the hawaii treehouse.

 

On Friday morning, Mike and I leave for Hawaii.  We are crazy excited, and not just because it is May 1st and there is snow in the ground.  Neither of us has ever been to Hawaii.  We are excited out of our minds.  Did you get that part?

I work for a wonderful and amazing company that allows me to work from home, doing things that I would call "play" more than "work".   I have been with Creative Memories for 20 years this spring.  Besides providing some of my richest relationships in my life, Creative Memories also offers incentive trips to their sales team from time to time.  This dream vacation to Hawaii is an all-expense trip from Creative Memories.  We are still pinching ourselves.

The company allows you to extend your stay (at your own expense) so I got busy reading the Frommers Guide to Hawaii from cover to cover.  The CM part of the trip is at the Aulani Resort on the island of Oahu.  We had to decide what to do for our extra two day adventure...

After reading and studying, I decided that the ultimate Hawaiian adventure would be to swim in a clear pool that a waterfall is cascading into!   Mike concurred.  After reading and studying some more we decided that ultimately, we wanted to hike the Seven Sacred Pools in Oheo Gulch in Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui.

In this remote part of the island of Maui around the little town of Hana, the accommodations are tricky.  There is one magnificent (and very pricey) resort in the area and several what I would call more-janky options.  Since we were being treated to the deluxe resort experience with CM on Oahu, we decided to look for something more rustic.  We found yurt accommodations at a spa in Hana but to our disappointment, they were booked.  Then, we found THE TREEHOUSE.

The web site clearly says "not for everybody"and located "in the jungle", but even the no electricity and "lit by tiki lamps with mosquito netting over the bed" sounded charming to us.  Just the Hawaii adventure we were looking for to accompany our hiking adventure! We made our reservations and started day dreaming about our dream trip...

Then last week on a fluke, I stumbled on some reviews I had missed before.  I did not know whether to laugh or cry.  I knew that the photo of Our Treehouse (above) was in "soft focus" and I actually had the thought that the photo probably looked better than the real thing.  Well, the reviews brought the negative aspects into sharp focus!

If you want to share my alarm, please take a moment to read a few of these reviews here.

After doing some laughing and crying - and talking to Mike - we are excited again.

More to come...

trip pointers.

Planning a vacation adventure is one of my favorite things to do.  Once I know the destination, I immerse myself in the preparations.  I believe with all my heart that anticipation and preparation should be treated as part of the vacation FUN.

If you were to ask Mother Rabbit for some vacation planning basics, she would say:

1. Read the Frommers Guide.

2. Read a novel set in your destination. 
Watch movies that were filmed where you are going.

3. Buy new clothes.

4. Keep a journal & take great photos.  Make a memory book.

Let's get more specific:

1. Read Frommers.
I never, yes never, travel to a city or country without reading what the Frommers Guide has to say.  Granted, there is not a Frommers Guide that rates Lindsborg, Kansas - or Nebraska - but most major destination cities are covered.  Frommers is my favorite of all the guidebooks.  Yes, I have tried the others. 
You are investing a considerable amount of time and resources to travel.   Being well-read and knowledgeable about the area you are going will give you more bang-for-your-buck.   It will improve your chances of enjoying your activities and being delighted about your meal choices.

I recommend you read Frommers thoroughly - curled up with wine & a blanket.   Mark up the pages when you read something that interests you.   Since Frommers has been helping guide my vacation steps for decades, I have learned to respect what they say and even read between the lines.
Basically, if Frommers gives something *** three stars - you want to consider doing it.   If Frommers doesn't * star the activity you were planning and your time is limited, I would re-evaluate your plans.

2. Read a novel(s) and watch movies set in your destination.
This is to help you start enjoying the trip before you even leave!   It helps you prepare your heart for the adventure.  It adds richness to know some history about the place you are venturing.   It is fun to stumble onto something you have seen in a movie!   (Ever had dessert at Serendipity when in NY from the movie of the same name?    My favorite movie adventure was finding the very restaurant where Russell Crowe was filmed in A Good Year in Gordes, France.  We watched the credits at the end of the movie to point us in the right direction.)

3. Buy new clothes.
Aren't we talking about adding more FUN to a trip?   I like buying something new for a special trip because whenever I wear the outfit again it reminds me of the vacation.   New clothing purchases are also very practical:   1.) You love them so much that you don't mind wearing them repeatedly, helping you to pack lighter. 2.) The sizing in new clothes keeps them looks fresher longer.  (This makes it almost a necessity, right?)

4.  Journal every day, take lots of photos and make a photo book when you get home.
These are separate things.  All are very important. 
Take a notebook or blank journal with you - and jot something down at the end of every day. I don't care how tired you are.  Do it.  You will be forever grateful you did.  Vacations happen so fast that it is difficult to remember what happens in a single day... let alone on the whole trip.
An easy way to do it:
Ask everyone to share "3 Favorites" from the day.  It will change your life.

Take photos that tell "the story" of the adventures you having.  Be creative.

Want to know how to maximize your investment after a trip?  Print your photos in a photo album with your stories.  This is easy with the advent of digital albums.  (Talk to me if you are interested in purchasing the best photo software in the world or go to My Website.)
In some ways I enjoy making the photo book as much as the trip itself.  Really.  When you take time to savor the photos and write the stories, you truly "re-live" the experiences in slow-motion.  This can be glorious.  And when you are done you can re-live the vacation again and again.   Want your kids to remember what you just spent (I mean invested) on your vacation?  Make a photo album.  It will etch the memories in their minds for a lifetime.

Maybe this week is a good time to plan a little (or BIG) trip!

"looks perfect".

 

These were the words we heard from Charlotte's surgeon at her two week check.  Mr. Jason Miller, plastic surgeon at Children's Hospital gave her head the once over and relieved us with his "perfect" remark.  Now that the skull was "remodeled" to give Charlotte's brain more room to grow, the shaping process should continue naturally as she continues to grow.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us and cared about us through this blog.

I thought all you Charlotte-lovers out there might enjoy a couple recent photos...

 New hat. Bring on summer!

"Mommy keeps me in hats when out of the house so I don't scare anybody with my ear to ear scar." 

Note: It is actually hard to notice the scar with this cute face - but the scar looks tamer every day!

bright eyes.

Guess who has her brights eyes back... and chatters up a storm? Answer: Little Bald Pookie AKA Charlotte

 Today Grandma Bunny went with Charlotte and Hannah to UNL for class.   I got to stay at Grandma Jane's house too, just like Charlotte does every Tuesday and Thursday while mommy goes to class.   (This close to her surgery, we thought Charlotte Girl would enjoy a backseat companion for the drive to and from Lincoln.)   Part of their routine includes "nap time on Grandma's lap".

It is hard to photograph Baby Girl's scar in a subtle way.   We thought you might want to see a tiny bit of it (and we tried to make the photo little to ease the hard-to-look-at-a-scar-on-a-baby-factor.)   From the front, it is easy to forget that 6 days ago Charlotte had a very serious Posterior Vault Reconstruction surgery.   One day soon it won't show at all,  but for now little Pookie needs to keep a hat on in public so people don't pass out.   A head shot from the top is pretty scary.  We have the pics tucked away for when we don't even remember what happened... as a reminder of God's faithfulness.

Her hair is already growing back.

Pray continue to pray for perfect healing.

home!

Mother Rabbit says sorry for the delay in posting... but getting some bunny all ready to leave the hospital and  settled back home yesterday was a lot of work, and Grandma Bunny got too tired to put words on a page.  It is also a tremendous challenge to capture a photo where the scary-scar isn't showing too much for a cyberspace photo.  By last night, the swelling on Baby Girl's face was down enough for us to recognize her smile which was very comforting.  Charlotte was definitely HAPPY to be home.  In fact, that was an understatement.  Then she spent the rest of the evening having that much anticipated "poop" that the nurses were looking for... three times.  And we cheered!

easter reflections.

There might be some who felt sad that our family had to spend Easter in Room 509 at Children's Hospital... but I wanted to report that upon reflection, we agreed that this was a rich and very meaningful Easter for us.  It was easy to remember that JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN and that it changes absolutely everything. It was easy to remember that BECAUSE HE LIVES, prayers can be prayed and prayers work.  BECAUSE HE LIVES, all of life has purpose and meaning.

Some Easters in the past I would be frustrated when I fell into bed exhausted at the end of the day because I had not taken time to reflect on the TRUE meaning of the season... yes, I had made homemade rolls and yummy casseroles, arranged colorful Easter baskets and orchestrated a fabulous egg hunt... but the REAL Easter didn't always get pondered.  

Not this year.  The words to the classic old hymn nearly rang in our ears as we felt God's goodness, timing and presence... "I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today... I know that He is living whatever men may say... I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He's always near...

HE LIVES, HE LIVES. Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

HE LIVES, HE LIVES. Salvation to impart.

You ask me how I know He lives?

HE LIVES within my heart.

HE LIVES

There were times I thought this hymn was kind of cheesy.  I don't now.  It is ringing in my soul.

Thanks to Wyn Wiley who sent this photo from Charlotte's six month photo shoot to cheer us on Easter.

reporting for duty.

On Easter night, Grandma Bunny got a real treat.  I got "cuddle and me-me" duty at the hospital...and I loved every minute of it.  Yes, I slept next to Charlotte in the baby crib bed.  My job was to put her me-me (pacifier) back in if it blooped out - and to provide a soft touch and soft voice when she got scared or fussy.  Then, when a real I-am-hungry-and-want-only-what-my-mom-can-give situation occurred, I woke Hannah and she nursed her.  I guess Hannah felt that Charlotte would be comfortable with me, which enabled her to REALLY SLEEP on the sofa in the room.  She didn't even hear any of the nurses or doctors come in throughout the night and early morning. The true blessing was that she got some really good sleep, since the night before she was awake most of the night.

HOW TO KNOW PRAYER IS REAL:  When a 50-something grandma actually wanted to sleep in a hospital bed (and a baby version at that) and that it actually felt comfortable and that there wasn't another place in the whole world that she wanted to be.  I even slept well.  It was surreal and amazing to me.  I thought to myself "this is what feeling the prayers of the saints is like"...

Hannah work up feeling refreshed and even said something like "I have never slept so hard in my life" and "I feel like I could run a marathon".  Grandma Bunny woke up refreshed and feeling like she just experienced something very, very special.  Baby Girl woke up feeling better and the swelling went down a little bit around her eyes.

When the girls were little, every night we prayed with them in bed and the prayer always included having "angels encamped around them while they slept".  That is what happened.