The Island of Hawai'i (The Big Island)

After graduation my mom, Matt, and I headed over to the Big Island for a mini vacation. This was pretty exciting- I have never been to one of the outer islands since living here and this was a great trip and little graduation present! It was great to have my mom there and to spend a little more time with her before she left for Georgia.

Hawai'i is where the active volcanoes are and the black sand beaches. We left Monday morning and got back Wednesday evening. It was short but sweet!

Our first stop was at the black sand beach. While we were there we were able to see the turtles!

The Kona Temple was also on the island and it was nice to stop by and see it!

On our first day we drove up to Hilo and saw the volcano- usually tourists can drive a little further and see some lava- but the lava flow had shifted and we could not drive that far.

This national park is called the island of Refuge. In the old system, if someone had broken one of the laws and were about to be killed- they could try to make it to this place and be pardoned. It was really neat to see and I would recommend stopping by if you go to Hawai'i- but please be respectful! This is sacred ground.

Donkey Balls is a candy company- they make all sorts of chocolate sweets!

On the last day Matt and mom got henna tattoos!

Graduation Oh Yeah!

Last Saturday, I finally graduated from BYU Hawaii!!!! Yay! I am done- well student teaching then done done done. Matt still has about another year left and hopefully I will be able to get a job for that year. After Matt finishes we are off to the Peace Corp!

Anyway, I was lucky enough to have some of my family come out for graduation. My mom, Grandpa Henson, his girlfriend Rena, my Fahey grandparents, my dad, and his girlfriend Cathleen were all able to come in from out of town. Plus, my cousins Mike and Kathy and Matt's Obachan and Aunt Claudia were able to come. It was great to have everyone around even though I missed my siblings and my other grandparents!

The night before graduation there was a graduation banquet that we went to- here all the graduates went up and they sang Aloha Oe- a song written by Queen Lili'uokalani the last monarch of Hawaii during the Overthrow. It is beautiful and if you want to listen to a version click here!

Anyway, the next morning was graduation and it all went great. Elder Holland spoke and it such a great speech. I am glad he was there. I graduated with Summa Cum Laude, with honors and in Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Alpha Theta!

After graduation, my family carried on the Hawaiian tradition and gave me leis. This was something I was looking forward to ever since coming to Hawaii. I told my family I wanted my head to be covered in leis... and they came through! I even received a Dr. Pepper lei from my friend Lacey! People get so creative here- I saw a potato chip lei, candy leis, and so many more funny ones!

Here are some pictures- be prepared for a whole bunch- I want to make sure my Abuela and Papa see plenty!

(Grandpa Henson and me)

(Auntie Claudia, Me, Matt, and Obachan)

(I ended up with 22 leis! Thanks everyone!)

(My friend Lacey - she made the Dr. Pepper lei!)

(Mike and Kathy)

(Dr. Murdock- one of my history professors)

(My friend and co-worker Christy)

(My friend Julie- Abuela this is the friend who invited us to dinner- so don't be worried we have friends!)

(Our friends from our ward- David also graduated and was a history major as well!)

(Dr. Chowen- one of my education professors)

I told there were a lot of pictures- but I am not done! After the ceremony and pictures we all went to eat at Breakers in Haleiwa. It all turned out okay.... not too stressful!

(Abuela the red, yellow, and green lei is the one you and papa bought for me!)

Praxis, Senior Research, Hygiene Kits, Oh My

This semester was a little more stressful than the others- I handled it, but I sure am glad it's over. I only took 14 credits this semester- as opposed to my usual 18 so I thought it would be easier- but these 14 credits were pretty intense. But I was taking an on-line class and studying for my Content Knowledge Praxis test so I guess it was not the break I was expecting. However, with my excellent time management skills (hahhahaha) I handled it all!

I passed the Praxis test! YAY!!!

I finished my 27 page senior research paper! It was on Queen Victoria and her relationship with her eldest daughter Princess Vicky- if you would like to read it let me know!

I finished my O&P at Mililani Middle! With all my observations completed!

And I finished my senior service project! As most of you know, I collected items together to put hygiene kits together. These will be taken to LDS humanitarian services and distributed there. I was able to collect items for 100 kits! So thanks for everyone that helped out! My friends Zach and Julie will be taking some to India so I will have some great pictures of my service! While the project was a little stressful, I am glad I was able to do this- these kits are going to touch so many people!

Anyway, all my work is done, done, done! So let's party!!!!

Tis the Season in Hawaii

This is our first Christmas away from home! Last year was our first Christmas as a married couple, but this is our first alone. And our first in Hawaii.

The night of Thanksgiving we put our tree up in our little studio apartment! I know it was a little early, but I just couldn't wait! We got our tree for $20 at Wal-mart and all of our ornaments from Target! My Grandmother Fahey also sent us our yearly ornaments and so we got ten new Hallmark ornaments and they are wonderful! I think our tree looks beautiful. Matt also decided to be crafty and he bought some one shot liquor bottles and made them into ornaments. I think they turned out great!

We got lights to hang in our windows and a wreath to hang on the door! And my wonderful mother-in-law made us our very own unique stockings! And some cute pillow covers!

Here are some pictures of our tree:

(Carrying on the HoHoHo tradition)