We have been fortunate the spend that last two days at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore. We splurged to get the epic ocean view room.
Our View:
Last day in Hawaii:
Tag Archives: Parenting
Be Boogy Boarding and Busting Your Shorts
We went to a new beach today. It was suppose to be family friendly, have great sand and be a fun place to boogy board.
Look at this postcard, it looks idyllic:
We received a few clues that the day was going to be a wild one when a Hawaiian boogy boarder screamed as a wave threw him into the air then the lifeguards came over the loud speaker reminding everyone that the current waters were unsafe for swimming, children and anyone inexperienced boogy boarding.
Checkout this photo I took of the bay and compare it to the postcard:
Steve decided to give it a go anyways. Here he is with the blue board contemplating his entry:
And this is what happened to his shorts:
hahaha…
But then he decided to take our oldest son in to give it a try…
Mama Bear and the lifeguards had to both yell at him. Me up close and personal, the lifeguards from the tower at the top of the beach.
The boys stayed on the sand for the rest of the morning building a rescue boat and a command centre. They had a great time. I was the only one traumatized by the crazy surf!
At sunset, we went back to our favourite beach beside the turtles so that everyone could do some boogy boarding.
Checkout this perfect little wave lapping up onto the beach:
OC and I were able to rest on the beach and make a bus:
Another incredible day! OC got his feet wet by a wave for the first time and no one was sucked out to sea or pulverized too badly by waves. 
Tomorrow, we will be shopping for shorts!
Be Surfing Under Rainbows with a Butterfly
The boys wanted to surf this morning. Our friends here recommended Uncle Brian’s Sunset Suratt Surf Academy. These guys are the ‘goods’! Instructors with surfing running in their blood, hearts of a lion for their sport and patience of a good father for the students.
Our boys loved it! Not only did they get to learn to surf but God’s presence and mom’s love was all over this morning.
First the boys warned up and learned the technique on the beach:
Next they were off, pulled by the instructor’s toes to a bay covered by a rainbow.
The boys all got up on the board. Take a close look at the photo with the instructor riding a wave on HIS HEAD! (Better photos to come!)
Sexy Neck doing his thing…
Six year old JC
Four year old CC stood up with Crew’s help. He was afraid to fall off the board into the ocean. He loved riding the waves.
Sexy Neck told me afterwards that at one time they had regrouped and a butterfly flew over the two boys and their teacher. He thought, “Nana was present!”
We came home and realized that there were butterflies all over the house we are staying at.
If you had asked me what I want most now that my mom has died. What I want is my mom back!
Today, I feel gratitude for mornings like today watching my boys using the gifts given to them in God’s beautiful nature and feeling my mom’s presence.
Glory.
Rainbows.
Butterflies.
Men building up boys.
Surfing.
Ocean.
Vastness.
Gratitude.
Be Building a Maisonnette
What did you yearn to have in your childhood home?
A cozy place to snuggle and read?
A place to climb?
A home for your dolls and toys?
Since the day we moved into our house last summer, our boys have wanted to build a fort/Maisonnette under the stairs.
A perfect hideaway.
A clubhouse.
A special space.
My heart longs to create a healing home where we can rest. As last week unfolded, I knew our family needed a project for the weekend. I immediately thought of the fort. We must have hit the right moment as the construction gears were in motion on Friday night about ten seconds after I mentioned the fort.
JC and Sexy Neck came up with the design. I cleaned out my stuff from under the stairs. The boys found some wood and they were off.
Here is the finished product on Sunday night:
The boys want to put wood on the sides, add a rope ladder, paint, add a curtain for privacy, a bookshelf and a few more nicknacks will come and go.
The boys were incredible working with their dad. Sexy Neck was amazing at involving the boys every step of the way. The were able to measure and cut wood. Problem solve when the wood wouldn’t fit on the platform. The boys screwed in the floorboard, OC was a natural. Finally, they got to choose everything that they wanted in the fort.
Building self-esteem.
Handwork.
Creating.
Bodies and minds in motion.
Encouraging.
The boys Maisonnette designed and created by them.
Being.
Boys.
Be A Crazy Canuck
Gold medal hockey game.
Last day of the Olympics.
Sochi 2014.
Sunday morning.
Singing O’Canada.
Seeing Sidney Crosby’s triumphant smile.
My comments followed by tears: This is every mother’s dream, that their boys find their passion and follow it.
Hockey.
Ballet.
Drawing.
Guitar.
Skiing.
Swimming.
Be a passionate Crazy Canuck.
Be Painting Yet Another Wall.
This wall is a paint can full of love for my boys.
First my man, Sexy Neck:
And then my wee boys:
My imperfect love poured out.
God’s redeeming love making it perfect.
All that I have.
All that I am.
Love I cannot describe.
Rich.
Humble.
Grateful.
A wife.
A mother.
Poured out through paint, through words, through actions.
Freely given.
Love.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Be With Boots
Strap yourselves in.
Lie down.
Do what you need to do because boy do I have a story for you!
As I write these words I am very conscious that we each have an individual perspective on God, heaven, the meaning of life as well as life after death.
I want to be very clear where I am coming from so that you have a frame of reference for what I am choosing to write. My life is not directed by a church consciousness of God nor is my faith anything miraculous nor profound. My relationship with Jesus started in University in my childhood bedroom, alone with God answering a simple prayer: “God show me you are real.”
This simple prayer followed years of bible study, lukewarm times where I couldn’t see God at work, moments of zealously following God and now this.
This winter season living in a desert while rowing my boat in the ocean of grief. Woah!
Every present God.
Quilt maker sewing good and bad to make a beautiful quilt.
Coincidences that make me take a deep breath.
This one brought goosebumps to my arms.
A few days ago, I was sitting at the kitchen table with the three boys. When we have a quiet moment, this is when someone will usually bring up Nana.
On this day it was two year old, OC. He piped up, out of nowhere and said, “Nana with Boots!”
My ears almost fell off of my head. I immediately looked at JC, our six year old and said, “Do you know who Boots is?”
JC said, “No!”
Our four year old chimed in, “I have boots!”
I then asked OC again, “Who is Nana with?”
He said, “Boots.”
I paused then looked at the boys and told them that Boots was my childhood cat.
They looked at me wide-eyed then we went back to playing Lego.
Grief and God at His best!
Be Playing With Your ‘Baby Buddies’
All these lovelies where born months apart (coincidently). They are all either 6 years old, 4 years old or 2.
It was beautiful to be reunited with them today.
I also managed to ‘almost’ get a photo of their wonderful parents.
Pure hearts.
Pure joy.
Pure friendship.
Pure love.
"Be" ENOUGH 