So.... I am now home from China and Hawaii, and repacking to leave in two days for Anatomy and Physiology camp in North Carolina!
BUT, I'm most thrilled at this moment to say that TOMORROW Sarah and Dan (+Abby) come home with their new daughter and my new niece Olivia Hope! Jeremiah 29:11 says ' "For I know the plans I have you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." ' This is one of the verses that we kept coming back to in China, knowing that the Lord knows each of His children by name, that He created them on purpose for a purpose. I am simply blessed beyond words to see Sarah and Dan obeying Jesus' call to us in James 1:27 to care for orphans. Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command." I am forever grateful that He has placed Olivia in our family, forever blessing us all because of Dan and Sarah's obedience to Him. I cannot wait to meet her tomorrow! The adoption journey sure is a lesson in patience... and she's not even my own daughter! Way to go Dan and Sare... through all that waiting and work, look what God has given you!
Okay... now that I've gotten some of that joy and celebration off my chest, I want to share some of my most amazing memories from Hawaii with you.
(Note: I'm sure as I get more pics from friends, I'll be sharing more!)
View of Waikiki at the top of Diamond Head
another view
Waimea Bay
Rock jumping at Waimea Bay! I kind of blend in with the rocks but you can kind of see my striped suit.
love the ocean
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Hike to Maunawili Falls and beyond!
The only two not from Hawaii... to see him climb you'd think he was a native (we call him Tarzan), but it was great to have someone else who found as much excitement, awe, appreciation, desire to take in all our adventures much as me!
Fearless leader Sean, who wanted to use this part of a palm tree that he found as a raft, so he carried it the whole way there.... it was sort of a fail as a raft but it was great to watch him hike with it.
Slippery trek to the top of the cliff
Top of the 40 foot cliff at the falls!
The girls... we all survived the jump (after the boys made sure it was safe of course :) and I was ready to do it again!
John (or as we call him, Tarzan) climbing a cliff/rock wall opposite the jumping cliff.
Sean's epic back flip off of that cliff!
Attempting to climb a waterfall... I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!
made it half way up... loving it all
How'd he get up there so fast? Oh right, he's Tarzan.
Old, old bridge and stairway way back in the woods... I thought we might have a Horton Hears A Who experience!
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At Waimea Bay
(PS-Best shades I've ever had- thanks Mikey for helping me get them for 20 RMB!)
With Suz's brother Andrew (loved chatting about the old days!) and her boyfriend Jared.
My wonderful friend since birth.... Suz, you and your fam are such wonderful hosts! I've more than loved every adventure we've gone on, and your love for God and desire to follow Him is so encouraging to me. I'm so blessed to have met some of your amazing friends and to be a part of your life! xo
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