(Willie Nelson (b. 1933)  singer-songwriter)

“You will have heard people say to count your blessings, and when
you think about the things you’re grateful for, that’s exactly what you’re doing. But what you may not have realized is that counting
your blessings is one of the most powerful practices you can ever
do, and it will magically turn your whole life around!

When you’re grateful for the things you have, no matter how small
they may be, you will see those things instantly increase. If you’re grateful for the money you have, however little, you will see your
money magically grow. If you’re grateful for a relationship, even if
it’s not perfect, you will see it miraculously get even better. If you’re grateful for the job that you have, even if it’s not your dream job, things will begin to change so that you enjoy your job more, and all kinds of opportunities for your work will suddenly appear.

The flipside is that when we’re not counting our blessings, we can
fall into the trap of unintentionally counting negative things. We
count negative things when we talk about the things we don’t have. We count negative things when we criticize or find fault with other people, when we complain about traffic, waiting in lines, delays, the government, not enough money, or the weather. When we count negative things they increase too, but on top of that, with every negative thing we count, we cancel out blessings that were on their way. I have tried both – counting my blessings and counting negative things – and I can assure you that counting your blessings is the only way to have abundance in your life.”

A Secret Scrolls message: Count Your Blessings from Rhonda Byrne
(See more below under travel notes.)

Gratitude. Everyone has good days and bad days but a grouchy traveler, making note of every complaint, is not someone you want
to be traveling with! We travel to experience other cultures,
lifestyles, food, healing methods, religions and spiritual paths.
“We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto” and once in Oz we shouldn’t expect things to work like the finely greased wheel back home.
People are the same everywhere. We say 95% good and 5% not so
good at the moment. Throwing oneself out into the abyss creates experiences that would never happen at home. We can read books about being open in life, listen to talks, attend seminars and workshops but traveling forces us into the arena. Gladiators all, we can either fight our way through life or we can turn our attitude around and enjoy what the flip side has to offer. Looking at life through the lens of Gratitude makes all the difference on the journey. For instance in the west we take for granted things like washing machines, salads we can eat, and a clean sit down toilet that flushes. I often will subconsciously include in my mental list of thanks a clean toilet – having checked into a small guesthouse on the North Silk Road in China only to find they had no toilets, no outhouse. Walk out the back in the field was the reply. The stories are endless with intrepid travelers. And so often the toilets that are available are so absolutely unbelievably indescribable that gratitude for a clean throne is very appropriate. Did I ever tell you the story about the rat?? A young boy was overheard in Africa describing how rich people are in America, “And they have so much clean water in America that they go to the bathroom in it.” Gratitude for the simple things in life is a great place to start.

I am ever thankful for the visit back to Hawaii every year. Time to share with family and good friends. A vacation from our vacation. Always a bit of a difficult transition from our life as nomads back to ‘normal life’. As we become more global citizens, every year finds me more removed from the norms of western society. What is normal anyways? Whatever normal means it shouldn’t be used in the same sentence with us.

One of the only things missing in our nomadic exploration of this fascinating planet is time with family and friends. We keep in good touch via Skype and calls and email and Facebook but nothing beats face to face over a piece of cake along the ocean, with a red Kona sunset saying good bye to another glorious Hawaiian day. One on one time to catch up is an important part of the time shared.

Having the visit around Christmas encompasses the Holidays and birthdays. Great meals, lively discussions, hikes and visits to
spend time with Gami keep us busy. Tutu and Grampy love
time with our precious grandchildren Kayla, 4, and Kaimana, 1,
kept us on our toes 2-3 days a week. We usually chose to go
out exploring with them and had many fun times together
playing. Playing is mandatory at any age. How soon adults
forget. Being around that endless young energy reminds us
what is important in life.

James and Barb opened their home to us in Kohala Ranch for Christmas. What a pleasant memory picking up my Mom at her
Hale, driving along singing Christmas carols at the top of our
lungs, stopping at the beach for a look at the palm trees and waves
then a tasty festive banquet together, prepared by loving hands.
Over the ocean and through the palm trees to our friends house we go…….

Hawaii is a gentle combination of the infrastructure of the main-
land U.S. and the warm soothing Polynesian culture. Here it
is possible to have the best of both worlds. That is if you can
afford the price of Paradise.

This year we were warmly welcomed in to the apartment below
Shane & daughter Mariah’s lovely new home. Mariah is director
of an amazing W’wa Hawaiian sailing canoe program at her school
and Shane is working at a Condo development. Besides family gatherings, birthday celebrations and invigorating hikes through
the rain forest of Kaloko, we helped with their house warming and
the 1st Birthday Luau for Kaimana, a Hawaiian tradition. Friends
from near and far joined in to make it a memorable, fun event.
Whoa Shane, what a voice!

One on one time with son Kevin and his jeep found us at remote
South Point and up watching the sunset at 14,000 feet on top of
snows of Mauna Kea. We were invited to Kevin’s office, to see
his new successful career as a real estate agent with Clark Realty.
We were proud to see how well he is doing. Currently having 9
homes in escrow shows just how far he has come and certainly
where he is going. Just give him a call!We were able to house sit in Honokaa, at the wonderful Blue Lotus Bed & Breakfast, owned by Peter and Jeanette, for 3 weeks while they flew off to New Zealand. They settled here after sailing around the world with 2 children for12 years. See the world is full of travel crazies! We were within 5 minutes of my Mom’s residential home or ‘Hale’ for the elderly. Many, many warm special moments were shared together reminiscing about our cherished family life growing up, plus our wild adventures traveling the planet through the years. While there we had a great visit with my brother, Paul, from Wisconsin. He loved to be around family and to escape the bitter winter back home. Lunch with dear girlfriends, who will always be friends no matter the distance, was always heart warming.

We then spent a wonderful week catching up with friends in
Honolulu on the capitol island of Oahu. Oahu is always a bustle
of activity around Waikiki. A sunset at the Sheraton Moana on
the beach, watching hula is a tradition we were able to carry on. Another fun event was dancing ‘on the beach at sunset’ to
the lively tunes of Henry Kapono in front of Dukes. Hanging at
health food stores, having the best spring rolls in town at Phuket
Thai on McCulley, scouring a large thrift shop for my next years ‘wardrobe’, and visiting with Friends in Manoa after the Sunday
hour of Quaker silence were highlights. We hiked to the top of Diamond Head Crater, walked for hours around Ala Moana seaside Park, and spent a full day exploring around the island. Thirty foot waves on the North Shore were spectacular; too choppy for surfing but thrilling to look at.

On our return we dusted off our traveling shoes and spent a week driving around our own Big Island, once again visiting friends
along the way. We told them we were coming and gave them lots
of warning to get out of town but instead we had a fun time catchingup and sharing the latest wild travel story. First we backpacked in and camped 2 nights at Makalawena Beach, one of the prettiest remote beaches in Hawaii. Catching up with Bob and Kije, gazing out over the ocean or singing around a campfire reminded us that this beach was where this adventure all began 13 years ago. Married by Bob in a pareo, after he went surfing, we then flew off to Kashmir, starting our life of exploring the world together. Sometimes it is hard to be with someone 24-7 but we have worked it out and are still talking after all these years. Looking for the good in each other and loving each other conquers many things. Besides we have lots of fun
together playing. We then explored Hawi in the north part of the island and spent more time with Bob and Kije, their horses and
llamas, at their home with spectacular sunsets looking over Maui.

On to Hamakua coast on the NE side we explored Waipio Valley,
the slopes of Mauna Kea with Kevin and the eclectic First Night
in the plantation town of Honoka’a. Celebrating Mardi Gras at
the Honoka’a Theatre to the pulsing sounds of Buckwheat Zydeco
and his Cajun band from New Orleans was 4 hours of non-stop
dancing, clapping, hooting and grooving. The United States is a creative, diverse country and we enjoyed some of the best it had
to offer from New Orleans to Hawaii.

We explored Hilo, its colorful market, the oceanfront parks, and
quaint local culture. Further on to Pahoa to visit friend Michael
we spent 3 days experiencing the epicenter of eclectic. Everyone
is busy doing their thing from old hippies to young ‘trendys’.
Vibrant markets, the Red Road through the lush jungle, Kahena
clothes optional beach, scenic coastline. If you don’t see it here
in this parallel dimension, it doesn’t exist.

Further around the island through Volcanoes National Park, with
an active vent spewing orange lava into the ocean, we ended up
at a mysterious lava desert past South Point. It touched our hearts
to be welcomed so warmly by good friends Ric and Rose. Having
the travel bug too they have since been to S America, the mainland
and Europe. Good friends are always good friends, no matter
which side of the planet we all end up on.

The best way to explore Hawaii’s Big Island is definitely to drive
around it. This is not an easy task as driving non stop would take
over 12 hours. You’ll soon be immersed in a varied landscape
unlike any other. You’ll encounter jungle, farmland, active lava
flows, warm tropical beaches, cool highlands, and views of soaring
snow capped mountains and plunging valleys. And everywhere,
you’ll feel the aura of the mysterious Polynesian ancestors who
sailed here more than a thousand years ago and named the island Hawaii.

This island was the first kingdom of Kamehameha the Great and
is big enough to put all the other islands into, with room to spare.
As development has changed the face of the islands forever this
rural, unique, quiet island has remained the true Hawaii.

And so it goes…………………………………..Next off into the wild blue
yonder to visit Thailand. We have spent 12 plus years exploring
the world and now we start our second time around. That was
just recognizance and this time we will travel slower to favorite
places or explore new places we missed. Until next month Keep
Smiling and let us remember to take the time to be grateful for our blessings in life. Switching from ‘stinking thinking’ to Gratitude changes our lives. We are Thankful for the knowledge to protect ourselves from the radiation from Fukushima and that the readings
are rising so slowly. I am Thankful for my kids listening to the
facts and now they must make their own decisions. Take care and Thanks for following us on our adventure and Thanks for keeping
in touch!

Love, Light & Laughter,

xoxoox Nancy & Joseph

Travel notes:

1 US Dollar equals less each year.
Prices are high and transportation difficult but there is starting
to be a more budget market on the Big Island. Try
www.airbnb.com and consult the travel guides. Share a car
with other travelers.
The bus goes around the island 4 times a day but it only stops at designated stops. Be creative and enjoy what this fascinating
island has to offer.

Keep an eye on activity of radiation from Fukushima. Be
informed.

Be prepared. Be aware. Thanks Reese.

FURTHER INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR AWARENESS:

Radiation Expert: Fukushima Exposure being Covered Up –
Kevin Kamps http://youtu.be/RxEGwpNlXb4

This a end of year 2013 Review of Fukushima – Some interesting information to consider :http://youtu.be/9mn8XUxVq0g

For those of you who know David Icke then you know he has some speculations that can seem out there though it is very intriguing. Published May 19th 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8YzzI0j4iM

http://www.naturalnews.com/Fukushima.html – Lots of
recent info

‘And the Hashimotos aren’t alone. The families of at least seven
other children near Fukushima have reportedly decided to do
the same thing to protect their children from long-term harm.
This comes as local leader Katsutaka Idogawa, former mayor of
Futaba, a town near Fukushima, recently issued a warning about radiation levels near Fukushima being four times higher than
they werenearChernobyl.’ http://www.naturalnews.com/044938_thyroid_cancer_-Fukushima_schoolchildren.html#ixzz35Xmw94Xu

An itinerary for a trip around the Big Island was found listed as
one the most interesting drives of the world by National
Geographic. Gives an idea of what the Big Island of Hawaii
has to offer.

Begin in Kailua-Kona
In Kailua-Kona, American missionaries started the first Christian
church in Hawaii in 1820. Today, the Mokuaikaua Church (75-5713
Alii Dr.; 1 808 329 0655; www.mokuaikaua.org), which was
rebuilt in 1837 of crushed coral and lava rock, is still a quiet
sanctuary. Step across the street to the two-story, palm-
shaded 1838 Hulihee Palace (75-5718 Alii Dr.; 1 808 329 1877; www.daughtersofhawaii.com/huliheepalace/), now a museum.
Check out the enormous koa wood chair specially built to
accommodate Princess Ruth, who measured over six feet tall and weighed over 400 pounds (181 kilograms).

Ahuena Heiau
Nearby, along the shore, is the reconstructed Ahuena Heiau
(75-5660 Palani Rd.; 1 808 327 0123; www.kulana.hawaiiweb.org).
Heiaus are ceremonial stone structures usually built on a platform
(as in this case). Using Ahuena as his headquarters, Kamehameha conquered and unified the Hawaiian Islands in the early 19th
century. The surrounding village remained the capital of all the Hawaiian Islands until 1821. “For some of us, it still is the capital,”
says Kaleookalani Nakoa, a native Hawaiian and one of the
official guardians of the heiau.

Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Continuing south along the scenic two-laner, you’re soon high
above the ocean, fields of bushes and berries indicating that
this is coffee country. For a taste of the plantation lifestyle
established over the past century, pull into the Kona Coffee
Living History Farm just before the village of Captain Cook
(mile marker 110; 1 808 323 2006; www.konahistorical.org).
You’ll learn not just about locally grown coffee but also sample
the luscious fruits that abound in Hawaii, such as Kona oranges,
passion fruit, and guavas, among others.

Kealakekua Bay
A side road leads to Kealakekua Bay, from which you can see a monument marking the place where British explorer James Cook
was stabbed to death by the natives in 1779. This happened just
a year after he and his crew became the first Europeans to set
foot on what he dubbed the “Sandwich Islands.”

Coffee Shack
Back on the main road, stop at the mountainside Coffee Shack
(after mile marker 108; 1 808 328 9555; www.coffeeshack.com),
built on a coffee plantation. Besides Kona coffee, lunch, and
breakfast—try the eggs Benedict—the lanai, or porch, has views
of 26 miles (41 kilometers) of coastline far below.

St. Benedict’s
In the same area, don’t miss St. Benedict’s, better known as the
Painted Church (84-5140 Painted Church Rd., Captain Cook;
1 808 328 2227; www.thepaintedchurch.org/history.asp). To give
his congregants the illusion of being in a European cathedral, its
Belgian priest painted the interior with a simple trompe l’oeil
technique in the early 1900s. Also nearby, look for the 180-acre
(73-hectare) Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, preserving what’s left of an ancient Hawaiian royal residence,
a sacred place of refuge, and a heiau. Among the original arti-
facts on the site are petroglyphs and a 16th-century wall.

Lava Fields and Forests
For the next 40 miles (64 kilometers), the road traverses, alter-
nately, old lava fields and Eden-like forests with flowering multi-
colored bougainvillea and hibiscus along the side of the road.
Also look for tropical trees like the wide-spreading monkey
pod and ohia trees with feathery red blossoms.

Naalehu
At Naalehu, stop at the Punalu’u Bake Shop (95-3642
Hamalahoa Hwy.; 1 808 929 7343; www.bakeshophawaii.com),
famed for Portuguese sweet bread and malasadas (doughnuts).
Box up an assortment to eat later in the car.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Soon the Belt Road rises in altitude and lowers in temperature
until reaching Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1 808 985 6000; www.nps.gov/havo). Stop at Kilauea Visitor Center to get maps
and current advice on how to safely view active lava flows in
the park. A good bet is a ranger-led hike.

Hilo
Consider overnighting on the rim of the park’s Kilauea Caldera
at the Volcano House (1 Crater Rim Dr.; 1 808 967 7321; www.volcanohousehotel.com). Another lodging, in the town of
Hilo, is the 1899 Shipman House (131 Kaiulani St.; 1 808 934 8002; www.hilo-hawaii.com), a Victorian mansion where author Jack
London and his wife, Charmian, stayed during their 1907 visit.

Honomu
North from Hilo, take a turnoff to the old village of Honomu,
whose funky false-front businesses include an antique bottle shop. Honomu exists mainly because it’s on the way to Akaka Falls State
Park (1 808 974 6200; www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/hawaii/Index.cfm?park_id=2), known for its 442-foot (135-meter) falls and lush rain forest surroundings.

Honokaa
Leave the main highway again at Honokaa to reach the
viewpoint overlooking the nearly deserted Waipio Valley,
850 feet (250 meter) below. It’s one of the premier
panoramas in the state.
Only four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed to drive down the
steep road to the valley floor and its black-sand beach.

Waimea
Continuing toward the village of Waimea (also called Kamuela),
along rolling hills of bright green grass, you’ll enter ranch
country, marked by billowing mist and lowing Angus cattle.
Stop at the Parker Ranch Museum (67-1435 Mamalahoa Hwy.;
1 808 885 7655; www.parkerranch.com) to learn about the
ranch’s long history. It was founded by American sailor John Parker, who arrived in Hawaii in 1809, worked for King Kamehameha, and eventually bought land.

Jacaranda Inn
On the ranch, you can stay in a garden cottage at the historic
Jacaranda Inn (65-1444 Kawaihae Rd.; 1 808 885 8813; www.jacarandainn.com), with a sumptuously remodeled ranch
house and bunkhouses. It’s a favorite of astronomers visiting
the observatories atop Mauna Kea, the island’s tallest peak at
13,796 feet (4,205 meters). For breakfast, try the French toast
made with Portuguese sweet bread.

Hawi
From Waimea, leave the Belt Road to take the winding Kohala
Mountain Road to Hawi. Hard-hit by the decline of the sugar
industry, Hawi has recently revived. Besides the rustic Bamboo Restaurant (55-3415 Akoni Pule Hwy.; 1 808 889 5555; www.bamboorestaurant.info), look for Kohala Winds of Change
(55-3435 Akoni Pule Hwy.; 1 808 889 0809;
kohalawindsofchange.com), which imports and sells scores
of organic Chinese teas.

Puukohola Heiau
Now head south on the warmer and drier low road, stopping
for a history lesson at the windswept ruins of the Puukohola
Heiau (1 808 882 7218; www.nps.gov/puhe). In 1791 King
Kamehameha completed his conquest of the Big Island.

Finish Back at the Airport
From here, it’s almost a straight shot back to the airport. Side
roads lead to luxury resorts with sandy beaches and green golf
courses. Also watch for signs to petroglyph fields that have
primitive figures—of turtles, fish, and canoes—carved into the
lava flows. They represent the native culture of old Hawaii that
still survives on the Big Island.

Road Kit
Hawaii is a year-round attraction, but if you visit at Easter (March/April) you can see the Merrie Monarch Festival in
Hilo, a weeklong hula extravaganza that sells out months in advance (www.merriemonarchfestival.org/about_merrie_monarch_
festival.html). See www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl for local weather conditions. For more on Big Island must-sees, lodgings, and
eateries, see www.bigisland.org, www.kona-kohala.com, www.downtownhilo.com, and www.kamuela.com. The area
code for Hawaii is 808. The attractions above fall along the
221-mile (355-kilometer) Hawaii Belt Road, driving counterclockwise from Kona International Airport, on the
western shore, south to Naalehu, northeast to Hilo, northwest
to Hawi, and south to the airport. Allow three days, including
side trips.

—Text by Robert Bone, adapted from
National Geographic Traveler

Count Your Blessings continued:

First thing in the morning, or as early in the day as you can,
Count Your Blessings. You can write out your list by hand,
type it on a computer, or use a special book or journal and
keep all of your gratitude in one place. Today, you are going
to make a simple list of ten blessings in your life you are
grateful for.

When Einstein gave thanks, he thought about why he was
grateful. When you think about the reason why you’re
grateful for a particular thing, person, or situation, you will
feel gratitude more deeply. Remember that the magic of
gratitude happens according to the degree of your feeling!
So with each item on your list write the reason why you’re
grateful for it.

Here are some ideas for writing your list:

I am truly blessed to have what?
because why? .
I am so happy and grateful for what?
because why? .
I am truly grateful for what? ,
because why? .
With all my heart, thank you for what?
because why? .
After you’ve finished making your list of ten blessings,
go back and read each one, either in your mind or out loud.
When you get to the end of each blessing, say the magic words
three times, thank you, thank you, thank you, and feel the
gratitude for that blessing as much as you possibly can.

To help you feel more gratitude, you can be grateful to the Universe, God, Spirit, goodness, life, your greater self, or
any other concept you are drawn to. When you direct
gratitude toward something or someone, you will feel it
even more, and your gratitude will have even more power,
and create even more magic! It’s the reason why indigenous
and ancient cultures chose symbols like the sun to direct
their gratitude toward. They were simply using physical
symbols to represent the universal source of all goodness,
and in focusing on that symbol they felt more gratitude.

The practice of counting your blessings is so simple and so
powerful in altering your life, that I want you to continue
to add ten more blessings to your list every day for the
next 27 days. You might think it could be difficult to find
ten things you’re grateful for every day, but the more you
think about it, the more you will realize how much you have
to be grateful for. Look closely at your life; you have received,
and are continuing to receive so much each and every day.
There is really so much to give thanks for!

You could be grateful for your home, your family, your
friends, your work, and your pets. You could be thankful
for the sun, the water that you drink, the food that you eat,
and the air that you breathe; without any of them you
wouldn’t be alive. You could be grateful for the trees,
the animals, the oceans, the birds, the flowers, the plants,
blue skies, rain, the stars, the moon, and our beautiful planet
Earth.

You could be grateful for your senses: your eyes that see,
your ears that hear, your mouth that tastes, your nose that
smells, and your skin that enables you to feel. You could be
grateful for the legs you walk on, your hands that you use
to do almost everything, your voice that enables you to
express yourself and communicate with others. You could
give thanks for your amazing immune system that keeps
you well, and all of your organs that maintain your body
so that you can live. And what about the magnificence of
your human mind, which no computer technology in the
world can duplicate?

Here is a list of subjects that will remind you of the major
areas you can look for blessings to be grateful for. You can
also add any subject you want depending on what is
important to you at any time.

Magic Gratitude Subjects:
Health and body
Work and success
Money
Relationships
Passions
Happiness
Love
Life
Nature: planet Earth, air, water, and the sun
Material goods and services
Any subject of your choosing
You should feel significantly better and happier after each
time you Count Your Blessings, and how good you feel is
your measure of how much gratitude you felt. The more
gratitude you felt, the happier you will feel, and the faster
your life will change. Some days you will feel happy really
quickly, and other days it may take a little longer. But as
you continue to Count Your Blessings every day, you will
notice a bigger and bigger difference in the way you feel
each time, and you will see your blessings magically multiply!

Practice Number 1

Count Your Blessings

1. First thing in the morning, make a list of ten blessings
in your life you are grateful for.

2. Write why you’re grateful for each blessing.

3. Go back and read your list, either in your mind or
out loud. When you get to the end of each one, say the
magic words, thank you, thank you, thank you, and feel
the gratitude for that blessing as much as you possibly can.

4. Repeat the first three steps of this magical practice
every morning for the next 27 days.