That is right, my friends…10 weeks…10 little weeks. Excuse me while I hyperventilate a little! In the few days that remain in the year of our Lord, 2008, I have much, MUCH to be done!

1. I have 3 programs to prepare. One will have appr. 75 children, and the other two will have appr. 35 children each. Parts must also be given out and practiced…along with all the music.

2. I have 2 shirts to design. One for the kids and one for the adults. Then orders must be taken, and then given out when they come in. Thank goodness for Paula!

3. I am building a house…bet you hadn’t heard. 🙂 We could move at anytime during the next month. However, there is still some furniture to be ordered…including a bed…so I hope it takes a few more weeks. No, I really don’t mean that. I would like for it to be tomorrow because I am going bonkers trying to live with things packed in boxes all around me. I’ll sleep on the floor if necessary.

4. I still have major packing to do…but not nearly as much as I have had. Most of what I have left is MY closet. I tend to procrastinate in the things that cause me the greatest stress. I am procrastinating big time here.

5. I have Christmas gifts to shop for. Of all years, why did I not complete this task earlier? Think everyone on my list would like a Barnes and Nobel gift certificate?

6. Alex has had a particularly bad few days and I need to be available as much as possible.

7. I still have clothes to wash from the Maui trip! I know…I feel your shame. But, since I have not needed those sun dresses and shorts here at home…I have just let it slide. But, I refuse to take dirty clothes to the Creek House! Mom, I know you want to deny ever knowing me about now. EDITED TO ADD: I have gotten all but some ‘wash me alone’ pieces done.

8. There are still decisions to be made at the house. We are waiting for the rest of the travertine to come in from Turkey. Not Turkey, NC…Turkey the country! (there really is a turkey, NC) Is there no place closer to get this stuff? Also, because our builder made a little mistake…we are waiting for more tin to come in. I am having a pressed tin backsplash in the kitchen, and as a ceiling in the guest bathroom. Alex’s bed is being built. It is going to be really neat with all the room controls built into the nightstands. Also, all his music will be controlled from there, too. He will have everything within reach for those days he does not feel well enough to be up. There will also be handrails to assist him.

9. And the people I live with keep wanting to wear clean clothes and eat food three times a day! If they would stop…maybe I could get all caught up and get ready to move. Fat chance!

10. And in case you had forgotten, there is Halloween and Thanksgiving thrown in the mix. We are not much on Halloween in our family now that the boys are all grown. And it looks as if Thanksgiving may be a big delicious bowl of Taco Soup! And everyone better be thankful to get that, cause as stressed as I am now…it will be double that by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. And, I’m sure you’ve heard that little saying ’bout “if Mama ain’t happy…”. 🙂

And in the midst of all of this, Ian has to travel back to NC for a doctor’s visit. He has it all under control, and does not need my help with that. Very resourceful, that young man. AND, he is bringing a friend down from Birmingham to our big National Peanut Festival the week of Halloween. So sorry she can not stay with us, but where sould she stay? I could lay a mattress across some boxes…but that probably would not leave too good of an impression. So, I think she will stay with Adam and Suzanne. Thanks so much, you two, for helping out.

Isn’t this wonderful? The more I look at all of this, the happier I become! Look how God is blessing us? Wonderful family, great friends, all willing to come and help us out. A new house, and plans for plenty good times to come! So…”BACK-OFF, STRESS!!”…I plan to enjoy this! And, hey, you friends out in Blogsville…send up a few prayers, please, to keep this Mama happy!

The Grand Wailea on the island of Maui is a treasure to visit. Here are some of the pictures we made on the grounds.

This is a path that goes for several miles along the beach. It connects the resorts and shopping areas as well as some fine restaurants.


Below is the beautiful, open-air dining room where we had breakfast each morning.

This light was massive! And, so beautiful when lit!


The courtyard between the room towers was so lush and green. Several thatched huts were available for quiet times. There were streams running through it, making lovely sounds as they ran over the rocks. Striking sculptures were all along the path. It is all lit with tiki torches at night. (Here, too, are the ‘bird bushes!)
This chapel is on the grounds and is used for many ‘destination weddings.’ There is stained glass depicting moments from Hawaii’s history on all 4 sides. The inside walls, floor and pews are all made of native koa wood! It will take your breath away!

Property Description (from their website)

The Grand Wailea is truly a “Grand Hotel” fronting beautiful Wailea Beach.

The Five Diamond Grand Wailea Resort is centered around six major design cornerstones: flowers, water, trees, sound, light and art. Enjoy extensive waterslides and a top notch beach.

The Grand Wailea is the last of the famous “Destination Hotels” built in Hawaii. There was no expense spared in building this hotel. The second you step foot onto this property it will take your breath away. Magnificent vistas, gorgeous art & sculptures and exquisite attention to detail are the hallmarks of this hotel.

When I talked to my friend, Tina today, she asked me what the highlight of my trip to Maui was…and I really could not think of an answer to give her. I had a wonderful time, but nothing stood out as a highlight.
Today, she came over to help me pack up Alex’s room. I had shared an experience with Alex that happened while I was gone, and he reminded me to tell Tina about it.
So, I will share it with you, as well.
*********************************************************************************

We had a wonderful balcony view from our hotel room on the 5th floor. The top of several palm trees were right next to the balcony. One afternoon, about an hour before dark, I was sitting there and reading a book. 2 birds came and perched on the tree closest to me, and started chirping for all they were worth. I mean, they were loud! Then as I watched, several more birds began to fly into the courtyard. They came swooping over the top of the buildings, and headed right to the top of 2 trees in the middle of the courtyard. Amazed, I watched as bird after bird after bird came over the roof tops and headed straight for those 2 trees! (The ones in the middle with the white flowers-plumeria trees.) They came by 2’s mostly…but sometimes groups of 8 or 10 would arrive at one time. They just kept coming. And then I began to notice that everyone of them was chirping as loudly as the 2 that got this whole show started. I would guess that by the time they finished arriving, there must have been at least 300 birds in those 2 trees…and all telling their news to one another. It was so loud, that people were going inside to get away from the noise! What a strange thing…and then…it got quiet…and I forgot about it. The next night, I heard those 2 birds from inside my room and went out to see what would happen…sure enough…it happened again, just like before! And, it happened every night I was there.
I called Don out to watch with me and he said, “Silly girl, you can tell you are from the city! Haven’t you ever heard of birds roosting before?” Well, no. I don’t think I had.
Now, I know some of you, my friends, live on farms or in the country and this may be a common occurrence for you…but, I was indeed amazed and awed by this spectacle in the bird kingdom.
So I did a little research into “roosting” or “why birds of a feather flock together”? Here’s what I learned: birds roost for several reasons. One is for warmth…by crowding together they are able to take advantage of each other’s body heat to protect themselves from a winter’s night or a cool ocean breeze. Another reason is that birds ‘share information’ during their roosts. While I personally believe that their chirping is just a sharing of the day’s activities…scientists say the birds are able to size up each other’s body condition and judge whether it would be beneficial to follow them to their foraging grounds the next morning. And, thirdly, a large group of roosting birds form a type of safety net from certain predators.
OK, so that is way more than you ever wanted to know about roosting birds…me, too. But, the fact remains, this tiny part of God’s creation has a reason and purpose for the things they do. It is not just happenstance. All this bird behavior was put into their minuscule bird brains by God himself. He taught the first birds what to do…and they have followed this pattern ever since. Did you know that sleeping birds can operate one hemisphere of the brain at a time? That way, they can open the eye on the ‘awake’ side and watch for the enemy…while still sleeping on the other! Amazing!
If God took such pains with birds…how much more has He done for us? The more I look at nature and see the mighty work of our Creator in the smallest of His creatures…the more in awe I am of His mighty power.
So, maybe this little ‘bird lesson’ was much more than that…because it reminded me of a great truth. God cares for those little birds…His word tells us that he knows when even the tiniest one falls. How much more does He care about me? If He plans for them to be safe and warm…He does the same for me. If he plans for them to have companionship…He plans it more for me. If He wants them to have a period of rest…my rest is important to Him as well. My well-being matters to Him…the Great Creator of the Universe! Now, none of this was ‘news’ to me…I learned about God’s care at a very early age. And, I have taught it to children myself for years. I think God just wanted to send me a love letter and remind me that I was on His mind. And, he sent it via the birds…all 300 of them!
******************************************************************************
When I finished my story, Tina said, “Well, this, then, sounds like the highlight of your trip. Because if it made this big of an impression on you…you will never forget it.” And, she’s right. I don’t think I ever will.

Beautiful and oh so fragrent, the plumeria flower is a delight!

O, God, you are magnificent!
You, alone, are the Master Creator!
The waves in the ocean pound out praises to You as they roll onto the shore!

The flowers send out their alluring fragrance…
Reminding all who wander by to stop and breathe it in.


The wind blows all of Your creation-
The palms dance against the bluest of skies.
The clouds gather to offer shade-
As the birds sing out of Your glory.

The flowers wear their most beautiful shades of color to delight our eyes.


Only You, O God, could cause such beauty, and peace, and contentment to reside in this one place.

The fruits of the trees outdo each other
as they produce crop after crop of delicious offerings:
Pineapple, papaya, mango, banana, coconut.
What a delicious feast You set for us!

The fish in the ocean:
The mahi-mahi, the ahi, the opaka- so sweet to the taste.
A most generous gift from you.

The sky above it all pulls out its most awesome colors…
It paints with blues and oranges, and yellows, and pinks, and blackest of all blacks.
It covers this beautiful island with its canopy of beauty.
It shouts to all the greatness of our God.


This mere observer and partaker is humbled and awed…and so very grateful.

Tonja Owens…10/16/08

Pictures made in Maui, Hawaii…October, 2008.