We've been having a great time with my dad and my niece, Mikayla...sorry for the delay in posting! Here are some pictures to tide you over...

Time is flying!!!

First, here are some photos from the last few days...

Second, here are some updates on us...

After working two days at the cabinet shop, Michael's old back problems came roaring back to the forefront. We decided that it wasn't worth the higher pay for him to not be able to move and sleep (!) so he's back full-time at the Kimo Bean. We believe that there is a purpose for everything, and we're feeling good about the decision. His boss at the Kimo Bean was very excited to have him back too! Our friend Jay's parents are both massage therapists here, and his dad Alain (pronounced like Ah-lawn, he's French) gave Michael a wonderful 1-hour massage and lots of helpful stretching tips for me to do on him. He's now feeling pretty much back to normal and enjoying the slow, easy pace of working at a coffee shop :)

My dad and niece Mikayla are coming out to visit for about 2 1/2 weeks, arriving next Friday, July 18th. My last day at the Hilton is next Thursday, July 17th, and then I start with Early Head Start on Monday, July 21st, so it's perfect timing! We are so excited to have guests and get to show them all of the wonderful places and things we've come to love here. It will also just be good to have some familiar faces around!! They will be here until Monday, August 4th, and then Michael's mom, dad, brother Luke, and Luke's girlfriend Jessie are coming out a couple of weeks later! We'll be pretty busy for awhile, and we're gonna have so much fun!!

Speaking of my new job, I can't hardly wait to start! I had a meeting yesterday with the lead teacher, Melanie (we hadn't even met yet!), the director Ellen, and the educational coordinator Stacy. We just talked about some specifics about times and dates, and other little details. We got to see some pictures of the children from last year (5 or 6 of whom are returning this year), and they are so cute!! I'm just excited to be around babies again, and see what other kinds of opportunities this opens up for me, both tangibly and emotionally. It will definitely be a different kind of situation than what I've done in the past, and I'm so looking forward to being a part of these young moms and dads lives and helping them as well as learning from them in the process. I know it's going to be a great experience for me.

Well, that's it for now! Hope all of you are doing well. Please write a comment or drop us an email and let us know how you're doing and what's new! We'd love to stay in two-way contact!

Pictures...

We took these pictures coming down Kohala Mountain from Hawi towards Waimea...

4th of July Fun!

Hope everyone had a fun, celebratory 4th of July! We had a good time, doing some new things! We went to the beach in the morning, and then went to the 17th annual Rubber Duckie race at the Kings Shops in the Waikoloa Resort area. We had 'adopted' two duckies, which benefited the United Cerebral Palsey Association of Hawaii, and it was fun to listen to some local music beforehand and eat free popcorn, and then go watch the 'race.'

Later we went to Michael's boss at the Kimo Bean, Kim's, house for a BBQ and fireworks in the street! We had a lot of fun hanging out and relaxing. Enjoy the pictures!