How Blogging Helped me Love my Island Life.

A LITTLE SECRET

It’s true.  I am living the dream in Hawaii…with four amazing sons, and a gorgeous husband who is both doctor and farmer.  It is a very good life.  I’ve been here for over eleven years now.  But wanna know a secret?  Well, I guess it won’t be a secret if I tell it here, but still–it’s probably a little shameful:  I haven’t always LOVED this island life.

Shocking, I know.

HERE’S THE STORY

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I have always loved cozy rainy nights, hot soup, ALL seasons (autumn being my favorite,) and plenty of coffee.  I spent four-plus years in Southern California for college, and afterwards was totally happy to move back to the Northwest.  It was home.  I was happy there.

I was in graduate school in Oregon, when I met and fell in love with Dave:  a part-time Youth Pastor, part-time Soccer Coach.  We married within months of meeting, (which is another story,) and shortly thereafter, he applied to medical school.  We were thrilled when he was accepted into Medical school right in Portland, and we had a wonderful four years living in the cool little city.   By the time he graduated, we had one son,  and one more on the way.  I was imagining the future–raising a family in the Pacific Northwest!

Then after Dave graduated from medical school, he chose to do his three year Family Practice Residency program in Hawaii.
How exciting.  This would be a fun change.
Hawaii!
Three years!
Like a big vacation.
Right?

So, I put all of our wedding dishes, antiques,  and Christmas collectables in storage, and packed lightly.  After all, Residency would only be three years…

That was 11 years ago.

I should’a known better.  The writing was on the wall:  Dave’s always been a beach-loving guy, and he’s never cared much for any season other than summer.  He likes eating fresh fish, wearing shorts, and playing ukelele.

To be fair, I did love our Hawaiian life from the beginning,  and I knew it was a great place for our young boys.  But I wasn’t convinced this was “home.”  I missed the life I knew growing up:  Warm jackets, cold mountains, and autumn–most of all.  And I began to try to convince Dave to look for work back home near our families.

Dave was not at all interested in leaving. For my sake only, he went through the motions of exploring options on the mainland.  But his heart was not at all in it.

Then his mom (bless her heart,) had to show me a newspaper article from when Dave was in third grade.  The kids were all interviewed and asked the question:  “What do you imagine you will be doing when you grow up?”  Dave’s answer was highlighted in the newspaper:  “I’ll be living on a tropical island, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by animals.”

Yeah, like I’m gonna crush the little boys dreams!?

Deep down I  knew this was the right place for us.  I had prayed plenty, and it seemed pretty clear.  This WAS home.  Not just for Dave, but for the boys, and yes–even for me.

THE BLOG STORY.

So, one day I had the idea that maybe I should start blogging.  I thought that if I were documenting the very cool things we get to do—every day—it would help me embrace this very special life we live.  I mean really:  It’s hard to miss the freezing rain when you’re telling the world about happy, sandy boys on the beach, sunsets, the smell of plumerias, and the sound of crashing waves. This would be therapy.

Did you just roll your eyes?

It’s ok–I told ya, it’s a little shameful, this secret.

THE END OF THE STORY (or the beginning…)

Fast forward to today, and I can tell you that I have absolutely LET GO of any yearning to move back to the mainland.  Don’t get me wrong–come October you’ll hear me whimper and moan a little bit, and some day I’d be thrilled to have a home in both places…but  for this season of growing a family:  I’m  fully content.

To prove it, we just had all of our wedding dishes shipped to Hawaii.

And I still like them!

I also drink plenty of good (Hawaiian) coffee as well.

So don’t feel too sorry for me.

I’m going to be okay after all.
And indeed–this thing I do here at thegrommom…it has kept me embracing the blessings, and looking forward, not back.
Thank you for being a part of that!

Aloha,
Thegrommom

PS    In case you missed it, you might enjoy   THIS post  telling you why you might be glad if you don’t live in Hawaii.