Among our favorite guests...

The year was 1996, when a soft-spoken gentleman from England brought his bright, engaging bride from America to Hale 'Aha for their honeymoon... in the Honeymoon Suite, appropriately.

His accent made it difficult to understand him, so we relied on her "interpretation." They had traveled to many interesting countries, so had lots to talk about. They had met in Australia. They already had their wedding photos, to share with anyone who wanted to see them. Andy in striped pants, long tails and ascot tie, as a proper English groom, and Wanda in an off-white satin jacketed, flowing long skirt. Elegant! They even brought a box of their wedding chocolates (made by Fascia's of Connecticut) which melted in our mouths.

Every Christmas since then, they have sent us a box of Fascia's wonderful chocolates.

But the surprising thing was, to have them show up again for their FIRST anniversary, same time the next year, he from England, she from New York. Andy had not yet left his job in England, though he was planning to the next month, and then move over three months later and begin the process of getting his Green Card. They wanted to be there when we were there. ;-) Wanda had lost her Mom and Dad, and had a strong attachment to us. Herb and Ruth hadn't left on their vacation yet, so they all got to meet each other.

The next night, Wanda asked if they could broil their steaks in the kitchen, since the little kitchenette didn't have cooking facilities, only a microwave. Well, I didn't know any better, so I said sure, but she'd have to clean up after herself. Oops! The fragrance of broiling steaks tends to infiltrate a house, and suddenly, Ruth was knocking on our door, asking what was going on in the kitchen? She had to reprimand me, explaining that we are NOT a Youth Hostel, where the kitchen is for everyone's use, but that only WE were allowed to use the kitchen.

I had to go and tell Wanda and Andy that they couldn't do that anymore, sorry. Embarrassing.

They stayed 5 or 6 days, and were there when we got the terrible news from California, that Herb had had a massive heart attack and had died. They wept with us, and comforted us, and showered us with their understanding love.

They came again, for their second anniversary. He from England, she from New York. Seems that the government decided to not give him a green card to work in the USA. So, they had to travel back and forth to see each other. The hardship caused a couple of miscarriages. Real heartbreaks. When they left the Honeymoon Suite, he would be flying back to England alone.

Long story made longer, they finally got their papers so he could stay in the USA and be Mr. Mom to their baby daughter born two years later, and one more a couple of years after that. When the little girls were about 4 1/2 and 3, Wanda and Andy brought them to visit us in our home in California, making us feel like family. Even like their Grandpa and Grandma.

What a wonderful blessing God gave us in friendships like this one, gathered from England, New York, and California, and put together on this tiny island in the middle of the Pacific. Who could have planned it?