Day 4 of the Blitz Build!

It's Day 4 of the Blitz Build through Habitat for Humanity and Hawaiian Homes!  It's so exciting to see the progress of these 5 homes.  We are so blessed, just like the other four families, to be able to have an affordable home in Hawaii, Kailua-Kona!

Day 2 of the Build

Day 2 of the build at La'iopua on the Big Island!  Thank you Habitat for Humanity and Hawaiian Homes!!

7 ways of protecting our babies...STEP 2!

Step 2: Minimize Opportunity

If You Eliminate or Reduce One-Adult/One-Child Situations, You'll Dramatically Lower the Risk of Sexual Abuse for Children. "An organization in my community has programs for children, but puts no limits on one-adult/one-child situations. Should I be concerned?" More than 80% of sexual abuse cases occur in one-adult/one-child situations. Reduce the Risk. Protect Children. Understand that abusers often become friendly with potential victims and their families, enjoying family activities, earning trust, and gaining time alone with children. Think carefully about the safety of any one-adult/one-child situations. Choose group situations when possible. Think carefully about the safety of situations in which older youth have access to younger children. Make sure that multiple adults are present who can supervise. Set an example by personally avoiding one-adult/one-child situations with children other than your own. Monitor children's Internet use. Offenders use the Internet to lure children into physical contact. CREATE AND LOBBY FOR POLICIES reducing or eliminating one-adult/one-child situations in all youth-serving organizations, such as faith groups, sports teams, and school clubs. These policies should ensure that all activities can be interrupted and observed. Talk with program administrators about the supervision of older youth who have responsibility for the care of children. Insist on screenings that include criminal background checks, personal interviews, and professional recommendations for all adults who serve children. Avoid programs that do not use ALL of these methods. Insist that youth-serving organizations train their staff and volunteers to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Ensure that youth-serving organizations have policies for dealing with suspicious situations and reports of abuse. ONE-ON-ONE TIME with a trusted adult is healthy and valuable for a child. It builds self-esteem and deepens relationships. There are things you can do to protect children when you want them to have time alone with another adult. Drop in unexpectedly when the child is alone with any adult, even trusted family members. Make sure outings are observable, if not by you, then by others. Ask the adult about the specifics of the planned activities before the child leaves your care. Notice the adult's ability to be specific. Talk with the child when he or she returns. Notice the child's mood and whether the child can tell you with confidence how the time was spent. Find a way to tell the adults who care for children that you and the child are educated about child sexual abuse. Be that direct. d2l.org

Volunteer!

http://www.hfhvolunteerinsurance.com/

Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii is doing BIG THINGS!! Get involved September 12 -22nd!  5 families will be blessed with a home by volunteer hands!  See the link and take the safety course and by all means VOLUNTEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Mahalo...

7 Steps to protecting our babies...STEP 1

Step 1: Learn the Facts

Realities, Not Trust, Should Influence Your Decisions Regarding Children "We live in a beautiful, safe neighborhood. None of these children could be victims of sexual abuse, right?" IT IS HIGHLY likely that you know a child who has been or is being abused. Experts estimate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthdays. This means that in any classroom or neighborhood full of children, there are children who are silently bearing the burden of sexual abuse. 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited while on the Internet. nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. The median age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years old. Approximately 20% of the victims of sexual abuse are under age eight. 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are under age twelve. Most child victims never report the abuse. Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems, often lasting into adulthood. It is also likely that you know an abuser. The greatest risk to children doesn't come from strangers but from friends and family. 30-40% of children are abused by family members. As many as 60% are abused by people the family trusts- abusers frequently try to form a trusting relationship with parents. Nearly 40% are abused by older or larger children. People who abuse children look and act just like every one else. In fact, they often go out of their way to appear trustworthy to gain access to children. Those who sexually abuse children are drawn to settings where they can gain easy access to children, such as sports leagues, faith centers, clubs, and schools. d2l.org

Love my Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Ohana...

Back in Hawaii...

We did it.  We finally moved back home in Hawaii.  How do I feel?  Hmmm....there are many emotions.  MOST are positive :)

LAS Station, by all means, is FAB.  Management is understanding and I am so appreciative.  The crew works and there is NO ROOM for slackers.  LOVE LOVE LOVE. 

Working at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is an awesome experience.  I am proud to say that I was a part of the opening of that hotel. I have people whom I can absolutely call my family there.  I miss them. 

All in all, moving out of Hawaii was the best thing that we could have done.  I do not regret it.  Not one bit.

SOOOOOO Hawaii.  Hmmm.  Here's what I have to say about that as of today...............

Negatives:

Island Fever:  Yup.  Claustrophobia gets the best of me here. 
High Cost of living:NO JOKE.  To live in paradise is not cheap.  WALLET SHOCK!
Parking: Ummmmm THERE IS NONE. LOL!! And when you find it, you pay.
Traffic:  Having a 8-4 or 9-5 shift can mean TRAFFIC FOR DAYS.  Add in an accident and the first word that comes to my mind is CRAP!


Positives:

Ohana:  I don't care what anyone says (I did before)  If you have babies, you need family. 
Kindness:  I said it before and I will say it again. KINDNESS is necessary for a healthy lifestyle.
Culture:  I really thought I'd find it in LV too.  You can keep it anywhere but there is nothing better than living it in real life where 99% of people also do the same.
Laid back lifestyle:  I really didn't like this part of my life before moving to the mainland.  NOW that I've seen the opposite end, I embrace this.  You can live a laid back life AND choose to get ahead in life at the same time.  Yes, it's possible.

Anywhere you live there will be pros and cons.  It is really finding the right fit.  Mainland I love however if there ever was a next time, it would be a different state for certain.

Hawaiian Air...

Proud is not even the word. Being apart of this airline is a privilege.

Life Changes...

After all of the action in our lives....it finally comes down to THIS.  Hawaii Bound that's it period.

Blessed with SO MANY things right now.  All I can say is THANK YOU Jesus for the many blessings.  Thank you for putting wonderful and real people in our lives to help us get through it.  Thank you for the obstacles we encountered AND the ability to get through it successfully!

GRATEFUL!  APPRECIATIVE! RELIVED! Embracing life and all the wonder it offers...

Waiting period...

Changes are coming. It's quite exciting! Hoping for it to happen quicker!