Hawaiian Paradise: Day 6

Today was a good, long day.  In the morning, we headed over to the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium for some shopping.  We were there for about 2 hours.  There were places to buy clothes, statues, carved wood, jewelry, hair flowers, swimsuits, and a lot of food.  We tried things like mango jam, coconut macaroons, and hawaiian bread.  In fact, the people selling the hawaiian bread played a little game with me.  They told me to name 5 words that started with K in 5 seconds.  Too bad I couldn't use any names!  But even without saying "Keara" I still won a free loaf of bread.  Daddy and I found some things we're excited to share with you.

After the swap meet, we went out for lunch at a place called Dukes in Waikiki.  It was DELICIOUS!  I got mango barbecue baby back ribs and daddy got a mango barbecue bacon cheese burger.  It was so yummy.  Then, we got a macadamia, fudge, ice cream dessert.  YUM! 

After lunch, we all headed to a place for a hike to a waterfall.  It was a good hike, thru streams, in the rain forest, to a pretty waterfall.  My favorite part was being with daddy.  And seeing the views from the peak. 

Nicho found this awesome bird of paradise which smelled AMAZING.  And this is also the only picture where I will ever appear taller than Stace, who is pushing 6 ft.

These palm trees were HUGE and so beautiful!  Their perfect branches cast these awesome star shadows on the ground.

Not one of us, but this crazy guy jumped from way high up into the pool below, which is reportedly only 10 feet deep...in one specific area.  Only the bravest (and those who know where that spot is) jump.

I don't know why these wouldn't rotate, but Stace, Nicho, and Laurie went further on a crazy little jaunt, across a pipe suspended above the valley...

and then a rickety old bridge like you only see in movies.

We got home late in the evening and just crashed.  We were SO tired when we got home!

We love you!  We'll see you soon!

Love,
Mom and Dad

On a side note, I really do love Braden's family.  We had such a great time with them and days like this, where we were all together, were really special to us.  We've been married almost 8 years and I still feel very much like an outsider in the family, and very much misunderstood.  I don't think anyone in his family really knows me at all, and I guess that's my fault.  When we first got married, we all started off on such a bad foot that I've been trying for the past 8 years to backpedal and undo all the damage I caused.  I wish I could take it all back and just start over.  I wish I felt secure and loved and appreciated and understood and KNOWN in his family.  Maybe in another 8 years.  But maybe not.  When we're one on one with his family, I feel like we come miles forward in relationships, but then when we're all together, I feel so insecure that I just clam up and become very quiet.  Not helpful, I know.  I watch all of them have so much fun together and wish I could participate.  It's so not like me to sit back, but I don't feel welcome to be a part.  Being on this trip was so fantastic to be able to spend 8 days together, with just the brothers and sisters.  I love them all so very much and wish we could spend more time together.  His oldest sister, Laurie, is an inspiration to me and I lean on her wisdom and experience so much.  I absolutely adore her.  Her husband is a mover and a shaker and has incredible faith.  His other sister, Stacey, is the strongest person I've ever met.  I am amazed by her constancy.  She is giving, selfless, and full of love.  I appreciate her example and love her dearly.  Her husband is a riot and I wish we could just spend weeks with him.  He is so much fun and I want to know him better.  Braden's brother, Robb, and his wife have always been very good friends of ours.  In many ways, our relationship has suffered over the past couple years, but I don't really know why.  I wish I did.  But we love them and are so proud of them and the choices they have made in the past couple years.  They are a great example of love for each other.  I'm so grateful that his parents shared this experience with us.  They love their family and truly let each of us know it.  Braden's mom is such a loving, kind person and I appreciate her example of grace.  His dad is so easy going and roll-flow.  It was fun to see other sides of him this trip.  I am grateful for Braden most of all.  Just as I don't feel known in his family, I know my family doesn't know him.  He is quiet and reserved, which may give the impression of uninterested, which couldn't be further from the truth.  I stand in awe every day by the things he teaches me, the example he is to me, the amazing father he is to our girls, the undying patience he has with living with 5 girls.  He is gentle, respectful, forgiving, loving, and oh, so good.  I love him dearly.  I am truly blessed.