Mark and I had planned a Thanksgiving trip to Hawaii with our children and friends prior to receiving our Poland assignment...so glad we could make this trip to see family and friends and reconnect after being away for 5-6 months! We were gone for 18 days, had 10 airplane flights and many, many wonderful memories...it all went by too quickly!
For those who aren't teachers or don't know this story...we take pictures of ourselves with the character Flat Stanley during our travels and then write down where we have been. We then send the picture and description back to the students that sent us the Flat Stanley, and the students mark on a map where Flat Stanley has been - a geography lesson! We are helping children at Browning Elementary school in Houston. I have never participated in this activity before, though I have assigned it to the students I taught.
The first overnight stop was in San Diego...we were home maybe 2 1/2 days but were so
glad we could make a few family connections.
In the above picture is a snapshot of my mom and I after attending a Thanksgiving Kindergarten performance for one of my niece's children. I just loved being on the receiving end of school performances and loved being around this wonderful family!
The night before we left for Hawaii, my sister Rebecca and her daughter Jennifer put together an early Thanksgiving dinner for us all. We loved it! The smells and tastes were fabulous and we loved being near and around family. My sister Rebecca and her husband Paul are in the back of the picture above, and my niece Jennifer, her husband Steve and beautiful children surround the table.
My mom and me...in the home I grew up in...our family moved into this home when I was just 4 years old!
Before leaving San Diego, Flat Stanley had his picture taken in front of Charles Lindbergh - the namesake of San Diego's Lindbergh Field.
We arrived in Hawaii on Friday, Nov. 18...we went out to lunch the next day and for traveling over 9,500 miles in 4 days we look quite relaxed!
We spent Thanksgiving week with our good Houston friends the Proffits...Brian, Diana, their daughter Laura and Diana's mom Janet and sister Nan. What a great way to begin a vacation by eating right next to the beach with our table in the sand!
Saturday night we were reunited with Jamie, Caroline and Melissa...we had not seen our children since my step-father's funeral in July and had not seen Caroline since leaving Texas in June...we loved our connections in Hawaii!!!!
We enjoyed greeting our children with Hawaiian leis...and loved making the connections at the little Kona Airport!
We stayed at a wonderful resort with a great dining table on the porch...here we are eating our Sunday breakfast prior to going to church.
We attended church just a 10 minute drive from our condo...and it was right next door to...
the Kona Hawaiian Temple. We would later return here as a family and enjoy being together one more time before leaving Hawaii.
We walked along the Kona coastline to shops and restaurants. We soon saw that The Big Island Hawaii is quite different fromKauai and Oahu, which Mark and I visited last year.
It's a sunny warm day in November just a few days before Thanksgiving...it felt so normal to be together and yet it felt very different from being home in Poland!
The coastline of Kona (the west side of the island) is generally dry and rocky...you have to drive a bit before you can find a beach to go to...but the coastline is still very very beautiful!
We returned to the seaside restaurant Huggo's so we could all enjoy putting our toes in the sand while eating fabulous food and just being together as a family. Melissa is flashing a double Hawaiian "hang loose" sign. LOVED LOVED these simple moments together!
We wanted to see the sunset each night we were in Hawaii...the sun went down between 5-5:30...and on cloudy days it was a little hard to see but we still attempted...even with umbrellas in hand.
On Monday, Nov. 20 we drove 2 1/2 hours, then hiked for 2 miles. Our destination....the Green Sand Beach....It was a good hike, saw beautiful coastline and it was very, very windy. And the beach really did have green sand!
Here is Brian, Melissa, me, and Diana...how we enjoyed being with the Proffits once again!
Here is a picture of the Green Sand Beach...all in our hiking party (except for 3 of us) actually climbed down the side of the mountain to see, feel and touch the green sand. It really is green...olive green with black specks...it really looks green when the light is shining on it.
Those of us who did not go down to the sand wished we had known the climb down was quite easy...glad for all those who made the trek down and back up though...
This area of Hawaii is known for being the southernmost tip of the United States. From this sign, and a short drive away we came to the southern most point...it was so windy in this area!
There was a hole that young kids were jumping into, swimming out to the ocean on the other side. Also...some of the kids would dive off the edge of the cliff and come up through this hole.
Do you see how blue this water is? So beautiful!
After the green sand beach, we drove to the Black Sand beach...only a short drive away. I had read as a teacher and had seen pictures of the black sand, but being here in person was another story.
What a fun surprise to see Sea Turtles sunbathing on the sand!
It was rocky and windy but we were in Hawaii together as a family...loved making some sweet memories together!
The Poland Picketts with Melissa (from D.C.) and Jamie and Caroline (from Houston,TX)....meeting together on an island in Hawaii!
Jamie and Caroline sitting in the black sand...I just love these kids...they have been married for almost 15 months...and are so happily married!
Melissa...she is one amazing young lady....how lucky we are to be her parents...she took every opportunity with her camera in tow to capture numerous pictures here...she is learning to be quite a good photographer I must say!
We saw a bit more of sun setting on another night in Kona, Hawaii.
On Tuesday, Nov. 21 we traveled to the Volanoes National Park...a 3-hour drive away. We were able to see some parts of the park but because of volcanic activity for the past few months, many of the roads throughout the park were closed to cars.
Does this even look like Hawaii? All over the big island Hawaii were piles and piles and paths of volcanic rock...it almost looked like another planet. We all wondered how long had it been there and what must it have looked like when it was flowing along these areas!
We are looking on the edge of the caldera, which is the top of the volcano. You can see steam rising from the center...though it blends in with the clouds above.
We walked through a lava tube...like a cave, that once was carved out by lava flowing through it.
Quite an interesting site...wishing I had my small flashlight with me.
Here is one of my most favorite pictures....the water looked this blue...it was absolutely spectacular! This is on the southeast part of the island...though a drive away...so glad we could be here and see this beautiful land!
We saw only one rainbow during our time in Hawaii this year...even captured a bit of it while on this coastline.
I occasionally would pinch myself and say...could I really be here.... half way around the world from our home in Poland...Hawaii is an 11 hour difference from Poland!
On Wednesday we split up and did a few different activities...Jamie went golfing with Laura at a beautiful golf course, and Mark, Caroline, Melissa and I (also some of the Proffit family) went snorkeling! We were all successful and enjoyed the experience immensely!
This was huge for me...last year I was encouraged to try snorkeling in the ocean waves and during a storm...I wasn't too successful and didn't enjoy it at all. But this was a different story. Unfortunately we didn't have a camera to capture what we saw under water or prove that I actually snorkeled!
To get to the snorkeling location we rode in a boat to about 6 miles south of Kona...and our guide took us to a small cove. The pictures above and below are in areas similar to where we were snorkeling.
On Wednesday night we went to a real outdoor Hawaiian luau...food was good, weather very nice and entertainment fun...I liked it all except for when they turned the lights out...it was dark and I could not see my food...once again wished I had my little flashlight.
Ahhhhh....our week together is flying by so fast, but I've learned to flash the Hawaiian "hang loose" sign!
Happy Thanksgiving Day in Hawaii....I would often say...does it feel like Thanksgiving? No...would usually be the reply...the Picketts have never gone to the beach and usually haven't had 80+ degree weather on Thanksgiving...so we had a day we will always remember!
We enjoyed walking along the coast, going in the water, reading, eating...
and getting another picture of little Flat Stanley on The Big Island of Hawaii on Thanksgiving Day 2011!
We ate at Huggo's restaurant again..but at a nicer part next door to where we sat in the sand. Most in our party ordered the traditional Thanksgiving menu but some didn't...we all enjoyed our meals, eating Thanksgiving dinner together outside on the coast of Hawaii!
Happy Thanksgiving Caroline and Jamie...
We watched a beautiful sunset during our dinner together...it was amazing how each night the sky looked beautiful but very different also!
Our dear friends...Brian and Diana with daughter Laura! We missed Laura's husband Tim, and her sister Jennifer, Danny and their new baby Declan...but we were so glad we could be reunited with our friends.
The Proffits and Picketts have been together for many Thanksgivings, and this was one of the most memorable.
On Friday ....our last day together, we began by attending the Kona Temple as a family!
A sweet experience to be here together.
Jamie and Caroline exiting the Kona Temple.
The Pickett's outside the temple... Mark was capturing the picture.
Jamie and Caroline again...tried to find Melissa but she was taking her own photos.
We said our good byes to Jamie, Caroline, the Proffit family and to Hawaii...we have had a great week together!!!
Melissa, Mark and I left from the Kona Airport and flew to Honolulu...Melissa would be flying on to Chicago and then D.C. and Mark and I would be flying to Houston.
We enjoyed being with Melissa for a few more hours...our "Melissa time" is quite limited these days but we were grateful for the time we shared flying, eating and visiting together.
We saw this fabulous sunset while waiting for our flights in Honolulu...the airports in Hawaii are open so to see the sky through the open windows and roofs was fun!
Good bye Hawaii...Hello to Houston!
Mark and I spent the last week of our trip doing "maintenance"...dr. visits, dentist visits, family business, etc. Mark even had a wisdom tooth pulled. We did squeeze in a little time for shopping and being with friends but it all went by so quickly.
Since we no longer have a house in Houston we stayed at the "Proffit Inn"...home to our dear friends Mike and Gayla Proffit....we felt right at home with them and were so grateful they welcomed us so warmly into their home.
We left Houston, Friday Dec. 2nd (our Melissa's birthday :)) and arrived in Frankfurt, Germany early Saturday morning.
We traveled to Frankfurt on a 747 - here is a view of the plane from the bus that took us to the terminal after landing. We flew economy and did quite well on this long trip home...we've been spoiled because we've been able to upgrade to business class on a few flights. We couldn't upgrade on this flight, but were happy to hear from the pilot that our 9+ hour trip would be shortened by an hour due to strong tailwinds. At times we were traveling 720 mph!
Welcome home and back to Warsaw, Poland...the airport was now decorated with Christmas trees throughout...a very pretty sight! We soon gathered all of our packages, suitcases, etc. and took a taxi home.
We have had a memorable 18 day trip...so glad we could make all of the connections we did whether in California, Hawaii or Texas...thank you to all who helped to make our trip so wonderful!
We were glad to be together with friends and family...this was our Christmas present to ourselves and children and we are grateful for the time and memories created.
Now... to experience and live our first holiday season away from all that is familiar... in a place we now call "home"... Warsaw, Poland!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip with us. It was great to see you if forever so brief. Love you forever.
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise! I cherished the time I sat with you on Sunday and were able to visit together! I will be back in 6 months...I would like a longer visit with you next time!
ReplyDeleteThat Wyndham, Kona Hawaiian Resort is where we own our timeshare :) We haven't been there yet.
ReplyDeleteI saw you at church when you were here, but I didn't get a chance to talk to you- thanks for the blog update. Looks like it was a great trip.