The Merry Month of May

May has gone past so quickly!  It started out with delightful visits from family and friends, and has ended up with some interesting military moments.  The first one, and a BIG one, is that Stephen accepted a commission in the United States Navy!  On May 18th, he was sworn in as a Lieutenant, which is equivalent to a Captain in the Army.

Why is he raising his hand to a computer?

Well...

...because Layden was on another computer and administered the Oath of Office via Skype!  How neat is that?!!  Stephen was at the Lubbock, Texas Veteran's Memorial and Layden was in Hawaii.  It was a good moment for all of us. I admit to being a little teary-eyed.  Even though we are an Army family it feels different when it is your own baby boy.

This ceremony reminded me of the one we had this same month, 17 years ago.  That was when Layden was sworn in as an officer in the United States Army and appointed as a Chaplain.  I was a little teary-eyed then too.  We had no idea how quickly the time would pass, or how much hard work it would be, or how much fun we would have.  It is hard to imagine that it has been 17 years!

Such an adventure awaits Stephen and his family! 

The first adventure will be that Stephen will go off to his training course, leaving Bethany to pack out and move herself and the children from Texas to Virginia...welcome to military life.

Now that I have both a husband AND a son in the Armed Forces, Memorial Day was even more poignant than usual. I have such gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to this country, and to those who are willing to put everything on the line when duty calls.

This year, Layden gave the invocation at the Memorial Day service at the Schofield Barracks cemetery. 

Here in Hawaii, people put leis on the graves. It is quite a lovely tribute.

After the ceremony, soldiers in uniform were honored with their own lei.  These were made by a sweet Hawaiian woman who placed them on each soldier.  I am not certain that it is a typical uniform element, but it was great to see how touched these soldiers were by the gesture, and how pleased they were to wear them.  It truly is humbling to be thanked so generously.

ALOHA

Memorial Day 2012

Mother's Day Reflections

I have been thinking about Mother's Day.  It is a day with which I have a love-hate relationship.For example, it is hard to go to church where I am likely to hear about ideal women who are the paragon of motherhood.  I don't think I actually know any of these perfect women but I find myself making comparisons anyway, and coming up short and somehow being reminded of all my impefections as a mother.  I know I have them.  My children know it too. I just don't like to dredge them up. 

In recent years, I find Mother's Day morning dull.  Now that Stephen is grown and flown I do not lie in bed pretending to be sleeping in while waiting for my breakast in bed.  That was always a fun tradition.  Interesting breakfasts, too.  Layden, who is thoughtful, and also good at breakfasts, makes sure to prepare something yummy for me, but it isn't the same.  And, along with this whole empty nest thing, I find myself a bit envious of women who have children and/or grandchildren nearby.  The military has stationed us in some wonderful places, but not usually near family.

But then, I get to open a box.  Inside I find a card, a book, and a "magic" flower that blooms at the touch of a button.  All of a sudden I am delighted!  I am sure that I am not the only mother to get these items for Mother's Day.  Doesn't matter though - thousands may have gotten them but mine are the BEST!! Why?  Because MY children and MY grandchildren sent them.  They made the effort and took the time to remember me.  And when they called me, they told me that they love me.  What  a WONDERFUL blessing.

I am fortunate to have had the experience of being a mother.  Not everyone gets this chance, and so this day can be a hard one.  Some mothers have lost their children, either physically or emotionally.  My heart aches for them even in the midst of my joy.  Some mothers are in the middle of the hard parts of parenting.  Been there.  Hang on - there will always be ups and downs. 

So, like I said - love-hate.  But I wouldn't trade being a Mom for anything.  Wouldn't trade my book or my card or my flower either.  They are sitting on my desk right by my picture frame, just like my family thought they would.  Thanks!

Friends and Family

Layden with our good friends, Fred and Sharon Thompson.  We knew the Thompsons in Korea.  They came as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and served in the Camp Red Cloud/Camp Casey area.  They dedicated many hours to the Red Cross, the elementary school, and individual soldiers and families.  After all that hard work, they certainly deserve this Hawaii vacation and we were delighted to see them again.  This picture was taken on the Pali Highway lookout, the high point of the road which crosses from the leeward to the windward side of Oahu.  While most people do not think of Oahu and mountains at the same time, there are indeed montains here.

These ones rise about 2,000 feet above the shoreline, most of it vertical.  Very dramatic and very beautiful.

Why am I peering out of a ukulele-playing pineapple?

Perhaps because I got a ukulele!  We went to a music shop where the Thompsons got some very nice ukes.  I had been thinking about getting one myself but never quite managed to do it.  I got talked in to it by these people and my good husband and I am glad I did because this is a fun instrument to play.  Our beginner repertoire consisted of old campfire tunes, a drinking song or two, and a very bad rendition of "Tiny Bubbles" but we did have a great time. We have decided to get together again once we have improved with practice. 

Our next set of visitors was my sister Melody, her family and her in-laws.  They came to Oahu for an orthodontia conference.  They had the luxury of starting out their Hawaii adventure by getting to stay at the Royal Hawaiian, one of the old grand hotels that at one time were the most prominent landmarks on Waikiki.  These have been dwarfed by newer high-rise hotels, but none of them can really compare to the gracious sweep of architecture, the gardens, and the unique atmosphere that made Hawaii such a favored destination in the early 20th century.

Eventually they shed the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and headed to the North Shore.  Here is my sister and her girls enjoying our beach.

Brother-in-law Aaron took an awesome turtle picture!

It was great fun to hang out in Hale'iwa, try a shrimp truck, and eat shave ice.  I think this is the most time I have been able to spend with my sister in years.  It was really a treat!  We stayed up til we couldn't keep our eyes open, got caught up on all the things that we have been doing, and think we shouldn't wait so long til we do this again!

Sunset at Ka'ena Point.

ALOHA

Saturday Supermoon

Last week was an interesting astronomical week at our house. On Wednesday the 2nd, we saw the International Space Station pass over our western horizon - a reddish dot brighter than many stars that went zooming across the sky.

Saturday night, May 5, 2012, was the night of what is commonly called a supermoon. The more acurate term is perigree full moon. This is the phenomenon of the concidence of a full moon and the closest moon orbit to earth. When this happens, the moon looks really big upon rising and is very bright - about 30% brighter than normal. Here on the North Shore of Oahu we can't see the moonrise because it is blocked by the Waianae Mountain Range. But we were able to see it up in the sky over our house, and it really was bright.

It was bright enough to cast very distinct palm tree shadows on the beach.

The next perigree full moon will be in about 14 months, on June 23, 2013.

We look forward to it!

If you want more information about supermoons, look here: earthsky.org

ALOHA