Round Robin : Personal Challenge

 Personal challenge.  My  personal challenge is best summed up by a few words:  "Lacking in confidence."  Oh, but I have a cheering squad.  My cheering committee is headed by my husband (sometimes called "flyboy" or "the farmer") second tied by all three of my children.  

My husband has encouraged me from the moment I said "I would like to take better photos" ... he provided me with a better camera, hoards of film, and an unlimited bank account for processing all my hundreds of rolls of film!   He tells me when there might be a photo op;  he tells me "your photos are better!" when I point out what I think to be an excellent photograph online.  He pumps me up with his enthusiasm and encouragements until I finally feel good about my work.  Thanks Honey, I love you!!!

My inspiration comes from my very talented younger sister.  She has such a knack with expression ... both literary and photographic styles.  When I grow up, I wanna be just like her (well, her two afore mentioned talents .. the rest can be hers exclusively!!!)  I don't have a recent picture of my own of my sister, but I have a great family that I love bragging about, and SHE is in there somewhere! You might even recognize this photo from one of her photoblogs!   Thanks Little Sister, I love you!

Visitors, please check out the rest of the participants for this sessions "Round Robin Photo Challenge:  Personal Challenge"

Dear Family and Anniversary Couple

It's finally time for an UPDATE  ... letters for everyone ! ! ! ! ! !  Just because there has been a long lapse in communication, does not mean there is a lapse in love and appreciation for my family! So, without further ado ...

Dear BF ~ You are my biggest and best encourager, and let me tell you there is some competition out there!  You always compliment my choices, my hobbies, my cooking, and even my cleaning ... ok, maybe not my cleaning ... I suspect you secretly wish I wouldn't clean as much so you can stand back and admire your mountains a little longer.  Thank you for allowing me to splurge for a  r/t  ticket back to the islands, and for three weeks no less!  Loving you always ~ GF

Dear Daughter ~ you already know how much it means for me to have my grandbabies around.  They are my joy.  It won't be long before I have TWO   Princesses fighting for my lap on the riding lawnmower ... or who's gonna sit with me on the chair while we watch cartoons in the afternoon!  I had a lot of fun picking out Hawaiian outfits for them, and other souvenirs for you and Ty.  I sure hope all the legal things can be taken care of soon so that you no longer have any roadblocks to your happiness for the future. With Love, MOM

            

Dear Oldest Son ~ thanks for coming up to help out at the farm.  I can see you've actually taken to it quite well!  I can also see the attraction is to all the equipment at your disposal!!!  HAHA ... You'll have to help me get accustomed to the new tractor ... the rest, if I can't run it, it's YOUR job!  haha ... and the riding lawn mower is MINE MINE MINE ... hands off less I tell you you can, got it?!?!?!?! Love, MOM

Dear Youngest Son,   ~ thanks ever so for NOT pressuring me to go off-roading!  It's really not my thing .. you know .. the mud and all! *what WERE you THINKING?!?!*  It sure was nice being able to get a few hugs this and last month!  Kishia is really nice, and I still don't quite get why she was reluctant to meet me! *rolls eyes*  You two be good, and hopefully we'll see each other again in the winter, here that is!  Thanks for helping out when you could with the Anniversary Son, I appreciated it so much.  Also, I think your Aunties were glad you made yourself available to visit while they were there.  HUGS to you, Baby! ~ MOM  ps .. the Army Formal picture was great!

  Dear Mom and Dad, this trip back to the Islands was really all about you two.  Dad, thanks for the cabin vacation, it was going so good till they gave us so much grief at checkout time!  The cabin was so perfect overall, (well, minus the ants ... ask George).  Mom, thanks for so much love and labor over feeding us!!   You might get older, but your cooking is ALWAYS the best!  I know I speak forall your children, we LOVED that it meant so much to you to have us together.  It meant a lot to each of us to see you both so happy and excited about the celebration.  As last minute as it was, what we finished of the scrapbook was awesome, and I know you're aware there's more to come.  The slideshow was also a last minute throw-together, and I hope to get a revised one done with tons more photographs!  It's actually been very fun putting it all together.  Mom and Dad ... Happy 50th Golden Anniversary, and it's my prayers that there are yet many more anniversaries to be celebrated together!  To you Both, I raise my glass:  Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!  Lovingly, Third Oldest Daughter

TO ALL MY SISTERS and BROTHER:  OH what a joy it was to be able to hug you each again!  The many nights we stayed up late to share memories ... cokes ... wine ... beer ... jokes ... gas!  How exasperating it was for me to be working on the slideshow while you all gossiped without me!!!  Right!  Oh, the island food was all so good ... crashing waves and the salty air ... the malasadas ... Zippy's ... mele macs ... the sunsets and sunrises ... the pick on "so and so" days... I loved it ALL. 

Dear Big Sister ~ Your thoughtfulness never ceases to amaze me.   You are in a true sense, our BIG SISTER!  You think of everything, right down to the dirty dishes and linen!  Your ideas for a collage and scrapbook were priceless ... I know mom and dad love them BOTH!  I cannot thank you enough for supplying us with that wonderful disk of pictures that so many of us used for our scrapbook pages, and filled so many slides in the slideshow!!!  I say this all the time, but it bares repeating ... You are a WONDERFUL big sis!

Dear Second Big Sis ~ You know, I missed you so much!  (HI there NEPHEW!!!) All those times we would go to rubberstamping expos .. and share excitement for new stamp sets or cards we slaved over!  Thanks so much for sharing all your FANTASTIC, to DIE FOR papers for our Scrapbooking, and for making those BEAUTIFUL invitations!!!   While we were making long distance arrangements, I had sooooooooooooo many outgoing calls to you on my phone ... hahaha, never before have we taken our phone plans to the limit (well, ok, maybe YOU have) You have a knack for really getting fired up about plans ... the enthusiasm necessary to carry out such a last minute plan.  THANKS so much for being our POC ... you are amazing!  Love and Miss you ~ Little Sister 

Dear Little Sister ... WOW ... you and Big Sister started this all for me ... you and your plans to go back to the islands ... everything after that sort of flew by like a whirlwind!  You put the excitement in the word "lets PARTY" ... your zeal in every idea was like  fireworks!  Your creativity with the collage, and your unfailing determination to get the scrapbook pieced together was a true blessing with outstanding results!!!  We had our own personal photographer (and paparazzi) .. what more could we ask for!!!  I missed you so much all these years, your humour and sarcasm were even welcomed!!! 

Dear Little Brother ~ thanks for everything!  It was nice to see the kolohe kids again too ...you don't know how much I've missed them.  It has been so neat discovering our need for little brothers!  I am so happy you had a chance to spend more than a weekend with us!     And, no worries about "da ants" ... dey stay clean!  Sorry, that was so funny!  This was the first time in a long time that we could all actually sit down and share memories with our little brother ... as much as this was about Mom and Dad, it was fantastic for us siblings also!  Thanks for helping out with the screen for the slideshow, even if it worked out where we couldn't use it.  Thanks for helping out my son with his jeep ... you are always so busy for other people, I love that about you, but mostly I just love that you're my little brother!  Love, Love, Love, Your Big Sister

Dear Baby Sister ~ I pray ed for Koa.  I couldn't bring myself to ask again, but did and am so glad she is BACK home.  It was great to see you and the family again!  (Thanks Brother In Law for fitting me in for a color/cut!!!) Baby Sis, my biggest regret for this trip, was that I didn't hardly get much time with you!!!  As usual, you and hubby's cooking far exceeds our expectation for island favorites!  Thank you Cin, for taking the time out of your schedule to be with us Aunties!!! We enjoyed yours and Travs' company very much!   J,  you're just the same, but older and taller!!!  I didn't realize it till we moved, how much I enjoyed you hanging out with the boys.  Tone, YAY ... was happy we got to see you so much also!!!  Be kind to your brothers and sister ... they're all you got!  CATman ... I MISS YOU and your HUGS!!!  I will try to get more postcards to you each time I travel. 

Dear Family ... Meow to you ALL

Dear Family, I guess it's high time I did a little updating here!  First, I want to mention to everyone that I am expecting my SECOND grandchild in September!!!  WoooHooo ... I think that has got to be the best Grandparents day present ever.

Now, let me tell the farmer ... you're so funny!  I wonder if in actuality, a TOW business might be a better use of my time than a bed & breakfast?  Think about it ... best tow service this side of NY state!

    

Dear Daughter, well, since you're NOT going to go to school,  you may as well be the bringer of grandbabies!!!  Better start getting all those winter items washed and packed ... can't do without those if you move to North Country for the winter!  Hug my Precious One for me.

Dear Oldest Son, "press onward" ... keep doing what you're doing and get ahead.  Ahem, adding metal to your face NEVER was on the preferred list of bulking up!!  Get ready for a summer workout, because I think we're going to be doing a "re-roofing 101" crash course, no CRASHING allowed though! 

Dear Youngest Son, KEEP SAFE.  I will hunt for a small rice cooker for you ... and SORRY about the ALOHA SHOYU!!!  I know you will forgive me, or the rice cooker stays in NY :D  I hope you enjoyed the movies ... be safe.

   

Dear Parents, cold as it has been here, it's positively beautiful!  Thanks so much for opening our eyes to the world around us, otherwise moving would not take on such excitement for adventure.  All the trees are blooming, and it's interesting finding out what's what, as well as what kind of wild birds we have visiting us daily.  Dad, I don't have a chair out on the porch for birdwatching ....  Y E T ! ! ! 

Dear Oldest Sister, How's life in GeorgiaVille?  Sorry we didn't get a chance to visit duirng our last southbound trip, but I am certain there will be more in the near future.  I am now trying out my luck in gardening ... asparagus was left here by the previous owners ... and I already have ONIONS!  *yuck to onions*  Anyway, I thought of you folks as I started planting my vegetable seeds ... who knows ... maybe I'll be able to bring some fresh veggies down to ya this summer!  Tell Oldest Daughter THANKS for the updates on baby, I like the website!

Dear Older Sister ... YABBA DABBA DOOOOOOOO on the upcoming second grandchild!!!  And, Oh how I can't wait till this fall to see you all together again!  I am praying that a trip out to the farm will be in the plans, if not, at least I may be able to drive across to see you all for a day. 

Dear Wife of Nephew ... tsk tsk ... you FORGOT to tell me SOMETHING?????  Begins with P and ends with REGNANT?  Congrats to you and hubby.

      

Dear Younger Sister, Dickeedoo and Oompas ... hmm ... don't know if that's legal to type online, but done deal as it is.  SOMEONE I know keeps looking in the Colorado or west coast area for a yak bull ... so, don't be surprised if I call looking for a decent B&B right on your street :D  Be sure your oldest son and grandbaby get a hug and kiss from us!

Dear Little Brother, We're definitely lifting you and your family in prayer.  You have been such a blessing to us, and I pray for double blessings in your life.  HUGS to the three KOLOHE KIDS for me! 

Dear Baby Sister, how goes it in BabySisterVIlle?  TWO things make me think of you folks in a heartbeat ... ONE is my drab hair and TWO is my lack of culinary skills!!!  Miss you guys a lot!  Hugs from Redbird Inn. 

I hope you all will take time to CHILLAX.  Make more of life than is obvious.

March Madness . . .

 Dear Family .... and so begins the first chapters of Dear Family, a familiar epistle on unfamiliar territory.  I am testing out new site on familiar stomping grounds for Dornbrau.  Enjoy!

Dear Family, last month was dedicated to reorganizing my craft room.  YES, I have a CRAFT ROOM.  Anyway, it brought tears to my eyes.  Not due to allergens, but due to the Ohana Reunion Autograph book that appeared amongst my craft supplies.  Little Brother, YOU FORGOT TO SIGN MY BOOK ! ! This week, my letters will be dedicated to this special time.  I hope that the four great grandbabies will have an opportunity to share photos and journals with their own children. 

Dear BF ... You were a real trooper ... you have a tremendous amount of patience for all I do.  You are simply the BEST.  There is no way we could have pulled this off without your patience and bank account.  Thank you, I love you!

         

Dear Daughter, was this not so worth coming back to Hawaii for?  All the cousins finally meeting up, some for the first time!  I am sure the KUKU family appreciated you giving up your former room, and were entertained by the massive bag decor.  Thanks for all your help in preparations baby!

Dear Oldest Son, thank you SO much for helping out with many aspects, especially setting up! I KNOW some of your help away from the home was purely so you could GET AWAY from us, ha!, but appreciated nonetheless.  Wasn't it cool to get the '84 brats together?  And btw, Big Island Uncle and his family sure appreciated the use of your former room ... come to think of it, Georgia Aunty and Uncle appreciated the use of your OTHER room ... PTL for so many rooms!
 

                                                 

Dear Youngest Son, DEHYDRATION?  Oh come on, who were you kidding!  Surely you could have come up with something less dramatic for attention!  HAHA ... Georgia cousin and husband thank you for giving up your room, otherwise they would have had to sleep in the upstairs bathroom ... UGH!  Be safe Son, I LOVE YOU.

Dear Mom and Dad, though we all say this family reunion was for the WHOLE OHANA, it was always aimed at making one person the happiest .. MOM.  Mom, your love (and cooking) will continue to bring us home.  Your happiness means the world to each of us.  Dad, thanks SO much for providing transportation to so many meetings and donating your Christmas $$.  And, Thanks for being soooooo, well, you know ... HO HO HO!  Thanks for doing the footwork and organizing much of the picnic and Christmas in July, and though plans changed a number of times, it STILL managed to work out beautifully. 

Dear Big Sister and Brother In Law, thanks for getting so charged up with this reunion idea!  I was so happy when we discovered that all of Georgia were coming to the islands.  Big Sister, you are so much like yourmother, keeping up with the dishes and laundering linens for us, not to forget stocking the fridge and pantry a bit!!!  What can I say, you will ALWAYS be my BIG SISTER.  Thanks, you two, for making sure the whole family was able to attend.                

                                          
Dear Big SIS,  you and baby sis both seemed to keep us all excited with all the plans and ideas to make this event a blast.  It was such a success, mostly because we all parted with happy satisfied smiles that we were all together once again!  I would do this again ... now that we have experience under our belts, we can steer away from bad ideas!  One major problem, MIKE didn't get married soon enough for Liz to join us!  Anyway, a big hug and kiss go with this Mahalo!

Dear Little Sis, Brother in Law and all the little Kuku sweeties ... I LOVE AN UNSPOILED FAMILY!  What a blast it was getting back together, I wouldn't have traded these moments for anything in the world.  All the cousins got on famously, which is only something we could have hoped for, yet a dream come true!  No regrets, only great memories, and it ended all too soon.  Have the Kuku kids forgiven Aunty for MAKING them use their last few minutes at the airport for signing books????  haha

    

Dear Little Brother and Sister in Law, OOGA BOOGA!  Brother, you forgot to sign my book!!!  This reunion was SO much fun!  The children all fit right in, and EVEN OUR CRAZY SISTER IN LAW fits our family ... wow, what does that say for us?  JUST KIDDING SISTAH!  Mahalo BOTH of you for pitching in with the yummy grinds!

Dear Baby Sis and Brother in Law, you were a wonderful team!  Brother in Law, thanks for giving up your home so many times for planning meetings, and for the LUAU!  GRRRRR Baby Sis, so many times we had to change things, but the ending result was STILL ALWAYS warm and wonderful!  You kept us going with your excitement and enthusiasm with fresh ideas of ways to make this the most memorable time for all.  I CANNOT thank you enough!  The children sacrificed a lot too, MAHALO niece and nephews!!!

Once again, we are all on our separate paths.  There are some in O'ahu, some in Hawai'i, Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Connecticut, New York, Nevada?, and more recently, two in Iraq.  I miss you all, and know that now when tears roll down my cheeks, it's because I love and miss you all so much.