I awoke in the daylight hours with the feeling of heaviness all over my body. My muscles ached and my chest felt like it had a ton brick added to it. As I realized what was going down I prayed that the Lord would heal me and give me strength for the tasks I was here to do. I slept some more hoping that when I woke up all would be well and I could proceed as originally planned.

A few weeks before, Debbie had set up an appointment with Rileys Vet, Hawaii requires several different appointments and tests to be done before any animal can be transported to the Islands, so that was the main thing I had to do that morning. That afternoon I rested some more, taking all the medicines I had to relieve the growing pain in my body. I was coming to terms with how I felt and was still continuing to pray for a full restoration of my energy.  That night Debbie came home from work a little early and they took me out to dinner, I told Riley we would be back soon. It was a place I had never been before which I thought was fun, they serve peanuts and you take the shells and throw them on the floor. An interesting country gimmick in the city suburbs.

After we got back, I once again settled into bed praying for my healing. When I woke up in the middle of the night it was with great disappointment, my throat was on fire. In the morning I called Jim and bewailed my situation, not knowing what to do. Here I was all by myself with a huge list of things to accomplish and in soo much pain I could hardly stand it. You know it's bad when you begin to take all the pain medications you can get your hands on and it really does not faze the pain at all. Jim was addiment “GO to the doctor!!! don't wait, GO now!”, so I did.

I had to wait along time to get in but when I finally did the Doc seemed to think it was a virus so she did not want to give me anti-biotics. Well, I know my body better than she does, so I finally talked her into the meds I knew I needed...And I was correct, within 24 hours I was on the two week long road back to recovery. Don't get me wrong, pain was still an issue, but I could tell that my body was happy to see help.

In the meantime however I still had all those tasks to do, and some I did not even know I would have to do since I had not yet been to the Tanus house. FINALLY on the third day of my being in town, I made it over to the house. With medications digested and more in hand Riley and I walked in...

What I saw was not what I wanted to see. The first thing I did was 'evict' everyone out, any money floating around for rent had not come our way so I did not hesitate to take action and begin the clean-up process. The kitchen was first area I focused on since it was the only room where people were not, then the family room and the downstairs bathrooms.

After being in Hawaii for several months I knew the value of some of the stuff I had left behind: cooking spices, eating utensils, videos, plastic storage containers, and more. I decided to take advantage of the two suitcase or box check-in limit on the airplane ride back to Kona. I measured two boxes carefully not to exceed the 62” linear measurement and began gathering things that I knew we would be able to use in Kona. On the positive side, it was a good thing Jason had not packed up or gotten rid of some of the stuff yet since that gave me the opportunity to go thru the things quickly and easily.

By now everyone that needed to be out of there, was out. It was obvious to me that the dining room needed to be painted along with Katies old room. The dining walls were glossy burgandy when we moved in and I had added some green stripes to the mix because that was my 'design room' and I wanted to create color energy, so I had stripes... but now it had to change. I took the whole house touch-up paint sample and went to the paint store, where they mixed up a gallon.  It was fun painting and when it was completed I felt a nice sense of accomplishment, I also painted the wall in Katies room that we had painted bright green and touched up all the walls throughout the house. A job well done and thank you Lord for all my medications that are working to help me along.

The next day I decided that it would be a lot easier to stay at the house instead of driving back and forth from Citrus Heights to Rocklin, so Riley and I packed up our things including Debbie's bedding and we set up our space in the family room. I know that sounds like a strange place to sleep but it felt right to me and so that's what I wanted.

As the days went on we cleaned rooms, went into the garage and sorted out things to donate and things to take to storage. It was finally time to go to our Rocklin storage unit... and the oddest thing happened...Jason and I were there unloading the items and putting them into the space when all of a sudden I had to- had to - had to go to the restroom. I did not know what to do because of the suddenness of the situation, so my body proceeded to just let it loose, no waiting. I exclaimed to Jason what was going on and he quickly unloaded the van and told me to go take care of myself, so I did. My first intent was to go to Taco Bell across the street but it was very 'odorifically' obvious that there was no way I could do that, so I sped home praying that the police were somewhere else. Wow, I ended up throwning away those pants!!! Where is the air freshener? And, what happened there? I tried to be quick and go back and find Jason, he was along the road walking home. Thus was my strange experience at our Rocklin storage space.

I really needed some help, I was not going to be able to do it all on my own.  So praise the Lord, Tom came over and helped and Joe came over and helped... and so once again the Lord provided the perfect people to do everything that was needed to get done. Joe was able to get all the little maintenance tasks done that were totally overwhelming to me and Tom was able to take care of the donation pick-up and delivery.

So by the time I was to fly back to Hawaii, the house was clean, painted and ready to rent. Jasons plan was to stay there two more nights and then return the keys back to the owner.

My job was done here!... 

When I was at the Vet with Riley, he had recommended some sedatives for the airplane ride, so for two nights before the flight I gave Riley a small dose. She seemed to adapt alright, a little wobbly on her feet but other wise no problems I could see. By the time our early morning check-in was happening Riley was sedated and I was praying for her well being in that travel container. Ahh, they put her on the luggage belt that moves the luggage along to the back room... see you in Honolulu...

On this trip my Honolulu experience was a NIGHTMARE!!! On our two trips before Honolulu airport experience was positive and easy, but let me warn you – if you are bringing in a pet beware! If you are not feeling well and are by yourself – be warned:

• You need to get a luggage cart on your way to the Pet Vet Holding place

• The carts cost money, have that ready

• Be prepared to walk and ask everybody you see 'where is it?' It is very difficult to find, and no map is provided

• Patience is a virtue and mine was not so virtuous, I felt awful

• I did not bring a cart the first time so had a very long walk back, a customer gave me a ride to the building with the carts, thank God!

• They do not allow the dogs a place to go potty at this Vet establishment

• It is against the law to let your dog go potty within the airport boundaries because it is against the law to let your pet out of it's carrier - including the Vet waiting room!

• If you must, you are supposed to call a Taxi, go on a taxi ride to some unknown location within a short distance (?) from the airport and let your travel exausted pet go potty

• When you come back into the airport, you would then have to completely re-check in like you were just getting there to fly somewhere

• I insisted that they give Riley a chance to go potty in a dog run – they did it

• The next person saw me do it and asked also – they did not do it

• They did not tell me ahead of time I would have to then take my pet and check her in for the next flight from Honolulu to Kona, hence the need for the cart...

• At the airlines check-in counter the 'official pet guards' came over and wanted to take Riley out of her carrier and the ticket lady was going to charge me twice for Rileys continued flight – they did neither – many thanks to the Lord

Finally – we were home – smiley face.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas?.....