Aloha!

Aloha Friends! My year started off in an awesome way! I was part of a comedy night at New Heights Church in Columbia, SC on Thursday, Jan. 17 and after the event drove to Charlotte to fly out for Hawaii the next morning. Hawaii is absolutely beautiful, and the people are even more beautiful! I met some of the most Godly men and women I've ever had the opportunity to meet. My husband and two children were able to go on this tour with me.
We flew into Waikiki - where I spoke at Waikiki Baptist Church on Saturday, January 19. On the following day, Sunday, we flew to the Big Island where I spoke at a civic center on the Kona side - above Hawi town. It was absolutely breath-taking. I met a young girl that introduced me to a new food - mosobee - i think that is the spelling - she said i'd love it - i asked what it was. She said it was spam, wrapped in rice and covered with something from the ocean. I've had spam and rich before, and I like fried shrimp - why not - It was seaweed - doesn't taste like shrimp - more like that fishy fish taste - it's all i could taste for three days. I didn't have any more mosobee. I did make a new friend with the little girl - however, she did want to know why i didn't like her favorite treat. Wow, at seven (her age) my favorite treat was ice cream dipped in chocolate - wow! kids today sure are different! I guess they're healthy - but my philosphy is - healthy eating - that's way overrated! The fourth day we had breakfast out. We had macadamia pancakes covered with coconut syrup! That's my kind of eating! I cleaned my plate. I'd hate to waste any food especially when I can carry it home with me on my waist line! I might try a mosobee again - if it is covered up with coconut syrup. I think sawdust would taste good with coconut syrup!
Healthy eating to me is dark chocolate everyday for my heart - i try to have a pound or two a day - i really want a healthy heart!
Back to Hawaii - We stayed on the big Island until Thursday. I spoke in Hilo on Wednesday night. The rest of the time on the Big Island we went site seeing. It was awesome to stand along the beach and look up at the mountains. We rode up in the mountains - I think it was the leeward time - so it was very windy - it could knock you down. My two teenagers wanted to get out and feel the wind push them - I insisted they wait on me to anchor their skinny selves down! They did and I can safely say - no one flew away! That night - Mike thought he'd treat me to an awesome evening - now remember - Mike is a scientist and I'm a - well I'm not sure what i am - just not a scientist - I thought - Yeah, we're going to a Luau! We got dressed and headed up to the volcanoe national park - i thought - well, not a Luau, but maybe a nice dinner at a volcano cafe. We had dinner - three hours later at Taco Bell - Is that Hawaiian? During the three hours one of our AWESOME EVENING - one hour was spent at the monthly lectures given at the volcano national park - by the volcanists (i didn't know there was such a thing - weren't vulcans on Star Trek?) He gave an hour lecture on Deformation of the volcanoes - don't ask me what that is - i still don't know - but is wasnt' that bad - I got a 57 minute nap!
Thursday we flew to Maui - wow, that suffering for Jesus was tough - but someone had to do it - so i agreed! a big ha ha! there!
Maui was equally as beautiful as the other islands. The kids learned to surf. They loved it - and said it was so fun - my fourteen-year-old daughter said the instructor was a "hottie" - I shook his hand - he didn't seem to have a fever at all!

Saturday, I spoke at First Baptist Kahului on Maui. The conference was great! The women were wonderful! I met the most precious woman that came up to me and said, "I love the way southerners speak - say "Aloha!" I did - she laughed and said - "Only three syllables!" What did she mean?

As we flew home on Saturday afternoon (by the way we lost Saturday night - has anyone seen it?) I looked out the plane window into the crystal blue ocean, with white sand, and blue skies, and I couldn't help but think "Ah, Soveriegn Lord, You have created the Heavens and the Earth by the power of Your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You!" Jeremiah 32:17.

Today, are you struggling? Hurting? Feeling lonely, rejected or plain ole worthless? Will you trust The One that created the Heavens and Earth - He can restore the joy of your salvation - for there is nothing too hard for Him.

I love you all! Take care! Let me hear from you! Aloha - A Hui Hou - until we meet again!
Because He lives, cherie

PS - I'll be in Florence, SC at Calvary Baptist Church - Feb. 2
Columbia After Dark - Pavillion Coffee Shop - Feb 4
Faith Baptist Church - Feb. 14
Kanuga - Episcopal Retreat - Feb. 15-17 Hendersonville, NC
If you're near any of these - come see me! I love to spend some time with you!