Ringing in 2010 in Hawaii!

I had an incredible gift given to me by the Burlingham family this year-- they gave me a trip to Hawaii over the week of New Years! I got to spend 7 days with them in Kailua, Oahu, and enjoy the beauty of the ocean (and a home right on the water) and breathe in the salt water for 24 hours a day. 

Making the decision to go, however, was really difficult. Up until Dec. 24th I was in the hospital, really sick, and knew that if I were discharged in time for Christmas that I would be taking IV meds home with me for a week. I also knew that traveling would be hard, doing my meds away from my home would be hard and that it would especially be emotionally draining to be away from my family and being vulnerable with a whole new family. Not only did God bless me and get me out of the hospital in time for Christmas, but I was given the "ok" to go from my doctor as long as I kept up with my IV schedule and medication regimen. It was a huge leap of faith, and I know that without God's help in healing me just enough to go, I wouldn't have been able to spend that week there. 

I relaxed, slept a lot, listened to the waves crash for 24 hours a day, looked at the beauty of Hawaiian ocean, surfed a little, paddled a little, and spent wonderful time with the Burlingham family who welcomed me in and took care of me with open arms. Thank you, Burlinghams for an incredible vacation that was much needed....and thank you, Lord, for allowing me to go and teaching me to trust you in that time.

Here are a few pics from the beauty that is Hawaii....ahhh, oh how I miss it....

~Em

Ps. Yes, the Obama family was staying on the same beach, about 5 or so houses down....haha. No we didn't see them, but did see a ton of secret service and military boats!

Above: the beach in front of our house..... Below: military boats lined up protecting our pres.

Me at the Royal Hawaiian hotel....famous, and very pink :)
Diamond Head....
Another pic of the beach in front of the house....
Judy and I all dressed up for dinner!

2010 already?

Yep, it's 2010 and it's already been a whirlwind of a year that I didn't get the chance to blink and it's already the middle of January. I wish I could start to process all that's happened in 2009, but mostly before I post about the awesome/crazy few weeks I've had- I want to step back and say how grateful I am for another year to live. As I stood on a beach in Hawaii on new year's eve this year, I reflected on the fact that 2009 was a "rough ride" so to speak. Yet, I also reflected on the fact that God is continually showing me that He is in control-- not me. And as much as I want to say that I've got it all figured out, I don't and all I can do is trust.

So instead of a "resolution" for new year's I decided to pray specifically for this verse in my life- that God would shape me and grow me in character this year in this way: 

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;  its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." -Jeremiah 17:7-8

So, though I'm a little late, I wish you all a happy new year....may 2010 be a year of full of blessings and joy for you all, and a year in which we find our confidence in the Lord.

~Em