It is all the same to a sea turtle

I love sea turtles. When they sleep on the beach, they look so peaceful, and they just don't care about us. My mermaid self wishes she could sleep on the beach and swim all day. This guy(or girl) slept the whole time we were at the beach, and reminded me of this poem.

you may leave the clam on the ocean’s floor.
it’s all the same to the clam.
for a hundred thousand years or more
it’s all the same to the clam.
you may bury him deep in mud and muck
or carry him round to bring you luck
or use him as a hockey puck
it’s all the same to the clam.

you may call him tim or frank or nell
it’s all the same to the clam.
or make an ashtray from its shell
it’s all the same to the clam.

you may take him riding on a train
or have him sitting in the rain.
you’ll never hear the clam complain,
it’s all the same to the clam.

yes, the world may stop or the world may spin,
it’s all the same to the clam.
the sky may come a-fallin’ in,
it’s all the same to the clam.
and man may sing his endless songs
of wronging rights and righting wrongs.
the clam just stays - and gets along
it’s all the same to the clam. -Shel Silverstien

Chicken rides a bike!!!

Speckle just got done molting, so now, to celebrate she is going for a ride on Isaiah's mountain bike. I asked her where she was going and she said, "Going? What do you mean you crazy woman?"

Chickens are known to be quite sassy when they get done molting. Oh, and they start laying lovely brown eggs again after a molt. Goompy lays light brown eggs with a few speckles and Speckle lays pale brown eggs with no speckles. Chicken irony. Also, their eggs are grade A Large, and they are proud of that fact, very proud.

I miss them

Isaiah and Kealani with their cousins.
The world is so big, and I wish they lived next door.

Free information about the best computers in the whole world.

Here we are on our wedding day, almost 7 years ago. I am taller than him in real life, and in the picture. Occasionally, he will stand on a small hillock and profess that he is actually taller, but we all know the truth.

I really just wanted to let everyone know that Andreas has a wonderful website called
Tech Tree PC. He can actually custom build you a computer starting at $588.46. That includes the monitor, mouse, and key board. This is a better price than Office Max. Don't tell me WalMart is cheaper because I might have to kill you. You just can't compare.

Also, you need to know that these PCs are the best because instead of becoming obsolete in like 1 year, you can upgrade easily, and the customer service/Tech support is awesome. Fewer PCs in the landfill is good for the environment folks!Tech Tree is green!Tech Tree PC is also really big on security.

He makes deluxe gaming PCs too.
Most important, the computers look really stylish, and we all know how crucial that is.

Maybe the next Sydney Pollack? No, better. Just my humble opinion.

He is more handsome than Brad Pitt, as creative as Nicola Tesla, and he wrote his first screen play at age 9.
His name is Isaiah.
What I like most about him is that I can have a conversation with him about silly stuff, or spiritual things and he understands. I love it that he has common sense too.He is a great kid. Sometimes, when he thinks no one is watching, he will do something really goofy though.

Memorial Day

Here is my beautiful daughter wearing a Pa'u skirt I sewed today. It is the kind of skirt that is traditionally worn at hula lessons.
Yes, Kealani can dance hula and kick butt in Tae Kwon Do.

I am never sure what you are supposed to say on Memorial Day. Thank you Dad for serving your country, and for being a great dad and grandpa.

What we like to do in hotel rooms

Here is a flashback to 2004.
When we stay in hotel rooms the first thing we do is let the kids jump on the beds. They are not allowed to jump on their own beds, or our bed, but I figure if they want to make the hotel beds lumpy why not? They always know they can jump on hotel beds, so faster than Danica Patrick, Kealani is jumping away, followed by Isaiah. By the time we pulled out the camera, they had already been jumping for a long time. What makes this video funny for me is Andreas asking them to jump, and then listen to what she says...

Disaster Relief in Virginia,Myanmar, China, and more

Here is a picture of Heather and my kiddies, volunteering for Operation Christmas Child.(Samaritan's Purse) It was fun, getting together with friends to organize the pamphlets, chat, and eat pizza.

I am so happy that I get to be a part of this amazing relief organization! I found out that
Samaritan's Purse is providing disaster relief in Virginia,Myanmar, and China.
Franklin Graham was actually IN China when the earthquake hit!

Since 1983, Samaritan’s Purse has mobilized thousands of volunteers to work with our Disaster Relief Teams to provide emergency aid to disaster victims in the United States.Samaritan’s Purse was able to bring physical and spiritual aid to hundreds of thousands of people in more than 130 countries, including many areas previously unreached by Christians. If you can give money, give! Samaritan's Purse is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Samaritan's Purse is looking for more volunteers, so check out their website to find out how you can help.

Mahalo,
Sunny

Viva Brazil!

When I was in Bible College, there was a missionary kid/student from Brazil who was also cook in the cafeteria. When he would watch soccer games he would shout, “Viva Brazil!!!” in the hallways. This is my attempt to reproduce a meal that he would prepare.

Ingredients:

Rice

1 and ½ lb. ground beef or turkey

1 can diced tomatoes

1 package C&W Ultimate Southwest Blend 14oz (frozen veggie)

1 can refried beans (I like to use black bean)

Yogurt or sour cream for garnish (about a cup)

Cheese for garnish (about a cup)

Salsa

Cilantro or green onion for garnish

Mexican seasoning blend- to taste

Ground cumin- to taste

Cayenne pepper- to taste

Hot and Spicy Hawaiian Rock Salt- to taste (you could substitute regular salt and chili pepper flakes)

Instructions:

1. Prepare enough rice for 4 people. I usually boil 4 cups of water to 2 cups of rice for my family.
2. While rice is cooking, brown meat.
3. When meat is brown add seasonings. Add diced tomatoes and simmer for about 10 min.
4. Heat frozen veggie according to instructions on packet. I also add some Mexican seasoning
5. Heat refried beans
6. Layer each plate with rice, meat, veggies, cheese, salsa, yogurt, green onion, and some refried beans on the side. Serve right away while hot!

Serves 4

No poop!

Someone who had recently had a nice dirt bath,(not my kids) hopped up the steps of our previously clean back porch, and shook their feathers, thereby dumping loads of dirt all over the porch.(OK, there is a broken fish tank, (that leaked all over Isaiah's room)with accessories,slippers,Crocks,a cat food and water dish, but otherwise it was clean.)(I like parentheses.)
Well, whoever it was, they left a footprint....and it looks rather chickenlike.
No poop though, so it is questionable. My chickens like to save their poops just for my porch.
They have a whole acre in which to free range their poofy little rear ends, and they save their poops just for me. Thanks girls.

Compost Gardening

Kealani picked these Heirloom Orange tomatoes from our organic "garden"
My garden is in terrible shape actually. These grew out of my compost pile, and I was too lazy to transplant them. They are sooo sweet, and juicy and full of flavor, like real tomatoes should be !

This Blog contains Vitamin C,Probiotics, Antioxidants, Hippuric acid, and Optimum Absorbsion of Calcium

Kealani says this smoothie is, "Sweet and sour, very elegant."
Isaiah says, "It was like a cool breeze going down my throat."
Well, I have not named it, but here is the recipe:
2 cups Blueberry Cranberry Delight juice
3 fresh bananas (apple banana variety)
2 frozen bananas
3/4 cup frozen berry mix
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 or 3 Tablespoons plain or maple yogurt
1 Tablespoon raw honey
serves 4

Tae Kwon Do

Isaiah and Kealani have just graduated to higher belt levels. Isaiah=Red belt Kealani=Blue belt with stripe. I have a Korean friend who tells me there are not so many rainbow colors in Korea, where Tae Kwon Do originated. So I guess in Korea, getting a new belt means more. Unfortunately in the U.S.A. we have dumbed down many things, not just Tae Kwon Do. Saying that, I just want to say that MY kids definitely deserved their new belts, stripe or no stripe, pink, purple, orange,rainbow, whatever, because they are the BEST! I am not bias at all.

Shipman Beach

Wish you were here?
I love hiking and I love swimming, so when I can go on a hike, and there is a beautiful beach at the end, I am in heaven.

Mel Gibson may have ridden this horse.

The first photo you see, is the beautiful Percheron Charlemagne. She was in the movie Brave Heart. Lucky for her she is no longer in show biz and is retired in Hawaii with her new owner.(my friend)
My kids got to have a short horse riding lesson, and we got to meet the movie star along with her entourage.
Did I mention I love horses, and they make me cry? I know that is weird. Am I the only one?
Next photos: my daughter Kealani riding Raisin, and my son Isaiah with Larkin.
Last is Sweetie. (notice Sweetie has a bit of something on her beard, but she does not mind.) Really, when I mentioned it to her she just looked at me and said, "whhat?"

I love my wonderful children.

I love my kids.
My daughter is looking at the computer screen while I type because she is very curious about my blog.
Mom: "Do you like it when I blog about you?"
Daughter: "Yeah"
Mom: "Do you like the pictures I picked?"
Daughter: "Yeah"
Mom: "What is a "blog" anyway?"
Daughter: "A blog is where you write stuff and you put pictures"
Mom: "So you don't mind if I tell the world how wonderful you are?"
Daughter: "No, I don't mind."
Mom: "Thanks."
Mom: "Son, what do you think about blogging?"
Son: "I think it is a waste of time."
Mom: "Thank you for your opinion."
Son: "You are very welcome!"
Mom: "Do you mind if I continue blogging if it makes me happy, and I just want to tell the world how wonderful you are?"
Son: "Yeah, tell the world how wonderful I am."
Mom: "OK, I will."

Why chickens must not roost on my porch.(WARNING THIS BLOG CONTAINS LARGE PHOTO OF POOP)

Chickens, although cute, and I want to give them a hug, must never roost on my porch.They look kind of guilty I think.They roost here because they love us and want to be closer to us. Cute.

























But, this is why they must roost in their nice hen house made especially for chickens.
Thank you.

A letter from India!

Sheree Perkins received a thank you letter from India! Her box went to a little girl, and the little girl's mother wrote a thank you letter saying that they were "so satisfied" with the items in the box, and that they were praying for Sheree!

Sherry Perkins is the Prayer Coordinator for the Hawaii Operation Christmas Child Team, and she was so encouraged to find out where her box went. Through Operation Christmas Child, keiki, families,schools,churches,scout troops, and others around the Big Island collected and sent 3,102 gift filled shoe boxes last year! The people of our island are amazing! We are going to celebrate on May 16, 2008 at Hilo Missionary Church,at 6:30pm. Please come and see what a difference your shoe box made in 2007! Come even if you have never sent a shoe box, and find out more about the power of a simple gift! This is a wonderful project that transcends all barriers-language, cultural, geographical, and political-to give hurting children joy and hope at Christmastime!

Petropoullakis

Here we are in Cyprus, in the Troodos Mountains.
I have known this man for more than 6 years. I have been married to him for more than 5.
I only found out 2 months ago that the last name that I have, because of him, actually has an extra L because he didn't want Arnold Schwarzenegger to have a longer last name.
Me: Are you kidding?
Andreas: No.
Me:YOU ACTUALLY MADE OUR NAME LONGER THAN IT ALREADY IS ON PURPOSE??!
Andreas:Yes.
Me:Tell me you are kidding.
Andreas: No, I am not joking.
Me: Who are you?
Andreas: *laughter*

Goompy

This is our lovely chicken Goompy in our driveway after much rain. It rains here, that is why it is so green. I love my chickens, they are "Island Rock", and like their little chicken ways. Goompy's friend Speckle is always near, but not in the picture, Speckle purrs. Yes, that is right, I have a chicken who purrs. She purrs when she is very happy. Last night they were roosting on my porch and I heard her purring. They are NOT supposed to roost on my porch....but that is another story.