A Once in a Lifetime Easter Sunrise Service

When our son-in-law mentioned that we might be able to attend the Sunrise Service on the deck of the USS Missouri Memorial because of our visitor status, we jumped at the chance.  It was dark when we left to go on to Ford Island where the decommissioned Mighty Moe sits next to the Arizona Memorial.  Two ships just yards apart.  One where WWII started and the other where it ended.  We walked under these huge guns to find our seat; not sure if they are three of the nine 16 inch guns or not that made the Missouri such a mighty force.

We walked up several flights of stairs to the back deck under a large tent and heard a great message from a Navy Chaplain... Capt. Brent Scott - the fleet chaplain for U.S. Pacific Fleet Command (USPACFLT)

It was hard to estimate the crowd, but it spilled out the back of the tent under the rear big guns.

This perspective lets you see how close the Missouri is to the Arizona Memorial.

We're making our way out after the service was over and we had to pause for a minute to remember those who have served and given their lives for our freedom.  The huge military presence in Hawaii is a great reminder of others who continue to sacrifice for our country.

We didn't visit the Arizona Memorial this trip... perhaps another time we will again.

What a special morning to be sure... probably one of those once in a lifetime things...thanks to our son-in-law.  I couldn't help but think that my older two brothers, who both served in the Navy, would have enjoyed being along.

M wanted a picture of this young Mom and her three matching darlings leaving the service all dressed up in their Easter finery.

Brunch on the Lanai made for the end of a wonderful Easter morning.

Easter Signs

I have a few interesting signs we have seen in Hawaii.  This one on the North Shore warns of dangerous rip currents: "You could be swept out and drown.  If in doubt, don't go out."  This being Easter weekend I was reminded by this sign of another warning that God gave to us to be remembered every Easter.  It is found here (Acts 17:31).

We saw this sign on a house on the way back from the North Shore.  It caught our eye because of the word TUTU on it which is Hawaiian for Grandma.  When we got home and looked at the picture we noticed it has a yellow fire line around the house and a warning of danger-keep out.  The message says more than just "TUTU," as we thought.  It says; "Forgive us Tutu, we failed to Malama."  The last word means "to care for someone."  One can only wonder about the sadness and the story behind this sign of regret.

This final sign was on a plaque in front of a twenty foot tree lining Pearl Harbor's Channel.  The tree was planted and the plaque placed in 1973 (one year after we arrived in ND) in memory of Maj. Thomas Reitman, USAF pilot, who disappeared in the Viet Nam war on December 1st, 1965, leaving a wife and four children, the youngest being 5 months.  He was a week short of his 34th birthday.  Some of his remains were discovered and cared for over 40 years by a poor Vietnamese farmer before being turned over to authorities who identified the remains as Maj. Reitman's.  Maj. Reitman was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetary on November 11, 2011.  On the way there his family was honored by another pilot... an airline pilot: “I remember on the way there in Atlanta, the pilot came over on the plane and told everyone on board, ‘we are privileged to the have the family of Major Thomas Reitmann on board.  Please stay seated as I escort the family to the tarmac.”  Forty-six years later, Major Reitman, USAF, was home.

Easter is a sign of coming judgement for the world and joyfully it is also the remembrance of the resurrection of the Christ who gives eternal hope to the troubled and grieving through believing faith in the resurrected Christ.  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Happy Easter!

A Walk by the Canal

One of the fun things to do on the base is to walk by the canal that is the entrance to Pearl Harbor.

It is hard to be "crabby" in Hawaii even when it rains, because all I have to do is look at the weather back home.

Our little "dis-plorerer" (or is it "ex-coverer") is resting on the sea wall checking out the beautiful fish on the edge of the coral ridge.  He is the one who spotted the crab and saw the beautiful yellow fish below.

There are always flowers in bloom on the way and back from the canal.

Even the reflections in the water puddles are beautiful in Hawaii.

Swinging is Miss E's favorite thing at the playground.

The "Pride of America" (Norwegian line) is in port for upgrades worth about 30 million.  I guess I shouldn't complain about M's upgrades at home.

These are the fish that Mr. M saw in his "ex-covering" over the sea wall.  I have no idea what they are.

They are hard to see and take a picture of, but they are certainly beautiful in color.  I think God likes colors.

Bird Riddle

I know some in my family don't like birds.  They would rather I not take pictures of flowers or birds and concentrate on people.  I got my interest in birds from my Uncle Carl who fed and photographed them when cameras used film in the misty, distant past.  Since he taught me my first camera lessons, I guess I picked up liking to photograph birds too.  There is something about trying to see them in their habitat and then getting close enough to take their picture before they fly away.  AND, unlike people, you don't have to wait for them to smile or say "Cheese."

The birds are different here in Oahu from ND.  Here are some of them that I have seen.

For those of you who are ornithologists, I have a riddle for you.

Other than all being birds in Hawaii, what do they all have in common... except one?

I suppose I could give you a hint by giving you there names, that might help, but I won't.

This one is a very intelligent bird as it is an abundant winter visitor to Hawaii after returning from its nesting grounds in the Artic.  Having flown for six hours from the coast of the US to Hawaii, I must say that they have some kind of navigation system to find these small islands in the middle of all that water.

This guy eluded me for quite some time, but I got him sitting on a Royal Poinciana tree blossom.

Here is one of my favorites.  Brilliant yellow with a red tinge on the head.  Easy to spot as they eat seeds and aren't hiding in trees.

Have you guessed the riddle?  Read on.

The answer: none of them is native to the islands having been brought here and released or migrating to and from, EXCEPT ONE!   This little bird was born on Oahu... the only native bird in the bunch.  Notice the black band around the eyes and the camouflaged head.  Truly one of a kind!

Kailua Morning

Yesterday we made a trip to Kailua Beach, one of the best beaches in the world.  That's not my opinion, but those who rate beaches.  Uncle John who lived in Kailua took us here on our first visit to Hawaii in 1985.  Kailua was Mr. M's first home on his Daddy's previous assignment.

The beach toys are part of the permanent equipment in the back of the CRV.

Kailua beach sand is more like powdered sugar and sticks to everything like it too.

It is a beautiful place for a walk, but there are so many other things to "ex-cover."

Not only was the day beautiful but the sky was like a painting.  No wonder our President spends his Christmas holidays just up the shore toward the Marine Base.

We had to stop an Lanikai Juice for an Acai Bowl, of course... we just had to.

Then it was back home for lunch and naps for the kids... and Papa and Tutu.

Consider the lilies...

"And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin. 

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor...

was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field...

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire...

will He not much more clothe you...

O you of little faith?