their beautiful family.
They do this every year. They cooked approximately 200 turkeys for the missionaries and homeless throughout Oahu.

  


After Thanksgiving dinner the fun begins with my family. We start by visiting island sites:

 Banyan Tree 

Waimea

The Aquarium

Fish pictures not flowers:

   

One giant clam!

 

The Pacific Ocean and Sunset Beach

I am going to miss them!

And a few more flowers!!!

                       

A WATERMELON TREE?

Not! A calabash tree.

                                            Before                                              After

   

             

               

      Eucalyptas tree  

  

And another beautiful sunset.