The Abercrombies Do Hawaii
Getaways are necessary. (Even if it's a personal day to lay on the couch and watch Netflix. Not that I have done that.) Without space to think, to process, to reflect, it's easy to lose our grip on who we are and what really matters. I don't know about you, but I need time away like I need air to breathe. This vacation, albeit different with a baby, was an answer to prayer for our family.
Our first stop was Cheeseburger in Paradise (Maui version, not Jimmy Buffet version). Our son is not ordering Mai Tais with NeNe, but he is winning over the bartender.
Someone loves Uncle Jacob a whole, whole bunch. They are long hair, headband buddies.
Baby boy had a fever for 48 hours when we arrived. We thought the pool would cool him off. Turns out Tylenol is better for that.
Naps are good too. Can I just say, we had no idea how different vacation would be with a little tot. You cannot just "go lay out on the beach for eight hours"... Especially when your son is translucent white and passionate about eating sand.
By Day Three, we had appropriately adjusted our expectations; Levi had adjusted to the time change and Bad Ass Coffee lattes helped us every morning.
Yes, just yes. And no, I am not topless you crazy, I have on a strapless top. #NoTanLines
Mama's Fish House is my favorite restaurant on the planet. (So far, I mean, I have a lot of the planet left to see. Commander's Palace in New Orleans is a close second.) Cody literally started to cry when he took a bite of his food. That's how good it is. Honestly.
Family photos be like... Oh hey, 22 shots later, we got one. Levi may or may not be picking his nose, but whatever.
K-I-S-S-I-N-G... First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the Abers with a baby carriage.
The weeping willow is my favorite tree. I can lay under it for hours, grateful for the heavy hope in the branches and the rays of sunlight that sneak through the wind. Hawaii has my other favorite - the Banyan Tree. It's literally a city block. The tree drops branches and a new tree grows without separating itself. It gives me such a powerful visual of how God wants us to grow in connection with Him and with each other. There were lots of folks doing drugs under there as well. What a sweet reminder of home... #LAForever
Every morning NeNe took Levi on an adventure (while Mom and Dad slept - PRAISE). Here he is checking out Dragon's Teeth for the first time. How gorgeous is Mama?
Please, please, please Daddy, let me eat this sand!
Oh my friends, how times have changed... Delicious St. Archer coffee porter beer and SO MUCH BABY THINGS.
Back to Dragon's Teeth... It's incredible what the waves crashing does over time. Remember that as you navigate your life. The storms make us stronger friend. This much I know.
We saw four rainbows on our trip, two were double rainbows. In a season where the attack against the call of God on my life have been relentless, it was kind of Him to remind me that He makes good on His word. God does not make promises He does not intend to keep. His loving kindness draws me close.
Mama's Fish House AGAIN. Instead of excursions, we went EATING. The Black Pearl is the best dessert I have ever eaten in all of my life. Cody and I kept fussing over the speed with which he eats delicious things. I SAVOR AND HE HOOVERS.
Wax on. Wax off. #DanielSon
On Mama's bucket list is driving up to the top of the Haleakala Volcano. It's an adventurous (SCARY, CURVY, DEATH DEFYING) drive up 10,000 feet where you can be shot, literally shot, if you get too close to the Nasa side and we had to leave our place at 3:30am. It was worth it. Every second was worth it. Hundreds of people were on the mountain and when the sun started to rise, the atmosphere went radio silence. Psalm 19 came to my heart:
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
Maybe you can't make it to Hawaii for a getaway (Us either, so thanks Mama for making it possible), but I pray you find a moment of silence in the midst of all the noise to think, to reflect, to process, and to be grateful for who you are and what you have. Being human is hard sometimes, but we take hope in the promise that this is not our home. Heaven is our home. Let's do what we came to do and let's fill the spaces we inhabit and influence with love, grace, kindness, gentleness and compassion every day. You're wonderful, you know that?
With love,
The Abers
