Christmas just ain't Christmas without the ones you love!

See piccies of the family vacay here.

It was a restorative 2+ weeks spent on Kauai with my nearest and dearest. As I explained to a friend, this mellow island was the perfect mix of both of my "homes" (America & Pohnpei). I was so grateful to spend time with my immediate family, especially after we received some sad news from our extended family that would have been difficult to handle on my own.

Despite juggling 5 people's travel itineraries, we did have some quality good times. We ate many delicious meals & tasty treats (FRESH VEGGIES! Lynko's house! Smoothies! Lappert's Ice Cream!). We had many sporty adventures (I golfed! I hiked! I jumped off a waterfall cliff!). We taught Mom about autotune. The rest of the time we hung out at the various beaches around the island, and I savored the feeling of sand between my toes and the sound of waves crashing nearby.

So, although it will be a tough transition back into my "regular" life, I am very much at peace and happy. Thanks, Family, for a wonderful trip!

ps: The photo at the top of my blog was taken years ago on this very island. Mom and I went walking, found the same spot, and trespassed a little bit to revisit the memory.