I miss you...

I took this picture a week after I moved to Hawaii, when I was exploring the island by myself. The sun was setting with breathtaking hues of purple, pink, and bright orange. I immediately pulled over to Ala Moana Beach Park. The last surfers were reluctantly dragging themselves out the the deep blue water. I didn’t blame them, I wouldn’t want to leave either.

I sat, marveling at this glorious scene, so grateful that I actually lived in a place like this. This was the view that greeted me for 365 days a year for 5 years. They don’t call it “paradise” for nothing. Now that I’ve been away for 5 years, all I can think about is finding my way back to Hawaii’s shores. It was the only place I was truly happy. It was the place where I found the peace that I’ve been searching for all my life.

One day, I will return. I will sit on that beach again, I will breathe in the salty air of the Pacific, I will gaze at the sky with colors that could only have been painted by God, and I will smile because I am home.

Christmas Lights and Hot Coco

(Photo Source:  souvlakiforthesoul)

It’s cold outside.  I not a winter person and constantly miss the 75 degree weather of Hawaii when I lived there.  But, I admit sometimes it is nice to slip into a thick, fleece jacket, brave the brisk wind, and venture outside, where my cheeks turn pink in seconds.

Tonight, I strolled up the sidewalk and looked at the Christmas lights that all of my neighbors put up, so diligently, this past weekend.   It reminded me of when I was little, walking with my grandmother, marveling at the beautiful colors of red, green, blue, and white. Then, when we were almost frozen to death, we’d go inside and warm up next to a warm fire, and enjoy that special hot chocolate she’d whip up like magic.  She’d always put in extra marshmallows for me.

Now, as I sit with my hot chocolate in hand, I’ll add some extra marshmallows, for grandma.  I wish you were here sitting next to me, instead of two states away. The lights were beautiful.