12-30-13

Sorry about last week.  I wrote the blog and had several pictures but Kelly was moving on Monday out to the farmland of Mt. Sterling.  They are out there with no electronics or computers.  She wasn't able to post it and has still not got whatever it takes.  Keep watching for it because sooner or later they will get Comcast or Dish or whatever.

We have had a good week with lots of vacation time.  Monday was my only day to work in Costumes.  The rest of Christmas week we had off which was nice.  In sewing I had Tues. Wed and Thurs. off so we didn't do much there either.  Denis worked more than I did because he gets bored easier than I do.  

 

We both had the day after Christmas off so we went with another Senior Couple for a ride out to the north end of the island.  They were going to hike out to see the albatross (big clumsy birds) who can fly 2000 miles a day looking for food.  They like the eggs of the flying fish and squid.  They need a long piece of land to take a running start to fly up and away. These birds spend most of their time flying and sleeping in the air over the ocean.   They have a wing span of about 6 feet across.  Denis and the other man hiked about 2 miles and still hadn't reached them.  They were going to the sanctuary  and see the baby chicks.  They still needed to go about another mile.  Marlene and I took our lawn chairs and sat on the beach and crochet.  They wind blew but got more gray and windy as time went on.  Started to get chilly!  

These pictures are of Kaena Point which is about a mile and half farther down the coast from where I took the pictures. At the point is a sanctuary for the albatross birds they come every year to nest and raise their young here. They come in November and leave in the latter part of March and June. These birds can live up to 50 years.

Anyway back to our Christmas Eve.   We were invited to another missionaries house for kind of an open house with treats.  Denis did not want to go so we stayed home.  We watched a Christmas movie and had some carolers come to our door.  It was Diana and Scott  and family.  They sang us a song and then they visited us for about an hour.  The little girls all sat on the floor and we ate some treats and talked and laughed.  I really enjoyed having them.  They are such a cute family and they keep me and Denis from getting so homesick for our grandkids.

 

Christmas morning we slept in and then just had a lazy morning.  We skyped the kids and got ready for our beach picnic in the afternoon.  Kathy, another missionary lady and I together bought a grill for both husbands.  Now they can grill steaks, hamburgers and hotdogs.  We planned to do that on Christmas Day.  We went from 4 people to 10.  Everyone brought good food and we had a good old American picnic.  We then sat around and visited until it got so chilly we had to put jackets on.  About 5:30 we went home.  Denis told Bridger we were going to have a hotdog and Bridger said that it didn't seem right to have a hotdog on Christmas.  

Denis forgot how to grill hot dogs and hamburgers.  Took  some practice and then he did a good job.

 Denis and I were talking about what a simple life we have--not a lot of stuff around, no fancy things, an old car to get us where we need to go, friends all in the same boat.  It is the small and simple things that mean alot.  Ginger and her family face timed us on Christmas Eve and sang a little song.  That meant more to us than a great big costly present.  This year I truly saw what a Simple Christmas can be and how much it means.

 

Friday Denis and I both went to work.  That afternoon we received a call from Jannie Burrell and her mom.  They were over here on vacation and wanted us to go to supper that night.  We went up on the corner from our home to North Shore Tacos and had a really good time.  We visited and laughed and were really quite noisy.  Gladys is 88 years old,  a little slower but her mind is still so sharp.  She remembers everything.  I haven't seen her for years because she moved to Ogden but it seemed so good to see both of them and have hugs.  I saw them come in the driveway so I walked out to the car.  Sis. Burrell thought I looked just like my mom.  So did Jannie.  I have never been told that before.

 

Ekiaka that works with Denis

Saturday Denis and I just putted around the apt.  By noon Denis was bored so we had to go in the car.  We went shopping and to return a few things down in Mililani.  We went to a movie that night with another missionary couple.  Wasn't a very good movie but the popcorn was greasy and wonderful.

Tomorrow we go to work and have no parties scheduled.  Thank goodness.  We take tickets tomorrow night and we will have Wednesday off for New Years.  I hope we all have a good new year and remember who we are and what we stand for.  Good people who are here to serve others.  

Love, Sherleen

12-23-13

Three days before Christmas and I am wiping sweat.  Today we combined with 2 other wards because a lot of the kids have gone home for Christmas.  I taught Sunday School today and made the cutest little manger scenes from the Dec. Friend.  It was out of a brown lunch sack and shredded yellow paper.  I copied the star and baby Jesus from the pages in the Friend.  I had made 6 of them and sat them on the tables.  I told the kids to take them after the class.  More boys did than the girls.  I had made cookies for them.  They are all so brave about being away from home during the holidays.  A lot of them have come from Muslim belief so Christmas has never happened for them before.

Monday was normal work and Tuesday Kathy and I went down to Honolulu for fresh flowers for Kitty's wedding on Wednesday.  We also did Christmas Shopping for ourselves.  We had to be back to take tickets at PCC.  Wednesday was Kitty's wedding.  She is from China and her mom is a member but not her dad.  She sews with me in the afternoons.  Her mom took out her endowments last week so she could go through with Kitty.  Her father sat in the waiting room of the temple.  They spoke in English and then translated it into Chinese for her mother.  At 2 P.M.  she had a little reception for about 100 people, mostly friends and sister missionaries.  She had decorated the hall by herself and friends.  She had asked me to make spaghetti for her and she had fruit, rice, salads, some chicken and then her wedding cake.  They played a few games, had some talent by some of her friends and pictures of the group.  It was over by 4 P.M.  Her father had asked one of the missionaries if she would teach him the gospel before he left.  In China they have to be real careful about their religion and where they have their meetings.  It has to be quite secret.

She only wore her white gown long enough for pictures and to cut the cake.

Chinese dress her mom brought over for her to wear.  Her shoes matched. 

 Kitty's parents--weren't very old.  Didn't speak English

This is all of us who sew together with Kitty in the sewing dept.

 Thursday was another day of work, sometimes they get few and far between.  Friday we had another party in the costume dept.  The  adult workers and missionary sisters did another pixie deal for the 8 students and filled their stockings each day and on Friday we bought pajamas, made pillowcases and bought new pillows for them.  We played a couple of games and they decorated graham crackers as gingerbread houses.  Kind of a mess.  The frosting was like some rubber cement only it didn't have the smell  (darn it!)  

 Some of the girls who sew in costumes that we did the pixie for.  The one little girl is on of the major volley ball players for the school.

 Party we had for the kids in costumes.  Making ginger bread houses.

  Pillows and jammies. They were really happy with them

All week long they have done Christmas Lagoon where the PCC is decorated with Christmas lights on the palm trees, bushes, and plants.  People are on the sides of the river doing little skits about Mary and Joseph, wise men, shepherds, different countries and their dances, Santa and Mrs.  etc.  People ride in the canoes and here the stories and music.  It is beautiful, and so spiritual.  The first night they had about 1400 people and last night about 2400 people went through.  Other nights they ran about 800.  They missionaries had to help with crowd control, helping to feed all of the cast etc.  It is really quite a job.  One more night and it will be done.  The PCC does all of this as well as the tourist luaus, theater etc.

Dad and his train.  Took kids on it for $3.00 a ticket. 

The little fellow with him is his friend who he wires with.

Christmas Lagoon

Looking from bridge down the river

Igloo built from pvc pipe and plastic-- you go through this to get onto the canoes.

Big tree on a platform floating in the water

Joseph working in his wood shop--look close and you can see Mary sitting in the background

Shepherds seeing the star.  Eliu (the big shepherd) is Denis' friend that went golfing with him and Kenzie

 Different countries were represented showing little dances and sharing a gift.  Russia was the gift of giving.  We made the girls and boys clothes with the fur.

Mr and Mrs. Santa which were senior missionaries.  Santa played the ukelele.

The South Pole.  Kids danced in front with 2 hairy grinches which were adult men on stilts dancing with them.  Their eyes glowed.  We also made those little girls dresses and blouses.

Monday nite I was in a bunch of gnats or mosquitoes or something and they ate me alive.  In the morning my legs were covered with red splotches.  They were only on my legs.  One week later I still have them.  Just itch is all and looks ugly.

Tonight we are going to a Christmas Family home evening.  Hope it doesn't last too long.  We are really getting tired of going every day and all day long.  We are not used to that.  We will miss all of our friends and family this year but it just doesn't seem like Christmas with no snow and cold.

 Extent of my Christmas decorations.

A cloak all made of feathers that they use in the Breath of Life show.  I had to mend it.  I think it weighs about 40 lbs!

We are counting down our days before we will be home for Cam's wedding.  Remember the true meaning of Christmas and what Christ has given to us so that we can return to him and live as eternal families forever.
Love, Sherleen

12-16-13

It is early Monday Morning-- the internet was down last night.  Whenever it rains a lot it seems to affect it.  Yesterday it rained really hard and thundered and lightninged.  Not too often do we get the thunder.  

Church was not attended as well yesterday, maybe because of the rain or because kids graduated and have gone home.  We get really turned upside down in our ward because we have some of the older kids.  Bishop has to reorganize every semester.  

This week has been Pixie week in sewing.  We sewed our own Christmas stockings and then we drew names.  Each day we put something in the person's stocking according to that day's clue.  By the end of the week on Friday we had received 4 presents and had a big party with food.  We had to guess who our pixie was but I had no clue.  We decided to change the menu a little and had Chinese Haystacks to eat.  The Poly's were clueless to what that was.   We still had rice though so they liked it.  

 

In sewing we have been finishing up the costumes for Christmas Lagoon which started last Friday night.  On the first night they put 2000 people through.  They get on the canoes and ride the canal which goes through the PCC grounds.  Everything is dark but has been strung with Christmas lights.  In several different spots the canoes stop and there are little skits and dances to see.  In one stop they are portraying Spain.  They have 2 men dressed up in white furry costumes with grinch masks and hands.  They are on stilts and stand about 12 feet high.  They dance with the little girls dressed up with red satin costumes.  Mr. and Mrs Claus are also at this stop with an ukelele.  The missionaries have to help each night.  We are there for about 4 hours.  Denis has to drive the little train for people who buy the ride. I will try to take some pictures of things.

 

We had to take work off one afternoon and go to Koneohe to the courthouse to get our car straightened out.  It is time to register it for the year and it had some outstanding tickets on it.  We bought it from a kid who was selling it for another kid who was off to Iraq.  We had to prove that we bought it after the tickets were issued.  Wasn't too bad to take care off.  We went on to the Marine base and did some shopping after that.  These bases have very nice shopping facilities.

 

This last week Denis was helping fix a lot of Christmas lights and hanging decorations up higher on things.  He has also been helping me a lot with addressing cards, cleaning the house and doing odd jobs at home.  We had 8 couples over for a party with lasagne and hot rolls.  We played a game called "What's Yours Like?"  We laughed and laughed.  Had a good time. Some of these senior missionaries are so funny.

 

Saturday I stayed home and finished up Xmas gifts for people here.  I have been trying some different homemade candies but some are not working because of the humidity and the heat.  The chocolate won't set up and so I bagged that.  The toffee seems to be doing pretty good if I keep it in a plastic container.  This week will be busy with more parties and I have to make spaghetti for a little Chinese girl who is getting married on Wednesday.  She wants enough for 100 people.  They have no mothers here to help so the senior missionaries get to help.  I have got to get ready for work so have a good day and a Merry Christmas.  Mine is very simple and I am not so sure that this is not the way to go.  Love Sherleen

 

 (Here are some pictures Denis took of Secret Beach and Turtle Bay)

12-9-13

Another week doing the same thing with 1 exception.  I have grown a year older and am working more than I have done for years.  This week I have been working on aprons that goes over sulus.  They look just like short pleated skirts worn over long skirts.  I think it is a Fiji dancer's costume.  I have to make 15 of them.  

 

Tuesday morning we went into work and we had caught our 9th rat.  This was in the closet and he had gotten out of the trap.  He climbed under the door into the main area and left a pool of blood.  He then climbed up on a pile of clothes on the table and laid there.  The 2 girls who go to school came in and found it still alive.  The little girl from China about had a heart attack.  The other little girl ran and got a man to come finish killing it.  When we got there the pool of blood was still on the floor.  I sewed about 3 feet from it.  I was not going to clean up the mess.  I laughed to myself thinking about what we don't do on a mission.  

 

I took in 12 sets of Mary and Joseph's on Monday and the lady I have taught to help me took in her first 14 sets also.  By Friday night they only had 1 coconut nativity scene left.  I have worked all weekend making another 15 sets for the PCC to sell.  I guess the demand is high for Christmas.  Speaking of Christmas, it sure does not seem like it with the warm weather and all.  The Xmas lights are up and the stores are playing music but I have not got the feeling of excitement I usually get at this time of year.  I have not decorated and I am not going to.  My theory is to be so NOT like Christmas that I won't get homesick!

 

Thursday was my birthday and a sister missionary and I took the day off to go shopping. We have never ventured off without our husbands but we decided we would try.  We didn't even get lost.  Seemed so nice just to take our time and not have someone sitting in the car or standing right behind us as we shop.   My kids and friends all called me and some sent gifts.  I couldn't believe people remembered it.  My biggest fear is that I will be gone so long that my grandkids and friends will forget me.  I sure hope they won't.

 

Today was church and I gave the lesson in Sunday School on Family records, Indexing and Temple work for the dead.  I think I kind of got a little desire to learn more about Indexing.   Sounds a lot like the Path program that I did probably 15-20 years ago.  I told Denis he needs to do this instead of reading and wasting time.  I sound just like my mother!  That is the next thing on my list for Denis and I to do.  Since 2006 over a billion names have been done and there are still several billions left to do.  The spirit world must be HUGE.

 

Over 30 girls from our ward have graduated this month and will be going home or to other  destinations for jobs.  A few boys were leaving but not such a big number as the girls.  We just get to know them and then they are gone.  Another week of work but no parties are scheduled.  Our only excitement is seeing how many more rats will we get.  

 

Here are some pictures Denis has taken:

Shoreline just below us.  Looking over at the big house that has 10 bedrooms, a lap pool in foyer and 9 acres.  Quite run down.  For sale for 10 million dollars.

The rock wall right below our place about 1/2 block.

Algae in same area.

Pipe that was used years ago for drainage into the ocean.

A flower in a pot called a desert rose.  It is in Diana's (our landlord) yard.

Have a safe week and if you get too cold come on over to the warmth and the sunshine.

Love, Sherleen