in hawaii

I love hanging out with my family. They make me happy. So far I've swam with sea turtles, had a fruity drink with an umbrella by the pool, seen some amazing sunsets, seen a whole heap of dolphins and hung out with my family a bunch. I like it here. :)

in the airport

I don't like traveling... I just like being in different places. Like Hawaii. Where I will be tomorrow.
In other news, this week was a good one because I got to go kayaking multiple times. I think it's finally spring in Alaska.

life and such

I love Haines. I really do. But I have been here for a total of about two months since I was last in Seattle and I feel like I am bored out of my mind. Where does that come from? It's not just that it's a small town. My life in Haines is very similar to what it was in Seattle... it's that I'm in one place. How is it that after two months in one place (even with a weekend trip to Canada) I can be so restless? Haines is home. I love it here. There is nowhere else that I'd rather live right now, but I feel so discontent. Maybe because I compare myself to friends like Becca, who do crazy stuff in Africa; or friends like Annie, who follow their dreams; or my family members, who seem to be living the "American dream;" or people like the creators of FailBlog, that can take humanity's stupidity and share it for all to laugh at and make money doing it. Or maybe it's because I know that I'm so close to being able to go somewhere where it's sunny and warm (Kona in 7 days!!) I want to be doing the best that I can to follow God and point others toward him, but how can one measure that in any way? I think that part of my discontent stems from not being able to measure that at all here. It was easy to assume that I was doing good when I was in the Dominican Republic. But here in Haines, I just have to trust that God is using me for his good. All I know for sure is that I feel like I will always be longing for more at least a little bit because this earth is not my home. But there has to be some middle ground. But how do I find that?

to infinity and beyond

How does one get to infinity? Anyway, life in Haines is good. I kinda wish that I could be with my family this weekend for Easter and stuff, but I get to hang out with part of my Haines family, which is good too. And I get to see all the Maxwells in 14 days when we convene in Hawaii, which I am STOKED about.

But tomorrow is Easter, and that is a very good thing. There is nothing more fundamental to who I am than that Jesus lived, died, and rose for me. And although sometimes that seems to good to be true, it is the only real hope that I have.

"That Jesus succeeded in changing a snuffling band of unreliable followers into fearless evangelists, that eleven men who deserted him at death now went to martyrs' graves avowing their faith in a resurrected Christ, that these few witnesses managed to set loose a force that would overcome violent opposition first in Jerusalem and then in Rome -this remarkable sequence of transformation offers the most convincing evidence for the Resurrection. What else explains the whiplash change in men known for their cowardice and instability?" -Philip Yancey The Jesus I Never Knew

no longer unemployed

I got a job :) It's a little weird having a schedule for the first time in almost four months, but it's a good thing overall. I work at Mountain Market, the local coffee shop. Right now I'm making sandwiches and doing a little cashiering, but I might become a barista or, if I'm really lucky, get to work in the attached store, Mountain Spirits, that has a crazy big inventory of beer :)
Life is good. I still need to figure out what I'm doing as far as housing goes starting in May, but I'll figure it out. Stay posted for the latest on that.
Oh, and I leave for Hawaii in approximately 21 days and 21 hours :)