Year of Possibilities

So it is February already...so many things have happened thus far, Good, Great , Could be better, etc. etc. but I for one am grateful that I am still around to tell you all about it :-) Besides the hectic Holidays at the end of the Year, we also celebrate our Babies Birthdays, Ilai on Nov 11th, Lauryn on Nov 26th and Teca on Dec 20th...so besides the excitement of a New Year, comes the stress of a financial breakdown LOL But that is what makes up Life, and we can only be Grateful to be a Part of it...so to help get things up to speed, here are a few pictures from all that took place...While I was Away :-)



Our Fiji Day Weekend getaway at our Oakland Hotel



Halloween 2011- The kids all ready to go trick or treat in our New Neighborhood







Pu Titi and Tutu Pisa Dancing Away at the Marshalese Branch 1 Year Anniversary



Ilai's 1st Birthday at John's Incredible Pizza...He was looking pretty Hott :-)



Trip to the Children's Museum which they LOVED!!!




Celebrating Lauryn's 4th Birthday at Home on Thanksgiving Day



Thanksgiving Feast for a King



A random day at the Park with Mummy..because she did not have to be at work on that day...Love these days~



All the Princesses at Lauryn's 4th Birthday Party




Sharing Time during Family Home Evening :-) Ilai was thrilled to be a part of it~



Them Posing on Christmas Day...after Church, with some of their Presents



Celebrating Daddy being sworn in as a US Citizen

  

 

The result of our Weight Loss Endeavour..starting from around 160 lbs in November and this is how far I got 2 and a 1/2 months later



A nite out with my sistahs..celebrating Omi's Birthday & Graduation...Sushi + Karaoke = SUPERB & WHOLESOME FUNNN





Just a random shot of us reuniting after a Long Day at Work for Mummy

Vodo randomly getting me Roses...:-)

 

The Finale Evening for our BLMV Season 1 held at a very trendy Golf Club in Oakland. Vodo and I had the time of our lives, dancing and enjoying our time together in a very Formal Setting. We need to do this at least once a year~

  





This was our latest Activity on Valentines, Taking a picture at the Drive in Movie Theater Concession Area before we watched the 'The Vow'..which we really Liked...It was a spontaneous activity, as Diana called to say that they were coming over to babysit so we could go do something for Valentines...We had such a Grand Time for our 2 hours alone..before he had to go to work that night. I really really am Blessed to have this man in my Life and I find my Love for Him grow more each day, esp. as we share these beautiful moments to declare our love for one another~



So there it is in a few too many pictures, some of the captured moments in these past few months "While I was Gone" :-) I look forward to many many more Great Memories made for the rest of the 10 and a Half Months left for 2012, and I will be sure to keep ya'll posted~





Happy New Year

OK so I totally fumbled big time on my Blog Monthly Updates..I could add that to my 2012 Goals, and make it more legit :-) So many things have happened since my last posting..mostly good things, that I remember anyway...I will have to upload pictures and that may be an easier way of remembering...January is flying by so fast, I have to stop and catch my breath...it started off great for us, Vodo gave each of our children a Father's Blessing on the First of the Month...I was and am so very Grateful for a Loving Husband that is doing all he can to follow the Savior and be the best Father and Husband he can be. I am Blessed!

We got new callings in our Ward as Ward Sports Rep, so we get to coordinate with our Ward Members and get teams for the Stake Sports Program. We just started Basketball, Women's League which I know is an adventure, but an exciting one for someone like me who has not played the game over a decade. We had our first meet two weeks ago, and we had so much fun...we were also huffing and puffing like nobody's business. I am now looking forward to this coming Thursday which hopefully will be more successful for me personally :-)

Our first Girls night out was this past weekend, it was Omi's birthday/graduation celebration..we started off with Sushi then ended the night singing our hearts out..literally...at Karaoke :-) We had TOO MUCH FUN!! I will post up pictures soon.

I know I should put up my New Year Goals, which I have a long list..still in my mind, that needs to be written. I will put down Two for right now that I Know for certain I would like to accomplish in 2012:

1. Read the Book of Mormon.. ( I just completed the New Testament..better late then never huh)

2. Run a marathon- with mini goals of Walking/Running on the road at least twice a week, 5K run etc. etc. before I can tackle the big Kahuna..but I am determined to do it and I know I will, this year, 2012 :-)

More to come...

Returned With Honor :-)

An overwhelming feeling of excitement had me going all of yesterday as we prepared to meet with Elder Tamanalevu as he was returning from the BestTwo years of His Life in the Texas Houston Mission. I reflected ALOT on my own mission and the MANY Blessings that is mine because of it, most especially for the Testimony that I have of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also was happy for the Tamanalevu Family as they witnessed History in the making for their first Missionary returning Home with Honor. It was a Wonderful Day all in all with the Feast at home after with Loved Ones striving for a common End in mind~

O Happy Day! O Happy Day!

The question of the Day is "Will I want to be the person I've Become when all is Said and Done?" This morning I've been thinking about the words of a song written by Katherine Nelson titled "When all is said and done", When all is said and done, as the season slips away, when I've taken steps beyond my sight, will I find my strength in greater light, will my courage grow with every passing day and will my faith be constant as the setting sun, when all is said and done? Sometimes in life it seems like its never going to be enough, we always want one more thing to bring us that happiness or satisfaction and we tire our minds, day and night, on how we will attain it. I guess its quite human and normal to be feeling this way as that is a sign of growth and determination to strive for the better but the difference lies in how we prioritize our time and efforts and what we deem most important in our lives as Individuals and as a Family....I know this is pretty deep stuff :-)) Just something to think about I guess~:>

As for our Current Events, we are now in our Very Own Home, have been for the the past 3 weeks. We closed and received our keys on Thursday, August 11th and had everything moved in, including ourselves on Saturday the 13th. We could not have done it without the help of mortal angels such as Bishop Wickhm, April Nitsos and their respective families, Cottage Park Ward family, Matakibau Family, Tavai Family, Our Uncle Bill and Jasmine, our Pu Titi, Aunty Diana and Foki and all our Family and Loved ones who connected with us through their Love & Prayers...Its still like a dream to us as we look back how far we've come starting off in our West La Loma Apartment, then to our Duplex on Sweet Way ad now to our Home on 9210 Sungold Way... What can we say other than 'THANK YOU DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER'. So very grateful to my dearest Mother and Father for all that they have done and continue to do for us in helping us reach the goals we set as a family. Grateful for a Wonderful, Supportive and very Patient Husband for all his hardwork and Love for me and our Children. And I thank my Father in Heaven for my Most precious Blessings, my children, for the Joy and Totality they bring to me and to our Family. My only Hope is that we will use all we have been Blessed with, including our Beautiful New Home to raise up our Children in the Ways of the Lord and Prepare them to face the world and make choices that will bring them Joy in this Life and in the Life to come.

And now back to the deep thoughts, It is ok to be striving for the better, but like Jacob counselled the Nephites, "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye first the Kingdom of God". This formula has worked from the beginning of days and will work for ever and ever. When followed, there is an outpouring of Peace, Love & Harmony in the Home and all that the Lord sees fit, according to our Faith and the Righteous Desires of our Hearts. OK I think Im done preaching, now I need to go and Do! Did I tell you how grateful I am to be a Member of the Kingdom of God here on earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has taught me and continues to teach me and call me to repentance too often, on how to Live a Good Life, preparatory to returning to my Heavenly Home!! Oh Happy Day :-)

Its ALL about HOPE

July has been a month of anticipation for our family, like waiting for rain after months of Summer Heat. Little did I know that it was grounds for a teaching moment for me, lessons that could not be learnt in any other way, only in the Higher Ways of a Loving Father in Heaven. Yesterday as I listened to Mormon Messages while working, the familiar voice of Elder Utchdorf seemed louder than the rest...and I felt the Spirit urging me to listen closer and take note of my 'Lesson of the Day'. As it was only a short clip, I looked for the copy of the entire talk on the LDS website and feasted on the words of this Faithful Servant of the Lord. Said he, "Hope has the power to fillour Lives with Happiness. It absence-when the desires of our heart is delayed-can make "the heart sick". This is so true. Where will we be without Hope, and especially Hope through our Savior Jesus Christ. Another paragraph that stood out to me was, "The things we hope for are often future events. if only we could look beyond the horizon of mortality into what awaits us beyond this life. is it possible to imagine a more glorious future than the one prepared for us by our Heavenly Father? Because of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ we need not fear..." What a sense of relief and peace overcame me as I renewed my Hope and Faith in my Savior that all things will happen according to the Great Plan of my Heavenly Father and in His own perfect time. All I needed to do was focus on fulfilling the different Roles and Callings I have been Blest with. So this is my message for this Beautiful month of July, 2011, Have Hope in and through my Savior Jesus Christ and Faith that everything will work out for my own Good~:)

APRIL 2011 GENERAL CONFERENCE

General Conference was just so very AWESOME! I loved all the talks and the messages were so much for me, but the SPIRIT was just so Beautiful! It carried the messages to the hearts of men, at least to mine and moved me to GET UP and DO something about it! One of my favorites was on Sunday Afternoon by Elder Lynn G Robbins of the Seventy who spoke on the importance of 'Becoming' and not just 'Doing'...especially as we rear and nurture our little ones. He said often we ask our children, 'What do you want to Be when you grow up, as if our Professions make us who we are, nor our Professions nor our Pocessions make us who we are'. Loved the talk by Elder Oaks on the importance of having Righteous Desires and Desiring Spiritual more than Temporal. From this conference, I am motivated to offer the Lord the firstlings of my earnings FIRST, attend the Temple at least once a week, DESIRE to Draw Nearer to the Lord in Word and especially in DEED, Look for opportunities to SERVE the poor and the needy and most of all to become the Mother I can be to my children. I really do hope and pray that I will live up to these goals that I have set for myself and that come next General Conference in October, I will be counting my many blessings and ready for whatever the Lord sees that I need to work on.

As my children are still very young to sit and listen, we tried to teach them the Name of the Prophet and even draw a picture of him as he spoke. Lauryn drew a picture of President Thomas S Monson and Ateca memorized his name...even up till last nite, she was still able to tell her Aunty Omi the name of our Living Prophet. I am excited for the opportunity these kids will have to grow up in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have their own Testimonies strengthened as they Learn and Grow at Home, at Church and in their everyday life experiences.

I am excited tonight is our Cottage Park Ward Relief Society Temple Night. I feel like a daughter that has been travelling the world and returning to Visit her Father and I know He will Welcome me with Open Arms and Give me Answers to my prayers~

Language of Gratitude

Life has a way of bringing the worst and the best out of a person, but it takes a lot of courage to CHOOSE which path one takes. I truly believe that with a Grateful heart, that choice is made so much easier and the outcome will be so much better. As I contemplate on how far I have come in these past thirty some years, all I feel is GRATITUDE, first and foremost to a Loving Heavenly Father and a wondrous plan that was laid out especially for me bringing me to where I am at today. To my Savior and for His Atonement that allows me to live, forgive and Be Forgiven, most of all taste the bittersweet moments that make my life what it is. For loving parents and caring siblings who I know Love me unconditionally. For friends, teachers, students, companions, ward members, acquaintances, work colleagues I have interacted, taught, learnt, rejoiced, cried and Helped me in my journey of following my Blueprint in Life. Most of all for my very own FOREVER FAMILY consisting of my Husband, Best Friend and utmost Love of my Life, Vodo Tamanalevu, and Angels, Lauryn Seini, Ateca Caginiwasa and Ilai Bruce Fuata. Who would have known that someone like me would be worthy to be given a Faithful husband and Adoring Children to care for, learn from and ACCOMPANY me in this mortal journey? I don't feel so deserving of all these blessings, but they are MINE and I TRULY am GRATREFUL!!