Aloha! "Our Gift of A Day"

Aloha from beautiful Hawaii! We are slowly transitioning to a new time zone... just in time to move over the International Date Line and completely lose another day! Yes, it's all so strange! We've been waking up around 2:30am here in Hawaii - because in SC it is 6 hours ahead (8:30am). I think I'd sleep in more - but my sweet little Mia apparently has her own ideas and lets us all know that her little belly is hungry - NOW! What can I say? She's my child - don't mess with me when I'm hungry! ha ha!




We've had a GREAT time here so far! The first day we settled into our hotel... later went down the street to get some food at Wolfgang Puck's Express. Delicious! Waikiki Beach is just 2 1/2 blocks from our hotel and the kids had a fun time just playing around in the sand the first night and watching the sunset... Mia fell asleep on the way there... hence the 2:30am wake up calls!


On Tuesday we toured Pearl Harbor bright and early. Caught the tour van at 6:30am... no biggie right?! Since we've been up for a few hours! It was a pretty moving experience to witness and "go back in time" what happened that tragic day on Dec. 7th, 1941!


We then met up with Dale's relatives - his Lolo's brother... we call him Lolo Ingo (Dom"ingo" Ramirez) & Lola Percy.
Lolo Ingo picked us up and brought us around the downtown of Hawaii and through Chinatown. We ate at a delicious Asian Buffet and then headed back to their home for a few hours to visit and relax.




It was so nice to meet Dale's cousins and our kids had a nice time meeting their new relatives... especially their "Aunties" Allison & Jody... twins girls who are 5 years old... and their "Uncle" Jacob who is 7 years old! It was so sweet to see how they all instantly bonded and started playing together!


Lolo Ingo later brought us to the Punchbowl Cemetary - a beautiful area with a gorgeous view of Honolulu.


From there - we went to the amazing military resort - THE HALE KOA... where Lolo Ingo retired and worked there for 27 years! Unfortunately we were unable to lock in reservations at this resort - but will definitely do so on a later trip!
The hotel is situated right on the beach with 3 beautiful pools and wonderful renovated amenities! Lolo brought us home and the boys (and Daddy) played tennis at the hotel - while the girls fell asleep... ZZzzzzzzz!


Our family "GIFT OF A DAY"... (my Ultimate Gift moment) A day like today from beginning to end was truly a GIFT... and marked our transition to our newest adventure ahead!

Today was a great day spent at the beautiful Hanauma Bay for snorkling. Thanks to our Military ID's... it was a free entrance and a day of relaxation and fun! It was the kids first time snorkling and it was so neat to see how excited they were when they located various marine life down below! Mia enjoyed splashing in the water and playing in the sand. She made lots of friends with the Japanese & Australian tourists as she greeted each of them with her 6 tooth smile or blowing kisses or doing her little bootie dance for them. She cracks me up sometimes!


The morning started off rainy and overcast - but by the time we got to the sand - the sun was out and the beach was clear!

We went back to our hotel to shower & nap. By early evening we were ready to walk downtown to eat. Not knowing the area - we asked our driver that took us to Hanauma Bay one place to go - and he said, DUKES. So we were off to find Dukes! The weather was perfect... and walking allowed us to discover the Waikiki area.


We arrived right on time to watch the KINGS GUARD perform and take a quick picture with them. The kids enjoyed watching the precision and accuracy of their movements!




Here's a FIRST... the sun was setting quckly and I mentioned to Dale to find a beach access entry so we could take a family photo before the sun went down. We found a beach access and with the crowds walking all around us and all our little feet following ours... I set up our camera on top of my diaper bag backpack... and somehow all the crowds disappeared and our FIRST and only shot came out GREAT! Ask my kids... we usually have to take 5-7 (okay... maybe 12 - 15 shots) timed shots to get the right one. Of course not that night... because today was our GIFT OF A DAY. I didn't even want to jinx it... I didn't take another shot... ONE SHOT and that was it!



Wouldn't you know... DUKES RESTAURANT just so happened to be right where we took the sunset photo... so what were the chances of us getting seated quickly?! Well... to end our GIFT OF A DAY... we told the hostess how many we had in our family - and she told us it would be about a 45 min. wait. There was NO WAY we could wait... the kids were hungry and so were we... so we smiled and as we were about to leave... another girl came up and said... "I have a big table ready and I can seat them now".


A perfect quiet & spacious corner table with a beach view... it just didn't get any better than that. But wait, it did! Just as the appetizers came... Mia fell asleep in her stroller... and even Ryan (our most energetic child) snoozed off! AMAZING TIMING!


We enjoyed our last evening in Hawaii with a delicious meal with our kids (2 awake, 2 asleep)... and our waiter even brought us dessert FOR FREE!



It was an incredible day from start to end! One I will cherish and remember ALWAYS. A day like no other... how everything just fell into place like a perfect puzzle!


As I pay .20 cents per minute to use the hotel computer... I am thankful that there is a computer here that I can get on and "catch up". We head to Guam tomorrow afternoon... leaving on Thursday at 2pm (8 hr flight) and arriving on Guam on Friday 5pm. Hopefully we'll adjust quickly... and if not - no big deal - we're livin' the kick back Island Life for the next 3 years!

... Until We Meet Again - brunch at the Boykin's

Today was spent with friends & family. My family of friends. Friends who are now my family. It was spent with people I admire and love. Being a Navy family - you learn to make friends quickly. To recognize quality friendships. Today was about the gift of FRIENDSHIP and the gift of TIME. Today was a great day... and a sad day of having to say "farewell" or rather - ... Until We Meet Again!

Below is my e'mail that I sent to our friends who spent time with us today... OUR LAST DAY here in South Carolina! I will post photos to this e'mail later - when I get more time!


... Thank you so much for taking time this afternoon to say "farewell" and spend a few hours with our family! We truly feel so blessed to have had such a GREAT group of friends here in South Carolina! Each of you have touched our lives in different ways... and our family has truly appreciated our time together.

Tim & Darcy Boykin & 2 kiddos - Noah & Kyra... You opened up your home for us and planned such a wonderful event! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! The food was all so fantastic and the backyard was perfect for all the many kids to run around and play! Man, the kids (and daddy, too - Michael, Stan & Dale) loved the obstacle course and Zip line! The fort was amazing and so much fun for all the kids to let their imaginations run wild!

I still remember meeting you all at our gym and how excited I was that there was FINALLY some "discipline" in the JUDO class... a sensei (TIM) who demanded respect and had a commanding voice! Darcy, you walked in and I made the connection that you were Tim's wife and I thanked you right away for your husband's leadership! You were so very sweet and your kids were so adorable... I knew the moment we exchanged phone numbers that we could be good friends! I've probably known you the least out of all the groups of friends - yet the connection with you is something so special that I feel like I've known you forever... you're like a long-lost sister! It just broke my heart to see little Noah in tears today as we were saying our good-byes... what a sweet sweet boy! We just love you guys so much!

Pat & Denise Grover & 4 kids - Hunter, Conor, Collin & Hannah Grace... You were the first family to greet us at the farewell party... and man, every time I see you guys I am so thankful for your kindness and friendships. Another GREAT family that we've been blessed with here in SC! We are so looking forward to Guam because of your sheer excitement about it. Thank you so much for connecting us with the Leo Palace and making our "transition" a smooth one... it'll be great to write you and know exactly what you're talking about when you tell us about the different places to go and people you've talked about. It always amazed me how from the very first day we met - our kids just all clicked and got along! How I wish we could've been stationed in Guam together and "explored the world". You've helped us in so many ways... and we are so very thankful! I just wished we had MORE time together - we LOVE being around you & your beautiful family!

Michael & Alex Costanzo & boys - Rocco, Bruno & Guilio... What a beautiful family you are! Alex, I have been changed because of you and truly am blessed knowing you & your family! We met you all within the first few months of us living here in South Carolina - we were brand new to the area and knew NO ONE! Rocco & Ryan were in Kindergarten together and it was a "MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT" at school and you both walked in and I thought - "wow, what a beautifully striking couple". I saw Alex standing alone and I went to talk to you and introduced myself and held out my hand and realized at that moment and only at that moment that you couldn't see! You epitomize grace and elegance in my book... the way you carry yourself and always so approachable and friendly! I remember saying to you once that I always LOVED being around you because you never seem to complain about anything and admired how you handled yourself and your situation. Your response to me was, "Dot, I'm too blessed in my life to complain about anything". Girl, I LOVE YOU like a sister, too! Thank you for inviting us to Rocco & Bruno's birthday party that first day we met you 3 years ago and just being one of my FIRST friends here in SC! We love you guys!

Chris & Michelle Reilly & girls - Sarah, Brandi & Jessie - Another amazing family whom we've known all 3 years here. You guys are family - for sure! I feel so blessed knowing you guys and being friends with you! Sarah will forever be the "first girl" that Ryan had a crush on in Kindergarten... you never forget your "first love"... hee hee! I love that our kids all play so great together and always want to have sleepovers and that they call you "tita" (aunt in filipino language). Thank you for always including us in your family birthdays and neighborhood get togethers and parties... we feel so special whenever we are around you guys! I'll always remember you Mitch as my "anti-Mary Kay" friend... hee hee! My sassy - girlfriend who wanted NOTHING to do with MK! So sorry you had a bad first experience... I'm glad that I was able to bring you back to the product that you LOVE!

Jean Reilly & sweet baby Giselle - I hope that your brother Chris or Mitch will forward this to you because I've misplaced your e'mail address! I'm so thrilled that I had a chance to meet your sweet baby and see her get "dedicated in our church" before we moved away! What a beautiful little one you have and such a good good baby! You are indeed blessed! You must know how blessed you are!!!! I'm so glad that we have become friends through Michelle & Chris... I've seen you with your neices and watched you with them and how much you love them... there's no doubt in my mind that you will be a wonderful mommy to your sweet baby girl! Ooh how I wish I could be here to watch her grow! You must keep me updated with photos via e'mail! I love ya, girl! BE STRONG!

Sarah Pirt - what a blessing you have been to my family!!! I will miss you, girl! Thank you for being my reliable "go-to girl" here in SC! Thank you for watching my kids so my hubby and I can go on "date nights". Thank you for working in my MK office and keeping me organized! Thank you for coming over and taking care of my kids when I went to the hospital to deliver baby Mia! Thank you for watching Mia every Tuesday and Thursday so I can volunteer at the school and be with my other kids - just to have lunch with them... or just run to the grocery store "kid-free". You have blessed us with your presence in our home. I love you like a big sister... and I will always want the BEST for you! I've loved all our talks and have seen you "grow"... let GOD continue to work in your life!!! Love & miss you!

Kevin & Kelly Kampwerth & girls - Madison, Marissa & Kathelyn - Another beautiful family.... inside & out! Still remember meeting you at the first night of kindergarten "meet the teacher night" for Daniella & Madison... they became FAST friends and how GREAT was it that we just lived down the street from each other! Gosh, I still remember you had just moved here and you were so concerned and worried about the bus ride... and I tried to convince you that it was going to be fine. How we exchanged numbers and how I called you that first day of school to tell you the bus just came on our end of the street and that your sweet Madison should be home soon. The fearful call a few minutes later that Madison was not on the bus... Nothin' like DRAMA to start off the schoolyear, huh? Well, everything turned out fine and we're so glad that Dani & Madison became such GREAT friends and have remained great friends! I loved that our girls got to spend time together taking gymnastics and being together to enjoy it! I loved that you were able to share Mia's 1st birthday with us!! We will miss you guys and know that we'll always stay in touch! I'll keep plugged into your blog... for years to come!

Stan & Amy McGrew & kids - Tucker, Molly & Payton... Just when we thought we had enough great friends... you guys come along - and completely blow us away!! Brought together through a mutual friend - Tucker & Morgan became pen pals to help Tucker transition to moving here to SC and knowing "a friend" in the area. I loved that our boys became friends first and exchanged family pictures and finally meeting and realizing - WOW - this is a GREAT family and wanting to get to know you all more! I love how much you LOVE each other and CONNECTED you all are! The amazing "outdoor movie nights" roasting marshmellow's by the firepit in your backyard... the incredible MAD SCIENCE and CAMP McGREW Birthday Parties... to the Lady get togethers for "Close To My Heart" classes and various other gatherings! Thank you so much for trusting us enough to have Tucker spend nights at our house... and for also taking our kids for sleepovers - and Stan - for taking the boys crabbing in MT. Pleasant and waking up early to make them Guam Shaped Pancakes! Amy work hard this year so we can meet up in New Zealand! I'm all over that trip! We'll truly miss you guys!

Our "neighbors" Jeff & Jennifer Studley & kids - Jacob, Sarah, Megan & Tess... we watched the empty lot next to us turn into a beautiful home... waited patiently to see who would move in... and man - did we hit the Jackpot when you all moved in next door to us! Your sweet Sarah became our "neighborhood social committe president"... she and Daniella formed a wonderful friendship and I loved how they played together. For the first time, our kids would go to your house and your kids would spend hours in our house... I LOVED IT! I'll miss it! Thank you for letting my kids have sleepovers at your house... and cooking your "famous" TACOS that they sooooo loved! We'll miss YOU! You were the perfect neighbors - for us! And when Dani & Sarah had to say good-bye to each other today - that broke my heart more than anything... because it was Sarah that helped my sweet Daniella come out of her shell and blossom a beautiful friendship together! You're an awesome family!!!!

Finally - my parents - MOM & DAD Pan! We love you guys and will miss you sooo very much! I'm so glad that we spent this entire summer together! Having you here with us has meant so much! Thank you for all your help watching the kids... helping us in every aspect... cleaning and closing on our house in Wescott... and just being the kind of parents that love us unconditionally! Mia has been like an "only child" this summer because she was in your watchful and loving care most of the day... allowing me to focus on the 3 big kids in swim team and other activities. What a gift you gave us... YOUR TIME! We love you so much and are so blessed to have you as OUR PARENTS! You truly are THE BEST!!!! You inspire me every single day! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

I look back at our time here and know that GOD has indeed blessed us! There are so many other families that have blessed us in many other ways, in different times in our lives... and we will miss them, too! I just wanted to take the time to "remember these moments" forever & ever! Thanks again to you all for spending your day with us at the Boykin's house. Keep us in your prayers... as we soon leave SC in less than 7 hours!

... Until we meet again - WE LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!

... bye bye South Carolina!

This is it. We're outta here! It's our final weekend and the bags are gettin' packed and apartment cleaned out for our departure on Monday morning! Man, time is flyin' and I know our time in Guam will go quickly too... this is why it's so important to be IN THE MOMENT and enjoy everything presented in our lives!

I feel blessed to have been friends with those here in SC. Each family and each person that we have known here in SC has been such a blessing in their own unique way. You know who you are and how I feel about YOU!

As we transition once again - please keep us in your prayers! The kids are excited because they see that we are excited... I pray that they will make good friends and be a good influence to others. I pray that we will make the right decisions for them and for our family.

Next time I post we'll most likely be on the other side of the world...

our last 2 weekends...

We've come to our last 2 weekends here in South Carolina! We're currently a happily homeless & car-less family of six!

Last week we listed Dale's Lexus on Vehix and Autotrader (websites to sell your pre-owned car). . . it took almost 2 hours to get the website up and running - not sure why... but it required a lot of patience on our part. Wouldn't you know - just after listing the car... and sending out a mass e'mail to all the people we knew in the area it was less than 20 hours later we had 3 offers on the car and decided to sell it to my friend - Arloa. We were both Mary Kay Directors and worked & traveled together. She bought it sight unseen. The transaction was so smooth and seemless and just felt like it was meant to be! She saw the car for the FIRST time when we transferred the title at the bank. I looked at her and said, "Arloa, you're so crazy, you never even looked at the car to make sure you were getting your money's worth"... and she said to me, "Dot, I've been to your house and I know you... and there are just some people that you meet with good integrity that you already know you're getting a "good thing"". WOW! What a compliment that was! She loves "Lexi" (which was the Lexus nickname to us)... she calls it her "sanctuary!" The funny thing about selling the car to a friend - around 9:30 last night we got a call from Arloa asking me, "How do I close this sun roof?" I just laughed and handed the phone over to Dale!

So we've come to the end of our tour here and we've had to resort to renting an apartment and renting a car just to get by until we get to GUAM and figure out life over there! It's been a GREAT problem to have! God continues to bless us and we know that every situation, every person we meet and every decision made - there is a REASON FOR EVERYTHING! I can't wait to see the plans HE already has in store for us! (Jer. 29:11)

H.O.T!

Yesterday - the kids and I went with our church youth group to Whirlin' Waters - a waterpark near our place. It was so hot it hurt to walk on the concrete barefoot! So hot that when I went into the water to cool off - I almost felt HOTTER! It was over 100 degrees yesterday and today. . . NOW THAT IS HOT!

... the countdown to Guam

The transition from "home-ownership" to "homeless" this month has been smooth! Thanks to some serious planning and definite help from my parents and good friends who "housed" my kids the last night we moved out and cleaned house! Phheeew! We did it - we closed on our house less than 30 days before we have to leave SC! I am so thankful and so happy about that! SO THANKFUL, Thank you LORD!

The kids have also transitioned so nicely! So much for the nice 4 bedroom apartment at the Naval Base - we are now in a nice little one bedroom. Yes, all 5 of us (Mia is still in the motorhome with my parents and now Bella our furry child has joined them) The kids love living in the new apartment that we're in- it's ONE bedroom with ONE bathroom and ONE TV. We have a full size bed.... an air-matress (thanks Darcy) and life is good! Living the SIMPLE LIFE is something we are all embracing... and hope to adapt more of this "simple living" when we get to Guam.

I'm enjoying the fact that my parents are here until we leave. The kids LOVE having their MomMom & PopPop here. And the bonus for this weekend - UNCLE LEN came down from PA to spend time with us. Yeah!!!!!

We head out of Charleston on Monday - August 25th... heading to Hawaii for 4 days and then reaching our new "home" in Guam! Until then - we have lots of doctor appointments, family fun days planned and just enjoying the last days of summer! Ironically - everyone keeps telling us it's going to be sooo hot in Guam - but looking at the weather - it's actually hotter here in South Carolina. I think we'll be pleasantly surprised once we get over there (I hope so).

I hope to post some new pictures soon... the lap top at the apartment is connected to a dial up and takes a bit longer than I'd like!

Let the countdown begin...