Hawaii Trip | Part 1

To say that we had an incredible time on our trip to Hawaii would be a huge understatement. We really enjoyed ourselves so much. I worried and worried and worried about worrying and, all of it, for nothing. I have so MUCH to share I just don't even know where to begin.

Our resort was beautiful. We stayed at the Royal Lahaina for the first five days and they made our stay very comfortable. By the time we got off the plane and to the resort on Friday afternoon, it was about four o'clock already. There's a five hour time difference so our bodies felt like it was nine in the evening. Add on all the exhaustion from one six and a half hour flight and another hour and a half flight and we. were. spent. We checked in as quickly as we could and passed out in our room pretty much the moment we found it.

The room was really nice too. I'm sorry to say I never thought to take a photo of it.... But, you can just take my word for it, it was great! There was a nice king sized bed, a cabinet/desk with a large flat screen tv, a pretty screen type of blind separating the sink and bathroom area from the rest of the room and a medium sized balcony just off of two sliding glass doors. Two giant blinds slid over to cover the door and, while we mostly left ours open to catch all the scenery and sunlight that we could, it was nice to be able to close it if we wanted.

There was daily maid service, which was so convenient. They didn't do much other than bring clean towels and make the bed but, it really did make it easy to come in after a day of exploring and just relax. Glen booked breakfast everyday with our package and it was so yummy. They had a huge bar full of traditional breakfast foods along with some of the local dishes. We would wake up each morning around six a.m., since we were still on Missouri time, and head downstairs to the restaurant. Not having to leave the resort to eat made it easy to have a good meal at the start of the day and then stretch our snacks so we didn't feel too hungry again til dinner. We brought protein bars and a few things along to get us through the afternoon and it really worked out so well. Then for dinner we would order room service or go out if we didn't feel like sandwiches from our little trip to Safeway for a few supplies.

Saturday we spent the day exploring Lahaina and the shops along Front Street. We were able to take the resort trolley to a local shopping mall and then catch the bus from there. It was pretty cheap to ride but, we did save a bit by purchasing an all day pass so all we had to do was show the driver our card when we got on and we were good to go. It made it easier to get a seat as well because he would always ask for day passes first, which was awesome with the crowds of locals and tourists alike trying to get from place to place.

This was one of my favorite days simply because we got to see the little coastal town as the locals do. There were quite a few touristy shops but, also a lot of restaurants and art galleries, which was neat. Each little block had artists and singers peddling their goods or asking for tips for their music. We saw surfers riding bikes with their boards in hand (how do they even do that!?), homeless people along the rock walls by the water, families with littles, museums amidst the shops and a pretty neat library right by the coast (Alexis, you should totally move there!). It was really a cool atmosphere. We spent a little part of our walk with some people that had been there before and were back visiting and they were so nice and informative. When the older gentlemen heard that it was our tenth anniversary trip, he gave us a little cash to get lunch! Seriously, nearly everyone we met was so kind.

We spent a lot of the day Sunday in the ocean and on the beach. It was simply breathtaking. The water was so clear you could literally see to the bottom, even where you could just barely touch your toes into the sand. When we were just ready to get out, we saw a Sea Turtle swimming right off of the shore! I actually jumped back in a swam along side him for a bit up the coast. It was so amazing! That evening we attended a Luau at our resort (we were told it was one of the best on the island of Muai) and it was really cool. The food was great, the entertainment was incredible and we got to meet some sweet people from New York and Utah. Did I mention how friendly everyone was to us?!

(I'm going to skip Monday and Tuesday for now because I'd like to share our adventures on those days in another post so as not to cram too much into this one. ;) )

We hopped over to Honolulu, on the island of Ouahu, on Wednesday. One of my closest friends from High School lives there with her husband and Glen worked it out with her for us to stay in their guest room for a few days! I can't explain how exciting it was to see her again!! Her husband was in the army for eight years so, they've always been overseas or out of state. She's come back to visit a couple of times but, the last time was over four years ago so we were wayyyy overdue for some girl time! She and her husband were so inviting and generous to us the entire time we were there. They have two of the sweetest pups I've everrrr met (seriously considered hiding one in our suitcase on the way home..) and our overall stay with them was just wonderful. I didn't even think to snap a photo of the four of us, or even Ashley and I, and that makes me really sad. But, the truth is, we were just having way too much fun to think about it! 

We visited the Makapu'u Lighthouse one day while we were there and the views were incredible! They actually used the lighthouse in the filming of the movie Fifty First Dates (during the "first kiss" montage) and that was the movie we saw on our very first date, back in 2004. So it was super special to be able to make the hike up to see it! You can't actually go to the lighthouse but, the trail ends just above it, giving you a great view of it along with the coast leading to it, Makapu'u Beach, and the Kalanianaole Highway, which had some really breathtaking views! It was a pretty easy hike up to the lookout point with a paved trail and places to stop and rest along the way. Seriously, so much fun. 

Ashley and Norman knew some of the best eating spots in the Honolulu/Kapolei area and made sure we were always happy and full. We had The Cheesecake Factory, Monkey Pod Kitchen and another place that I can't remember the name of, along with some fast food and snack stops on the way to adventures. All were sooooo good! I had a mini moment of ecstasy in the middle of my Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake that gave us all a good laugh through the rest of the night. LOL Really though, I can't thank our sweet friends enough for hosting us our last three days in Hawaii and making our time there so memorable and relaxing. We did a little shopping, watched movies into the night and picked up some fun souvenirs for our boys and family. We also visited Pearl Harbor (so so amazing) and I'll include that in my next post. It's safe to say I'll be thinking of this trip for a very long time to come and I still can't believe it's already over..

Ten years together and it seems like it's flown by already. I knew Glen was the one when we started dating nearly thirteen years ago but, I never imagined our life would be as blessed and happy as it is. Happy Anniversary to my best friend! I love you more than anything and can't wait to spend another ten years and more loving you.

Leaving My Heart 4,000 Miles Away

We leave today for our Hawaii trip (I still don't think it's completely sunk in yet..). On the one hand, I am so excited and thrilled to spend the next few days with my love and recover a little piece of us that we've maybe lost track of these past ten years. On the other though, my heart hurts to leave my children behind.

When Glen first surprised me with the news of our trip, I felt an ache thinking about it. I was so, so happy. He'd spent the last eight months planning this. I mean, seriously, who does that?! He's amazing. But, having to be apart from my boys is going to be physically, mentally very difficult for me. As a homeschooling, helicopter, over-protective, you name it mama, it's going to challenge me SO MUCH not to be with them twenty four/seven for the next TEN days straight.

BUT.

I can't even. The fact that my hubby thought enough of me to plan this trip and to do it all without my knowledge and, to even work in a visit with my BFF from high school at the end (she and her husband live in Honolulu!!) is just so incredible. So, I've been using these past four weeks to prepare myself. Packing. Duh. Preparing freezer meals and lists and schedules to make it as easy as possible on the boys and their caregivers. A must. But, I've also been using this time to wrap my mind around leaving my boys here, without me, and getting on a plan to fly nearly four thousand miles away, without them. And really enjoying it.

Maybe I'm harping on leaving them a little too much?? Maybe..

I will say that I am so excited. Really! I've never been to Hawaii before and, to be able to enjoy it with a little less responsibility is going to be icing on the cake. So, I think I'm ready. As ready as I'll ever be, that is. I've packed our bag (while trying my best to keep it just sliiiiightly under fifty lbs), gotten the house ready, tried to write down every last important reminder and detail and I feel more mentally prepared than I thought I could be to leave my boys in the care of their awesome grandparents while I go off to have a second honeymoon with the one I loved first. Before these little men joined our family.

I'm ready.

Please send prayers and all the positive thoughts for safety, protection, a smooth flight schedule and meeting all our planes. And, also for our boys as they navigate the next few days without us. It really is going to turn their world upside down to be apart from us but, I know they are going to have THE best time keeping busy with their Memaw and Papa. Just pray they'll be happy and have fun but, also, that there won't be any major accidents or injuries. That may be my worst worry. But, I won't delve into that right now. I'll just pray for a hedge of protection around them while we're gone and trust that the Lord will provide as He's always done in the past.

Thanks for tagging along friends! It will be a little quiet around here while we're away but, I hope to have some fun blogs to share all about our trip and what I packed, shortly after returning home. Have a blessed day! And a very happy start to your weekend!! Details on this fun fall transition look are below!

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

Similar T-Shirt Dress

Similar Denim Jacket

Ankle Boots | Magnolia Boutique (last year - similar options here + here)

Steve Madden Bag | thrifted (reminds me SO MUCH of Lily Jade!)

Similar Earrings

Simply Blessed

Do you ever wake up and wonder, "how did I get here?" That's me. Practically every day. I think back to when I was in high school and the way I spent my time and the people I invested in or turned my shoulder to. And, I think, how did I get even remotely close to this dream that I'm living...

I LOVE my life. My husband is my best friend. He's hard working and supportive and encouraging. He knows when I need some good conversation or just a little quiet time. He tries his best to fill our days with silliness and laughter (even when I try MY best not to let him) and he's so quick to forgive my inadequacies. However big or small they are. He's given me freedom to grow these past (almost) ten years without fear of who I would become or how that would affect him. He's amazing.

I have four of the sweetest, most loving and special boys around. They sometimes suffocate me with their full-body snuggles and deep-neck squeezes. They've coerced me into saying things I never imagined myself uttering. They've pushed and stretched me so far beyond the girl I was when this all began. And I love it. Them. They continue to show me, every day, how sweet this life can be and I have learned so much from them. The way they forgive so freely and love so deeply and literally pounce on life just astounds me at times. I love being their mama.

I know I share a lot about my faith and the love I have for my heavenly Father (or maybe I just think that I do and, really I should share more?) but, the truth is, without Him I would be nothing. I was on a path of self-destruction before I became saved and began committing my life to the Lord. It's a battle, one that is fought daily. But, ya know, I have a peace that it's all going to work out. I see evidence of Him in my life and in the lives of those around me and it. is. jaw. dropping. He loves me even when I don't have the courage to love myself. And that's a pretty big feat to overcome sometimes, am I right mamas? Or maybe I'm the only one. The only one who picks apart her appearance every time she leaves the house and questions every single thing she eats some days. The girl who can't even wash her face at night without getting as close as possible to the mirror to look at her skin just to make sure there aren't any blemishes. But, of course there are.

I'm the one who critiques myself past the point of being healthy sometimes. And I hate that. I pray that the Lord would help me to give myself a little of that grace that I'm trying so desperately to sprinkle on those around me. If we can't love ourselves, it's going to be pretty difficult to love others guys. I think maybe we should just tackle this mountain and get over it.

By the world's standards, I may lead a pretty simple life. Living in small town, rural America as a home maker to my husband and four sons. Cleaning house and cooking meals and teaching lessons. Folding ten plus loads of laundry a week and still not having everything we own clean at one time. It all may seem like so little.

But, then there's women out there that don't get the chance to wash and fold tiny onsies or tuck their toddler into bed at night. They don't get to prepare meals for their little ones or wash their sticky hands and faces. They don't get to breathe in those heavenly hugs after a warm bath when their baby wraps his little, squishy arms tightly around their neck.

I. Am. So. Blessed.

Let me tell you, I don't want to ever take my time with my children and husband and family for granted. They are truly blessings from the Lord and the fact that I don't deserve them makes me love them even more. Is it possible to love someone more than life itself? I  think so. I'm so thankful my God brought me out of the hole I was digging for myself and into the light. Into THIS life.

Collect Moments. Not Things.

There's this saying... "When you love what you have, you have everything you need".

I've been thinking on this a lot lately. I can tell because it seems I've been pinning quotes like it to my inspiring board basically non-stop. Isn't it funny how, when God's working on an area in your life, you begin to see little hints of Him speaking all around you? It's incredible how He gets to us through the things we read in a book or see while we're scrolling Instagram. An article we stumble upon on the internet or something we come across on Pinterest. How amazing is it that the God who made the universe CHOOSES to use the minute things that press for our attention every day to prick our hearts and point us back towards Him. 

I am constantly in a state of awe at the Lord. How he works in and through every little detail trying to nudge us toward His will for our lives. To show us, hey, why not go that way? Try that? Maybe that's the path that you're supposed to take.. I want to share a few quotes + scriptures with you that have really resonated with me recently. 

"We tend to do this thing where we project everything to be in the future. Our happiness is in the future. Our fulfillment is in the future. Our purpose is in the future...and we're constantly just trying to get there. But we fail to realize that these things are not a final destination - they're a journey. Love is here. Fulfillment is here. Purpose is here. It's face to face with us every day. It's with the people around us. It's in the skills and passions God gave us. It's in the places we've already been assigned to. We just see it all as mundane because we're so used to it. Your purpose is not a destination in the far-off future, it's living in each day in everything surrounding you. Make the most of it. "    - Brittney Moses

"His dream for you is greater than the dream you have for yourself."    - Bianca Athoff

"Walk by faith"

"Above all else guard your heart for everything you do flows from it."    - Proverbs 4:23

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms."

"Faith tells me that no matter what lies ahead of me, God is already there."

"The longer you wait for something, the more you appreciate it when you get it, because anything worth having is definitely worth waiting for."

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed, happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."

"He must increase, I must decrease."    -John 3:30

"Nothing in this world can satisfy my soul like Jesus."

I want my life to be about the Lord. There are many, many things that encompass "me". Interests. Passions. Ideals. I love my family. I enjoy blogging and homeschooling my children. I have a passion for style and clothes. All of these things (and so many more) come together to make up the person that I am. So, to put myself out there in all of these many different areas, I have to be careful. Not that I'm really afraid of what the world would say about me. Or that I want to keep all of these things to myself because, I believe that if you have something on your heart to share, there's a reason for it. Whether it be the Bible study you're enjoying or the outfit choice you made today. Someone, somewhere could benefit from it. And, though Godliness and fashion choices don't always align with one another, at times they can. The thing is though, I have a desire to live for Jesus. And, no matter what else I have in me to share, that has to be the main focus. The starting point. The foundation. The rock that all of the other paths I'm walking along lead back to.

To get to my point, I've been feeling a bit of a heavy weight lately. It's like a thirty five pound child hanging on your chest and grasping you by the neck. And the root of it is - want. I want so much. This dress or those shoes or that basket or this rug. I want my boys to have all the best things, the things I think they should have or might even slightly enjoy. I feel like I'm filling my life with  t h i n g s. And, it really does have to stop.

It's not a bad thing to want to go shopping now and then. To buy a new purse or a cute pair of shoes you've been eyeing for a year. Home decor can be so nice and very fulfilling in a space. But, when we let those things creep into the spaces of our heart, the place where peace and joy and love and Jesus are supposed to be, it breeds nothing but discontentment and the want for more. 

"Collect moments. Not things."

I'm working on focusing my mind, my life, my joy more on the things, the people, that God has placed in it. My husband. My four little boys. Because they are still little. The blessing that we're able to homeschool. An abundance of work for our company. Photography jobs that are equally fun and fulfilling creatively. The freedom to have a play date with friends and not feel like I'm failing my family. The opportunities I have to share the love of Jesus Christ in ways that may not always seem like missions. In a smile or a kind word or not losing it over an ungrateful attitude from my child.

There's a difference in wanting something and working for something. I'm making an effort, everyday, to WORK to be better. And, I pray that the Lord will lead and guide me down the paths that He would have for me to take so that I can reap the full blessings of them. He knows SO MUCH better than I. And I am so thankful for it. 

Today, will you look a little more closely at the blessings in your life and, possibly, a little less at the mountains you're facing? I'm going to try to. And, though I fail daily, it will all be okay because the Lord knows my heart. 

"So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

- 2 Corinthians 4:18

similar plaid top | similar skirt | heels | similar clutch | similar earrings

Here We Go Again

I'm feeling like fall has finally arrived in our little corner of Missouri. And it's my  f a v o r i t e! Sure, we may still have a few days up into the lower eighties but, you won't find me complaining. I'm jumping in, head first. I think one of the many reasons why I love fall is the clothing choices. I'm big on layering all throughout the year but, when fall temps get here, it's much more fun. 

This year I'll be implementing lots of cozy sweaters, destroyed denim, statement earrings and fun tops. Also, give me alllll the booties please. These fun peep toe booties are perfect for transitioning from summer to fall and look great with so many things. They snap in the back, which is a bit different than some of my others but I don't mind it at all. If anything, it adds a fun little detail to them. These are GAP (and ridiculously comfortable) but there are so many options out there right now. These and these are also super cute at very affordable prices.

This pair of denim is only five dollars (in store) at Rue21 (we finally got one local to us) and they're some of the most comfortable I own. The distressing has jean layered underneath also so you don't see too much leg poking through, which I love. I have an even more distressed pair from there that I love just as much (if not more) and they were also five bucks. Seriously, if you need some new denim, check them out! You never know if you'll like them til you give them a try. And, at that price, you can afford to try them a few times. 

I'm looking forward to playing with my wardrobe a bit in the coming months. I want to branch out of my basic look a bit more and see what other styles and trends I really like. Fall is a great time to do that because you can add in different layers and accessories without sweating bullets.

What trends are you loving right now?! Anything making it big that you just can't see yourself wearing? For me, it has to be those fluffy slides I'm seeing all over. I mean, are they pool shoes, house slippers, what?? 

SIMILAR SWEATER

SIMILAR TOP

JEANS

BOOTIES (these are very similar, only the back clasp is different)

SIMILAR EARRINGS

SIMILAR BAG

(My top, booties and bag are all thrifted. I'm sorry if I can't always link to the exact piece

but, that's the price you sometimes pay to be frugal. :) )

Also, a little update on Tyler. Sleeping has been going pretty well but, I'm not exactly happy about alllll of the changes that have happened lately. I guess I am but, it's just hard seeing your babies grow up. Three nights ago was the last time he nursed to sleep. (insert bawling emoji here..) The first night was a complete accident as we were on our way home from hunting and he fell asleep in the truck. Since he's not nursing through the night or in the morning anymore, he didn't nurse that entire next day. Well, then last night he had a couple of crackers as a snack before bed and fell asleep in my lap without nursing. It's so different.. I know I should be happy to have my body back but, goodness. When you've been pregnant or nursing for the majority of the past S E V E N years, it's a bit hard to let it go and feel "normal" again. On the one hand, I'm glad he's done it on his own. That was my plan all along. I practiced baby led weaning with my other two (for those that don't know, we adopted our oldest as a toddler) and it worked wonderfully so, I was mentally set to do that this time around. But, I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Once I started reassuring him that he didn't need to nurse through the night, it was like a light bulb went off. He did ask for it last night but, I just told him we were going to have a snack instead and he gave me a big squeeze around the neck and was like, "okay..". Not real enthusiastic but, not upset either. Sweet boy. 

Anyhow, I guess it does come at a perfect time because, as you may have guessed, the hubby and I are talking about planning for another soon. I've always wanted five kiddos (I just thought it would be a fun number!) and now, it looks like it may happen! God willing, of course. But, I love that exciting feeling of trying again and the anxiousness of wondering if it will be a girl or a boy. I LOVE being pregnant and honestly can't wait to be in the midst of it again. Keep us in your prayers, will you? Only God knows what our family needs and I'm doing my best to trust His will and plan for us. Happy Tuesday friends! I pray it's been a good one!