October 6th Hilo, Hawaii (The Big Island)

The big island of Hawaii is the largest of the Hawaiian islands (4,038 square miles and still growing), the youngest, and the island considered to be the cradle of Hawaiian civilization. Hilo is the wettest city in the USA. The weather was beautiful, low 80's. We rented a van and headed for "Hawaii Volcanoes National Park". We then drove to Akaka Falls and hiked around the area. We ate at a small diner for lunch and then visited a Walmart before returning the van.

Monday morning there was a double rainbow over Hilo. Jim didn't have his camera and so he went to get it. This picture gives you an idea of how beautiful it was.


If you want to know some history click on this picture.


On top of the volcano looking into the crater.


Jim on active volcano.


Entering Thurston Lava Tube


Inside the eerie 450' tunnel created by a prehistoric lava flow.


Akaka Falls, 422 foot waterfall


Kahuna Falls

October 5th At Sea

The sun came out and the weather was nice. I attended a hula class, fresh flower lei class and learned how to make a Hibiscus Flower out of tissue paper. I sat out on a lounge chair and read, the seas were calm and the sun felt good. I stayed out too long though and burnt my legs.

Hula Class



Lei Class



Our Hawaiian Leis



Enjoying time together

October 4 At Sea

I started the day off with a game of paddle tennis against Barb and Carolyn. They kept me running all over the court. It was a lot of fun. Barb and Carolyn went with me to the Hawaiian Sarong class and we learned different ways to wear a sarong. In the afternoon we went to a hula dance class. We learned "The Hooky Lau".

We all got together and played cards on the deck.


Looking out and enjoying the ocean.


Frog legs were on the menu tonight. We ordered a plate and some of us tried it.




Jim really liked the chocolate ice cream. Every night he would order 2 balls of ice cream. Tonight when he ordered the waiter thought he said 2 bowls.



We went to the "Clever Comedy of Steve Bruner" after dinner.

October 3rd At Sea

We started the day with breakfast at the buffet and then when up on the sports deck for a 2 mile walk around the track. We found our friends playing paddle tennis and enjoyed a game together.


I went to the class on Kaui and Hawaii's singing Whales of Winter. I spent a little time reading but it makes me feel sick. It was formal night and we dressed and were ready to eat by 5:00. We had our pictures taken and then went to dinner.



After dinner we enjoyed the show "Words and Music"

October 2nd At Sea

Sunrise on Thursday morning 6:00am.


I learned all about Hilo Hawaii and The inside story of the real Hawaii. Just before the movie we met with "Hawaii Bob" and got some inside information about Hilo and what we could see in the time we had there. Jim went to the matinee and watched "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" while I went with Sherri, Barb and Carolyn to make Ribbon leis. We enjoyed the Cabaret showtime starring: Brandi Chapman after eatting for two hours in the dinning room.

Carolyn, "Hawaii Bob" and I


Making ribbon Leis

October 1st Starting our Hawaiian Cruise

Jim and I met our friends at the Delta Terminal at 9:30am and took a super shuttle to the dock. We checked our luggage and then went into an air-conditioned room to wait for our embarkation time of 12:30.

Golden Princess docked at pier 93.



This picture is taken looking towards the front of the ship.


This picture is taken looking towards the back of the ship.


We played miniture golf while we waited for the ship to depart.


We relaxed on lounge chairs and enjoyed the sun. If you click on the picture and view its original size you will see the labels telling you who our friends are.


We are underway and headed across the Pacific Ocean.

September 30 flying to California

Tuesday morning Jim, James Micheal and I drove to Spokane and picked up Audra from the hospital around 8:30 and proceeded to the airport for an 11:00am departure. Audra will enjoy having a car for the next 2 weeks. We had about an hour and a half wait in which Jim wrote a letter to Jordan and I read my book.

We arrived in LA around 4:30 and took a shuttle to our hotel. We saw a target on the way to the hotel so once our bags were in our room we walked to target for some last minute purchases. Jim bought and underwater camera and I forgot to pack ziplock bags.

We walked across the street to Jack and the Box for dinner and then enjoyed a quiet night at the hotel.

We woke up early and decided to walk to the beach. It was only about a mile away. It was still dark when we left and Jim's camera card was not working properly so we left the beach before sunrise and returned to the hotel for breakfast. We checked out at 8:00 and headed back to the airport to meet our friends.

Colville 26 West Valley 29

Dustin's football team lost in overtime. Last weeks game they also lost in overtime. Dustin made two touchdowns in tonights game. James and Audra and the children came to the game. It was fun having them there. They do not give Dustin the ball very much. It is very frustrating to him. The other backs fumble the ball and jump over the line and cause a lot of penalties. They will only allow Dustin to go up the middle and the quarter back and the other players do not fake well. The other team always knows when they are giving the ball to Dustin.

Makayla in the hospital

Thursday, Makayla was admitted into the hospital with pnemonia. Grandma McIntire came and took care of James Micheal so James could go to work on Friday. Makayla was doing much better Friday and they hope to bring her home on Saturday. She developed an infection on her leg and the doctors would not let her go home until they found out what it was. While in the hospital the doctors decided to do a swallow test to see if Makayla asparates her milk while she is drinking. They found out that she does and wanted to put in a feeding tube. James and Audra decided they did not want them to do that so they are working with her theripist and teaching her how to drink properly. She is now on thickened liquids until she learns how to drink. Sunday she was still in the hospital so we went down and picked up James Micheal and brought him home so James could go to work Monday. Makayla was finally release on Tuesday and is very happy to be home.

Dustin's game against Pullman

I have added the blog site of Dustin's football game pictures. Friday nights win against Pullman was a great victory. Pullman is ranked 6th in the State. The team played well. Dustin received a completed pass but a team penalty took it away. He was allowed to run the ball once but a team penalty took it away also. The score was 21 to 20. Dustin is looking forward to next weeks game in Medical Lake.

Dustin's Football Game

Dustin's team played Chewelah at home on Friday. They won 55 to 14. Dustin made one of the touchdowns. Because they were beating them so badly they put in their JV players the second half. Dustin got to play on defense in the fourth quarter. He did very well.

Making Apple Cider

Saturday Jim and the boys picked apples and made apple cider. Grandma and Grandpa cleaned the cider press and we got to try it out. We had a lot of fun making cider. Monday we will process it.

 

 

 

Colville at Lakeland 28-17

Dustin suffered Thursday with a hernia but Jim was able to reduce it. After Jim and Grandpa gave him a blessing Jim was able to push the strangulated intestine back where it belonged. Dustin played in Friday nights game. They didn't give him the ball much but he did make two touchdowns and had some great runs. He is recovering well and will start lifting weights on Monday.

Update on Jordan in Brazil

September 10, 2008
Hey family,
Life Rocks here on the mission. I love this place we totally achieved our goal. We had 2 baptisms and 11 investigators at church and we taught 12 lessons with members and we got 15 new investigators. We achieved the AMMON STANDARD and our pictures got put in the mission NEWSLETTER along with two other companionships.
I am now a QUALIFIED ELDER OR SOLDIER. Transfer is next week but you can still write on Tuesday because P-day will be on Wednesday. Tell James Micheal happy birthday on the 12th, 3 big years. I love this work and am happy to hear that everyone is doing well. I’ll tell you if I got transferred or not next week.

Elder DIVIS

Dustin's First Football game of the Season

Friday night Dustin's team drove to Sandpoint for their first game of the season. The team played very well. Dustin made a touch down, recieved a pass and made 21 yds in rushing. Sandpoint shut down the middle which is where Dustin plays but he always drew three players to him even if he didn't have the ball. He is looking forward to their next game against Lakeland which is also an away game. Dustin is number 11 and he plays fullback.

 

 

 

Trissa's visit

Trissa flew to Spokane Monday night and James' family picked her up at the airport. Dustin, William and I went to Spokane on Tuesday and picked her up. We went to Macey's Clearance and the boys got new Sunday clothes. Trissa, Grandma and I worked on Trissa's baby quilt. Grandma taught us the knot to use and we started tying knots on Tuesday. Wednesday Trissa helped me clean the kitchen and then we tied more knots. I had to go to Mutual so Trissa visited with her dad while tying knots. Grandma, Trissa and I went to our Applique group Thursday morning and Trissa and I worked on her quilt. We finished tying the quilt and sewed the binding on Thursday evening. I took Trissa to James' and he will take her to the airport tomorrow morning(4:30am). Trissa just needs to hand sew the binding onto the back of the quilt. We had a great time visiting with Trissa.

Labor Day Fun

James' family came to visit Sunday night and stayed until Monday night. Jim worked on the house a little and then they played Carcassonne. James Micheal had fun playing with Great Grandma's cats.