Looking Back at 2011

2011 was a wonderful year, a year of memories and changes; some changes we planned for, other changes we didn’t. We left Washington D.C. and the United States all together to embark on a new journey. Over the course of the year, we drove thousands and thousands of miles and flew even more than that visiting family and exploring new places in 13 states, 3 countries countless cities.

We have walked the clean architecturally surrounded streets of New York, Hong Kong and San Francisco, seen ancient walled cities from thousands of years ago, we have wandered the narrow back alleys of the inner city, and roamed through poor villages in the country. We have made new friends and were blessed to spend time with old friends. We visited friends in their homes. Some homes with sleek glass walls, high ceilings, and magazine worthy swimming pools; others are more humble dwellings built of scrap materials and crammed in between several other similar homes beside muddy streams; or the tarp homes on the street and on the old trash pile; or small bamboo huts out in the rice fields. We have truly witnessed what the phrases “to be poor” or “have a hard life” mean. But we have also seen the happiness that comes from simple aspects of life—being with family, having a healthy body, dancing to music, and worshiping our Heavenly Father.

We have prayed nightly in gratitude for all of our blessings we receive daily and asked for special heavenly care for family members and friends as they have faced challenges throughout the year.

We have laughed. We have cried. We accomplished some of our goals and others… well, they will be on next year’s list too. We uplifted while giving service, and were humbled to receive acts of service as well.

We end this adventurous year with thankful hearts for all that we have and look forward to what 2012 brings.

Here is a break down by month:

January

We celebrated the New Year Eve 2011 with our friends Chris and Jenn in New York City’s Time Square along with hundreds of thousands of other people. It was fun to say that we did it. From now on it will be a talking point as we watch the Ball drop year after year. Then a short weekend trip to the Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando. Recognized the 2 year anniversary of Alli’s passing.

February

Valentines party with neighbors Kristen and Chad and friends. Harry Potter party—complete with wands and a Goblet of Fire challenge—with our 10 year old primary class.

March

Visit from Sam and Brooke, friends from Hawaii. A trip to Utah to visit Hiva’s siblings and go to the temple for Dustin’s brother Trevor. Dustin passes his Tagalog test after 5 months of study. Another visit from friends from Hawaii, Camp and Hailey and their son, Reid. Another trip to New York City.

April

A trip to Hawaii to visit Lady Hiva’s parents and siblings. Lady Hiva graduated from BYU-HAWAII completing one of her life’s goals. Hawaiian Luau party for our primary class. Adoption papers are finalized and approved with LDS adoptions, now we just wait until a birth mother chooses us to be the parents of her baby.

May

Lady Hiva went back to Hawaii for her brother Paula’s wedding. Kade and Val come visit for a week. Sold our car, Ojisan, and leave Washington, D.C. Stop in San Francisco for a weekend with Dustin’s parents. A week in Hong Kong touring our first city in Asia and finally arriving in Manila, our new home.

June

Explore Manila and a trip to remote island resort in Palawan Philippines.

July

More exploring of Manila and surrounding area, including a visit to Batangas snorkeling and enjoying the beauty of nature.

August

A visit to Hidden Valley Springs, Corregidor island and still learning about the Philippines. Hiva starts working. Celebrated our 3 year anniversary.

September

Survived the typhoon and flood that threatened Manila. Finally found a beautiful, white sand beach with crystal blue water and no trash in Zambales. Give away shoes to children that live at Tondo.

October

Halloween in a haunted house in Baguio city. Visit to Sagada mummy caves and hanging coffins. A visit to Villa Escudero. 

November

A visit from Secretary Hillary Clinton, Dustin is able to go to Malacanan Palace and see her meet with President Aquino. Veteran’s Day celebration at American Cemetery in Manila. Thanksgiving at home, traditional style. 2 year anniversary of Vaitafe joining our family, also the 2 year anniversary of Vaitafe’s and Trevor’s passing.

December

Christmas in a whirlwind. Several Christmas parties and plenty of fun visiting with friends. Experiencing all the hype that the Christmas season brings to the Philippines. Give away shoes to underprivileged children on Christmas Eve. Christmas dinner with friends then another dinner with the missionaries.  

The War in Manila on New Years Eve…Or at Least it Sounded Like One

Last year Lady Hiva and I were daring and joined some good friends, Jenn and Chris, and made the trip to New York City Times Square for New Years Eve to welcome in 2011. It is too bad we did not blog back then, because it was quite the trip. 8 hours of standing like cattle in fenced off areas with a million other people, no food, no bathroom, no chair, security everywhere, stay at a hotel with a high end party in the lobby that people were jealous we had tickets to, but we don’t drink or party so our extent of the party was to cross the lobby and get to our room…but we did it, we can say we went the TIMES SQUARE for New Years Eve! It was fun to watch NEW YEARS EVE, the movie, this past week and see that they used clips from last year’s celebration in the video and to know that the four of us were there! (Lady Hiva and I agreed it was a once in a lifetime experience. If we ever feel the need to be there again we will get one of the hotels that overlook the Square.)

This year we are in Manila, quite a bit different. In the morning I went on  a run and it was eery to see that the normally chaotic and bustling streets were empty. Where was everyone hiding? Then about 6 pm we found out. They had been preparing for WAR! With a few introductory bangs that rattled the windows and echoed off the concrete buildings the war began. For hours on end the banging got louder and louder. If you looked out the upstairs windows it looked like the city really was having a war. Loud explosions sounded and in their wake came bright flashes of light and screams (hopefully in excitement). Not a place for someone with PTSD.

We decided to take it easy for the night, we watched a movie then walked over to Mall of Asia for the fireworks. We arrived there 20 minutes before Midnight and there were cars and people ALL OVER. They looked like they had been there all day too. I was SO glad that we were not reliving the sitting and the waiting of last year. We got there, took some photos. Tried to have some guy take our photo but he thought that when the flash popped up, it was taking the photo. Brmp…fail. Then another drunk guy decided to come and stand between us and the camera man and could not understand over the loud music and flashing lights why his friends were telling him to move…brmp…fail 2. Ok maybe we will just take our own photo!

The fireworks started and much different from NYC, they were directly above our heads. The boom from the big fireworks literally shook us. Then the burning ash started to rain onto us. Let me tell you, those pretty glowing colors don’t look so pretty when they are coming right at your face! One large chunk landed between me and the guy next to me, we both looked up and surprise. I started to wonder if we needed to worry how much hairspray Lady had used today…for the rest of the evening people were constantly reaching up and pulling debris and ash out of their hair. Talk about being part of the show! Actually, the show was pretty spectacular despite raining fireballs.

The shelling of the city continued throughout the night. It was funny to see that as we walked home all the mess from homemade fireworks (can it get any more scary than that?) including one high end hotel that put their show on in front of the building even with the hundreds of VERY expensive cars literally three feet away. The cars looked like they had trash dumped all over them. 

This morning there was still such a bad smoky haze over the city they could not let airplanes land or take off! Now that is some SERIOUS celebrations! Oh, and after church today we watched the live streaming of the ball dropping in Times Square right before we took our nap…hahaha

So, welcome 2012! We cannot wait to see what you have in store!

Here is a YouTube Link that show what was happening in Manila New Years Eve:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HPqiY0NJV8&feature=youtube_gdata_player