Kauai: Day One

We got up at 3 in the morning to head to the airport. We were the first to get our tickets and go through security. Luckily for us, the flight was a little less than an hour. So we didn't have to worry about trying to get sleep on a day long flight. Plus we got to see the sunrise while on the plane.

You can tell we were a little tired.

After getting our rental car, our first stop once on the island was to get coffee. Of course, right? We stopped at Java Kai in Kapaa.

 Their menu had some very interesting drinks that we have never heard of, which is kinda a big deal considering coffee is our thing. Cody ended up trying a coffee called El Bandito.

It had espresso, vanilla cream, and Mexican Coca-Cola. He loved it! They had other drinks like the Iced Shark Bite (extra shot of espresso, whipped cream, and raspberry). I totally recommend anyone who visits Kauai to make a stop here. You won't regret it.

After charging up on caffeine, we made our way to our first stop: Glass Beach. It's this super cool little beach that's located in an industrial area. You have to take a rough little road to get to it, but it's totally worth it. The beach itself has a lot of sea glass (hence the name).

 The area was beautiful. On both sides of the beach are towering black cliffs that the waves crash into.

At the top of the cliff to the left, there is an old Japanese cemetery. You access it by a small road next to the parking lot for the beach. The view from the cemetery is beautiful.

 If you stop to visit, please be respectful.

We decided to drive to Hanapepe and walk around a little while. We stumbled across a bookstore called Talk Story Bookstore. The outside was painted like shelves of books.

It's the western most bookstore in the United States and they had pretty much any book you can imagine.

Near the bookstore was a swinging bridge. A historic, swinging bridge to be exact.

So of  course we had to walk across.

Next stop, Waimea Canyon.

The view, simply breathtaking. The canyon is filled with so many different colors.

Honestly, pictures don't do it justice. I just stood there, taking it all in.

 The haze that covered the canyon, the layers of red, brown and green, the nice breeze that was blowing through, the waterfalls that flowed across the way.

Sometimes, you just need to stop and enjoy the things that nature has given us.

We ended our night early (around 7:30 to be exact). We fell asleep right away but we were so excited for what the next day would hold!

Thanksgivings Past

Hey, y'all! I've decided to make a post that doesn't exactly go with my blog normally is. But that's okay. I promise next week I'll go back to sharing our wonderful adventures.

We are now living the farthest I've ever been from my parents, over 6,000 miles. That being said, as you can imagine plane tickets home are quite expensive. So we won't be spending time with our family this holiday season. This will actually be my first Christmas without my parents.

So, let's talk Thanksgiving. I mean what's not to love? There are food and family.

I remember growing up, I would help my mom cook the food for dinner, barely able to see over the counter while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Then we would all gather around my parent's big dining room table (only used for the holidays). My dad would take one of the end seats and my papaw the other. We'd bow our heads to say grace and thank God for bringing us together again. Then we'd pass bowls, heaping with all sorts of delicious foods, around the table. We'd spend the next hour (or more, who really kept track) eating, laughing, and telling stories.I remember laughing until my cheeks and stomach hurt. Many years have passed since I was that little girl. My grandfather is no longer with us (but believe me when I say we always include him in our prayers). We no longer are all together on Thanksgiving. But I will always have those amazing memories of having dinner together and laughing.

It's a day to be thankful for all the things the past year has brought. It's time to spend with family and friends, sharing laughs and making memories. But so many people forget about that. They get caught up in the stress of fixing big dinners and then rushing out to shop for cheap gifts to give for Christmas. They no longer enjoy their time together. They no longer make those wonderful memories like I have from my childhood.

So, please. this Thanksgiving take the time to enjoy each other. Laugh. Tell stories. Reminence. That's what the holidays are about. I promise you can buy that TV later. You can't get this time back. Make the most of it.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving memory?