The Final Hurrah

Summer 2014. Absolutely one for the books. As we neared the end of our impossibly perfect summer together, it gave us an opportunity to reflect on all of our adventures and all of the new memories we created. We reflected on the countless days of jumping in the ocean after a long day at work; the days full of exploring new places, hiking new mountains, and getting lost down new back roads; the tropical rainstorms that would catch us by surprise and leave us soaking and dying of laughter; the indulgence in coconut macadamia nut peanut butter, peanut butter malt balls, grilled eggplant, & honey & cinnamon coconut milk lattes; and the sweet moments of prayer, encouragement, and heartfelt conversation that created a friendship that will last for life. This summer two girls were brought together who shared a passion for life, a desire to dream big, and a faith in the King of the universe who made it all possible. Together we made a leap of faith and jumped into the unknown--unsure of how it would end up and where life was going to take us. But life, sweet sweet life, took us right into the perfect home with an incredible family who welcomed us with open arms and open hearts. Life handed us both two perfect jobs where we found family and acceptance, a bible study where we grew and were challenged, and friends who we can call family. Life created opportunities for us to revel in the beauty that our God has created all around us. Life, a beautiful gift given to us, was not wasted this summer. No. It was celebrated. Together we embraced this gift every day and took on the challenges that came our way, in full assurance that we were under the wings of a loving father. While there was endless laughter and joy, there were also tears and struggles and challenges. But together, we fought and grew stronger. We cried and grew closer. And we can look back and give the glory to God, and know that our summer of 2014 will never be forgotten.

As September quickly snuck up on us, we were all too aware that our time together was coming to a close. However, we miraculously managed to get one last day off. Together. Naturally, we planned an incredibly action packed day full of all the activities we still had yet to experience, and some activities that we wanted to relive. We started the day early with our usually morning run. Tori got her last Kailua beach run in. We ate a light breakfast that consisted of farm fresh eggs & homemade vegan pesto. Then we were off to our long anticipated kayak adventure. We rented two single kayaks and headed out for the twin islands (aka "the mokes").

We borrowed our host dad's truck & used our super sculpted muscles to hoist these bad boys to the beach. 

We made it to Lanikai Beach & loaded our sweet rides into the crystal clear, warm water. 

The journey over was perfection. We kayaked alongside several sea turtles and glided over the abundant reefs that occupy the bay that were easy to view through the clear water. 

Once we landed (not gracefully, might I add--I may or may not have completely tipped over my kayak as I awkwardly crashed onto the shore), we quickly cooled off & refreshed ourselves in the water. It honestly felt like a dream--for so long we had wanted to make it out to the Mokes, and the view & scenery was beyond what we ever expected. Which is saying a lot. 

Our landing spot

Exploring the island

 

We obviously had to perform our power stance.

After a long and treacherous ride back to the beach where we fought against the power of our strong-willed kayaks for over an hour & a half, we returned the kayaks & headed back to the cabana to get ready for our next adventure--North Shore! We showered, refreshed ourselves, and headed to Whole Foods (our second home) for some lunch. After that, we were off again! 

We took the scenic route up the coast so we could enjoy the breathtaking views along the way. This also allowed for numerous stops along the way for some of our favorite things like macadamia nuts, coconut peanut butter, and the best fresh fruit stand on the North Shore. 

Of course, we had to get in a power stance.

& our photographer was the most playful. "Throw me a shaka now!" So, this happened.

As we kept driving up the coast, Torr spotted a perfect, quaint little bench on the side of the road so we made a quick stop to take a breather & play on the hand crafted bench & tire swing! 

Our next stop was Turtle Bay Resort--the famous luxury beach resort featured on Forgetting Sarah Marshall & known for its ideal location, spectacular ocean views, and abundance of sea turtles! We made our way down to the beach bar, where we enjoyed some delicious Mai Thai's while sticking our toes in the sand. We made a toast to an unforgettable summer & a everlasting friendship that was formed along the way.  

After our relaxation on the beach, it was time for the sun to set on our perfect day in paradise. We made our way to sunset beach--and like the name suggests, it was the perfect place to watch the sun descend over the horizon. We enjoyed our fresh fruit we had previously purchased & reminisced on all of our memories we had created over the summer.  

And with that, our summer had come to a close. We drove back home & woke up the next day where we said one of the hardest goodbye's I have had to say. We knew, however, that the next chapters of our life were beginning--as Tori heads off to Nursing School in Oregon, and I continue to live it up in Oahu until the next part of my journey begins. But what a sweet realization it was to know that we we were not in it alone. We have each other to walk through this chapter with. Even though we are now an ocean apart, I can not be more thankful for this summer spent underneath the Hawaiian sun, learning & growing in life with one another. So thank you, my beautiful Hawaiian goddess & fellow feral cat colony enthusiast, for one of the best summers of my life. The memories will stay with me forever and our friendship will last even longer. All the glory to our God who opened up the doors to paradise & unleashed the summer of unending adventure. 

For now, Tess & Torr signing out. Thanks for journeying alongside us.

xoxo

Too Much Aloha.

Since arriving in Kailua nearly two and a half months ago (where has the time gone!) we quickly established the ohana (a small cabana-type abode) we are staying in into a home. We landed great jobs, particularly our Morning Brew jobs, which we both love and adore, and established a routine consisting of morning work-outs, reading our library books on the beach, working or hanging out at Morning Brew while the other is working (because let's be real, we practically live there), grilling fresh veggies, sampling the bins at Whole Foods, swimming & snorkeling at the local beach, and Dex-ing it up (aka watching Dexter). But on days when we both don't work, there is no room for routine. There is only room for adventure! 

Last Friday we both had the day off, which means an action-packed day of nonstop adventure. We started the morning off at Kailua Beach, just a hop skip and a jump away from The Cabana. The morning water greeted us with refreshing warmth and perfect waves to splash around in. You would think after living here for the entire summer we would be used to the perfection and splendor of the ocean, but we are continually blown away by the pristine colors and beauty of the water. And how could we not? 

 

 

After grabbing some lunch at Whole Foods we headed over to the house where a couple of our Morning Brew coworkers live. During this past week our manager Courtney's sister, Teeney, was visiting from the east coast. Of course they wanted to show her what North Shore was all about! So naturally, they invited the girls who are obsessed with North Shore - us! 

Once arriving at the house we were quick to inquire about Courtney's cat, Eugene, a large, handsome cat we found tucked away in his cat fort. Yes, I said cat fort. After therapeutically petting Eugene (cat lady problems) ourselves, Nick, Courtney, and Teeney piled into Nick's car and headed out. 

Taking the route along the coast, it wasn't long until the first stop. Tucked away off the side of the road was a glorious macadamia nut farm.  

Nick & Courtney (being all kinds of precious) showed us the ropes of this oasis tucked away in the woods where free coffee, macadamia nuts, and peanut butter were all waiting for us to indulge in.

As professional samplers, it wasn't long until we spotted our favorite samples on the island - Mac Nut butter. Never have you tasted a more delicious, smoother, or satisfying nut butter before. Our favorite flavors include Coconut Macadamia, Lilikoi Mango Macadamia , and Banana Macadamia. If only I could just bring a suitcase worth of this stuff home! 

More samples! All these bags were filled with fresh, and fun flavored macadamia nuts, with flavors ranging from Honey Roasted, Maui Onion, Kona Coffee, to our personal favorite, Cinnamon Sugar. We took full advantage of this opportunity, taking several laps around the table. That's allowed, right?

There were also fun little ornaments made out of starfish. 

And to our greatest delight - chickens casually roaming around! 

Back on the road, Nick acted as our unofficial tour guide of the island, using his vast knowledge of the history and local spots to inform us about anything & everything! He was pointing out all of the cool spots along the way, such as the valley where Jurassic Park and Lost were filmed, the locations where Forgetting Sarah Marshall was filmed, ornate temples, and our next stop - a tasty local fruit stand! We tried star fruit, guava, mangos, dragon fruit, and strawberries. 

As we headed onward, we were greeted at our next stop by a large, brightly colored parrot whose name we discovered to be Kevin. We quickly became friends, and snapped some quick pics to prove it.

Nick took us to a spot called "Secret Beach", which was accurately named. The area was quiet, peaceful, and secluded. We set up camp and were quick to jump into the clear, cool, and refreshing water. 

He couldn't have picked a more perfect location to gear up and snorkel around. We were soon swimming with huge, brightly colored fish. The rocks were huge and provided a great habitat for marine life--so naturally the marine biologist of the group was in heaven! We spotted several boxfish, triggerfish,  sea cucumbers, and huge sea urchins the size of our heads! As we headed back to shore to take a quick break, we ran straight into a gigantic sea turtle! The large, majestic animal was casually swaying in the tide, scavenging the bottom for food. We made eye contact several times, and he assured us we were on good terms. What an incredible experience to be so close to one of nature's most incredible beings. To our great delight, we were joined by several other turtles in the water. 

Of course, with every adventure comes abundant opportunities to take ridiculous pictures. So, enjoy our said ridiculousness... 

After spending ample time laying in the sun, reading our books, chatting,  & watching Courtney hula hoop (and I mean, REALLY hula hoop--very impressive), it was time to fill our stomachs with some nourishment. We headed to the best Thai food restaurant in the North Shore, Opal. Parched and overheated, none of us were too keen on a huge meal, deciding upon a small dish or two to tide us over. However, the owner of the restaurant had another plan for us. After enlightening us on thai cuisine, he decided to plan our entire meal for us. Seven dishes and five bursting bellies later, we all easily agreed that was one of the best, most satisfying, and most delicious meals we had ever experienced. And yes, it was absolutely something to be experienced. 

Glancing at the time, we had to book it to the nearest beach to catch a glimpse of the setting sun. And what an incredible way to end the day. The sun, in all its splendor, set upon the ocean as we dipped our feet in the water, and crawled over rocks to catch a better glimpse. As we sat on a blanket in the sand, taking in the beauty and reveling on our day well spent, turtles swam off into the horizon and a cool breeze rolled in.

Days here can go on for a lifetime. One thing after another amazes us and brings new excitement to our life, extending moments into days, and seconds into hours. Never has God's love and faithfulness been more tangible, more concrete, and more easily acknowledged. He continues to shower us day in and day out with reminders of his power and sovereignty. He delights in us. He enchants us. He loves us. And we give Him all the glory for these amazing experiences we get to have. 

Tess & Torr power stance, a declaration and celebration of life! 

Until next time, North Shore. See you soon.