You know it's summer when...

... you notice the neighborhood kids that couldn't seem to get up to go to school are up at dawn to ride their skateboards in your driveway.
... you can tell exactly what grass doesn't get hit by the sprinklers.
... you suddenly feel the urge to eat half of an ice-cold watermelon.
... you see your child's teacher in the supermarket and nothing could wipe the smile off of their faces.
... you can get a discount at the local golf course if you play between noon and 3 pm.
... you see the Vacation Bible School signs up at all of the local churches.
It's VBS time again and we have been blessed to have a mission team from FBC of Portland Texas with us. They have enjoyed good weather and great kids and we have enjoyed their hard work and enthusiasm. Mahalo to Pastor Josh and his crew for their aloha to us. We're looking to a great week for the Lord. Hope you have one, too.
Aloha -

Oh My!!

Wow - it has been a while since my last post and where has the time gone? Sometimes weeks can fly by, you know like when you're on vacation and you think you have plenty of time and... BOOM - you're packing up to go back home! But, time also has a way of dragging, like when you're waiting on a phone call or when you're in the doctor's office waiting to be called to see the doc, or when you're reading my blog! Hope you have a great week and we'll find time another day to talk -
Aloha -

The in-between time

It's about 9:50 am on Sunday morning - the in-between time for me. This is the time between the 8am and the 10:15 am worship times when I get a quick drink of water and sit down for prayer. This morning, I called Wendy and spoke with her and she's doing good. I also have been thinking about how thankful I am for our church ohana here at Lahaina Baptist Church. So many have been praying for us, calling to check on us, sending cards and emails, making the kids and me dinner this week, covering the ministry needs for us, spending a little time to talk with us, just hanging out with us... so many ways they have ministered to us! I am very thankful for God's ohana that helps us in times of need. Mahalo to you all and keep faithfully serving our Lord. He's using you to be a true blessing to others.
Aloha -

I love this game!!

This morning, I headed to Kapalua Golf Academy and decided to relax and work on my golf game at the same time (sounds impossible, doesn't it!) I have been mentally working on my golf game and with a little practice, I have improved it! After about 100 shots, I walked from the range with a solid confidence and played the 3-hole walking course that is actually a few holes from the old Village Course (which is an Arnold Palmer design.) Hole #1 - tap-in par. Hole #2 - great putt for birdie. Hole #3 - easy par miss for a bogey. 3 holes at even par - that's not too bad. I think I'll be ready for The Tour soon. Unfortunately, I'm not sure which tour I would be on - most likely the "Wish You Were Actually a Golfer Tour" but I don't know where to sign up. I do know quite a few others that would fit on that tour. Maybe I'll just ask them. If I don't call you, consider yourself either blessed or too good. Have a great weekend for our Lord wherever He leads you.
Aloha -

I'm back -

I've been out of pocket lately due to the sudden passing of Wendy's father, E.W. Holland. While she was still on a trip to Japan and Korea with Taylor and a group from Lahainaluna High School, I received a call that E.W. had suffered a massive heart attack. He passed away quickly and without suffering. I had to notify Wendy while touring an elementary school in Seoul. She and Taylor finished the last day of their trip and began to come home, where we met her at the airport and rushed home to prepare to leave again in just four hours to travel to St. Marys, GA. All is as good as could be expected, but it will still be a difficult time for our family in the coming days ahead. Keep Wendy, her mother Martha, and our family in your prayers during this time. Mahalo to so many of you that have called, visited or emailed/sent a card or letter. You have been an encouragement to us in many ways and we are truly thankful.
Enjoy every day and live abundantly.
Aloha -

The Great American Pastime

Baseball season is back in Lahaina and I have chosen to once again help Coach Jeff with the Lahaina Red Sox in the West Maui Little League. This has been Zachary's team for the past two years while he was in the major league division of Little League, but he's moved up to the Juniors level this year. Even though he's moving on up, I'm still going to coach his old team because the coaching staff has been together for three years now and we work well as a team. Some our returnees are ready to go and have a lot of talent, so we're hoping for a great season. I'll keep you posted on the games as we begin the game schedule in a couple of weeks. If you have the time and desire, I encourage you to help with the sports programs in your child's life or in your community - it appears that fewer parents are willing to help out in the growth of their children. The time you invest in our children teaching them to be winners on and off the field will bring back great rewards. Let God use you to train up a child His way.
Aloha -

Missing someone -

Wendy and Taylor left Monday to travel to Japan and South Korea for ten days with the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism of Lahainaluna High School. They are having a great time and enjoying all the new sights and experiences, but Zachary and I are missing them. We've decided that: it's too quiet around the house; we're bored with our (his silly) tv shows; no one is greeting us with hugs and kisses when we get home (my vote!); the bathrooms are way too clean; the clothes are all washed (but not put away because we don't know where they put all their stuff!); and we are growing tired of 'cup-o-noodles.' I hope they're having fun, but we will be glad when they get home. Until then, we'll survive because we have been watching 'Survivorman' on tv and he's taught us about the cool ways to survive and how to know what bugs to eat and how to live on our own while we are stranded - at home - but still stranded - without Mom and Tay. Do me a favor - keep us in your prayers! Survive blessed and a hui hou!
Aloha -

Rain in Lahaina, again!

Wow - we have not had this much rain in a long time! It has been great to see everything green and growing after a couple of dry years, but it is a change from the normal. Today, Corey and I walked down to the harbor and around Front Street for a little bit, making our rounds and checking on the locals. We had to wash our slippers when we returned to the office because of the mud from another set of showers that seemed to have moved in this morning. I received an email from Pam Jones that warned us about having too much rain - she said we might find ourselves on an island! She could be right - it's pretty soggy today. But, I really like it when it sprinkles like this. Reminds me of days when I was a kid, growing up in Louisiana. I still love the rainy days after all these years. Hope you're having a great day and enjoy whatever God has sent you for today.
Aloha -

After lunch zoning.........

Do you ever have trouble with that zoned-out feeling after a big lunch? Well, I do and its happening now. I hope your having a good day. It's a nice day in Maui. I need to clean my desk. There's a bird outside my window......................... I'm sorry, but you're going to have to excuse me for a little while - I think I need a nap. I'm glad God never zones out. I'll see you later - a hui hou!
Aloha -

Busy, busy, busy -

Sometimes Tuesdays can get bad busy, but today was a good busy day. Bad busy is when you have too much work that you didn't finish (or even begin) that was left over from Monday and you're really crammed to get it done. Or when you have those meetings that are so bad that they won't work on a Monday, so you have to go to Tuesday. Or when you feel like surfing and there's a nice swell at Launiupoko or Tommyland going off and you can't get out of the office. That's bad busy! But today was just good busy and I got alot of different stuff done that I have wanted to do for a long time. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a good busy Wednesday, although most already are - you know, midweek!
Aloha -