The Hawaii experience...

I'm just going to live this right here...

For those of you who have been to Hawaii (as I have), looking at this picture invokes memories of sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste, all at once.

I can see the beautiful, rich, vibrant colors of the sunsets from the lanai as the sun seems to burn its way into the aqua green water of the sea. The orange, pink, purple, red, silver and white blending together like a perfect masterpiece.

I can smell the tropical fragrances of plumeria and pineapple, mixed with salty ocean air and some surf wax, the unique smell of wet sand and sunscreen (Hawaiian tropic, maybe?).  Or maybe an evening beach BBQ with roast pork and pineapples and other exotic fruits.

I can feel the sand between my toes.  Although my husband loathes this feeling, I love it.  I can feel the cool, yet perfectly warm, ocean water, the waves breaking at my knees.  I can feel the warm breeze blowing on my face and my toes peeking out from my flip flops (slippers, if I may). Never needing a heavy winter coat for the snowy days, because there aren't any, unless you're atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Even though I can't touch it, I can feel the Aloha spirit...

But snow is there, just in case you have a day where you want to reminisce about the freezing mainland winters.  You go, touch the snow, and go to the beach in the same day.

I can hear the birds calling just off shore, and I pretend to hear the singing of a whale in the distance (although I clearly could not), and the slow, but sweet sound, of a ukulele playing a traditional Hawaiian song, or maybe accompanying a Sunday church hymn. I can hear the sound of feet moving down the street, not too fast, but moving to places enjoying the trip along the way.  It's island time, and nobody is going anywhere in a big hurry. 

It's about enjoying your life, your family, your friends...and all the experiences you'll have today. 

I can taste the coconut in my food and the poke I had last night, fresh and delicious.  I can taste the Kona coffee, world famous, in my cup this morning with a hint of macadamia nuts.

It's the good life...

If I keep pressing forward today, it may bring me one step closer to this amazing place that God has created for you and me.