Mountains to Climb

Starry Night at Kilauea Volcano

We finished our day in Volcano land at the Visitor Center by the active crater.

We loved learning about Volcanoes and seeing the glow 

at night coming from the crater in the distance.

It got really cold and windy. 

We cuddled up in my beach wrap
(I also had a jacket in the car, always prepared).

Pele Searches For A Home

Pele, goddess of Fire, passed southeast from island to island.

On Each she attempted to dig a home in which she could house her family.

... but, as always, as she dug her fire pits,

she heard the voice of her sister; Na Mako O Kaha'i, goddess of the sea.
At last she came to Hawaii where she could dig deep without hitting water.

Painting by Herb Kawainui Kane

Pictures taken from a Video at the Visitor Center

Inside the glowing crater.

Picture of a picture

This is what we actually saw.

We also took off away from the artificial lights, 

on a deserted blocked off road to observe the amazingly beautiful starry night.

A moment in eternity with my man, I will remember forever.

Feeling so little, yet so loved by a God above.

Contemplating his many wonderful creations... 

So big.

So numerous. 

So beautiful.

And then there is us. 

So little and seemingly insignificant.

Yet cherished and loved above all his creations. 

"This is a Paradox of Man:
Compared to God Man is Nothing;
Yet we are Everything to God"
Dieter H. Uchtorf

Blessings at the Lollipop Gymnastic Meet

 We had a great experience this past Saturday.

Besides listening to General Conference in the car on our way to Dallas.

A little background first:

As part of keeping the Sabbath day holly, as a family we do not do sports on Sundays.

Unfortunately, 2 of Amelie's Gymnastic meets have been scheduled on Sundays.

For the 1st one, we got permission from the meet director to have her compete 

on Saturday with a different level from her team.

This time, they told us she could do it on Saturday but with another team from Dallas!

Total strangers for Amelie!

Needless to say she was not comfortable with that!

As her mom, it was so hard to see her so distraught and wanting to be with her team. 

She decided not to go...

Until the last minute, after her coach and I talked to her, she decided to go.

And that took sooooo much courage!

So we packed up the car and drove the 3+ hour to Dallas.

On the way there, she told us how nervous she was.

Which is totally understandable!

And she dreads her beam routine, because she fell the last 2 competitions because of nerves.

I suggested she pray and ask her Heavenly Father to calm her nerves.

She was making a big sacrifice to keep his commandments.

He would help.

So she said a little pray of faith

Well, she did so well! 

So well, that she felt comfortable with the team she was placed with, 

the coaches & teammates were so welcoming and friendly! 

And she did not fall off the beam! 

She beat almost all her previous scores.
And with a score of 36.15, she surelly went up a level, maybe even 2!

Beam  8.500

Floor  8.600

Bars  9.300

Vault  9.750

She was so happy!

And so was I.

I watched her the whole night with a feeling of joy and may I say pride?

At the same time I felt humbled and grateful to a God that answers prayers, and cares deeply about us.

It was wonderful to see my little 10 year old girl be so confident, calm, 

elegant and beautiful in the executions of her routines.

She was like a little shinning star! 

Being the only one from her team, she really stood out in her pink outfit!

Her daddy and mommy only had eyes for her!

And I knew that her Heavenly Father had blessed her as she obeyed one of His commandment.
I hope she remembers and learns to trust her God through out her life.
He is good.

I only have 2 videos this time