Sunrise and the Ocean

We love the beauty of the sunrise and could just sit for hours watching the surf.

Pihea Trail down to the Swamp

We had a pretty dry day at the Pihea Trail so we decided to head down into the Alakai Swamp -- the Swamp gets about 400 inches of rain a year so all of the vegetation is very unusual and a place I've wanted to see for a long time. We saw some of the unique forest birds along the way. This is also considered a rather strenuous hike because you climb up and down muddy hills, slosh through muddy trails and climb a bunch of stairs before getting to the boardwalk through the swamp. It was all worth it. We'd love to go back again.

Pausing as we climbed up the muddy hill to take a picture - Several places along the trail it's like climbing up (and on the way back -- climbing down) a wall. Up is easier.

But the vistas looking down 4000 feet to the ocean are spectacular!

The ferns along the way are pretty amazing -- Some are at least 6 feet tall.

Thankfully they built a board walk through the swamp - or we'd be up to our thighs in mud.

This is Mt. Wai'ale'ale -- one of the wettest spots on earth. It doesn't have a peak but it is usually covered in clouds. What a surprise when the clouds disappeared and we discovered it was flat on top. For years I imagined a peak. We were blessed with a very clear day.

Hiking Above Hannalei

Kevin and I drove up to Hannalei, and hiked up one of the ridges to about 1500 ft. The hike was rated moderately strenuous -- so we felt pretty good about making it to the top.

Enjoying the Family

Good times!

Family Camping at Hume Lake

We made some memories!

S'mores every night. Maggie completely dirty under the table. Giggling in the tent over how to position the mattresses so we didn't have our feet near Ashley. Hiding Maggie from the park ranger, twice.

Shooting stars and seeing the Milky Way. Discovering the book, Twilight. Swimming together in the lake.

Bats coming out from under a rock and startling David who high tailed it to the van.

Jeff seeing a bear.

Tarantulas. Giant bull frogs. A mega cray fish. Seeing the rattlesnake cross the path we were walking on around Zumwalt Meadow. Catching frogs. Lion hunts with the grandchildren.

Wendy having Kaia turn on the remote car alarm at 7:30 a.m.

Jeff's blue thumb - feeling scared to death as he pass out alongside the road.

Early morning hot chocolate with marshmellows and fresh pressed coffee. Blueberry and banana pancakes. Grilled hamburgers and deliciously, spicy hot link hot dogs.

Blue gill and baby trout. Giant Sequoias. The mist hovering over Hume Lake at dawn.

Playing Duck, Duck, Duck, Goose with all of the grandchildren.

Kaia's big hug and giggles over Yankee Doodle Dandee song.

Shawn teaching the kiddos how to cast.

Retreving bobbers out of the trees and bushes.

Isaiah's first fish.

The joy of being called "Grandma Wu Wu" all week

Ellen learning to back float in her life jacket.

Floating on the lake with Ashley.

Kaia sleeping in Ashley's arms--my gift that I gave to Ashley.

Dave and Sarah telling us their campsite would be at capacity next year -- then driving away.

Good times. Great times. Maybe one of the most significant weeks of our lives.

Thanks so much for everyone fitting the week together into your busy lives. It was very cool to be together. We are so blessed to have such great kids, and kids-in-law, and grand kids. It was a blast.

Church Planters Wives mini-retreat

Christy and I invited the church planter wives from the Bay Area Covenant Churches to join us for a day together. We were so encouraged from having time together.

Hillcrest Get-Together 35 Years later

Some of us from the Hillcrest group got together and Bill and Julie Mumley's for a little reunion.

Kevin had a chance to spend some time with Dave and Sarah

Kathy's Visit

Kathy came to visit over the Fourth of July -- She's just recovering from chemo and her hair is coming back.