I'm not usually one to complain but.....

from Kimber King's Blog, "Life of a Wahm"
(read previous posts at www.lifeofawahm.com)


Many of you are aware that my hubby Stew will be leaving this weekend for Haiti with the organization, "Healing Hands for Haiti."


If you want to follow their journey, you can join their FAN PAGE at www.facebook.com/ucthealinghands or I just put up a NEW Blog at www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com


Stew's trip to Haiti has been planned since November and so after the earthquake, the team was not sure if they would be able to get down there since they had purchased commercial flights.  It's been a little crazy since then, but all systems were go and confirmed a few weeks ago!


The team of 26 has been getting ready for this trip and getting their families and lives all ready to make this 10 day service trip.


As we returned home from Church on Sunday, we had several frantic messages and texts that Delta Airlines has canceled their flight this Friday and won't be flying to Haiti until June.


Guess what?  Delta hasn't contacted any of them!  One of the team members, Brooke just "had a feeling" Sunday morning to confirm her ticket and called and they told her, "hey, by the way...your flight to Haiti is canceled."


This is just 6 days before the flight.  So in a panic, the team members all had to start looking for tickets on other airlines, additional costs, schedule change, loss of days being able to serve in Haiti.


And here it is Tuesday morning, just 4 days before their flight was scheduled to leave and get this, Delta has still not officially told them their flight is canceled.   Several team members have now called in on their own and they have advised them that this is correct and how to request a refund.


Luckily most of them have been able to reschedule on American Airlines but Stew and Darryl will lose a whole day in Haiti of being able to serve.  They will not arrive until Sunday now.


It's all good and I understand that when you are stepping out to serve and do good, the enemy tries to stop it so I am always one who is flexible and can just roll with it, but I am pretty upset at Delta this morning.


They might have it in their policy that they don't have to notify you of a canceled flight but HELLO they have to understand that people who are booking a flight into Haiti must be going there for a purpose and serving down there.  You would think that they would have the courtesy to reach out and help this team!

Could you imagine if Brooke would have not had that prompting to call and they didn't find out until Thursday or Friday!  Ticket prices go up substantially, flights get booked and most of the team members have raised donations for their flight on their own.

Those that know me, know that I am usually "Polyanna" towards things but I really think Delta should have taken better care of this team.

A big shout out THANK YOU to American Airlines for picking up the ball that Delta flat out dropped!

What would you do in this situation?  Would you contact Delta and let them know how this affected this team?  Do you think they would care?  I so feel like writing a letter but maybe it's best I just let it go and count the blessings that the trip still goes on!!!

This team was destined to serve on this trip! 

No earthquake, $$$, flight cancelations can stop them!  (enemy hands off this one and you are under their feet)!!!

P.S.  I'll get back to my "Vacation posts" tomorrow...just had to vent a little bit today!!!  ;)

"7 Days of Paradise" Day 2 - Part 2

 "7 Days of Paradise" Day 2 - Part 2
from Kimber King's Blog, "Life of a Wahm"
(read previous posts at www.lifeofawahm.com)

So after our snorkeling experience, it was time to get out and explore this beautiful island.  Luckily we brought along our "Tom Tom" (that has saved us from a ton of fights over the last year)! 

 

If you don't have a Tom Tom, wives, husbands, this is a must have if you are ever going to travel and especially with kids!  Seriously...next birthday or holiday gift, this is a no-brainer!

Anyway... we actually didn't have a destination in mind.  We just started driving north and as we drove along the beautiful island, the mountain range in front of me was just stunning!   I'm from Utah and I'm used to the majesty of big mountains but this one was just covered in GREEN and had a layer of clouds, almost fog that just seemed to descend and hang out daily over it, casting a huge shadow.....it's just truly something to behold.

As we drove, I put "parks and recreations" into Tom Tom and it came up with Iao Needle.  Now silly us, this is a major tourist attraction but since we just kind of do our own thing, we just happened to stumble up on it.

As we drove up the narrow canyon towards it, I felt like "Sawyer and Kate" would run out of the jungle carrying rifles at any moment (for you "Lost Fans")....

Anyway, the Iao Needle is really beautiful! 

Hawaiian story behind the Iao Needle:  The Hawaiian god Kāne is considered to be the procreator and the provider of life. He is associated with wai (fresh water) as well as clouds, rain, streams and springs. Kanaloa, the Hawaiian god of the underworld, is represented by the phallic stone of the ʻĪao Needle.

So yes... the Iao Needle is a phallic symbol.  LOL  As we were reading about Kanaloa, actually at Iao Needle, it spoke of him as the god of the oceans and so jokingly I told Stew from here on out, he was "Kanoloa"  (since he is such a fish and at one with the ocean).  Like a typical guy, he took to the name right away ;)  So Kanoloa was born!

After we left Iao, we journeyed back down the canyon and Stew stopped by a fruit stand and bought some fresh papaya and avocado. 

We then drove through the town there that was really cute and quaint and up another curvy road to a beautiful ranch at the top.

After that, it was getting dark and as we drove back, we saw a familiar site, Outback Steak House!  So after a long, active and fun day, that "wedge salad" and fresh coconut shrimp really hit the spot!  YUM!

Check back for Day 3's adventures at www.lifeofawahm.com

"7 Days of Paradise" Day 1

Hey everyone,

So for the next week or so, I'm going to be blogging and posting pics about our recent trip to Maui.  One week ago today, we were playing on the beaches there.  Thank heavens everyone is safe there in light of the Tsunmai that hit them today...and so glad I wasn't there or my boys and my parents would have freaked out here back home (not to mention that it would have been pretty eerie and scary to wake up to the sirens ringing).

Anyway, I'm doing this for a couple reasons but mainly so many times we have been on vacations and though the memories always linger, some details and great experiences get forgottten as time moves on.

I'm hoping to share TONS of details, mostly fun, sometimes boring but every detail about our trip incase anyone else is thinking about going to Maui and so my family can re-live the vacation with us.

So why Maui?  Stew and I have tried to do a couples trip each year (except for the last couple of years).  We usually have vacationed to the beautiful land of Mexico, mainly Playa Del Car region.  If you ever go to Cancun make sure to stay closer to this beautiful place...not so "touristy" (is that a word)?  and so beautiful and quaint.   Anyway, back to Maui.  Since we have done Mexico many times, and not quite in that party, party stage in our lives anymore....we still wanted to go to a romantic, beautiful beach.  Did I mention that Stew is a FISH and loves the water!  So the beach is always our primary destination.  So if it wasn't going to be Mexico and we couldn't quite afford Bora Bora yet, then we chose Maui.  (Remind me to tell you my Bora Bora BIGGEST REGRET story sometime... I had the chance to go and blew that one---duh)!!!

Stew has never been to Hawaii and I knew he would love it.  I went for graduation almost 22 (did I just say 22) years ago!  A group of our friends went to Honolulu on the island of Oahu.  We had a blast but even back then there were a tons of tourists and I knew Stew would enjoy one of the more kicked back islands better.  So we knew Maui was in between of less tourists but with still lots of activities to do! 

We chose our resort based on the best snorkeling. Stew is a snorkeling/scuba-ing fool! 

We chose to stay in the beautiful, lush area of Makena/Wailea area, Makena Beach & Golf Resort:

Valentine's Day, prior to us leaving for Maui, Stew and I went to a great dinner here at home at the Pleasant Valley Golf & Grill (they have the best food--YUM)!!  Anyway, as we were eating, Stew totally surprised and freaked me out as he got down on his knee and gave me a beautiful cross necklace and asked me to marry him again in Maui... I know girls...ahhhhhhhhhh..... I was so shocked.... We have been through so much and it totally caught me off guard and I was even way more exicted about our trip.  We wanted to do something casual on the beach with just us and renew our vows together...more about that on about the 6th day!  (found a super cute white beach dress at Dillard's)....FUN REASON TO SHOP!

Anyway, we flew Delta to Maui non-stop on Monday.  I was a little annoyed at Delta for charging for luggage because it got me a little frustrated trying to pack into one suitcase.  Luckily most of what I was packed was swimming suits and flip-flops.  I LOVE Southwest Air!

For those of you that don't know me....I actually fly quite a lot with my business but I am still a freaked out flyer.  I used to be okay but there was 3 flights in a row one year that we had to do abrupt "go-arounds" under freaky circumstances and since then, I have not been a relaxed flyer.  So embarassed to admit...but Dramamine is my best friend flying.  Knock me out baby....

So, 6 1/2 hour flight to Maui direct.  I prayed so hard for a great non-eventful flight...and it was exactly that. 

We arrived in Maui around 4pm local time which was 7pm our time and we were starving...Delta peanuts and pretzels just don't cut it.  Luckily I had my yummy protein shakes that filled me up while we were flying.

We went to the mall in Maui for some interesting fast, Japanese food????  Not sure I want to comment on that but it did taste okay since I was famished.  We then did what all tourists from the states do......WE WENT TO COSTCO!  Yup...when you go to Maui, your first stop is Costco. 

We went and stocked up with goodies for our room.  I was so excited just to eat their yummy fresh fruit and my shakes for most of my meals except for our nightly big meal.  We just are the type that would rather not eat out and spend the $$.  And the freakin' pineapple was unbelieveable! 

So after Costco, we arrived at our hotel in the beautiful area of Makena.  We drove through Wailea which is also a very lush and beautiful landscaped, even jungle looking area of amazing hotels, time shares, golf course and shopping.

As we drove up to our resort it was already after dark.  We kept driving and driving towards the end of the road.  We pulled up and was so excited at what we saw.   We were greeted with ALOHA and shell leis by the staff.  As we walked through the open air lobby and beautiful courtyard to our room, we heard the loudest birds EVER.  I almost thought it was a recording.  No way could this be real live birds.  And although I loved hearing it....it was almost deafening.  So interesting, these mynah birds sing for about an 1/2 hour or so EVERY morning and night at sunrise and sunset.  It's so cool!  Nature just never ceazes to amaze me.

As we got to relax in our room that night on the balcony and could hear the crashing waves and get a glimpse of the sparkling sand and waves, we were excited to see what it all looked like the next morning. 

On my next posts, I'll start posting some "real" pics of our adventure.....

Oh geez...I'm getting myself excited all over and want to fly back right now!

Mahalo for reading my blog....check back for Day 2's adventures.   ALOHA

Please...the people of Haiti desperately need you!‏

Good morning friends,

My heart is so heavy this morning. Earlier this week, I started preparing an email to ask all of you for support for a medical service mission my husband Stewart will be going on March 12th to Haiti.

As many of you may have heard, there was a 7.3 earthquake that hit this area yesterday and the devastastion is just barely starting to be realized. And they have had over a dozen after shocks since as large as 5.2.

I knew very little about this small war-torn, ravished country but attended a meeting with Stewart last week and realized that this country was one of the poorest country in the world and their needs were so great! These people have very little and my eyes had been opened to their incredible needs.

Now with this earthquake, I can't even imagine how much more these people could handle.

It's complete devistation over there right now and the communication out of there is little. It's hard to communicate normally. So like I said, we are still very uncertain of the devistation right now.

The organization Stewart is serving with is called www.healinghandsforhaiti.org At this time, we are still unsure if their compound survived the quake or if the currrent Healing Hands for Haiti team there now is okay? It's a two story building and compound right in Port Au Prince. As of this morning, we have only heard from 1 out of the 50 team over there right now. So please pray that we hear soon and that they are all okay.


You can watch a news clip and about 2 minutes in, Healing Hands for Haiti's Founder, Dr. Jeff Randle speaks about what is going on:

CLICK HERE FOR NEWS CLIP

Earlier this week I was going to ask you to consider a monetary donation and ask my Isagenix friends and clients to donate some "IsaKids" vitamins to Stew's "Utah County Team" for their trip in March but now I just ask you for any kind of donation you can for the people of Haiti in general.

As we wake up in our warm homes every morning, able to drive to where we need to, have meals with our families, etc... these people on a normal day, struggle with very little electricity, no transporation, scraping for daily meals and so much more. Survival is what their purpose is everyday!

We are struggling here in the U.S. because of our economy, but the hard truth is that the poorest of our people would be wealthy in their country.

Please just prayerfully consider skipping a few luxuries or even fasting and donating that money to them at this terrible time.

If you would like to make a direct donation to the organization, you can do so at the above site. If you still want to donate to Stew's Utah County Team, please contact Stewart's brother in law, Darryl Wagner at Darryl.Wagner@imail.org or 801-635-0677 to see what their needs are now. I was going to ask you send "IsaKids" vitamins as their focus is on teaching the people about general medical needs and nutrition but now I am not sure what would be the best way to help their team.

Also, Monday I had set up a FaceBook Fan page for their team. If you are on FaceBook, please become a fan at www.facebook.com/ucthealinghands and invite your FB friends as well to become a fan.

Thank you so much for your time in reading this today. I ask for at the very least your prayers for the people of Haiti. We are all so blessed and I know we are all very grateful for all that we have. If you have just a little you can do, please consider it.

Also, you can help spread the message by going to the bottom of this message and forward this to your friends, families, clients and teams as well.

Sincerely,



Kimber King