Coconuts to Cacti (And Other Changes)

This post marks the end of an era. I need to change the title of my blog from 'Life In Laie' to 'My Life WAS In Laie'... because in less than three weeks it won't be anymore. I'm moving to Arizona on June 1st. I've been getting a lot of Who/What/When/Where/Why questions, and also a lot of ARE YOU INSANE questions as well. The answer is possibly. I know what I'm doing seems crazy; Why would someone leave Hawaii, their favorite place in the world, their home for the last seven years, truly amazing friends, and a dream job at which I'm only months away from tenure, to move to the desert? Well, no one would. Unless they had a really good reason. Luckily I do. 

This was never my plan, I wan't looking for a change. I'd be perfectly happy to live out the rest of my life in Laie and I thought that I would. But the Lord has other plans for me and he has made that clear. Through a series of promptings, impressions, prayers, fasting, blessings, revelations, and most of all the Temple; I am 100% certain that my time in Hawaii is up. What started out as an alarming thought quickly became an exciting reality. I've learned that Heavenly Father knows me so well, well enough to know exactly what I need before I know it myself. Living so that the Holy Ghost becomes a constant companion and listening to the whisperings of the Spirit (and acting on those promptings) will only bring blessings. 

Did you know the Laie, HI temple and the Mesa, AZ temple are two of only six temples in the World that don't have an Angel Moroni on top?

This change of scenery isn't the only difference I'll be adjusting to. I've accepted a job teaching at American Leadership Academy, but get ready for this: (drumroll please) ....... It's a High School! I'll be teaching 11th and 12th grade English and Journalism. I've also signed on as the Yearbook Advisor! Different in EVERY way from my sweet little 4th graders. Oh I am going to miss them. I'm going to miss the hugs and plumerias and drawings of me holding the hand of the artist. The good news is I'm starting to get very excited. I'm passionate about the English language, writing, and literature, and I love having new challenges to meet and skills to master. There are good things coming my way, and I have complete faith in the Lord that everything will work out for the best. 

This journey will by no means be easy, but it will be worth it. Hawaii has been good for my heart and soul, I've been refined by the warm people and the Aloha spirit you won't find anywhere else. I'll carry the lessons I've learned here in my heart and maybe one day I'll find my way back home.