We had some time off work right before Thanksgiving, so we weren’t too concerned about the holiday itself. Gavin and I both ate the usual cafeteria food that day and worked away at the Sheraton. However, that evening, I went to my friend Hannah’s house where a group of friends had gathered for dinner. We dined in her beautiful new backyard, and everyone brought something to contribute. I did miss Gavin, though—he and Logan’s wife, Courtney, were the only ones not there. But despite that, we still had so much to be grateful for this season. We truly can count our blessings.
Gavin’s Marathon
Gavin has been training hard for the Honolulu Marathon since June, with a dream of qualifying for the Boston Marathon one day. He was incredibly dedicated to his long runs, and I don’t think he missed a single one. I would accompany him to the golf course, where I’d run or walk while he did his laps back and forth. I’d cheer him on with water, snacks, and plenty of high-fives—always reminding him, “You’ve got this!”
We were lucky enough to score a hotel right by the start line through Marriott. We stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki in town and were even upgraded to an oceanfront room! Wahoo! The view was absolutely breathtaking. This trip was super relaxing for me, especially since I wasn’t the one running. The night before the race, we ordered take-out from the Cheesecake factory and enjoyed it in our hotel room. The next morning, we were up at 4 a.m. to head to the start line.
I couldn’t believe how many people were gathered there—there were an estimated 35,000 runners! It was a bit of a standstill just trying to walk to the start line. Once Gavin joined the crowd, I lost him pretty quickly. But I stayed behind to cheer on all the runners, which took about 40 minutes as they passed through the start. It was incredible to see so many people running with determination. I smiled when I saw a fellow spectator proudly waving his Mickey hands at all the runners. My mom would have done that.
I was tracking Gavin through the race app and getting updates on his estimated finish time. When I saw him cross the finish line, I cheered as loud as I could. He looked absolutely exhausted, the most tired I’ve ever seen him after a race. But he gave it his all. As soon as he took off his shoes, I saw that all eight of his toenails were black... He’ll definitely be losing those, but he made it through the race!
Afterward, Gavin spent the rest of the day in bed while I went out to get him some food. He watched football and ate take-out all day. Honestly, I don’t think he was disappointed.
That evening, I went to a beach graduation celebration for my friends Sarah and Anna, who both graduated with their master’s degrees and are now doctors! They had the cutest picnic set-up on the beach, and it was so fun to see everyone and celebrate their achievements. We had Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour playing in the background—it was bittersweet since it was her last show. I also got to meet Jansen's third baby boy Lono he is a precious soul straight from heaven.
Holiday Celebrations
Gavin and I celebrated the holidays just the two of us this year. We went to his work Christmas party, where Chelsea and I wore matching Folklore cardigans. It was fun to be with the other managers I felt like I was part of the team since I know everyone at work so well. I kept forgetting that I was technically a guest!
We also went camping with our friends Anita and Chase on Christmas Adam. We headed to Polihale, and it was absolutely beautiful. We found the best camping spot right on the beach, and the day was filled with relaxation—reading, flying kites, napping, playing KanJam, roasting hot dogs, and playing games under the stars. It was the most magical start to Christmas Eve we could have asked for. Gavin even slept under the stars, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many in my life. Being surrounded by God’s creations on Christmas was a reminder of how much there is to be thankful for.
On Christmas day we had dinner with our friends at Chase and Anitas. We all dressed up and grilled stakes it was a feast for all.
Christmas Day
The next day, Gavin and I celebrated Christmas together. We opened our gifts, then had an amazing beach day at Shipwreck Beach. Afterward, we came home, played Dad’s game Queen of Hearts, and made homemade pasta. We finished the evening enjoying our Christmas treats. The house felt like Christmas we had our gifts lying around and our favorite food in the fridge. I wouldn't have had chritmas any other way this season.
This holiday season, we have so much to rejoice in and be grateful for: good health, great jobs, amazing friends, travel opportunities, church callings, happiness, and most importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We feel incredibly blessed. And it all points back to our Savior—because of Him, life is full of goodness and more.
So, here's to 2024!
