Aloha!

Imagine that you could go anywhere. Where would you choose to go?

Ryan and I decided a while back to take a trip with each of our kids when they turn twelve-years-old and this is the question they face. It's just them, with us. They can choose anywhere they want to go, within reason, and whatever they want to do, within reason.

Braden turned twelve last month and he chose to go to Hawaii, and reluctantly we agreed to accompany him. His plans included surfing, body boarding, snorkeling, snuba diving, cliff jumping, driving to Hana, and seeing the sunrise on top the volcano in Maui. In just six days we somehow fit it all in.

In the mean time we learned a thing or two about Braden. We learned he would like to own a solar panel plant or windmill farm and produce clean energy. We learned he has ambitions of being a professional photographer. We learned he would rather spend four hours driving in the car to see the sunrise in 30 degree weather than stay in bed under the covers or six hours to drive the road to Hana rather than surf on the beach. We learned he loves plants (his exact words at the arboretum were, "Look at that fern!"). We learned, as we broke into a coconut and explored a black sand beach, that he is very curious.

I guess what we really learned is that Braden is really growing up. He is a young man with ambitions of his very own.

I guess if I could go anywhere for a week... well, I might go back a few years, to a time that was a little less complicated. A time with a little boy... a boy with lots of ambitions.