Thursday, August 28, 2014

Hawaiian Tea and New Beginnings

It's good to be back on my blog again after a lengthy hiatus.  My mother's Memorial Service was yesterday, and I finally completed the task of emptying out her apartment and turning in the key earlier this week, so now I'm entering a phase of life referred to as "the new normal."

And what better way to begin that than with a cup of tea.  A lot has transpired since I've been away, so I'll try to bring you up-to-date on some happy events that have taken place.


My son, Steve, and his family left for a family vacation to Kauai, Hawaii on August 12th.  [He was there when my mom passed away so we waited for his return to have the Memorial Service since he was her Pastor.]

He said Hawaii was paradise on earth, and by far the best vacation he and his family ever experienced.  I've borrowed some of his photos to share with you today.  Below is a photo of the island from the airplane window as they were preparing to land.


They stayed on Kauai for their entire vacation.  Kauai is the 4th largest island known as the "Garden Isle" for its undeveloped land and forests.  It is less commercialized than the main island.

[L-R:  Brianna, Sharon, Brooke and Steve]




~ Steve and Sharon ~


They brought me back two boxes of tea from the Hanalei Tea Company.   Kauai is the home island of the company.  I'm drinking their tropical Mango Sunrise this morning.


While tea is grown in Hawaii, Hanalei Tea Company uses Ceylon black tea to add their tropical fruit flavors to.


When Steve and his family's return flight landed in Chicago, they drove directly to Nashville, Tennessee where my granddaughter, Brianna, began her freshman year of college a couple of days ago at Trevecca Nazarene University.  I'm still trying to figure out how the years have passed so swiftly!  


My hubby loaded his Chevy Traverse SUV with Brianna's belongings, and met them in Nashville.  Below is Brianna's half of the dorm room.  She's rooming with another "PK" [preacher's kid] from Georgia.  


I'm anxious to make the trip down to visit her after she gets settled in, and, of course, I'll be checking out the tea rooms in the Nashville area!  


Bri's "selfie" on her first day of college [Aug. 26th].  Sending big hugs to you across the miles, Bri!



1 comment:

  1. Welcome back! I have missed your blogs but I know only too well how busy you have been. (It took me all summer to get my dad's house cleaned out last year!) What beautiful pictures from Hawaii, and of course they brought you some tea. Yum! I hope your granddaughter enjoys Nashville and I especially hope we can meet some time when you come south.

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