AAAAHHHHH!

So my boy is leaving in 10 days. Sad? Yes. Happy? Yes. Worried? Yes. Blessed YES!
He started this weird forum where you can ask him any question you want (http://www.formspring.me/tylerdporter) and he will answer it. So people were asking things about his mission and other strange questions like.....Who would you rather date? Queen Latifa or Oprah. He answered Queen Latifa (did I tell you I raised that boy right?) One of the questions was.....

Who inspires you the most? His answer was-------

my parents have definitely been the biggest inspiration in my life. They have made me the person I am today, and I love them so much for that.

See I did raise him right....

Tyler Funny Video

Check out the video clip on the side, it's a little better than this one. Make sure you turn off my music first, so that you can hear it.

Hawaii Trip 2010 (start from the bottom and work your way up)

If you click on this picture, you can get a better view of the surfer trying to catch a wave.

I loved they way the waves rolled in. Right next to our resort was this rock wall, and as the tide came in, the waves crashed along it. It was so peaceful to just sit there and watch and listen to the ocean.

As you can see, it was pretty high winds for a few days.

After snorkeling we went to the North Shore and Ty and Andrew got surf lessons from Ash the good looking surf instructor. Tyler was hoping for a girl instructor.

On the last day we went snorkeling in Waikiki off of a katamaran. The ocean was still pretty rough from the high winds so.....I got sick. But, not until after I snorkeled with the turtles. We went to what they call the turtle wash station. They come to this specific part of the reef and the fish come every morning and clean the turtles shells. Pretty amazing how nature works.

My friend Susan is the biggest Dog the Bounty Hunter fan. I had to go and try to get an autograph. Unfortunately he was away on a book tour and wouldn't return until later in the month. Here is his place of business.

Diamond Head

Hanauma Bay. Look at my earlier post and see the same picture.

I swam with a sea turtle for about ten minutes. It was so incredible. He just kept swimming around and looking back to see if I was keeping up with him.

Hanauma Bay

Polynesian Culture Center
What a way to spend the day. Our day was full from start to finish. Great entertainment, good food and lots of laughs. I have grown to love the Polynesian culture.

Kolohe Kai. They are really hot on the Island. We heard their song "Ehu Girl", over and over. Ty had some of their music on his ipod and we noticed they were performing at the Honolulu Festival, so we went and watched. They were really good. If you don't like Raggae you won't care for them though.

Beautiful Hula dancer. I want to learn to Hula like that.

Mufi Hanneman. The Mayor of Honolulu. He sang for us.

Taiko drummers. They were amazing.

As of 2009, 68 years after the explosion that destroyed Arizona, oil leaks from the hull still rise to the surface of the water. Arizona continues to leak about a quart (0.95 L) of oil per day into the harbor. Survivors from the crew say that the oil will continue to leak until the last survivor dies.

These are the names of the men that survived the bombing of the Arizona. Many of the survivors have arranged for their ashes to be placed in the ship, among their fallen comrades, upon their death and cremation. The Navy, in conjunction with the National Park Service, has recently overseen a comprehensive computerized mapping of the hull, being careful to honor its role as a war grave. The Navy is considering non-intrusive means of abating the continued leakage of oil to avoid the further environmental degradation of the harbor.

On Monday we went to Pearl Harbor. There is such a reverent feeling there. It is such a huge piece of American History. It really makes you reflect upon the many people who have given their lives to give us the freedoms that we so quickly take for granted.

Tyler showing us what a "conniving thief" looks like.

Andrew being a "conniving theif".

At the Dole Plantation. This is the "Worlds Largest Maze".

On the way to the Temple to check it out.
The country-side is beautiful there.

Syd in her future car.

This is our first day at the Ko'Olina Resort.
Pool at the Resort.

One of the 3 Lagoons at the Resort.

HAWAII

Bring on the SUNSHINE. I can't wait. In two weeks I will be sitting on the white beaches of Oahu. I can't wait. I am sooo not a winter girl, and always about this time of year I am ready to pull my hair out. I am itching to being digging in the dirt and feel the warm sun on my back. I want to leave the doors open and let the "stink" blow out of here. I could build a hut and catch fish and crab on a beach and be content for the rest of my dying days. But, here I sit in the tundra of Idaho and long for the warm, dry days of summer. It's just around the bend, but not soon enough. So here we come Hawaii. My last farewell before Ty leaves us for two years. So I am going to soak up the sun, soak up the time I have left with both Syd and Ty. Hopefully, I can come back refreshed and rejuvenated for the other four kids. Maybe Drew will feel that all the hard work he puts into the store is well worth it, so he can have these moments with our kids that build memories.

My Missionary Man

S



Lisbon, Portugal is where he will serve. May 5th is when he will leave. That's the day that we are all planning our world around now. We will all plan our lives around, before Tyler leaves on his mission, and after he leaves on his mission. We are all excited and a little apprehensive. As I am sure most families are, when they think about sending their kid off with very little contact for two years. I am grateful it is a safe country to travel to. His first choice would have been Africa. Not sure I would be so excited if he had went to Africa.
I am looking forward to going over and getting him when he is off his mission. Hope to travel around a bit and see some other places in Europe. He is happy to be serving in a place that is so rich with culture and history. I think it will really open his mind. I think the people of Portugal are going to love him and he will love the people of Portugal.

Tyler

So someone tell me exactly when this little baby grew up? It seems as though it was in a blink of an eye. This week he was ordained an Elder in our church. Before he received his blessing the stake representative asked that we bare our testimony. There were so many things going through my head I just couldn't think straight.
I wish, I would have told the story that confirmed that this boy would either turn out really well or die really young.
Not long after we moved to Idaho Falls (1994) Tyler had asked if he could ride his bike around the block. We lived in a decent neighborhood and he was so excited. I agreed and off he went. Not long after he came riding home with his face beaming with pride. I thought, he was just excited that he was able to ride around the block all on his own. Later that night, I found out why he was really so proud of himself.
We had just got done washing his hair and he looked up at me and said, "Mom remember when I rode around the block (Um, yep...it was just a few hours ago.) I said, "yes". He said, "On the side walk about halfway down, were some action figures,” (not sure what the names really were). I said, "oh really?" he said, “I bent down to pick them up. I really wanted them." "Oh?" (I was thinking, I may have to give a lecture and walk him back around the block). "Well, I thought about bringing them home. I don't think they belonged to anyone. They were just left on the sidewalk. I thought about putting them in my pocket, but I knew that Heavenly Father would be sad and so would the kid that they belonged to, so I decided to leave them there." I was beaming like a 5 year old who had just ridden around the block all on my own.....I knew that boy had such an insight. He really knew right from wrong.
As much as he tormented me, he was the love of my life. My First born. I had experienced things for the first time with him. We laughed together, cried together and learned together. When his feelings were hurt, so were mine. When he was proud of himself, I was proud of him. When he felt disappointment so did I. There is a bond that we have that I will never be able to replicate with any other child. Every milestone was a first.
I hope the best for him. I have full faith that he will do all that he desires to do. I know he will stumble, but his strength will carry him. His faith will guide him. His knowledge will help him. And I will Love him.