2011 Retrospective

2011 was a year of endings and beginnings for us, as we wrapped up two years of living, working, learning, and playing in our nation's capital and moved to rural Pennsylvania. We've gone from a life of subways, crowded sidewalks, monuments and museums, shiny office buildings, apartment living, and daycare to a life of country roads, local milk and eggs, university lecture halls, a house with a yard, and public school.

Chris finished a masters degree in American Studies at George Washington University in DC. He graduated in May and wore a funny hat for the occasion. He was also a bookkeeper and grants administrator at Building Futures, a local non-profit providing low-cost housing and social services to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Malia thoroughly enjoyed her second year at The Pew Charitable Trusts, where she worked with wonderful colleagues on grants to improve public health. She also continued her progress toward certification as a birth doula and had the privilege of attending two births in January and March.

Lili'u loved every second at her fantastic daycare located just two blocks from President Obama's house. In addition to growing two inches and losing her first two teeth, her big achievement of 2011 was learning to READ! Like her daddy, she got to wear a funny hat with a tassel when she graduated from kindergarten in June.

Chris had an opportunity to teach for three weeks at the Women's Studies May Term of the Oregon Extension, an academic program based in the mountains outside idyllic Ashland, Oregon. It was an encouraging confirmation that teaching is the right path for him. Malia and Lili'u joined Chris there for two weeks of restful retreat, during which they did little more than feed horses, count turtles and geese, make wildflower bouquets, and collect chicken eggs.

Chris accepted an offer to join the History department's PhD program at Penn State University in State College, PA. Leaving DC meant that Malia had to leave a job she loved, but it was also an opportunity for her to take the next step toward a nursing career; she applied and was accepted to Penn State as well. She's considering women's health, and possibly midwifery, as a specialty.

We enjoyed a lovely summer in State College, practically living at a newly constructed splash park in our neighborhood. When we weren't there, we were touring the many local farms and farmer's markets to make the most of the agricultural bounty of central Pennsylvania.

In the fall, Chris stared down 90 Penn State undergrads and survived his first teaching assignment in the History department. New friends and colleagues were great support and made for a positive work environment. He's pursuing a dual-title PhD in History and Women's Studies, and will happily bore you with his research ideas if you're interested!

Malia took Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology and came home with all kinds of fascinating facts about bones, blood, and bacteria to share with Chris and Lili'u over dinner. They humored her most of the time.

Lili'u was the youngest kid in first grade at Easterly Parkway Elementary School this fall (she turned six in November), but she didn't let that stop her. Her teacher tells us she's often the one telling the other kids what's going on. We think it must be an indication that her early education is off to a good start that her favorite game to play when she comes home is, in fact, "school."

All of us are thankful to have found a spiritual community of fellow skeptics and believers (University Baptist and Brethren Church) that we look forward to growing and learning with for the next few years. We value it for its progressive theology, its intergenerational congregation (including a critical mass of families with young kids), and its many, many potlucks!

We're also very grateful for each of you. If you find yourself anywhere near...nah, scratch that...we're not really near anything, but we are approximately three to four hours from lots of compelling destinations (New York City, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls). And for the first time, we can actually say we've got a spare bedroom...so come visit!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and blessings to you and your loved ones this season -

With love,

Malia, Chris, and Lili'uokalani

P.S. Send us a note if you can!
chknight@gmail.com
maliahk@gmail.com
liliuhk@gmail.com (she'll have some nice messages to read when she's older) :)

Thankfulness Tree

We had to chop down a shrub in our backyard recently because its roots were making cracks in the foundation and causing the basement apartment to flood. I had hardly given it a second glance before, but once it was laying on the curb waiting for bulk garbage pick-up, I noticed that it had very pretty, twisting branches. With Thanksgiving approaching, the idea came to mind to repurpose some of the branches as a tree for collecting little notes about what we're thankful for.

Lili'u and I gathered the supplies and set to work on it. We spray painted two branches and an old flower pot gold and filled the pot with rocks from our garden. We cut out little card-stock tags and tied red and orange embroidery thread to each. We've hung a few and will continue to add to it as moments of thankfulness happen. The blank tags and a couple pens are sitting in a jar next to the tree and our hope is that neighbors and friends will contribute to it as they come by.

For those of you far away, send us an email telling us the things you're thankful for and we'll happily add them!

Tait Farm near State College, PA...our new home as of July 2011. Lili'u befriended and fell in love with this gentle, stray kitten. I think the admiration was mutual.