A Sudden Realization

I was texting a friend of mine about how I forgot to make a phone call, and I said to him that there is always tomorrow - but as I think about things, I'm running out of tomorrow's here. In exactly two weeks from today, I'll be in an airport awaiting my plane to go home. It's scary when I think about, but I choose to think about it because I need to embrace everything that I have left to embrace before I leave. The mornings and evenings that I bike by the temple, the malasadas, the beach and sounds of the surf. As the Aerosmith song says, "I don't wanna miss a thing."

I hope I continue to wake up every day with this attitude; especially my last few days on the island but also for the rest of my life.

Song of the Day

"Who Wants to Live Forever" by Queen

Fiery Red, Episode 2

The twisting hallways of the palace always annoyed her, because they made her think of a maze and the Minotaur. The rings and bracelets on her hands weighed heavier than usual, but on days like this, they always weighed more. She really wished these days would never come, but in her heart, she knew full well that someone needed to be here. Turning a corner, she walks into the chest of a tall man, knocking them both to the ground.

Embarassed by her clumsiness, she pushes herself off of his chest and says, "I'm so sorry. I was thinking about court today, and I didn't bother to look where I was going. Are you okay?"

She paused in her apology as the man began to laugh uncontrolably beneath her. In between laughs, he manages to say, "I've been trying to get closer to you for weeks, and here I find you running around a corner, tackling me in the process. How charming, my lady."

Lightly grabbing her wrists, he helps her off his chest. Still embarassed, she looks at his face and realizes who she bumped into. His deep laugh echoed in the hallway as she tries to help him off the floor. Grabbing his hand, her thoughts and words freeze. Her heart skips a beat and her brain stops functioning as she helps him up. "Aliya?" he concernly asks.

Shaken from her daze, Aliya quickly removes her hands from his, grabs her head, and says, "I'm fine, just a little dizzy from the fall. I must be off though, it's nearly time for me to be in court."

Before he can respond, she rushes off in the direction of the palace's main hall. He scratches his head, walking in the opposite direction of Aliya, wondering if he will be able to see her again. "I wonder if she'll run into me again," he thought to himself, chuckling.

Walking into the main hall, Aliya stops to take in the scene. People of all ages, walks of life and ethnicities are bunched waiting for her to appear so court could begin for the day. Waiting on her chair was a sealed envelop, and as she walked toward her chair, she notices the envelop. Picking it up, she notices that the seal is from the Bond Guild and apprehension shoots through her.

"What is the Guild wanting with me this time? There won't be a hatching for a while... why have they sent me a letter in this season," Aliya wonders.

Déjà Vu Counter

As of a couple of seconds ago, I once again experienced a moment of déjà vu. It has always been my belief that déjà vu comes when we are doing something that Heavenly Father endorses or that we are supposed to do. I wonder what impact the thing that I am doing will have on other's if it will have any at all. Though this is the first déjà vu moment that I have had this month, I have had many instances of déjà vu during the summer time. I sure hope this means that I am doing well in life and in Heavenly Father's eyes.

Déjà vu has always been such a strange experience for me. I see myself in a disjointed setting for a moment doing exactly what I am currently doing. I know this are things that I have never done before, but here I am thinking that I must have done it at some point. It just always strikes me as odd when I go through déjà vu during the day. The more frequent it comes, the more I think I must be on the path I set out on when I left the pre-mortal life.

Tying Up Loose Ends

Well, as with most things in my life, my time in Hawaii is coming to an end. Some days it saddens me, and some days I'm excited for the next adventure in life to come my way. There are many, many things on this island I have yet to see, but at the same time, I have those things to look forward to when I return, whenever that is. I want to absorb as much of the scenery and life from here as I can, and I find myself sitting and soaking things in more often than not.

A couple of nights ago, I was blessed to watch a lightning storm over the ocean with a friend from home and her kids. Though it's hard to live here, I feel so blessed that I was allowed to come here. Yes, there have been a few times where in the past month I've clashed with roommates, and yes, there is drama in my life, but I value things so much more right now. The lens that I view things through has altered so much since I purchased my ticket to fly back home. Little things cause me to pause and ponder like seeing the small crabs run around on the beach. Things like the cattle egrets on campus chasing the guy on the lawn mower are becoming pictures in my mind's scrapbook.

The people and cultural diversity of this place is unlike any other place I will ever go. As reluctant as I am to leave, I know that the Lord has plans for me elsewhere. Maybe He wants me to help bring what I've learned here to other people. Maybe He wants me to learn what other people know. All I know is the Big Man wants me elsewhere, and I plan on trusting Him.