Waioli Treasure
This popped up on my memory from a Hawaii group. Back in the 80s the Salvation Army used to do weddings here. They were all Japanese tourist who flew to Oahu for the wedding and honeymoon. It was much cheaper than a wedding in Japan. The bride would rent her dress and the weddings were every hour on the hour five days a week. One day the wedding soloist got sick and someone knew someone who knew someone and I got a call to see if I could sing for a week. As luck would have it I was on vacation but not leaving the island. I asked if I could bring my toddler and set up a play area and they said yes. They were desperate. I had to wear a muumuu so I chose my brightest one, loaded the car seat into the 65 Mustang and headed to [...]
The Ugliest Cookies Made With Love
When my kids were little their dad worked 2:00 - 10:00 on Christmas Eve for several years. He worked for an airline and that's one of the busiest days of the year so there was no getting off to spend the evening with us. While he was working, I'd make sugar cookie dough and we'd cut out stars and bells and Santa faces and a few other shapes from the dented and banged up cookie cutters I'd used as a girl. Once the cookies were cooked and cooled, I'd move the kitchen table outside to the lanai and we'd do our Christmas magic with frosting and sprinkles and those silver sugar balls that could break a tooth. They were not very pretty cookies. Neither of my boys cared about anything except getting them done and eating as many as possible. After we cleaned and sprayed down the lanai of all [...]
I’m Not Really an Animal Hero
The September 11th issue of Woman's World was a little hard to find. But we finally found some copies! Since the writer put this together some numbers have changed. Donations went to NEW PAWSibilities, Neenah Animal Shelter, and, of course our good friends at Second Chance North. The total should reach $4,500 by the next donation! I am so thankful for many of you here who have purchased and read the book, who have written reviews, and have told others to check it out. It really is a humbling and wonderful experience. In addition to the monetary donations, I have been able to donate dozens of copies of I Chose You to rescues and shelters around the country for them to use as fundraisers. In the next book I'll have more details surrounding the exact time I know I needed to consider a dog. I'm sure the interviewed likely submitted [...]
Aloha ʻOe
When my son turned four we decided to take a trip to Maui instead of hosting another birthday party. Nicholas kept asking about his party and we'd say, "We're going to Maui!" We painted this [...]
Weeping Willow
I grew up in a two bedroom house and we had eight kids. Everyone played an instrument or sang and it was pretty darned chaotic. My poor brothers had a room that was actually [...]