Ward Service Day

Saturday we had a Ward Service Day at Hukilau Beach and
filled a many large bags with trash.

After we picked up the beach and repainted the wall we had
some fun games. Water ballon fights were a hit, followed
by a delicious BBQ that Bishop Mahoni oversaw.

Afterwards Elder Garff and I discovered an "off the beaten path"
beach not far from our home. It has numerous trails and we were
astounded at this enormous banyan tree.It doesn't even fit in this photo.

Imagine our surprise when we came out of this wooded area
to discover

This gorgeous, calm, beach. It is perfect for
swimming. We are definitely coming back.

We are Working, by the Way

What We are Doing 8-5

Just in case you thought we were always goofing off, here are some photos of how we are serving.

Deann Tippetts, Bob Tippets (Bill's boss) Bill and Jim Brown (architect)
Here is the team Bill works with primarily. Deann and Bob are not related.

Bill likes having the two screens.

Bill has been very busy in the  BYU Hawaii Construction Office. He is overseeing the building of 6 duplexes for faculty housing off campus and soon to start 6 more. The Church wants to nearly double the student body here eventually and that means more housing for students and faculty. He is also trying to  learn some new computer programs and also become familiar with the differences involved in being the “owner” working with the contractors verses the contractor. It has also been a real learning curve to get involved with the “politics" of a church-owned university. In addition, he is heavily involved with the preliminary planning of remodeling and/or           building new structures on campus. 

My crew

Emma my colleague who is taking the MBTI Training with me

I met with the 35 year old  director of my dept. yesterday and he went over my new duties. He whizzed through myriad computer programs and showed me how to go thru and sort his email as he gets overwhelmed with the 900 messages in his Inbox. Since he never listens to his voicemail (I already knew you can't get a hold of anyone under 40 unless you text them) he wants to leave his phone with me everyday for awhile and have me listen to them and sift thru anything important. This in addition to greeting walk-ins, helping students with career choices and making appointments and generally keeping the office clean and organized. So if you are praying for the missionaries, think of us as Bill and I are trying to learn all these new computer programs. My boss should have got a senior missionary that was an IT major or at least an office manger. But everyone is patient and I guess it's not like they can fire me, cut my wages or withhold bonuses. Also, I will be taking a class to get certified in MBTI which is a sort of personality test based on some of Carl Jung's theories. I have already decided that Bill and I are opposites on the MBTI Spectrum. We have just received our training to take tickets at the Polynesian Cultural Center in the evenings.  I am also working with a senior missionary over the IWORK students (these kids are mostly from the Pacific Rim and are fully sponsored on scholarships) trying to get a dental clinic here to take care of their dental needs.

We are glad to have Facetime to keep in touch
with our children and grandchildren

Margaret enjoyed the beautiful Waimea Canyon

The Blessings of Facetime

Waimea Falls was pretty too.

Bill enjoying his "catch of the day"
It was a whole fish.

This is from the top.

Our hike to Makapu'u Lighhouse. You can see the
islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Maui in the far distance

This is our reward from the top. Can you see the rainbow on the right?
we are continually astounded by the beauty of this island.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

This is the spot where the old Laie Mission Home was when Bill's grandparents served here in 1896-1898.

We had a great time snorkeling at Electric Beach. There is a electric power plant nearby that releases warm water into the ocean, attracting numerous fish, turtles, and rays. We saw all but the rays.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Margaret with Grandpa and with mom.

Margaret is a beach girl.

Building sand castles with dad.

Before the luau at the PCC. Dad and mom stayed for the night show and we took Margaret home  and put her to bed.

We enjoyed having Kevin, Mary Jane and Margaret with us for Christmas. We miss them now  that they are back in New York. Grateful that the college was closed for a few days so we could be with them. Now back to work. Bill and I will both be honing our computer skills. I will start a MBTI class to become certified to help the students determine what career choices might be best for them. It is sort of a personality test developed on theories of Carl Jung. Bill continues to work on faculty housing construction.

Santa did Come to Hawaii

Santa did come to Hawaii and Margaret was excited
for her presents

Thanks to my supportive crew and the fact that school was out, we spent lots of time with Kevin,
 MJ, and Margaret.

We hit Ted's Bakery 3 times. Yummy.

Luau at the PCC.

Matsimoto's Shave Ice in Haleiwa was a hit. 

The Best Christmas Present

 THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

We were so excited to have Kevin, MJ, and Margaret come to visit for Christmas.

 They endured a 12 hour flight from JFK with a 20 month old. But they left New York with 18 degree weather.

Mary Jane lived on the point when she attended BYUH for one summer.

Lanikai Beach was a hit with Margaret.

This is the panorama view from the top of the second pillbox on the pillbox hike. 

Mele Kalikimaka

It isn't beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It isn't Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

This is from my office Christmas party. It just so happens that 

my dear cousin, Hilma's cousin, Paul Stratford works with me 

in the Career Office. He has the Stratford accounting genes in his

DNA and we couldn't function without him. 

It is difficult to work 40 hours a week,
but the office staff makes it more
than bearable.

My desk is right behind the tree.

Here we are with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Polynesian Cultural Center.