Aloha !

I have been away, in Hawaii,enjoying myself with my 3 younger sisters as we celebrated the 50th birthday of our baby sister. We lived in Hawaii many years ago. I and 2 of my sisters attended elementary school there, took hula dance lessons there, swam in the ocean and played on the beaches. Our parents grew bananas, plumerias and hibiscus in the yard of our home on Schofield Barracks - the Army base on the island of Oahu. ( Above is a picture of myself, in red, with my 3 younger sisters.) My sisters Karen and Joni were very clever in hiding this banner to present to our sister after our climb of Diamond Head , on her birthday. What a great hike ! When you get to the top of Diamond Head you can see the most beautiful sights of Hawaii and Honolulu. ( Baby sister is wearing orange)

Lighthouse seen below , from the trail leading to the top of Diamond Head.

Our rented condo is over there, can't you see it?

I have a certificate to prove I climbed to the top!

Diamond Head, as viewed from a boat on the ocean.

As we 4 sisters shared a week together, and shared our lives with each other, it is very apparent all of us will encounter difficulties, tragedies,and disappointments along life's road.Yes, there are great joys and blessings, and hopefully a lot of laughter along the road too. Sometimes though, the sadness and even despair cloud our lives and heavy-laden hearts hold us back from remembering there are sunshiny days to come if only we can hold fast to what we KNOW in spite of the hard times we are seeing and experiencing ." The Lord tests our faith, leading us into hardships, teaching us wisdom, showing us His ways. Our first reaction may be a surge of panic and a sense of alarm, but we must learn to consult the Scriptures for guidance. So, take a deep breath and recall this deeper secret of the Christian life : when you are in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there or allowed you to be there, for reasons perhaps now known only to Himself. The same God who led you in will lead you out." The Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan. ( Thanks Mildred for the heads up on this book. ) We had a good time in Hawaii,and I am thankful to God for my 3 younger sisters and with the life He has blessed us. My prayer for each of us is to seek God's wisdom and discernment regarding all aspects of our lives, and more importantly, remember when times seem dark and depressing that God can and will work in us for His glory, we just need to remember... "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:19