Finally

Yes finally! We have been in our little house now for three weeks and it truly feels like home. HOME, wonderful word it is. How I appreciate some of the simplest things these days. Cleaning and bustling around the house like a little hen is an absolute joy, after the displacement of late. I'm so, so, thankful.

We have hung Christmas lights for the first time ever, and have our 'Goodwill Christmas Tree' all decorated (28 dollars total), and garland lit up on the mantle. It brings that feeling of peace, and Im reminded of that true peace. The peace that passes all understanding, that's what I need to be most thankful for this holiday. God is with us and has been this whole time, even when I had forgotten.

Coming Together....maybe?!

I'm reluctant to write much these days, due to the changes that have swept me up and poured me out recently. All that said, it is looking as if we will be moving into our house in a few days. We got news as well that our van should be coming into port the same day. That is amazing, and I find it quite hard to believe, the way things have been going lately. But I'm going to keep faith in God's wisdom knowing all the trials and waiting and yes, upheavals are producing more than I can see. Now let's just pray the snow lets up in the mountains, before we cross over in a moving truck.

Camping Out

Well, we are still at my moms house. A wet time is being had by all, Seattle in its glory is always faithful to supply enough moisture in a day to last a lifetime. The mountain passes are being filled with snow as I speak. We won't be moving eastward until we hear that the house we are renting is ready for us. Oh did I say, we did find a house to rent outside of Moses Lake? Well we did. It will be a rural setting for sure. The schools are supposed to be good which is a plus, the air is clean, and its a quiet town. So Im happy enough. It still is tough to be patient and feel so uprooted. But I know its good for us some how.

Its crazy here at Moms, we all are getting to know each other in ways we probably wish we weren't. ha I probably forgot to mention my sister, nephew, and four dogs and two cats are here too! So thats a grand total of 11 people and 6 animals.ugh!

Oh well, still learning "Acuna Mattata".

Sabrina

Maui to Moses

It has been an adventure for sure. Not what one hopes, but then again I didn't come with expectations, just to enjoy part of the journey. I remember Ken and I saying we would give the island two years and see how it was going. The island gave us two months. It has been a time of testing and a time to contemplate. It has been a good thing. I know my children have learned to appreciate the small things. We've all seen the blessing of God's diverse creation. To have the experience we've had is truly a gift from God and I am thankful.

Now, it's time to pick up and put down. The kids and I fly out today, off to my Mom's. We'll have some time with her and my sister. Meanwhile Ken will be coming over a week later to house hunt. He has been hired by a Spokane company to oversee the Data Centers in Moses Lake,taking care of all the digital cooling systems for them. Now if Maui to Moses lake isn't an oxymoron in destinations, nothing is. But, a new chapter is unfolding. Its not where you are but what you make of it, right? I wonder what it holds?

S.K.

Losing the Tail

Hey Everyone-

When my children were rescuing yet, another gecko (this time from our neighbor's cat) they proceeded to bring it in the condo; where it would serve the purpose of "bug eater". Ok fine. As they were about to let it go behind my wash machine, the gecko suddenly detached from the tail! Yowzerrr!!!!!! Screams could be heard, Im sure from the next island. The worst of it was the fact that the tail continued to contort itself all over my floor!! You said it, "ick!!" I of course acted cool, and told my dear Olivia to go pick it up and throw it out in the bushes. No go. She gave me a look like I was an abuser of sorts, and explained, "I like tails with the gecko still on!" Ok fine, even though she sounded like she was ordering a meal from an Asian restaurant, I understood. So I went down the list of children, stll no go.

Finally, Im so happy to say, my oldest rescued us from the tail, but not before he chased his brothers and sisters with it. More screams. Ahhh, that's why he was willing.

Im watching for our tail-less gecko now. We've named him "Stubs". Who knew?!

The coocoonuts

House Hunting or Stalking!

Ok Friends,

The house hunt is getting a bit bedraggling. I did not realize that everyone and (their Auntie) is in need of a rental on these islands! For cryin' in the cane fields, as soon as we call on one, its already rented. So, Im really praying that its all because God is directing us to just the right place, to call our nut house. Amen? If you'd be so kind to pray for our housing dilemma, (and believe me it is) I would be so thankful. Just to remind my dear friends, I'm living with six people in a 6oo sq ft. condo, three of which are boys, two of which are teenagers, two of which are high pitched girls, and one of which is a husband who loves quiet. Dilemma? I think so.

Cramped and Cozy-Mama Nut

Its a Bird, a Plane, it's a....Cocroach?

Friends,

I promised to share all the joys and the trials too.

I am definitely telling you, I have seen the wonders of Gods amazing power, in the size of cocroach that has visited my eyes and bedroom!!!

I am blown away that any roach could be so huge?! We are talking 3 full inches! (Go pull out your ruler.) Now, Im known to not be much of a "powder puff". But, when you wake to a B-52 sized roach crawling up your body in the middle of the night, and then proceed to hear it hit the wall as you "Kung-Fu Panda" the thing,( hopefully to its death);well lets just say my "puff" is pretty tough!

Now, I have a manly man to rescue me from this insect body of death. Right?Well he's so manly that he doesn't see the big deal, I guess?! So I helped him to find the thing again, it really wasn't hard I told him to look for a red colored airplane on my nightstand. My dear husband crashed, I mean smashed the roach.Hooray!

I would think I'd be fine now, right? Right?Wrong! After the "experience",as I call it. I couldn't sleep.So I did what any homeschool Mom has learned to do for a number of calamities, I googled through mid-night! Thats right education is power girls! I am no longer worried, as a matter of fact, I just call them hard butterflies now. It works for me.

Keep smiling-

Mama Nut

Island Rythyms

Hello Friends,

We are officially islanders. We landed and immediately found ourselves in another world. Palm trees greeted us, along with colorful flowers I can't even describe. We picked up our car, and turned on the radio, only to find the "Native" station bopping out some great Raegge rythyms.

The weather hasn't been that hard to adjust to, probably because of my desert summer with no air-conditioning. We have had some strange experiences though,(which I will share in thier own articles, they deserve that.) Now, Mama is trying to find our island rythym, you know the rythym for our family. How do we fit here, and how do we make it home? As a Mom, I want my coo-coonuts to see the wonder and blessing of this island experience. My kiddos just want to go back to what they know. I guess, I'm going to have to find the beat, so we "all" can dance.

Thanks for reading,

The Coo-coo-nuts

Hunk from Hawaii

Hi-

You guessed it, yesterday was the day! We all waited and counted minutes until we knew He would be here. Then as I saw him drive in, you would of thought I was that 15 yr. old girl all over again. Flashes of memories waiting for him to pick me up from my Mothers house, flooded my mind and my heart. Then, he stepped out of that truck. I was full blasted in love all over again. "Is this hunk really all mine?" I thought.I was sure I'd just melt all over when our eyes caught for that first "hellooooo" glance. Actually Im still quite liquid.

I guess I've determined that being reunited with your beloved, has got to be the most intoxicating feeling., and what a gift that is.

My hunk understands that it will be quite hard for him to travel any distance for a very long time. (Especially since I've attached myself, quite literally to his side). Thats where I should be anyway.

It feels like a whole new life already!

Love- Mama Nut

Lady in Waiting

Good Morning Friends-

The countdown is nearly over, two days left until my man is home! I am wilting with anxiousness waiting for the day. Its definitely been a ride this summer. I realize how it must feel to be a single mother in ways few women experience; of course our soldiers wives have lived this way always, bless their souls. And for the record, I don't want to be single!No way, no how! If I get angry with my husband, and temptations of grandeur try to persuade me otherwise, I will remember this summer. So, there in lies the blessing. The lesson, of experience.

On a less introspective note, the first sale went quite well. My Mom was a trooper in the heat. (She swears the Irish are allergic to the desert and could quite possibly die from its dryness.) Therefore, she really was risking her very life in putting on this sale with me!ha But truly it was great to get more stuff out of the carport, out of my life! Lets pray the second one sells the rest.So I can rest.

My dear husband has promised me a month off! Thats right thirty days of rest, exploring and beach bumming to my hearts content. Man, I love the guy.

Well, I'll fill you in on how smoothly we really get out of here. I can't wait to see all my coocoonuts on the plane. Hopefully, we're not the live entertainment?!

Love and Blessings

Mama Nut

Life in the Carport

Hey Everybody!
We're at thirteen days 'til Daddy comes. So glad to see many friends staying connected through our modern convenience of bloggerville. Yeah!!
My house is turned inside out, literally. Everything is in the carport ready to go to someone elses house. Thats kind of wierd, I must say. My Mom and I have been working non stop for the last few days. Even with all our work, we'll still have another phase of sale to do. But Ken will be helping with that one, I guess we could call it the heavy phase. (You know like, heavy stuff Im not going to touch?!)
Its been fun to see so many friends stop by to share well wishes. Its going to be a tear jerker when I leave this little qurkie town. I've really come to care for this place, and I've learned so much while I've lived wth these people. But we need to learn to take what's been given, an use it where we're goin'.Right? I can't wait to see how it all comes in handy.

Pondering....
Nutty Mama

Counting Down

The countdown is truly on. The children are X-ing out the days on the calendar until their Daddy comes home.,we're at 22 days. My excitement is starting to bubble at being reunited again.

These days of preparation is daunting to say the least. I didn't realize how many loose ends make up life. My job is to tie all these up before Ken comes back. My Mom will be coming next week to stay and help me with the projects, as well as getting the Estate Sale started. I thought we didn't have that much stuff...I was wrong. It will be so freeing to let it all go. To live a bit less cemented to this earth.

Ken loves Maui and assures me that I was meant to live there. He says I'll fit right in... what does he mean by that I wonder?! I think he sees me as a LBIM. See if you can guess what that stands for? Comment back with your guesses, you might win something from the island.haha

Mama Nut

The Journey is Now

Now is the journey. These days of life and children and waiting and patience and missing him and introspection of choices to come. These days find me very much busying myself with the children and library trips. The next meal, the next appointment and so on it goes. Hoping time will fly faster until our family is together again. Yet, I find myself thinking deeply of the life to come, the life on that far away island that haunts my sleeping hours. Excitement, fear and every other emotion wells up until I just go back to busying myself once again.

Ken has begun his job and is getting used to the humidity, quite a change from the desert dryness he's become so comfortable with. The three hour time difference has also been a bit of a change for our phone calls. Today as I write Ken will be moving into his brothers condo until a home can be found for our family.We've found some homes to rent in the highlands which is very lush and beautiful and rural. It would be a 30 min drive to the beach. Ken wonders if thats just too far. I laugh thinking, look how far everything is from where we are now?! How the island must be changing perception already.ha

Mama Nut

The Ticking in my Head

Only two days until Im on my own. I have to say at moments waves of fear, loss and yes, dread, have overtaken me. Not for long mind you, just enough to get the adrenaline and emotions above normal. I know this is just what has to happen to get from A-B. Still I am preparing for a very introspective summer, at least thats what Im praying for. Tick, tick tick, thats the clock I keep hearing, and then maybe a gunshot! Not because anyone is hurt, but, because the race is on! I have a long race ahead but I must remember there is a finish line. God give me the victory that I run this well. Amen.

Mama Nut

Lot Landing!!!

Ok friends, its official, Maui Man called and Ken leaves the 30th! The lot has landed and has been decided. It was so great to have that, "for sure "feeling.

Now, reality is hitting that my hubbie, is leaving me with all the coo-coo-nuts!!! Wow this should be hilarious! Don't worry, I'll be sharing all the craziness just so you all can feel more sane, than me anyhow. ha

I forgot to say Ken found out he had free air miles, so his ticket was free! How cool is that?Every little blessing, is still a blessing!!!

Mama Nut

Nail Biting!

Friends-

I had to blog for therapy this morning. I was reading in my Bible, (which you find yourself faithful to do in times of major transitions) and this Proverb summed it all up. "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."Pvb. 16:33

Last night Ken and I; I believe, ate everyone of our fingernails off. We waited for the phone call until I fell asleep( stress knocks me out). The elusive man from Maui, this stranger who holds the details of our life and future in his PHONE CALL!!! Thats how it felt believe me. Now we all know the song that reminds us -"He holds the whole world, in His hands" and truly it is God, but we also know that God speaks through the circumstances of our lives. This was not looking good. Maybe we jumped the gun, maybe we aren't supposed to go anywhere, maybe a bizarre ice storm is going to hit my airplane and Gods trying to save us!!!The list just wants to grow!!ha

Well needless to say, the elusive man DID finally call and he's still making plans for Ken. Yet, I know anything could change any moment. I guess until Ken's feet touch the sands of Maui, our lot is still in the air. We are not the deciders.

Thanks for reading and if you feel compelled to pray for us and our nail biting, we would appreciate it!

Kinzles

Hawaii Details

To Our Reader Friends and Family,

This blog allows us to keep all the details of our latest adventure fresh and alive,and all can enjoy it with us!! The adventure Im writing of, of course is our future move to the island of Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands(in case you don't know).

It began with Ken looking for a job in his past profession of, HVAC and Refrigeration Systems Technician. It was a trying time but after many phone calls and a long drive Ken found a job in Vancouver. Neither of us was to excited about living in the rain after a decade of sunshine, but we were thankful for Gods provision and would be closer to family. In Ken's heart he knew he had always wanted to move back to the islands(he had left them for me, 20 yrs. back), but thought for sure all jobs would be snatched up. On a whim, he began a search which blew our minds! There was five openings for Journeyman Techs. He sent his resumes out and within a day had his first call, then another and another. Needless to say, my husband is a wanted man, and not just by me!!!ha Well we have prayed and prayed for God to have His will in all of this and I am moved to tears, that he has allowed me the chance to say "yes" to my husbands dream, after being the reason he left in the first place.

So, Ken has chosen the company and will be finding out today when he will be flying out. I will stay back with the kids and finish our summer here in our little town, allowing them to soak up the only place they've really ever known.

I forgot to say, Ken's brother Chris lives on Maui, and has for the last 20 yrs. He told Ken that his condo was empty and free for him to live in, what a blessing!!

Now, we're in the process of letting go of all earthly possessions, and flying free to the new life God has for our family!

I really intend on writing more often as I go through this new adventure and, I pray you'll all enjoy it with me.

Sabrina and Clan