Authentically Lifing: February 2019

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I can't believe it has been 8 months since I last sent out a post. Life has taken a couple HUGE turns and I got knocked off my feet for a bit.

This summer was the beginning of some big transitions. After being on Maui for three years and having some crazy experiences with our CO tenant, we decided to sell our Colorado Mountain home. This was hard for me, but needed. Three and a half years ago, we had moved to Maui with only our clothes and a few choice items. We sold the majority of our belongings and stored what we felt would be necessary if and when we moved back. Upon going through our stored items this summer, I realized that we could sell the majority of the items, and I shipped what I wanted to keep, over the great Pacific Ocean. Two days after we closed on the sale of our home and finished shipping everything over, I received an email from the administrator of the Haleakala Waldorf School saying that due to low enrollment my program and position were cut. My experience with the school since this fateful day has been challenging to say the least. We moved here to Maui because the school moved my family over. I had dedicated my life to Waldorf Education and had so much invested in this. My boy's education has been my biggest priority and one of the perks of working at the school was having my boys attend tuition free. We enrolled the boys in public school for a week and a half and saw that this was not perhaps the best solution. We wanted them to have the consistency of their friends and community. We re-enrolled them back at the Waldorf school for this year. They are doing well and are happy. We are looking at new and different possibilities for next year.

Jeff- Jeff has been teaching writing at the Maui College. He has another script going with his partner John Long. He has been climbing a ton and finding and developing a lot of climbing on Maui. He just wrote a Haibun (prose poem) for the next issue of Ascent, so keep your eyes open for that. Surfing is becoming another love of Jeff's. Jeff was just featured in a film my Osprey about mentors. After it has toured in the film festivals, it will be online. Check the Osprey site.

Kai- Kai has a curiosity for life. He loves climbing- climbing walls, rocks, trees, and poles. He loves being up high. He also enjoys building forts. He has a pretty extreme fascination with war and soldiers. As his mom, I try not to judge, but just let him explore this. When we first moved here, I had a vision of Kai married to a Japanese women. This summer he ended up reading 5 books on Pearl Harbor. I felt the need to take him there because I felt there was a connection that he has that I could not make sense of. In November we travelled to Pearl Harbor. I really wanted to see what Kai's reaction would be. Even though war makes me uncomfortable, I remained open and just observed. Kai was in Heaven. He walked around as though he owned the place. He said that it felt like home and that he wished he could stay there for a month. Still not sure what the connection is, but there is something very real there.

Isaac-Isaac is growing in leaps and bounds. He is an avid reader and LOVES to do math. He asks me to buy him math workbooks and is reading 3 books simultaneously. He has books stacked by his bed and under his pillow. Isaac loves any game that has to do with balls. He is constantly tossing and kicking a ball around. He likes playing outside and picking and eating fruit. If he could live off fruit, he would.

Hannah- I continue to paddle outrigger canoe. This fall I took racing to a whole new level and raced long distance. See pictures and descriptions below. Paddling has definitely been a positive distraction for me and has helped me find grounding in a tumultuous time.

In December, I started my own business, Koruintegration. Please check my website by clicking on the link. Business is picking up and feels good. I have an office here at our house which feels great.

Wishing you all well and I sure hope to be more in touch these next months. Sending you and your love this day and always.

In route to Colorado for the summer.

Besties reunited

After a red eye flight and a day playing with friends, the boys were zonked and couldn't even stay awake for the ride to where we were staying.

Meet Farmer Dave. He watches Badger for us when we are gone.

No matter how long we are gone for, this will always be a home for us. Mount Sopris, Carbondale.

A week after arriving in CO, I had to go attend a conference in DC since I was the delegate for the Waldorf school here. I had a wonderful time seeing DC and seeing colleague friends from the other schools I have worked at.

Our friend Michael Benge taught Isaac how to shoot a bow and arrow and took him to an archery day camp. Isaac had such an amazing time.

We love our Colorado lake and river time.

This summer the Roaring Fork Valley experienced devastating fires. It was pretty scary and many of our friends had to evacuate. Jeff spent a couple days helping a friend of our save ranch animals.

My besties

We always love going to Durango to visit Nana and Grandaddy and the Cabin. There were fires there too though and we always had to be aware.

From Durango, we traveled to Mancos and Mesa Verde to see our friends Ted and Susan.

After Mesa Verde, we dropped Jeff off at the airport in Albuquerque, NM and the boys and I ventured on to Sante Fe. Oh, How I love Sante Fe.

If you ever find yourself in Albuquerque, be sure to go eat at La Waffleria and say hello to one of my students - Petra. You will not be disappointed.

Got to see a live roadrunner in action, jumping from a wall to a rooftop.

Be sure to go to the Indian Folk Art museum in Sante Fe if you are ever visiting.

Another must see is Meow Woof in Sante Fe. https://santafe.meowwolf.com.
Do not pass the experience up.

Down the dryer tunnel into another realm.

Finding missing people down the toilet.

Bandelier National Monument

Looked like we were visiting the Flinstones.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Crestone, CO

Independence Pass. Aspen, CO

Marble, CO

Back in Hawaii.

Time with sweet baby Jedi

Walking to the first day of public school.

Paddle around Kahakaloa Head to leave canoes for our race to Molokai.

Celebrating Janine and Julie on their birthday!!!

Big Ass Hurricanes

Always a fun trip on the Atlantis Submarine.

Kai learning the Japanese game of GO. The teacher told us that Kai has a gift for the game and sent him a GO set to continue playing.

Forest Hike with the ladies.

sweet little Jedi's 6 month birthday.

Getting ready to set off for the Pailolo Challenge. 26 mile race from Maui to Molokai.

This race was super intense. HUGE swell and crazy conditions. We all survived though and had a great time.

Flight home from Molokai. We left the canoes on Molokai so we could fly back the following weekend and paddle from Molokai to Oahu. This was by far one of the MOST beautiful flights I have ever been on. What a privilege.

The Kahuluhi harbor where I spent countless hours training.

Getting ready to paddle the Na Wahine O Ke Kai- The World's most prestigious women's outrigger canoe race 41 miles across the Kaiwi channel from Molokai to Wakiki in Oahu.

Our small group of Na Wahine virgins.

Climbing in Awalua with Guillermo and Coco Dave

Celebrating Michaelmas at school.

The first weekend in October, I paddled with a team over to Lana'i. This was a Paddle for Life and was to help raise money for the Pacific Cancer Foundation. The boys got to come along on a huge catamaran that served as our escort boat. We paddled over on Saturday, camped and paddled home on Sunday. Such a beautiful voyage.

When we were on Lanai, Isaac found the perfect stone to play Ulu Maika, an ancient Hawaiian bowling game.

Thanks to a good friend, I got to take part in a Johnny Puakea Paddling clinic for my birthday. Super AWESOME! It's a Tahitian way of paddling.

Jeff and the boys threw me a surprise family party with a scavenger hunt, games and cake. Such a fun treat.

Evening surprise party with the ladies!!

Isaac had a super hero party for number 8!

View of Jeff's climbing cave.

The Cave. Jeff's newest obsession

Kai is becoming quite the little climber. He is so strong. It is fun to see him move his body and get up the wall.

Ancient Hawaiian Heiau. Heiau Click here to learn more.

Trip to the city - Honolulu, Oahu

The boy's first time to a Japanese Steakhouse. The loved it!!!

Kai's bestie- Jai

Jeff's new project

Isaac's class celebrated Martinmas and had a lantern walk.

Ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in California!

Morning hike with Jedi.

Kai made his own leather moccasins in handwork class this year. He is so proud of them.

Isaac's bestie Aero

I did a Mele Kalikimaka Toys for Tots paddle.
You can watch our start of the race 2:45-3:30 by clicking on the blue start and the finish 1min 15sec in to the video. We were leagues ahead. I'm seat 2, blue hat.

Isaac's Christmas list: math book, marvel coloring book

colored pens that are erasable, B.B. Gun, knee drum, 2 bow and arrows and a quiver. So cute.

This year we made Hawaiian Chili Pepper water for all our friends and the boy's teachers.

Isaac's class celebrating Santa Lucia. Click to read more about this celebration.

This year, my grandma on my mom's side, turned 90 on Christmas Eve. I flew to Sarasota, FL for 5 days to celebrate her. What a gift. She continues to bless our family with so much love and laughter.

Manis and Pedi with grandma. She was not enjoying the massage chair.

Grandma and her boyfriend Chuck, my sister Jessica and my mom.

Merry Christmas from Sarasota

My flight from Sarasota to Dallas got rerouted to San Antonio. I had the great fortune to spend time with my friend Rachel and see the sights of San Antonio.