ZumwaltOhana.com

Wrapping Up 2010

Apparently I have taken to just writing quarterly posts.  Certainly it is to the chagrin of the grandmothers among us, but perhaps it is more efficient....?...maybe?  

This past quarter has certainly been one full of change for the Zumwalt Ohana.  We welcomed Zak home from Officer Development School and Chaplain School on August 8.  We welcomed Miss Arwen to the family on August 23.  Zak started back to classes on August 30.  On September 1 Zak was fired from his job/internship at Agape.  A couple of weeks later we found out that Tri-Care (our insurance) would pay nothing for my pregnancy and Arwen's birth (they had earlier agreed to cover over half of the bill for the entire pre-natal, birth and post partum care), and then we had a rather sizable snafu with our car and had to have it repaired.  To say the least, we had an eventful couple of weeks.  We have spent the next few months healing, recovering and learning from all of that.  While we wouldn't wish it on anybody, we are grateful for the growth that has come out of it. 

First and foremost, we have been so grateful for the peace that surpasses all understanding.  One of the phrases that Zak and I have used a lot since we moved here (most often in relation to finances) is "God did not bring us here to abandon us".  The impossible series of events that lead to us being here in the first place have given us much peace in knowing that we are not the ones orchestrating this crazy plan!  

I will give more details to the aforementioned big events starting with the separation from our church family at Agape.  Ron was unhappy specifically with the state of the Recovery Ministry while Zak was away for the summer at ODS and Chaplain School, and more generally, the poor communication between us and them leading up to the summer.  While we are disappointed with how he chose to handle the situation, we agree that we made some mistakes and could have done things better.

We thank God for everything we learned at Agape, all the experiences He has given us there, and all the people He brought into our lives who shaped us into who we are now.  We also thank God for how He’s been working in our lives these past months since this happened.  We are definitely better people and better prepared to serve in the military because of Ron and Lori, the Recovery Ministry, the Agape family, and now this trying experience.  While we were initially very sad to leave, and the process was very painful, we now recognize in hindsight that the separation was good for us, though we likely would not have been able or willing to initiate that separation ourselves.  We are very glad that God is now providing us with a chance to go learn and experience something else.

We were also grateful for God's encouragement in the midst of it all.  Zak was almost immediately offered a few different ministry opportunities--very enticing ones.  We were also well supported by people all around us.  One such person was another church planter who was totally un-related to the situation.  He provided some very wise counsel because he recognized right away that we had way too much going on as a family and that Zak really had too much on his plate.  Among other things he recommended was that we take some time off and prioritize things before we started again.  So, we did.  We took the entire semester to catch our breath.  We shed some excess responsibilities.  We visited different churches (13 different ones!).  Arwen and I got to take a seminary class.  We got to spend a lot of time hanging out as a family.  Zak was able to really help around the house as I was recovering from the delivery and we were all getting used to having another little mess-maker.  It was actually pretty telling to have something so significant as a job removed from our lives and see how busy we still were!  We are thankful for the opportunity to have seen that.

Almost immediately after Arwen was born we started receiving meals from the parenting community/food buying club that we have been a part of for the past two years.  Caspian and I have very strong food sensitivities - we really have to avoid wheat and processed food.   Since a lot of the people in this group are careful about what they eat for different reasons they were able to provide really great food that we could eat without being concerned.  That was such an amazing blessing while I was recovering from the birth!

One of the obvious examples of God's plan for us continuing to unfold during this time concerns a Christian counseling organization called Portland Fellowship.  Our neighbor works for this non-profit group which helps people who struggle with unwanted same sex attraction (SSA).  They were just getting ready to start their annual leadership training when Zak was fired and, knowing our background with recovery, he invited Zak to come along.  So, for four weeks Zak did that...and then they invited him to be one of their group leaders!  And even though he hasn't struggled with SSA, he has found his group to be a great place of personal healing and learning.  We don't think it is any coincidence that just last month "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed and that military chaplains will be on the front lines in dealing with service-members struggling with SSA.  See how God let us learn about addiction and abuse for a while, and now He's letting us learn about homosexuality--all in preparation for chaplaincy?  What an amazing opportunity God has given us to learn how to empathize with, comfort, and counsel those men and women!  

In December Zak also had the opportunity to perform his first wedding ceremony!  Our neighbors who live across the street from us (and whom we became friends with at our last neighborhood block party) asked him to officiate their beautiful ceremony out at the McMenamins Edgefield.  Everyone sat is a big circle with the groom's family on one side and the bride's family on the other.  Zak, Josh, and Katherine stood in the middle, and Zak walked around and faced both sides as he spoke.  It was very unique and we felt very blessed to be a part of it.

Finally, in December we visited the Sherwood Community Church of Christ for the first time.  And after about four weeks we all started talking about the possibility of us working on their staff.  There will be more to come about that later...

New Pictures

New pictures of Caspian have been posted here along with new pictures of our blossoming garden.  If you've been wondering why we haven't posted any new movies in forever, it's because Zak's laptop has finally gotten to the point that it can't run anything other than word documents before it bogs down!  So, when his new laptop arrives he'll begin working on publishing the hundreds of movies we have waiting to be edited.  Someday you'll get to see them.  Stay close!

So Far, So Good...

Friday was kind of a big day for me (Zak).  As you may recall, the whole reason I earned by BA while in the Navy, then got out of the Navy early, then moved our family away from Hawaii (and the sunshine), then started here at Seminary, was so eventually I would go back into the Navy as a Chaplain.  This has no doubt been a rather long-term goal (around 4 years since I started my BA)!  However, yesterday I feel like I took one giant step forward down the path to eventual active duty chaplaincy.

I have been working with my Officer Recruiter for the past 7 months or so getting my application package ready to submit.  This package includes transcripts, resumes, a security background check, interviews, letters of recommendations, evaluations from back when I was in the Navy, and a Letter of Endorsement from the Churches of Christ (many, many thanks to all of you who helped me complete some of these things in one way or another!).  The last part of my application package is a physical fitness report, which cannot be done by a recruiter but by military medical personnel at a local MEPS office.  Anyone who has ever served in any branch of the military, officer or enlisted, active or reserves, even National Guard, has to go through MEPS.  I went through it the first time almost 10 years ago in Richmond, VA.  At MEPS I (along with about 40 other people [high schoolers!]) did an audio screening, a visual screening, I had blood drawn, I peed in a cup, I had a medical history review, and I had a physical fitness exam which included a bunch of balance and range-of-motion maneuvers (like the duck walk), and then they got my height and weight and body fat percentage.

It was my weight that had me concerned - I was way overweight when I got out of the Navy and I had to lose a bunch before the Navy would let me back in (they're not so strict if you're already in!).  So, as you know if you've been following my Twitters, I began eating healthier and exercising under the close supervision of my wife/personal trainer on December 17th of last year - just a little over 2 months ago.  I set a goal for myself of 200lbs by 15May09 which is the last day of this semester.  On Thursday the 19th, I hit 200lbs (200.4 to be exact).  And in just 2 months - less than half the time I gave myself!  The graph at the beginning of this post is the actual Excel Spreadsheet that I used to chart my progress - the blue line being my actual daily weight, the green line being an Excel calculated Trendline, and the red line being an Excel calculated weight-loss average.

Before I go any further, let me give all the credit and glory to God.  I, like I'm sure most of you, have struggled for years with losing weight, and have tried many different ways to get rid of it.  I honestly didn't do anything different or new this time around - based on historical evidence I should have lost interest and given up a long time ago.  However, only through a power greater than my own, I was able to maintain interest and drive and get to where I am now.  There's no way I could have given up drinking anything other than water for 2 whole months on my own.  There's no way I could have worked out around 6 nights a week every week for the past 2 months on my own.  There's no way I could have completely stopped eating outside our house for close to a month straight.  There's no way I could have taken as much coconut oil a day as I have since December 17th on my own.  I truly, truly believe that God has helped me lose these 20lbs as I slowly work my way towards becoming a Navy Chaplain.  So I give Him all the credit for my success.

So that's the good news - I lost enough weight by MEPS on Friday that I passed my physical and completed my officer application package.  Now we wait...  My recruiter says it may take a couple weeks to hear if the Navy Chaplain Corps (to whom my package was sent) accepts my application and will let me go in the Navy.  If they do, I'll become a Chaplain in the Navy Reserves for the next couple years until graduation of Seminary when I can apply to become active duty.  We'll keep praying that that wicket will also be passed through.

Oh, and my new weight goal is 180lbs by 15May09!  We'll see...

Congratulations, Nick and Laurie Zumwalt!

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We weren't able to be there, but Zak's brother, Nick, married his sweetheart, Laurie, today during Sunday morning services in Stafford, Virginia.  They are off to enjoy a chilly honeymoon in Vermont.  Congratulations you two!

Thanksgiving with Family and Other Updates

I am so grateful to have my Internet connection back thanks to my father-in-law!  But I shouldn't get ahead of myself...there is much to report before that happened!  When we left The People hanging we were planning to have our two week check up and Caspian's circumcision on the same day.  Well, at the check up we discovered that our little chunk is even chunkier!  He had already gained a whole pound from his birth weight (so more than a pound since he had lost a little) and was up to 9 lbs. 9 ozs.  What can I say, he's a good eater!

Then we had the circumcision appointment.  All I can say about that is that we were totally unprepared!  When Koa had his done, the doctor wheeled him out of our room and when I went to try to find them I couldn't.  When they brought him back he was asleep and he slept for several hours afterward.  It didn't seem like a very big deal for him.We had the procedure explained to us back then, and then again on the day Caspian was having it done and we thought we understood what was going to happen.  We didn't!  If we had, I don't know that we would have had it done!  My advice to those who are going to have it done no matter what is that you just live in ignorance and send your boy with a doctor you trust and DON'T WATCH!!  From what I now understand (after talking to a few people since that day) it depends a lot on the doctor.  Maybe Dr. Ed is not the guy for this job...

On Wednesday of that week, my parents came to visit.  They drove up from Colorado and stayed with us until Friday.  It was really nice to have them here and Koa had a ball playing with them the whole time they were here.  When they came they brought with them a cooler full of meat (beef, elk and deer) and had intended to bring a freezer that had been in my grandma's house.  The freezer thing didn't work out, so they bought one when they got here and we put it out in the garage.  Now we have plenty of meat to last us for a while.  I am so excited to have a freezer full of good quality meat!  It's a small freezer, but there is still plenty of room for us to be able to buy some good quality chickens from the co-op we have recently joined! 

My dad also bought a pole saw to help trim our cherry tree (he was needing to get one for himself anyway, so it worked out for him to get it here and take it back with him) in hopes that it will produce a little better this next summer.  Unfortunately the tree is just so big that he wasn't able to do as much as he would have liked to do.  Koa was quite enthralled with that whole process and came up with his own pole saw (stick) which he calls his "rank".

Dad brought his knife sharpening stone with him and sharpened all of my knives for me which was wonderful!  The stone I have is of poor quality, so it takes forever to sharpen on it and in addition to that, I am just not as good at it as he is, so it would take me a long time anyway.  Now I have wonderfully sharp knives!

Koa had a great time playing with Papa and Grandma and they were such a big help while they were here, (I think it is the only time I have actually been caught up on my household chores since Caspian was born!) but they only got to be here for a couple of days!  They had planned to drive from here to Illinois to be with my sister, Becky, and her family for Thanksgiving and Tyler's promotion ceremony for the Air Force.  Unfortunately, the day they were leaving I ended up getting mastitis, an infection in the breast.  I thought it was just a plugged milk duct, so I could not figure out why I felt so very bad, but I was a complete disaster.  It was a good thing my parents were still here because I think the kids would have been neglected if they hadn't been!  They left a little after noon and I laid down to take a nap, but couldn't sleep.  I finally figured out that afternoon that I had a 103 degree fever and that explained why my whole body felt so very bad! 

I was supposed to pick up our first order from our co-op that day and almost missed the drop off completely, but was rescued by a concerted effort of Wes and Jessi and my new friend, Michele.  I was very thankful for that!

Due to the fever and the fact that I also ended up with diarrhea before it was all said and done, I woke up to feed Caspian in the night (Sunday morning) and had no milk to feed him.  I don't know if there is any worse feeling in the world than knowing you have a very hungry baby and nothing to feed him.  So, that night I spent a great deal of time praying and in the kitchen making myself some Mother's Milk tea with coconut oil in it (for the calories and to kick my metabolism into gear) and eating anything I could find to eat quickly.  Fortunately Caspian eventually went to sleep and didn't wake up for three hours and when he did I had PLENTY of milk to feed him!  

We all got up and dragged ourselves to church wondering along the way if we really should, but hating to miss a chance to meet with our church family!  By Sunday night Zak and I both were totally wiped out with a cold!  So we drank some ginger tea, took our colloidal silver and went to bed early.  We woke up feeling much much better!  Monday afternoon Zak's parents flew in from Virginia and the next party started! 

We spent the next week being spoiled and entertained by Stimple and Tutu!  What a blessing it is to be close enough to actually have family visit for the holidays!  And what a blessing to have a father-in-law who is a computer guru!  Thanks, Fred! 

Tuesday morning I got up with Zak and started making breakfast for all of us.  As I was cutting up an apple to put in some oatmeal I learned an important lesson in using sharp knives when you are just barely awake!  I nearly lopped off the end of my wedding ring finger!  I gave Zak a start as he was getting out of the shower and I was rushing in the bathroom to clean it.  He helped me bandage it up enough to stop the bleeding and I went back to making breakfast.  When I had time a little later I got out the super glue and glued my finger back together.  Zak thought this was ludicrous.  I think his exact question was, "You won't even drink water out of plastic bottles, but you put caustic chemicals on an open wound?"  He has a good point, but I figured I didn't have the time or budget to go sit in the emergency room and I certainly was not going to take a newborn baby to an emergency room with me, so I figured this was the next best thing!  (Update:  My finger actually looks pretty good and is almost completely healed with the exception of some numbness and I figure that will get better with time!)

Thursday was Thanksgiving and we had a full day of cooking and eating!  We got up early to start cooking and then went to breakfast with Stimple and Tutu and then out to Dignity Village to visit and provide meals for the residents.  Several members of our church family live out there and it was nice to spend some time with them for the holiday.  Stimple and Tutu got a tour of the village and seemed to enjoy their visit, as well.

After we left there we came back to the house and Tutu and I finished assembling/cooking the dishes we were providing (cranberry salad, candied yams, apple pie and green salad) for our Thanksgiving meal with the Clarks.  We headed over there and enjoyed a lovely evening with more of our church family until I was passed out on the couch and everyone else was stumped by 80's Trivial Pursuit.   

On Friday we were treated to a day at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry by Stimple and Tutu and were all totally over-stimulated by all the activities that go on there!  It is a really neat and educational place.  Koa hated to leave when the time came.  While we were in one section all about health and wellness I needed to feed Caspian, so I found a bench to sit on and proceeded to feed him.  As I was sitting there, I realized I was sitting right in the middle of the "Conception to Infancy" display and the signage next to me was explaining how healthy breastfeeding is for a baby.  One guy looked at me and then turned to his wife and said, "You're gonna' love this display.  It's very life-like!"  

When we finished at OMSI we had planned to go to Nightstrike again.  We really wanted Zak's parents to be able to experience this awesome ministry.  However, when we got to the church, no one was there.  They had taken the night off.  We never even thought to check the website to make sure they were serving that night.  That was especially a bummer because we had planned our whole day around it.  We were thinking about going out to the coast, but decided to stay closer to home so we could go to Nightstrike.  We will have to save that for next time, I guess.

Friday we got to take Stimple and Tutu to Mt. Hood.  We started out the journey just driving up the Columbia River Gorge and visiting Multnomah Falls.  Then we drove up and had dinner at the Timberline lodge.  It was a really nice afternoon.  It stayed clear just long enough to have a beautiful view of the peak when we got there and then the clouds rolled in.  It was incredibly cold when we arrived, but warmed up a touch with the cloud cover.  Koa and I ventured outside for a spell and he got to have his very first snowball fight first with me and then with another two year old.  The other little boy, Charlie, wasn't wearing any gloves, though, and wasn't terribly interested in making snowballs.  However, he was more than happy to react dramatically when Koa struck him with a snowball.  So, it was a great symbiotic relationship as Koa got to practice his new-found skill and the little boy just stood there and screamed.  Ironically, Charlie's family spent several years living on Kaua'i and just moved here a couple of years ago.  So, his dad was giving me tips on how to survive the winters here without becoming depressed.

On Sunday we got to introduce Zak's parents to our church family at Agape.  That was kind of like finally getting to introduce two friends that you've had for a while but they have never met.  I think it was a good experience for all involved and we look forward to many more meetings!

We spent the rest of Sunday visiting Portland, the city.  We perused Saturday Market and Powell's Bookstore and visited Pioneer Courthouse Square.  It was a nice visit since Zak and I haven't even had a chance to do that since we've been here.  We go downtown for church every Sunday, but we always have to hurry back home for Zak to work on school.  It was nice to get to show him around a bit, as well.  We got to have dinner together again at what we have affectionately named Pink Thai upon Tutu's request. 

That night we said good bye to Stimple and Tutu (or Fred and Regina--do they even have real first names any more?) since they were flying out the next morning.  The kids were wiped out that night and we had major melt-downs from each of them.  That's how you know you've really milked the vacation!  It was sad to see them go, but hopefully the visits will be closer together now that we are at least all on the mainland!

We all slept in on Monday...

Saturday...Or Is It Thursday?

Zak had to leave for Guam this afternoon to teach a two week class.  I know I've gotten spoiled with shore duty because two weeks seems like such a long time!!  He's just missing the opportunity to take some cheer over to poor Dave Lewis who finally escaped from there.  (And now I feel even more guilty for my "two week" comment!)  I hope Zak doesn't have to rely on the Air Force for his return travel!! 

Since he didn't have to "leave for work" until this afternoon today has felt like Saturday all day long.  Koa and I canceled all of our normal Thursday activities and we slept in (as much as we could with a two year old in the "boo bed" with us).  Then we got up and had biscuits (with chokecherry jelly), eggs and turkey bacon and lilikoi juice for a leisurely breakfast.  It just felt like a Saturday--although even our Saturdays haven't been that leisurely in a while...(but it was a good reminder that making biscuits is not my spiritual gift!)

When we dropped Zak off at the airport it was an emotional time.  Poor Koa just cried his little eyes out!  I couldn't believe it, but I think he really knew what was going on.  He kept saying, "I want Daddy!" much of the way home!  I started thinking, "Maybe I should take him to get some ice cream or something."  I couldn't believe I even thought that!  I don't teach my child to nurse his wounds with food!  Don't worry, I snapped out of it.  We didn't get ice cream.  I'm now suspicious that I was just projecting my cravings because later in the day I was babysitting for a friend and it was about time for snack and I started thinking, "Maybe they need some ice cream!"  These poor kids.  Who will protect them from me?

Just before we took Zak to the airport we got a call from a friend saying that she just got word her husband's vehicle had been hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade in Iraq.  We set the prayer chain in motion and praise God, He has answered many prayers today!  Shane came through surgery much better than was expected and it appears he will make a full recovery.  Koa and I went to visit his family and we took two of the three kids to the park for the afternoon so Hazel could have some time to digest the information she was being given.  What a great opportunity for Koa and me.  Please pray for Shane and his family as he continues to recover!  God is good all the time!   

Curious

I have a curiosity and I'm wondering if anyone has any insight.  Koa has recently begun indicating that he recognizes the difference between numbers and letters and I'm wondering when this actually takes place in the brain.  I tried to look it up in my brain book, but I'm not sure if I was just looking under the wrong topics or if it just is not in there.  I find it very fascinating that he knows the difference already, but I just wonder if he has known it for some time and is now just able to tell us this because he is talking more.  I don't know why I'm so curious about this, but I am.

He's been saying the number six for a long time when we count things and I never really thought much about that, but lately he has been saying "six" when he sees numbers (not letters).  He has also started calling out the number when he is "leading" singing here at the house.  Of course, the number is always six, but the song sometimes varies.  Conversely, when he sees letters he asks to sing the alphabet song or something like that.  I just think it is all very interesting.  Feel free to share your own experiences.

Along with song leading apparently Koa is picking up a lot more at church than I had previously realized.  The other night we were out on a walk and he picked up a piece of rubbish along the way (surprise!) but after a while he got tired of carrying it and waiting for a trash can, so he threw it down.  I told him we needed to pick it back up and take it with us because we need to take care of the 'aina (land); that God gave us the 'aina to take care of it.  He got so excited about that and started saying, "Bible!  Bible!"  I said, "That's right God gave us the Bible, too.  What else did he give us?"  He started making all kinds of animal noises.  Then he started singing songs.  It was hilarious.  I guess he is learning some good stuff in Bible class!  Previously when I would say something about Bible class or sing a song that they sing he would just start to play peek-a-boo. 

I've also started teaching him to give the right answer to questions and we think this will put him on the fast track for Bible school.  I say, "Does Daddy love you?"  Koa says, "Yeah."  I say, "Does Mama love you?"  He says, "Yeah."  Then I say, "Who loves you the most?"  He says, "Jesus."  It's so cute.  So, now he has started using "the perfect answer" in other circumstances.  I'll say something like, "Are you my boy?"  Koa will say "No."  When I say, "Who's boy are you?" he'll say, "Jesus."  He's a quick learner!  I just hope he has a ready recollection of what he is supposed to say when he gets to the Pearly Gates.

When we read Bible stories together at home he is always so excited about the babies.  He loves the stories of Baby Moses and Baby Jesus the most.  He has liked to point out babies wherever we go for a long time, but now he desperately wants to hold them.  We have been over to visit our friends, Eric and Bethanyanne and their new baby, Pierce, a few times and Koa just cannot get enough of Baby Pierce!  The other night we were there and Pierce was sleeping and Bethanyanne had told Koa he was allowed to touch Pierce's feet, but that was it.  Koa would touch his little feet until he just couldn't stand it any more and then he would quickly pat Pierce's head or point out his nose or eyes until he got scolded and he would go back to the feet....repeat.

We are very happy to welcome baby Pierce Alexander Koali'i Bahm (and his feet) to this great big world!

Happy Birthday, Kathy!

Today is Kathy's birthday!

Many years ago, even before I was born, God gave our world Kathy.  He tasked Harvey and Linda to be the caretakers of His gift, and to raise her the way He wanted her to be raised.  Then God placed in Kathy's life the individuals He desired to educate her, to instill in her a questioning attitude, a desire to understand the ways of His world, and a hunger to fathom the things that He felt important.  God then gathered around His gift Christian friends who walked in His ways, to show her the paths to take in her life.  Friends who would help her become a better co-worker, a better lover of God, a better friend, a better daughter, a better wife, and a better parent.  Christian friends who would each put a little of themselves into her, so that she would form into the gift God desired her to be.  Then, when the time was right, God placed His gift in my life.  He intersected our previously unknown journeys so that the lifetime of work that He had done in Kathy would be shown to me.  And God has run our journeys in parallel since that time.

Koa and I are but the recipients of the work, faithfulness, and love that hundreds of God's people have poured into Kathy, as stewards of God's gift.  Koa and I get to daily experience the culmination of your efforts in shaping Kathy to be the way she is today.  Even before I was born, God put into motion His plan to bless our world with Kathy, and eventually bless me with my wonderful wife, and bless Koa with an excellent Mommy.

I thank all of you, and especially God, for Kathy.  And we all thank you, Kathy, for who you are.  I love you, and Happy Birthday!

The Lion Sleeps (Soundly) Tonight

What a full weekend!!  Zak started his philosophy class this weekend.  It is an interim semester class so it is condensed into two weeks.  It is his first class where he actually goes to a classroom to take it.  It was kind of funny to send him off to his first day of school during his last semester of college!  Friday was his first day and he had class from 5 to 10 PM.  I had a girls night out slumber party that I was going to as part of the "Chanda Goodbye Tour."  So, I took Koa with me to that and then Zak picked him up after he got out of class.  Then on Saturday morning he had class again at 10 AM, so he brought Koa back to me since the girls were having breakfast together, and he had class until 2 PM. 

Saturday afternoon Zak did homework and I did some chores around the house and then we headed out to dinner at Sarento's to continue the "Chanda Goodbye Tour."  We had a lovely evening in this small private room with a beautiful view of the city and Waikiki beach.  The best part, however, was the company.  What a neat group of friends we have!

This morning we got up and headed to church and then right after church we drove downtown to see the off-Broadway production of "The Lion King".  It was excellent!!  We have had tickets for several months now, so it has been much anticipated, but it was way better than I expected it to be.  I've seen pictures of the characters and the sets and all of that, but it was so cool to see just how they executed all of it!  It's been a very long time since I've seen a big production like that and I'm sure my perspective is very different than it was years ago, but I think this was my favorite play I've ever seen.  One of my favorite things about it was just how involved the audience was.  There was a lot of cheering and whistling and such like that I have never experienced in a theater before.  It was really cool!

We really wanted to take Koa with us, but in the end we decided not to and it was a good decision, I think.  As much as he loves music we thought he might really get into it, but since he doesn't even watch TV yet, I think it would have been too loud and over-stimulating for him.  I look forward to taking him sometime when he's older, though.

Koa's Auntie Jessi graciously agreed to keep him today while we went to the play and they went to the park for a picnic and games to continue the "Chanda Goodbye Tour."  As they were getting ready to leave the church building Jessi asked him if he was ready to go and he said, "yes" and headed to the car.  She asked him if he wanted to say bye to his parents and he waved in our general direction without even looking at us and kept on walking! 

After the play we headed back to the church building to continue our second week of Malama Group training.  Zak is doing a really great job with that and we are making baby steps towards starting our groups.  It's getting pretty exciting!!  He has set up a website for our leaders and anyone else interested.  You can check it out by going here.

When we were done with that it was a couple steps from the classroom to the auditorium for evening services.  We walked in and sat down with Auntie Jessi and Koa and he acted like we weren't even there.  He was just sitting there eating a snack an having a drink like such a big kid and didn't even acknowledge us for about 10 minutes.  I guess he was showing us just how independent he is!  It was pretty funny.  Jessi said he had a great day and only asked for us a couple of times, but never acted like he was upset that we weren't around.

After church this evening they still had a bunch of food left over from the picnic, so everyone was invited to the Aloha Room to have dinner together and fellowship some more.  After that we headed home and we are pooped!!  Koa was fast asleep about the moment his head hit the bed and I hope to be in the same boat here in a few minutes!  Zak will probably be up doing homework until the middle of the night again!

Vacation!!

We are getting ready to leave on a little vacation to Lana'i tomorrow around noon.  Well, that's what time we fly out, but we are leaving the house between 7 and 8.  Zak and I both have to work tomorrow morning and then we pick up our friends, Eric and Bethanyanne, and head to the airport.  I wanted to share a couple of things from this past week or so before we leave.

Koa got to talk to his Papa Cundiff for his birthday and he actually called him "Papa".  It was so cute!  What a fun birthday present.  My dad was feeding the animals while he was talking to Koa and was telling him about them as he went.  When he got to the horses he said, "Do you know what a horse does?" and Koa started running in place. 

Then a few days later he was talking to Grandma Tutu Zumwalt on the webcam and he called her "Tutu" for the first time.  I think he is starting to get the idea that we all have names and he is figuring them out.  Actually, he has acknowledged people when we say their names for a long time.  He just hasn't shown any interest in calling anyone by a name until now.  Our friend Jessi lives just up the road from us and when we pass her house he says, "Jess, Jess, Jess."  The funny thing is that he says her name all the time when she's not around, but when she is he refuses to say it.  He also calls Zak "Mama" now.  Paybacks for all those months of saying "Dada" and no "Mama".

Speaking of "no mama", he says that now, too.  That would be a bad thing except that I have been trying to get him to add "mama" or "thank you" to his no's so it's at least more polite.  In addition to that combo he has started stringing a few other words together but right now the only thing I can think of is "Go Dog Go" which he says for any Dr. Seuss/P.D. Eastman book with a dog on it.

He's been teething again this week.  I guess it must be his molars, but he won't let me put my finger back there to check things out.  He had a fever again with no other symptoms.  We finally figured out that the last time he had a fever it was his eye teeth.  So, the only two fevers he has had in his life have been related to teeth!  That is so weird!  I wonder what the purpose of that is...  Unfortunately he got the fever the day I needed to accompany someone to a meeting.  He went to stay with our friend, Lisa, and he just slept the whole time he was there. 

Well, we're off for a long weekend!  Yea!!  I'll be sure to report when we return!