Home Sweet Home

It is amazing to be sitting in my chair (at 2:16am) and have visions of glorious vistas swimming in my head from my time on Maui.

We departed Maui at 7:30pm (Maui Time...1:30am our time) yesterday evening (July 3rd) and our family pulled into the driveway tonight at 11:30pm (or 5:30pm Maui time...July 4th). 22 Hours of travelling with four small children. But you would be amazed at how well they handled the stress of time zone changes and constant hunger. And remember Northwest Airlines, which has just emerged from bankruptcy has a no frills service which means a Pepsi is the only thing you get on board. We also had no in flight entertainment....system was broken. I don't think I have played that many games of "WAR" and "go fish" in my life.

We are home. The children are having trouble sleeping. So am I. But we are here. Safe. Surrounded by our stuff...even if moved around a bit.

To all of the folks in Maui, thanks for your welcome to us and the glorious worship we shared. I will never forget Edie's and Willie's funerals nor will I forget Ellen's smile and Paul's wonderful music and wonderful heart. Hope you are able to do something special to welcome Rik and Heather back after their big adventure.

Perhaps this is the time to end this blog and perhaps start another one...another day. Thanks for taking this adventure with us through this blog. In the words Judy Garland...."There's no place like home!".....just wish I could have clicked my heels to get here!

Honalua Bay

In case you were wanting to see the bay where we enjoyed the swimming with fish, here is a photo I took as we arrived there a week ago. I am so glad we went back.

The children are packed and we have has our last supper here. I have such mixed feelings. I will hate to leave but will be glad to be back. It has been a long time and there are many things to begin to think about.....I think a part of me is already back in Radford. I know the children miss their Gran and Opa and want to come for a visit soon. They have freqently spoken of them...usually each time we see a big white ship in port on teh North side of teh island. I think seeing these boats has made me long for a few days sitting on the deck of one....I did not think I would say that. Perhaps for my 41st birthday this year I can join my grandmother for the Western Caribean sailing from Charleston. Let's hope life is calm and settled by January such that this would be possible.

This may be my last entry from Maui. It has been a trip! My favorite parts have to be playing music with Paul at St Johns and preaching to Ellen with her big smile. Singing choral evensong last Sunday was also a treat...something I had forgotten...something so very Anglican! I will be forever blessed for being able to be a aprt of two Hawaiian funerals (Edie and Willie will always be a part of me...and I thank God for that. I will never forget that wonderful cat who always Meowed during my sermons and perhaps the pinnacle moment of this entire Maui experience can be summed up in sitting in church on the end of teh pew with my arm around Calum as Holy Communion was being distributed and seeing this little chubby fellow appear from a side door, only to stop at the altar, raise his hands in teh air, and wiggle with a big smile on his face. Now I am a believer in the real presence of Christ....but the Holy Spirit was just glowing in those cheeks. Calum, Chloe and I just laughed laughed and laughed. God is good!

All these best to you who have walked these steps with me to Maui and back. If I could, I would raise my hands and jiggle, just to see you laugh....but I would not be nearly as cute.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ. And the blessing of God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever. Amen. Aloha and Mahalo. Kris+

Swimming with the fish

Our last Sunday in Hawaii and we decided against flying to O'ahu. Instead we ventured to Wailuku to worship with the people of Good Shepherd Episcopal church...as a family. We really fill a pew now (in one of those sledom opportunities we have to be together on a Sunday morning). We met Fr. Marvin and enjoyed his fellowship. His congregation seems alive and diverse. It was a great start to a great day. We enjoyed our second drive around the West side of Maui which landed us in the Honolua Bay where we had planned to spend the day diving and snorkeling. What an adventure. One lesson: don't have a crust from you 5 year old in your pocket when entering the water. You will soon be popular with lots of fish. They literally swam circles around me! The others looked at this amazing site through their googles and began to enjoy what proved to be one of our best adventures. We swam around reefs and I literally dove down about 15 feet to see other fish and coral. The colors were amazing. The fish here amaze me....and the day felt likeswimming in a big fish tank. I think if I could do one thing again in Maui, it would be to snorkle and find some turtles. Next time!

Today is Mondayand we have been packing bags and cleaning up for the next priest (who is already here). The house has actually stayed in a pretty good state....despite having two bedrooms and six people. I have been so proud of the children and the way they have cared for Rik and Heather's home.

Off to the church one last time this evening to see Fr. Wayne and talk about handing over tomorrow.

What an adventure this has been. If you have followed along with me, I hope that you will be able to see beautiful things in this coming year. One great lesson I have learned during the month of June is that one does not need to travel to enjoy the beauty of God's creation. That beauty surround us every day and is particularly visible in the hearts of those who seek live as disciples....who are known by their love. I miss Eleanor and Elizabeth. I miss Epsie and Barbara. I miss my crazy cat and dog. I miss my Buick (and the price of gas in Virginia). I miss the sounds of friendly and familiar voices in the grocery store. It will be good to be back in Radford with you on the 4th of July.

With a heart welling with gratitude for the time I have spent on Maui.

Kris+

Only a few days left

News of bombings in Scotland, and car bombs in London brought Maui much closer to the rest of the world today. We are mindful of Caroline's parents (Grandmom and Grandad - pictured to the right with the children during our visit to England in March 2007) and our other family and friends in the midst of this time of "fear".

I am ever aware of how the reality of the world's troubles do not pass us by here in the Pacific. In fact, we have watched our local firefighters on the island battle for three days a fire on the road to Lahaina which burned thousands of acres of beautiful land and houses stranding people needing to catch flights or reach their hotels having just arrived on the island. And we watched that wonderful Maui spirit as people reached out and helped those in need. Sort of like the stories coming from London and Scotland...and especially that young guy at the Glasgow airport who fought with the driver of the car. How brave. Perhaps a lesson for the weekend for me is to realize that the world is one big sacred family of human beings...and we need to learn to love one another...

Still praying for God to give me an indication of what lies ahead...other than the return flight to Radford on the 4th of July. We are placing our lives in God's hands. We are thankful for the blessings of today. Living in the hope of a place and way to make the world a little more loving in the future.

Missing our friends back home. Inspired to hear that my buddy Henry Moore made it home this week. Now there is a real champion.

There was a wedding this evening at St. Johns...Such a beautiful evening....but then they all are here. That makes two funerals and a wedding since I arrived. Life does indeed move on. But in spite of the winds of change....we still have faith and love.

Praying for peace.

Kris+

Sunburn and Solitude

Fr Wayne and his lovely wife have arrived here at St. Johns suggesting that my time in this beautiful place is coming to a close. We enjoyed the beach today and Caroline and Chloe and Calum went back to see the sunrise on teh volcano this morning (at 4am). Now to do that tiwce, it has to be amazing and stunning....it really is. My mind is beginning to be filled with thoughts of Radford, vestry meetings, mission trips to New Orleans, and all things practical. Some days I am ready to come home....the children have expressed their readiness several times. Then on days like today my mind imagines being in a place where sitting on the beach is just as normal as a short drive to the park. It is nice to think that Maui life and the Maui pace can be normal. There is a certain holiness about slowing oneself down enough to see what really matters...and how you really feel about things. It has not been easy to spend four solid weeks, 24 hours a day, with six people in a small house, thirty minutes from the coast. We have had to work hard to make sure there is balance and happiness...and some days we did better than others. Perhaps one of the best things has been the opportunities to get to know folks from St. Johns. I think the children will never forget having holy communion with a beautiful cat sitting in the pew with them. I think Chloe will never forget her 11th birthday party. I will never believe that Brian the Senior Warden could bless me with a love for raw fish. I could have never imagined how beautiful the ocean could look beneath the waves on a coral reef. I could have never dreamed that learning to trust God all over again could happen in such a "cool" place. Driving home tonight I was blown away by my children singing....just singing......"This little light of mine"...."Do Lord"...."I'll Fly Away"...."O When the saints". They just sang in that car and then called Caroline and I to sing. We laughed and made music...and for just a moment there life was perfect. I pray for a moment like that to present itself to you this very day. For in these moments, we can discover the Grace and Peace of our Lord...who is perfection incarnate.

Yours in sunburn Grace. Kris+

Swimming under the waterfalls

We enjoyed our trip to Hana and a dip in the wonderful pools beneath the waterfalls there. It was a long day but a beautiful experience. K+

We survived the road to Hana

What a beautiful day of riding down a bending road to the East end of the island of Maui...to the little town of Hana. There were waterfalls and amazing views around every corner. We really enjoyed swimming in these "sacred" pools located 20 minutes further down the Hana hwy (just before Charles Lineburg's grave) followed by a long and tough hike literally up the mountain to see some spectacular waterfalls. Caroline, Calum, and Kiah made the 2 mile trek all the way to the 400 foot monster at the top. Chloe, Katherine, and I turned back about half way up....but we did see several wonderful sites. we left at 7am and returned to eat at McDonalds in Pukelani at 8pm. What a day. It is hard to believe that we are now in our last week here. It will be over before we know it.

On a parish note, I thoroughly enjoyed a birthday visit to parishioner Althea Cruze who lives at the Kula Hospital. I took Katherine, Calum, and Kiah and they enjoyed a Monday morning of activities which included lincolnlogs, bead sorting, and some good conversation with the older residents of the hospital. I think everyone had a blast. Heather's name came up with several of the staff who send their love and look forward to see her back here in Maui.

I will try and upload some photos of the trip to Hana tomorrow.

Aloha. Kris+