USS Missouri

After the USS Arizona we went to tour the USS Missouri.  It is in the background of this photo of Tom. 

The guns on this ship were HUGE!

We paid extra and took the captain's tour.  It was much more involved and we got to go places that others didn't.  This note came in telling the troops that the Japanese had surrendered. 

I can't recall the name of this communication device.  Something called a "Girl".  It is used without electricity.  A lot of cranking needed to keep the power. 

The captain's cabin with his bed.

This fancy table set in the captain's cabin. 

The captain's "head".  It is available to use. 

This very spot was where President George W. Bush sat.  

The seamen working in this space need to be able to write backwards.  They write on the back side of this plexiglass so the captain knows where everything is.

A small space where ammo was locked and loaded. 

This space is some sort of room that is always lighted like this.  

Looking through the "looking glass."

This spot on the deck is where the Japanese officially surrendered. 

Such a huge ship.  I certainly would have gotten lost without our guide. 

This is outside on the dock.  Couldn't resist taking the pic.

 

Hawaii Again

This trip to Hawaii we stayed right next door to the condo we stayed in last time.  This condo was much smaller and junkier.  Just not as nice by a long shot.  Still, it was livable.  

We walked the beach and saw another large sea turtle.  We walked the beach twice as that's all the time we had to do it.  

The wind never stopped blowing the entire time as witnessed by these palm trees.  

The temple was closed AGAIN.  We did find a way to serve in it though.  Pat emailed the temple president and asked if there was something we could do to help while it was being cleaned.  We were given the green light to do that so we went both Monday and Tuesday mornings and helped in the laundry.  We folded hundreds of pairs of socks both days.  It was quite satisfying.

I found a lifeguard tower which is exactly the same as the ones I see on Rescue Hi-Surf.  

The views are just as incredible.  I love the sight of the crashing waves with the teal blue water.  

I also love the mountains by Kualoa Ranch.  

The laundry facilities at the condo were horrible so we found a laundromat before coming home.  I loved the sign.  No Ocean Creatures.  haha

We visited the USS Arizona once again.  Such a sacred and solemn place.  

I love the North Shore where you keep driving along the ocean!

This view was taken while we were zip lining.  We were told to look for whales but of course we didn't see any.

This is the beach right next to our condo.  I like the variety of things in this photo.

We zip lined at Climb Works this time.  

The bridges on this zip line were much easier to cross which was the best thing for Tom.  He had a great time!  Awesome guides and a fun group to zip with.  

 

Tom’s Trip

The Gourley family and Erin and Jacob went on their planned Hawaii trip in November.  We got lots of Facetime calls and texts while they were there.  Tom came up to me and said, "I want to go to Hawaii." I told him to talk to his dad.  We planned a trip just for Tom in March.

We wanted him to experience the things we did while we were there a few years ago.  

His first adventure was going zip lining!  I wish I would have had a camera to video record his reaction on the first line.  He WOOHOOed all the way across the line.  He was very excited!

We had some great guides.  They were so good with Tom and helped him along the way.

We had a great time together!

This was not at Kualoa Ranch like we did last time.  This time it was Climb Works.  They were just as great and some of the climbs to the next line were a bit easier so that was good for Tom.  It was a great experience but he was time to be done.

I think the smiles say it all!

On Tuesday we went to the PCC.  Again, that was the one thing I knew we had to do with him.  He loves culture and languages so this was perfect.  He enjoyed the opening ceremony as well as each of the islands.  He especially liked the Haka and the fire dancing.

Wednesday was a more chill day and we went to the Swap Meet where we bought things for our family.  

Thursday was back to Honolulu where we went to the USS Arizona and then the USS Missouri.  

I don't think Tom comprehended what happened with the Arizona but I do think he felt the reverence of the memorial.

I am always amazed at the feelings I get there.

The USS Missouri in he background.

We had to stop at the Dole Plantation for a Dole Whip.

Tom makes friends with cats whenever he can.

The weather is always beautiful to compliment the beauty of the Laie temple.

The temple was closed for a two week cleaning so no ordinance work this time. 

The flight home had Tom making friends again.  This time with the flight attendants.

I think he enjoyed his trip very much.  We'll have to plan another trip for him sometime.

Bike Riding When?

Back in the end of December we had some nice weather.  By nice I mean the temperatures were in the mid 40's.  Pat suggested we go for a bicycle ride.  

We rode to Gresham and then to the Gourley house and finally back on Upper Red Lake road and home.  It was warm enough that I didn't need to wear my heavy winter coat.  The rain coat keeps the wind out and therefore I stay warm.

I can hardly believe that we were out riding in December!

 

Stake Primary President

I am beginning my third year as the Stake Primary president.  I never thought this would be a calling that I would love as much as I do.  I especially love the unit conferences.  Last year I read a book to the children and it captivated them.  This year I have an object lesson and then a book.

Last Sunday was the Gresham Ward conference. Sharon did the music and I did the lesson.  We have a new presidency in Gresham so I invited them to stay.  We talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I hope they really understood what I was trying to teach.  

I enjoy visiting the units and seeing how they love the children.  We have some amazing leaders in the units and I have amazing counselors in Sharon Scheinost and Cece Pawlowski!  How I love those ladies!

 

One Last Time

We have gone to see "Stayin' Alive" three times.  Once in Vegas and twice here in Wisconsin.  They play the favorite BeeGees tunes and I enjoy it.  For our anniversary we went yet again.  Turns out it is exactly the same group that we've seen twice before.  They are aging just like the rest of us.  

Because Pat bought the tickets very last minute, he got them from a third party.  We've been to the Meyer theatre once before but had no idea that there are primo seats. These people were all behind us. 

These people were all below us.  Lots of people dancing along the walls.  I'm always amazed at the age of the people coming to this particular show.  Most of them are OLD!  By that I mean older than us!

We sat in the balcony in the second row in these very comfy seats. 

I sat on the end just because I was still coughing and didn't want to bother anyone with my cough.  I did have some cool air blowing on me all through the concert so I kept my jacket on my shoulder.  

It was an entertaining night but I don't need to see a BeeGees act anymore.  I'll just play the CDs if I want their music.

Door

When we left our mission in Nauvoo, we came home with a lot of treasures.  One of them was an exterior door that came off of the Orson Hyde home.  What do you do with an exterior door?  We decided to use it for our new upstairs bathroom.  We would have to use it as a barn door style as there is no frame.  I thought about having a window in a bathroom door and how do I make it so whomever is in the room has privacy?  A curtain!  Nope.  That won't work because it would have to be on the inside and it will slide so it just isn't feasible.  

Cierra!  She is so talented and creative and able to paint.  I asked her if she could paint it for us.  She agreed to do the job over the summer when she had some time.  But what should she paint on it?  Nauvoo flowers!  I sent her a bunch of photos of the spring flowers in Nauvoo and she just came up with this piece of art.  

She needed to paint both sides because if only one side was painted there would be "holes" where someone could see through.  I stripped the exterior of the door but there was too many blemishes to try to restore it so I painted it the same color as the accent wall in the bathroom.  The fancy pieces were taken off and replaced with new as they would've been a nightmare to try to fix.  

My husband asked that one side be faux grained.  It had been a few years since I did that so there was a bit of a learning curve.  When I look at it I see where I could have done better but then I realize that no one else sees those flaws.  I absolutely LOVE it!