Monday

Today we started by leaving early to go into Honolulu to Ramon's new eye doctor, Michael Bennet.  It was a long visit, as they had to repeat all the tests and after each procedure we had to wait a bit.  They do things a little differently but I guess that is to be expected.  He actually got a few more pokes; two small IV's to put dye in his arm, to see the flow through the eyes, the first one wasn't enough, so they had to do it a second time.    Then they also put a small injection into the lid of the eye before the actual longer shot.  I told him he's a much braver person than I! He actually liked this office and doctor, as well as Dr. Faber, so that is a plus.

Waiting....
We drove home the other direction, (the road makes a circle around the island) so I could stop at a yarn store, darling miniature store, decorated with Halloween items for a electric train room...not any yarn I could use.  Then stopped at the mall in Kaneohe for lunch and a quick trip to Bath and Body.  We had a nice drive home and arrived here after 3.  

Tonight we went into FHE for the YSA branch.  I baked a couple of sheets of cookies to take.  Unfortunately there was only 7 of us there, but we had a good time visiting and painting little pictures, they had magnets on the back to use as refrigerator magnets.  I found out I am NOT an artist in case I ever wondered if I were.

Alora, Elder Chandler and Nicole

Alora, Elder Chandler, Nicole and Cody

Nicole's master piece, she added shells to her unicorn

Finished master pieces

Sunday

We loved Conference!  Wow, 12 new temples and so much information to process and accept.  I am so grateful for change and  I think these new changes will be beneficial.  I loved that we were told to be strong, be humble, be loving, be quick to forgive and make the most of the time you have with your loved ones.  I love the fact that our Savior Jesus Christ continues to guide us, watch over us, and cheer us on in our path to make it back to Him.

I know that more responsibility is being put on families for the teaching of their children but this is how it should be.  I just wish I could do it all over again and I'd do so many things differently in raising my children.

We lounged around the TV here today watching conference and I even cooked a big lunch for us with baked potatoes, hadn't had any since we were here!  Then we were able to Face Time some of our kids.  We then got ready and went to "break the fast" but not fasting potluck with the missionaries at the PCC and BYU.  We picked up the Tuitupo's and took them with us.  We had a fun time and I was able to do some networking for my friend Leslie who is coming here soon on a mission.

Marie Osmond is coming and they needed people to set up and clean up a dinner for her and her family, in Honolulu, on October 11 for that. They needed volunteers and I am not sure they got as many as needed.   Unfortunately, we are having the 4 missionaries in our area to dinner that night and also, night driving from Honolulu isn't my favorite unless absolutely necessary, dark windy roads with no street lights.

Tomorrow we have to go into town for Elder Sanft to get his shot in his eye, new doctor, so we'll see how that goes.  But today was a great Sunday.  It was restful and peaceful and full of the Spirit of our Father, as it should be.

Saturday

A great day, we started by flipping over in bed and turing on General Conference at 6 a.m.  Nice new changes, much like the rumors we had heard.  It will be interesting to know if the families will step up and teach their children in their homes like we were told.

We watched conference, both sessions, then got ready and went into Laie to the Visitor's Center for me to watch the Women's Conference, and Elder Sanft to help at the Center, as all the Sisters were watching in the large theater.  We then came home and changed and walked along the beach, went to the "Lost" beach and there was a wedding taking place there.  It made me think how beautiful it was but nothing like the sealing in the Temple of the Lord.  We then went to Turtle bay to sit and watch the surfers.  Who should swim by but Diego on a surf board yelling "hello" to us!

Elder Sanft in front of Banyan tree at Lost Beach

Lost Beach

Surfers on a Saturday Night!

Great day, came home, had dinner and thought about our good day.  Missing my kids though.

Friday

Oh my goodness, you'll never believe what happened...I was talking to Mai on the phone early this morning and walked outside so I wouldn't wake Elder Sanft and looked over, and someone had stolen my other two Papayas!!  I couldn't believe it!  Elder Sanft was up until 3:00 reading and lights were on, how brazen they were to steal right from under us.  There is no way it could be an animal as these were "Tongan" papayas and as big as the Mexican ones. Only these taste just like the Hawaiian ones.  I was so disappointed.  Shoot.  Ramon heard me exclaiming and got up and couldn't believe it either.  They left about half dozen Star fruit and two onions... anyway, as we walked out to the driveway, there was one papaya being eaten by two chickens.  It looked like the thief had dropped one and ran off.  There are no raccoons here in Hawaii so they aren't the culprit.   It's crazy and no one I know around here would steal.
Dave leaves his garage open and has lots of valuable things people could steal but don't.  Just really weird.  We have felt so comfortable and safe here.  So I locked my car tonight.

Three papayas in box to ripen, picture taken two days ago...

Papaya eaten by chickens, (they ripen fast)

So on that note we were running low on food and so ran into Costco and Sams to stock up for all the dinners we are providing next week.  Had a good trip, saw some new areas of Mililani and ate at a takeout place we actually liked and would go back to.  I had a cute teenage boy talk to me as I stood in line at Costco to get a drink, he wanted to buy my lunch.  He was 15, said he hangs out with the Elders on their "P" day.  I finally told him to buy them something as they needed it more than me. Besides I didn't want to eat at Costco.  He was sweet though, was with his grandparents and I told them what a nice guy he was.

We, of course, stopped for Shave Ice,  I swear we haven't had any for about a month!  We talked to a neat couple from Alaska and they wanted to know what kind of mission and for what church it was for.  We don't say Mormons anymore.

So then we came home and Ramon watched the BYU game and was not a happy man while I had a nap.  Kathy came over and she and I walked around the yard looking for another papaya maybe laying around but didn't see any.  She is as perplexed as me.  She's lived here 19 years and feels safe.  But who'd want a papaya and not anything else we have laying around.  Anyway, we now have secured the fruit we bought in a cooler on the deck and hope no one thinks to look inside.

Thursday

I spent the morning making cinnamon rolls because our two Elders and two Sisters are having a council meeting here, from now on every Thursday. Elder Sanft spent several hours cutting up palm branches to put in the garbage can, and vacuuming the garage of dog hair for Dave.

I kept getting texts changing the time and it finally was to be at noon, so they could eat and plan.  The meeting went well with lots of discussion and some about what the Elders were eating.  Seems Elder Chandler and Elder Collins are on a diet quest for eating healthy.  They don't eat breakfast but prepare their lunch during that time.  We all watched them eat salad, baked sweet potato, chicken, apple etc.  The Sisters ate something Asian....I tried it but don't like the black seaweed surrounding it.

Finally, about 2:00 Elder Chandler meekly asked me if I had cookies!  I said yes, what kind do you desire....went through the choices of dough and did he really want me to heat up my apartment for cookies? (They know I keep dough stashed to bake in the refrigerator.)   I had just cooled it down after cinnamon rolls, that,  by the way weren't what he wanted.  So nice me baked a batch Oatmeal/raisin cookies for him.., he gave three to the Sisters and then took the rest.  I guess oatmeal is okay on the diet, BTW they also took the wrapped up cinnamon rolls for the "cheat" day!  Funny boys!  But we love them and laugh a lot with them.  I had to show the Sisters the video I took of Elder Chandler dancing away, it was fun.

So at 3:00 I ran into Laie and had my toes done, they were fast and did a good job.  I stopped on the way back to deliver cinnamon rolls to Leilani and Aaron and ran home and we tried to deliver a plate to Diego's wife but she wouldn't answer the door, I think she was napping.  By this time it was dinner time and the day was over.

On interesting note...one of my three large papaya's was missing!  Now who would take it?  They were on a high table, so no chickens...plus they each weigh about 3 or 4 lbs. and weren't even ripe yet.  I was mad and put a sign over the rest saying don't take,  we'll give if you ask.  Funny, because we are off out of the way and no one is here except Emily (girl in bedroom) and Josh (owner's son) and they wouldn't take them.  I can't think of an animal that could carry it away and not just eat it there, like a mongoose.....strange!

Wednesday

We got up today and did some house chores and washed clothes.  I guess I should mention that every day we have "couple" study time, prayer and scripture study for over an hour.  I guess I should have mentioned that before, so it doesn't sound like we just rush out the door.  We have "missionary" things we do every morning that include the above.  Our study time includes talking about our scripture reading and reading several pages in Preach My Gospel.  Today I also spent time writing letters to a couple of grandchildren, which I try to do several times a day.

We were supposed to go to the Temple with a member today but he called and had to cancel.  We went anyway and had a good experience. There were very few people there and we ended up being the only couple, so you know what that means.  As we left the Temple I saw I had a text from my friend Nancy.  She and her husband were here and so we hurriedly called and met them at 7 Brothers.  They were actually staying at Aulani, the Disney resort on the other side of the island but were in Laie reminiscing.  We had a good visit with the Shumperts.  I miss my friends!

We left them and ran a few errands around Laie and came home to get ready to meet with Diego.  I grabbed some cookies from the freezer to take.  We went over and I think he forgot but we called him and he came back.  We had a nice visit with him and got to know him a bit better.

Tuesday

Much better day today!  We got up early to be at the Visitor's Center by 7 for pictures.  They take a group picture every transfer.  Notice Elder Sanft is dressed like the other Elders.  He's very happy with his new Aloha shirt.  I also had to be early to set up my Birthday treats for the month of October.  Shoot, I should have taken a picture, was pretty cute! Faces painted on tangerines to look like pumpkins and ghosts made out of Nutter Butters and white almond bark and candy eyes.  It's really hard to work around the humidity here.  Every thing melts or disintegrates so fast.  The cookies were a little soggy by this morning, but I hope they got eaten fast.

As usual we had some great words of advice from our dear Director Allen.  He talked about all the changes coming, with conference and the VC (we're undergoing remodeling in two weeks). He told us to be happy.  Our church is a church of change, we shouldn't have a crisis of faith when there is change.  We should be open to change.  He mentioned all the murmuring that occurs with change.  Reminded us in the Book of Mormon that Nephi and Sam ever murmured, but Laman and Lemuel constantly did.  That Satan will plant little seeds of complaints in our hearts and try to grab hold of us.  I'm excited about conference, love this time of year.  Am even going to love watching it at 6 a.m. over here in this beautiful place!

After we went to get my hair cut.  Lots of frustration, with three ladies having appointments at the same time, cutting my hair weird etc.  I got very grumpy, came home, showered and made two different batches of cookies to have on hand.  Then did my hair and it actually looks much better than I expected.  So I cheered up!  We took cookies to Kloe Ann and Charles and visited a while.  She gave me some table cloths that needed hemming.  I'll do it this weekend.  We went to the library, it's so small they know me when I enter the door and hand me my reserved books without me saying a word.  Not really.  (Me not saying a word part)

We stopped by Leilani's Funnel spot and talked to them a bit.  I took her some seeds from the Star Fruit I had saved.  She has such a green thumb.  She was excited about it.  I gave her a roll of cookie dough to have at their leisure.  She in turn gave us three huge papayas and two breadfruits.

We came back home and Ramon cooked up the breadfruit and I stared at the huge papaya.  Wish I could share with my friend Lavina!  We both love these so much!  See the banana's we still have from the gift from the Elders last week, they are turning yellow.  I don't think this kind will make good banana bread, I may try in the morning though.  Last time it failed.