I Want My Own Copy of This Book.

I finished reading "Doing Life Differently - The Art of Living with Imagination" by Luci Swindoll, which I borrowed from my friend Joan Riggs. I enjoyed the book so much that I want my own copy. Sorry, Joan, you may never get this book back. Just kidding....I'll buy my own.

I hate to read a borrowed book because I can't mark and write in the margins, and this book gives you lots of space to write. I did write lots of notes in a journal, but when I get my own copy I'll have to read it again just so I can mark it up. Do you do that too?

This book was one I just couldn't put down. It motivated and inspired the daylights out of me. Wow, I feel so energized! Here are some areas that jumped out at me. If these do not make sense to you you'll just have to read the book. I strongly encourage you to do just that anyway.

This book makes me want to.....

• Memorize more Scripture. (Phyllis, I want to get the book you recommended: "100 Bible Verses" by Robert J. Morgan.)
• Laugh much, much more than I do.
• Dream big. Dream it, think it, plan it.
• Write things down, take notes, journal: report, interpret, reflect, question, predict, unload, praise, compare, cry, laugh, draw (maybe doodle is more correct in my case), and remember.
• Drink in life and savor every drop.
• Quit letting circumstances stop life or put it on hold. Turn them into an adventure.
• Visit the art galleries in town.
• Dust off my piano sonata's and play more classics. Practice more.
• Let beautiful strains of music fill my home more often. Don't be afraid to cry, laugh or dance with the music.
• Be more open to "what if" and "why not", rather than "if only" or "why me."
• Open the door, step, out, and trust God. Never be afraid. Never, ever be afraid.
• Review all the ways God has brought me through life - - adventures, straights and narrows, good times and bad - - and how He has continually cared for me.
• Recognize how God is constantly expanding my heart.....showing me new ways to trust Him.
• Call Alaska Airlines and make a reservation.
• Be more generous.
• Send more post cards (or notes).
• Enjoy the gifts God has given me.
• Deal with the changes that come with aging and enjoy the gift of years.

Happy New Year in Hawaii

Happy 2011.

At noon on January 1st, Dave and I met Wayne and Karen Heimer at the airport and flew to Hawaii. At the Fairbanks airport Wayne talked to a friend who happened to work for Alaska Airlines and we were all upgraded to first class from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Sweet!!! Out of Anchorage the turbulence was terrible (with a capital "T") until we leveled off and it gradually got smoother for the rest of the six hour flight. We landed in Honolulu after dark (saw a beautiful sunset from the plane), spent the night and continued on to the big island the next morning. Final destination: Kona.

As we landed on the big island, it looked pretty desolate....so much lava everywhere, but as drove away from the airport there were palm trees, beautiful flowers, the smell of Hawaii and .....Christmas decorations. I've got to tell you, those Christmas decorations looked so out of place......so wrong! I'm used to a white Christmas. How in the world can you celebrate Christmas when the grass is green and the temperature is 80 degrees? It did seem weird too that people were wishing us "Happy New Year." New Year's and cold weather go together in my world. I had a terrible time adjusting my "clock".

It was a great week of relaxation and a change of pace from home.

• There were great walking paths around the resort area with a good view of the ocean.
• Reading by the pool.
• Hot tubing.
• Toured the island.
• Visited the volcano, watched it vent steam, and smelled the sulfur. Now lets get the heck out of here!!
• Ate breakfast every morning on the deck. We even ate scrambled eggs with ahi tuna one morning with Wayne. It was actually very good.
• Walked on the black sands beach and on lots of lava.
• Lunch on the beach. People watching on the beach. Walking on the beach. I love the beach!
• Observed turtles sleeping on the rocks in the water and on the beach. There were signs posted to stay 20 feet away from turtles on the beach. I brought home several Christmas turtle ornaments for our tree this year.....and they were on sale!
• Shopped at some of Karen's favorite Thrift Stores.
• Bought souvenirs for the grandkids.
• Tried to stay out of the way of all the gecko's.
• Yummm....ate lots of fresh pineapple.
• Enjoyed the beautiful flowers. The plumeria flower and fragrance is one of my favorites. I was surprised to see poinsettia's growing wild in Hawaii and on such big bushes. I've only seen them grow in pots and sold in the grocery stores and nurseries. :)
• Enjoyed the warmth at night. We're not used to dark and warm at the same time..
• Went to the movies and saw "True Grit" and "The Tourist". I recommend "True Grit" just for the music. How many old blue book hymns can you identify throughout the movie? I've got to buy the soundtrack and hope I eventually find the printed arrangements.
• Thanks to the Heimer's for the invite and for a great time.

On the flight home, I did wear a light jacket but I refused to put my socks and shoes back on. I wore my sandals and capri's home. When we boarded the plane in Anchorage, we had to walk outside to board so my toes got snow on them. The same thing happened in Fairbanks, but Jami met us at the airport with a warm car.....no frost bite experienced. ha My sandals and summer clothes are put away and I'm back to boots and a heavy coat, but a week in paradise was wonderful.

It's hard adjusting back to cold weather, but we ARE gaining daylight. Only a couple months until March and when that gets here there's no place I'd rather be than HERE.