Anna and I had a great time Thanksgiving morning running in the Turkey Trot: Mashed Potato Mile. Actually we ended up running with people who were doing the 5 k because we got downtown late. But that was a great way to have more people see our great pirate costumes! Most people would yell at us, "Hey! There's a pirate!" and then see Anna's prosthetic leg and revise their comment to, "OOOHHHHH, She's a REAL pirate! Alright! GO COOL PIRATE LADY WHO'S RUNNING IN A RACE!"

A Great Wedding Video, Thanks Dad!

So my Dad is a bit of a movie maker in the family.  But as the first year anniversary of Anna's and my wedding draws near, this one particularly hit home.  It was so great to see pictures of our family and friends.  Anna's Uncle Bill was there, which was especially important since his recent passing - we love you Uncle Bill.



For everyone that has made our lives so great, we want to say thanks.  You all are the reason that Anna and I are who we are.  We love you.

Carl and Anna

Med School and More

Embedded Video

So that leaves me hear in the Detroit area working at the Young Leaders Initiative now. But it is a great new job where I get to hang out at Re-Member and plan Motown Mission Trips!


Basically we are having many adventures as our first year wedding anniversary draws ever closer. Hope you are all well!

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See? Turtles!

Well, we had quite a day of snorkeling yesterday and the day before. First we drove around to points like "THE Two Step" and got in the water with our rented snorkel gear. At the first bay the tide was low and we were literally swimming with the turtles. One showed up and Anna and I both floated with it on the swells for a number of minutes. At Two Step, getting its name from the rock formation entry point that has...yep, two steps...into the water, we saw some nice stuff, but knew that we were going to be there the next day also. So we headed over to the ancient Hawaiian settlement of Pu'uhonua o Honaunau and looked at more turtles basking in the sun. It was great!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles!

Yesterday was a day any four year old would have loved, or Dave Gladstone. Waking up in the morning we spotted a whale slapping his side fin on the water, probably trying to attract a mate. When we left our hotel, to our surprise, on the other side of Kona bay was a HUGE cruise ship taking up the entire horizon. We drove to the airport...and you could still see the GIANT ship. Dave would've loved that.
Then we checked in for our two hour flight with Big Island Air. A must-do if you are ever on the Big Island of Hawaii. Carl thought the pilot was joking when he asked the two of us "Which one of you wants to fly co-pilot", so Anna jumped at the chance and got to ride shotgun. Don't worry, she didn't try to fly the plane.
Riding around the island in a 10 passenger plane is a whole different perspective. We started flying down the coast south of Kailua a little and he pointed out some great places for swimming, and snorkeling! Then we headed east up through the islands two biggest volcanoes/mountains. One of them, Mauna Loa is apparently...how did he put it "If she was a pregnant woman, she'd be 24 months pregnant."
Passing through the mountains we flew to the erupting site of a newer volcano on the island. Steam and smoke we visable from miles away, and the craters that were miles wide, apparently filled with lava beneath the surface and houses around the outside edge made us really question Hawaiian people's judgment. The most recent lava flow has taken out a neighborhood but don't worry, those folks have already started to rebuild on top of it!

Then it was off to Jurassic Park (or "DryLand" as Carl prefers the movie Waterworld) where we drove through the same valley that the helocopter flew through in the beginning of the first Jurassic Park. I must say I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful sight. Waterfalls after waterfalls falling down thousands of feet off of these green plush cliffs into the Pacific Ocean. WOW. If you are a hiker, trying to hike that area would be amazing.
Then we saw whales from the sky. Carl took a great photo before they went under.
After our flight we went to check out the coffee store but after had to turn in our red jeep for a grey one due to the strange sound it had been making. Then we drove South of Kona after lunch. We stopped at a neat Coffee Plantation and met a fellow Christian who says God called him to Hawai'i...and well, we both agreed that we too could use that excuse to come to Hawai'i, and the sacrifice would be unbearable but we would do it for God.
In the evening we watched the sunset, and the sea turtles at PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU. And wow, coolest place ever, we may go back there for some snorkeling today.
Hawai'i is pretty amazing...if you get a chance...you should definitely do it.

Honeymoon in Hawaii!

Well it has been almost 6 months since our wedding but we've finally made it to our honeymoon. With the generous gifts from our wedding we've headed out across the Pacific for a Hawaiin adventure.

Yesterday we landed at about 3pm local time after an airplane ride that could have churned butter due to the turbulence. But entering the plane in icy MI and exiting down the stairs to the sun soaked tarmac was certainly worth it. Then it was off to the rental place where we upgraded to the only real vehicle worthy of Hawaii - a Jeep Wrangler - whose windows we quickly unzipped and stowed.

The first destination on the island was yesterday evening with a trip up to the top of the Big Island's mountain summit where astronomers from the nearby observatory to answer visitor's questions and train the numerous telescopes onto stellar things for us to ooh over. The ride up to this summit though was a trip in itself, with the road getting less well maintained, more curvy, and more steep the farther we went.

Today we started by heading out to the Hard Rock Cafe at 8am to take advantage of Expedia's client service and within 20 minutes were booked for all the rest of our week's adventures. Then it was on to rent some snorkel gear and boogie boards and we hit the road.

At the state park beach we stopped at first, the highlight was watching a small pod of whales swim by - breaching and blowing across the bay.

After that it was on to Wiamea and a little town beyond where there is a lookout of a gorgeous canyon. At the mouth of that we saw more whales. I should say that apparently it is mating season and Hawaii's waters are humpback's love dens apparently!

Then, to end the day it was up and over the best mountain drive I've ever been on. The catch was that the "scenic" overlook was part of about 1.5 miles on this road that was totally encased in cloud. So you had to be cool like Anna and I to stop along the roadside as the sun set and take great photos.

Anyway, more to come. But for now, rest and anticipation of tomorrow's views of the island by air!

Carl