Plumerias, H3, the Garmin, OCC & Focus on the Family

Looked out my kitchen window at the desk that my sweetie made for me & saw these flowers glistening in the afternoon sun.  Too high to take a photo from the front so this is what I saw.  The leaves have fallen from the tree (it's fall in Hawaii or has winter started?) but a few flower clusters remain for my enjoyment.  Thank you Lord for these flowers that remind me of you.  So simple, humble & when you get close the most beautiful fragrance.

So I signed up to serve at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center again this year.  Last year was my first time & it was in Kapolei.  'Assuming' it was in the same place, I wanted to verify through the facebook page that was very active last year--nothing.  So I found the e-mail confirmation & began my search.  It was now to be at 905 Kalanianaole Hwy, Kailua, Hawaii.  So I looked it up online and instructions said that it was off the H3, take exit 13A.  On the map, the little marker looked like it was in the middle of nowhere with no streets.  I put the address in the Garmin.

Needed gas so left before 8.  The mountains on the H3 were misty & pretty.  I turned on the radio & found Focus on the Family (8 am 99.5 The Word).  Speaker was Debbie Cherry speaking on the subject of Strong Willed Wives.  I so enjoyed hearing her though I don't think I would be considered one.  Turned on the GPS after I got near the tunnel.  Was basking in God's amazing creation & then she says to take exit 11 to Kailua.?  Well okay.  So I'm driving past HPU, it's 8:44 & I should arrive at 8:46.  Turn right at Auloa then left at the light then right back the same way I just came to turn right at Kapaa Quarry Road.  Okay, I see Les Jardins school on the left and she says I've arrived.?  So I keep driving the whole road till I came out the other side, got on Mokapu Saddle Road turned right on Oneawa, drove through Kailua town and all the way to the Castle Hospital junction & see that Kalanianaole Hwy is the street that came from Waimanalo--so I turn right & think, maybe it's behind the hospital?  wrong so I turn around & take Kalanianaole to Waimanalo & drive to the town looking for a place to park & consult my phone GPS this time to see if I will have a better perspective of where this warehouse is.  I try again & I end up turning at Auloa road this time I turn around and then follow the road to Luana Hills golf course where the guard suggests I go to the firestation for directions.  I drive around a little subdivision, find Kalanianaole, the firestation looks closed/no one there & I wander about behind the Youth Correctional Center--beautiful estates...  I'm in Waimanalo again, drive by my Grandma's/Uncle's house on Humuniki Place.  I am completely bewildered at this point and in need of a restroom so I decide to go home.

When I get home, I open up the e-mail again & find the map (felt like a dummy) that shows it is actually on Kapaa Quarry PLACE!  Why oh why?  Anywho, I call up the number & ask if I could be rescheduled & she put me on for Friday--same time 9 to 1.  Lesson learned:check the provided map first also it wasn't the GPS's fault.

Everything went well on Friday & listened to Focus & heard Sheri Rose Shepherd "Preparing Sons to Be Great Husbands & Fathers pt 2.  I was ever so blessed & had some tears too.  Listened to part 1 this morning & she has an 'only God' testimony.  Her son serves/served at the LA Dream Center!  I so understand now why I had to go twice.

Had a lovely time at the processing center.  Met Akiko who after talking with her at a water break, is Amanda Frazier's mom.  So Blessed.