Findin' the Pearl

Step lively lads! We be about ta turn the tables on Admiral Norrington, we do!

But Cap'n! Me feet be killin' me. Tha' curs'd Admiral is gonna pay fer drivin' our ship aground clear round 't other side o' the island! Mark my word - I be gonna make 'im pay, I is.

Cap'n!! Look! It be the Pearl way over yonder, shore's I be a pirate!

Good job lads!

Here, step aside so's I can put me glass on her! That be her alright! We gotta pick 'em up and put 'em down now lads, if we be there 'fore night.

Blimey! Thar's landlubbers everywhere. Th' whole town be turned out ta see the Pearl today!

Quick mates! Th' sentry be gone from 'is post! Le's see if we kin git 'round t' other side 'n really git a look at 'er!

Aye! She be a purty sight now mates! She aint looked near this good fer years.


Cap'n! Look at th' bridge. She's gonna be a looker she is.

Aye mates! Thar's th' wheel whar I be steerin' the ship from. She be a sweet ship fer shore!


Arrgh!! The sentry's be a comin'! Gather 'round lads this be it!

Beam us up Scotty! Oops! Wrong movie!

"Surprise Guys"

When Cydney, Ken and Nora were visiting from Kansas City we had a few opportunities to be together as a family. One of those was for "Second Sunday Dinner." It was fun to watch and listen to everyone as we sat around the dinner table. At the end of the meal Kerry came into the dining room with a "for sale by owner" sign and asked who wanted to help him put it up in the front yard. The reaction was a lot of fun for everyone but one who was a little sad.

And so we went outside and proceeded to place the sign in the front yard.
Rebecca was the only one who knew and believe me it has been a hard secret to keep. (Rebecca and I have been looking at lots for quite awhile so she knew when we found the right one.) We just wanted to have everyone together when we made the announcement.

We will be building a home south of Lehi. First comes the sale of the current home and then we will start to build. Wow am I excited.

(now comes the reaction of neighbors and ward members!)

Getting there!

This picture is one of my favorite for many reasons. The time I have with Kerry here in Honolulu is priceless and I love discovering new things and places with him. As a mom I thought that there would always be kids around and life would be hectic and crazy. Well the kids are all grown up and life is still crazy and hectic but life is good. As I began blogging I realized there were few pictures of me, mostly because I most often have the camera but a major reason is that I simply didn't like the image I saw of myself. We made this hike to Diamond Head as I was already beginning to work on making changes in my diet and starting to exercise more. So this picture is kind of a symbol to me that I was ready to take better care of myself, lose weight and get in better shape.

The beginning!
Though this is difficult to see there is a sea turtle in this picture. Despite my horrible fear of water I found myself snorkeling in the ocean and we found this turtle just before we quit for the day. (Kerry was very patient with me and helped me become more comfortable with the water, while I don't think I will become his dive buddy at least I can experience some of what he sees!)

Yep, that's me snorkeling, believe it or not. A picture is worth a thousand words isn't that what they say?

While I still have a few pounds to take off, I keep adding to my goal, I actually don't mind having my picture taken like I did. I feel great. My goal for inches around the waist in an inch away, and I'm now changing that goal as well.
Hawaii has definitely been good for me!

Arrgh!! Protectin' the Pearl!

Cap'n! Thar be a ship roundin' the point! She be headin' right fer the Pearl!

Arrgh! Hold fast, ya lubbers! We be layin' close in t'night, 'n we go get 'em at firs' light! Ahoy mates! No sign o' the ship. Quick! Lay eyes on the Pearl! She be too rich a catch to let some other scurvy lubbers t' steal.

Aye, thar she be! Still hard aground war she lay last time I put me glass to 'er!
Shiver me timbers lads! Them new Cap'n's quarters be mighty fine. Soons they land the masts 'n furl the sheets, we float 'er off the reef at high tide!
Makin' good progress. She be starting to look like a ship agin! Mind yer backs boys. Them sentrys be hangin' around. See yer don' get captured! all hands be needed for takin' back the Pearl soons she be ready t' sail!

Mother's Day 2010

We had the whole family together alot while Cydney, Ken, and Nora were here from Kansas. I decided to try and get a family picture taken while we were all togther for dinner. Luckily Kerry's mom was with us and joined us for a picture. I want her to know how grateful we all are for her and having her in our lives. What a great woman! I swear her energy level never runs down. She is such a great example to all of us in doing good for others and in being faithful, steady, and diligent in living the gospel. She is accepting of who and what you are and loves you in spite of yourself. Thanks Mom for raising such a wonderful son that has blessed our lives.

Here is the reason that this day is such a good one! This is one of my favorite pictures of these wonderful women (oh, is that hard to say, women - no longer little girls.) who bring so much joy and happiness and at times even a little frustration! It does feel a little strange to be so far away from all of them today but I am also treasuring this wonderful time with their dad.

I also have thought a lot about my parents lately and of course I miss my mom a lot as well. It seems hard to believe she has been gone so long already.
Believe it or not this is the only picture of her that I have on the computer here with me in Honolulu but she is standing with some pretty special women in this picture as well.
(from left to right her sisters Bernice, Melba, Louise, and Mom-Carol)

Mom was such a great example of service, faithfulness, endurance and love to me. I will always remember the warm loaves of bread going to one family or another as well as meals. She never missed her visiting teaching and loved to attend the temple. She always worried about paying her tithing even up until her death. She loved my dad so much, and all three of us kids. She was loved for her cooking and family meals were so important to her. I love you mom, thanks for your wonderful example.

While this picture was at little too close for my comfort and a little cheesy it was nice to know that I have been accepted into the Makiki Ward here in Honolulu, I was graced with a rose along with all of the other mothers today, but a sweet sister gave me this hand-made Lei after Relief Society today. Home ward away from home!

Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's everywhere.

*Note to self - last year for Mother's Day I was given a printer/scanner so that I could start scanning pictures, YOU ARE WAY BEHIND. :)

Daddy's Girl

All my life I have been told that I look like my mom, or that I have more of the Hiatt genes than my brother and sister. I was the brown eyed girl that my mom knew she was going to have. So I have just assumed that I was just like her. One day while I was doing my daily walk I was thinking about my genes, the BAD ones to be specific, and I got to thinking that I even inherited some of the bad ones from him as well. Then it hit me I had things about me that are like my dad what is that called an epiphany? I love my mom dearly she worked hard and provided the best of care growing up. I know that there were times that she sacrificed a great deal for all of us. She was always there! I have just never thought that I was that much like my dad. One of the things that was said about my dad after he passed away was that he was considered a "Gentle Giant." As I thought more about that statement it made me think about what might be said about me after I die, I know kind of morbid but... I suddenly realized that I could be more like my dad, I WOULD be more like my dad. The dad I knew was kind and patient and didn't complain (I learned that he suffered from migraines after he died) I watched him go through terrible stress with some of mom's illness and his showed more concern for me than for himself it was not easy.

I will share another story at the end that made me respect him so much at a very impressionable age. At any rate I began to say to myself I am a "Daddy's Girl" I will be positive and try not to complain or stress over the less important things. I want to cherish life and family.

Rebecca gave Kerry a plaque that reads "Dad a son's first hero, a daughters first love!" I would have to say that both apply to me!
Actually I have two stories!
1. Growing up dad would take me to the grandstand in Manassas for the fireworks display for the 24th Celebration. It was something that I treasured. I loved sitting by him and watching the color in the sky. Now they shoot the fireworks from the hill behind and it just isn't the same, of course it isn't the same without dad anyway. In Honolulu they shoot them off from the Hilton Hawaiian every Friday night and when I am here I will always try to catch them. To this day I still love firework displays anywhere, anytime. Many new and favorite memories have come to me as a result of fireworks. But the little girl inside still remembers watching the sky light up with her daddy.
2. When I was about twelve mom dad and I were going to Kmart and dad drove down the wrong way in a parking lot. This guy in a pick up truck slammed on his brakes and when we passed him he called dad a really bad name and was swearing up a storm. Dad was concerned that his groceries had been damaged or something so he went around to the next side, again on the wrong side, and followed the guy. The guy stopped and looked like he was really angry. As dad got out of the car the guy (jerk) realized that dad was not a small man in stature and as he approached the truck the guy was actually looking up at him. Dad asked the guy if there was any damage or if he had caused a problem and the guy just swallowed hard and said everything was fine. Dad calmly got back into the car and we went to Kmart to get what ever we were going there for. The look on the guys face was priceless but even more the calm and gentle way dad handled that left a very lasting impression on me. Unfortunately my girls have heard that story many, many times.
I do have the Hiatt coloring but I also have the Smith build, the height just like my dad and my Aunt Madge among many other "Smith giants." I am proud to be both a Hiatt and a Smith and I really want to be my "Daddy's Girl."