Out with the Old, in with the New (Well Sort of)

We bought a 2009 Toyota from a missionary that was leaving to use when we arrived.
A couple of months ago the check engine light  came on. The car seemed to be
running fine, but we took it into service and they suspected it was a transmission issue.
Well we decided to drive the car until it gave us problems as we didn't think it
prudent to put in another $4,000 into an old  car that we had paid $6,000 for. Well,
on the way home from work the other day the car started having problems. I couldn't go over
15 miles/hr on the  Kam Highway. On a prayer, I made it into our driveway.

Last Saturday, we purchased a 2013 Honda Fit (same white color as our old car).
We hope we can sell the car for $2-3,000 less than we paid for it in a year. That's
cheaper than a new transmission plus it came with a one year warranty.

Last week we had a former Disney top manager speak to us about bringing the
"Disney Magic" to the workplace. John Formica was entertaining and had some
great ideas. This is our office staff with he and his wife.

Last Friday night we were taking tickets at the PCC and a woman seemingly
wanted to take a picture in front of the large carved wooden doors. I was trying to
get out of the way when I realized through hand signals (no English spoken)
that she wanted a picture with me. I obliged and felt a little like a Disney
character after John Formica's training on "Disney Magic".

To top off the week, we had dinner with our neighbors Carolyn Cox and her family.
We went to a Thai restaurant named Opal Thai in Haleiwa. It was an experience.
The owner comes out and asks what you like and then decides what you are going to have.
He then proceeds to have the staff bring out dish after dish of yummy appetizers
and main dishes until you are so full you have to tell him to stop. It was great fun
and delicious and so fun to see our friends.
Reservations are recommended as it is a small place in a strip mall.

Our Newest Addition

Here is baby Scott Michael Garff. He was born on his great-grandfather Mark Garff's 110th birthday. 

After coming 4 weeks early and some scares with Catherine's pre-eclampsia we were glad he and mom
were able to come home over a week later.  Thanks to the great newborn and mama care at LDS Hospital. We
feel very blessed as things could have turned out very differently. Though Catherine had an emergency
C-section and baby came home on oxygen for a little while, all is well. 

Part of my job description is airport driver for office trips. Here is the gang off to
Korea on a career-connect trip. These 5 Korean students will have the opportunity to meet
with future possible employers and attend a business conference in Seoul.

We have been busy at work. Emma was our employee of the month. She certified in MBTI
with me and is very helpful in the office. I am glad she isn't going home for the summer.
Our director Mark presented her with the award.

Here is part of our office crew. We will miss the Noels who are returning to Utah
in a few weeks. It seems with 150 + senior missionaries there are always some coming and some going.

This was our Saturday morning activity. Bill is next to our dear Bishop Mahoni
and to of our sisters, Kelsy on the right is one of our Relief Society Presidents.
Bishop works at the PCC and does beautiful Maori artwork and wood carvings.

Here is our gatherings. This is mostly plastic waste, much
of it washing up from miles away.

Here is the crew at the end of our service day.

Running in to More Friends

Going to work at the PCC and day and who should I run into but
Shauna Delahunty who I used to work with? It is amazing how
many people we run into.

This last P-day we decided to ride from our house all the
way to Waimea Canyon, a 22 mile roundtrip. As we went along
the North Shore we saw some lots of snorkelers in Sharks Cove.

So after we got home we headed to the beach. The water was
like a bathtub and we saw turtles and lots of fish. One plus of
getting closer to summer is that the North Shore waters are
getting calmer.