Hi, my friends!  I'm writing from the lobby of the Sheraton Waikiki Resort at Waikiki Beach, Oahu.  What an exciting, fun-filled couple of days thus far.  I will write the entries I've been writing for the past few days.  Hope all of you are enjoying your Christmas Day with loved ones and family.  Billie, I'm thinking of you as you prepare for Ashley's wedding next weekend.  What an exciting time for all of you!

December 23...day of departure.  I'm currently writing this entry at 36,308 feet above the earth.  We've traveled 2,564 miles from the Atlanta airport and that was five hours ago,  We have another four hours to go and that doesn't include the air time from Pittsburgh International (our origination point) to Atlanta.  At a speed of over 500 mph, this aircraft has a screen on the back of each seat and this enables me to see our current location....amazing.  We are now flying above the Pacific Ocean.  Have I ever mentioned my fear of drowning?  We are blessed to have both our children and our son-in-law on board.  Our goal....ten days of being together as a family enjoying "paradise"....Hawaii.

It has been a long awaited goal....Gary's retirement.  We have our precious cargo on board to reap the benefits....a vacation.  Our goal is to enjoy the trip and time together and make memories...the prize.  Reminds me of what should be life's goal:

The long awaited goal....eternal dwelling in heaven.  The precious cargo in attendance...our precious loved ones.   The prize...being with Jesus forevermore.,  Puts the earthly goals into perspective, doesn't it?  Our earthly goals make a path to the prize we will reap for eternity.  What prize are you working towards?

December 24....Christmas Eve
It's been quite a different Christmas Eve this year.  I'm currently sitting on the balcony of our hotel room dressed in shorts and a tee-shirt...   Music below drifts up to us on the 21st floor as children sing "Jingle Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" from a platform that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.  As I scan around the various hotel balconies, people are sitting and watching the activities below just as we are and probably are wondering how their families are doing back home on this holiday,

We toured Pearl Harbor this morning and after being here five years ago, it's just as awe inspiring as the first time we visited.  Our pleasure came today as we watched our children explore the sacred, hollowed site where thousands of military personnel died on December 7, 1941.  The morning sun sone brightly once again and I felt the same gratitude towards the military of this great country.

ENOA Tours again proved a good choice for seeing the entire island of Oahu in a ten hour period.  During one stop I called my parents' house to wish everyone a Merry Christmas since the Garbee clan meets on Christmas Eve in Lynchburg, VA.  I'm so grateful and fortunate to be sharing an Hawaiian Christmas with my husband, children and son-in-law.  However, tradition is tradition and I'm missing the gathering with all the family.....but for this year, I'll go with sunshine, 80 degrees and just bear it!!!!  Happy Birthday, Jesus.....and Merry Christmas to all of our friends and loved ones!  Mele Kalikimaka!