I got back to the office yesterday after being on vacation since Christmas. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect upon my blessings over the past year and thought I would share some of them with you:
- Spending time with family and friends in California in January and February, especially time with my mom after learning she had cancer.
- Moving to Kaua’i in February to be the kahu of Koloa Union Church.
- Moving into the beautifully-restored historic parsonage in March (and enjoying it every day since then!).
- Spending a week with my mom in March and talking nearly every day on the phone until 3 days before she died.
- Spending a week with my son Palani on Kaua’i in March…and a month over the summer…and a week and a half in December.
- The publication of my book, The Volcano Is Our Home: Nine Generations of a Hawaiian Family on Kilauea Volcano, several book events in the following months, and very good sales.
- A successful art show at Art House in Koloa, where many people bought my watercolors.
- New and renewed friendships in Hawaii.
- Spending time with the wonderful people of Koloa Union Church.
These are some of the highlights of the past year, and there are many more blessings for which I am truly grateful. I feel that I am starting the new year off well by entering it with a grateful heart. I hope you will do the same. I also hope you will come to church and share the blessings of your life with the rest of us as we look forward to many more blessings in the year ahead!
Happy New Year!!!
Kahu Alan Akana
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