now this is a hero.

came across this video today and an article about this wonderful 28 year old woman who is changing lives. her name is pushpa basnet and she runs a home for children called the butterfly home. the forty children that live there with her all once lived in nepal's prisons with their parents. since nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, space is limited in the few children's homes affiliated with the government. so when no local guardian is available, the kids of the arrested parent either go to jail with their guardian or live on the streets. pushpa is one of few who have started groups to free these kids from living behind bars and helping them fulfill their dreams. i love that this woman let nothing stop her......

a schmorgesborg of fun.

we had the honor of being blessed by Hope Chapel and Millilani Missionary Church and they brought out their youth group to host a carnival for our kids on Ohai St. there was bubbles, hula hoops, games, jump rope, skits, music, food....i even felt like a little kid!

a video update....

here is my life after hours...and some people that are dear to my heart here.

some reflections...

"Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. LOVE LIKE THAT."

Ephesians 5:2

i am going through a season of learning to love---and i never realized how bad i was at loving until i actually started applying 1 corinthians 13 to my life. i am not patient, i am always looking for a shortcut, and i am learning that patience means i turn my life over to God and wait, just as God waited for me. it's been quite the journey of failing everyday in my stubborn self...but i will get there eventually:)

Merry Christmas video from STN

Christmas Fun 2011 from Surfing The Nations on Vimeo.

The wonderful Joel Schat, visited us a little while back and we used his video skills to make a fun christmas video....it was all done in one take!

I sent this to my mom to remind her what I looked like. She didnt think that joke was very funny at all.

our attempt at a christmas photo shoot...

when you live with people and work with people....and in the middle of the pacific ocean...this is what your family christmas pictures look like. insert a bag of doritos and some lights and this is what you get....

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...