October 5, 2022

 

I am in Hawaii this week with the Burgess family for Liza to participate in the World Championship Ironman Race. We are on the Big Island of Hawaii as the race headquarters are in Kona. I love this island as this is the first place Tom and I came on our honeymoon and we have returned a numerous times since the Temple was built in Kona. Tom loved Hawaii. It was where he felt at home but it has certainly changed a great deal since his family came in the ‘50s and ‘60s when he was a boy and since he started bringing me here. Kona was a sleepy little town in 1970 and our beautiful Kona Hilton was the landmark of the area. It was the most romantic place I had ever seen. Who would have guessed at the time that we would have had a remarkable little girl swimming in the ocean just off our hotel balcony 52 years later and biking and running all over this side of the island. Amazing and she is amazing! 

Tom and I have been here and all over this island but Liza has managed to find beaches, waterfalls and donut shops that we have never seen and known about. Our children are curious and explorers like their father and constantly seeking for the next adventure. I probably have held Tom back a bit and he always sought to please me. I gave him roots and he gave me wings and certainly did push me. The Burgess children have enjoyed boogie boarding and snorkeling and the older children and Brendon hiked into a waterfalls to swim. They hiked to see other falls and crawled into a lava tunnel. We have spent time at the condo pool and the older children have been playing games at the pool site. Alisa’s boyfriend Patrick is racing as well so Ted, Alisa and her boys are here with him. The children have done some activities with them but Alisa has the flu and has remained isolated at the place where they are staying.

I spent last week trying to get things in order and ready for the trip. I took Kona over to Ross and Sarah’s later on Thursday and got her settled. I went for an interview with Junki Huang on Thursday evening at the church. Junki is serving as a High Councillor and he called me to be a counsellor in the Stake Young Women presidency. I said yes immediately and am happy to serve and hope I can be of help to the young women and the leaders. I am old BUT I will do my best and I think this is what I need to do.

This trip is a bittersweet experience for me. I am grateful to be here but miss Tom. I have never been here without him but I do feel okay because he taught me how to get around and to feel at home here. I miss him but see his handprint and feel his influence everywhere. I know he is excited because, for this particular race, he can be with Liza the whole time and not only is she in the World Championship but she is racing in Kona!  He loves his daughter and he loves Hawaii! What more could he ask for! I am so happy for him and so happy for her!