"People are often unreasonable, irrational and self centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; be honest and sincere. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight; create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten; do good anyway. Give the best you have and it may never be enough; give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway." - Mother Theresa

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Keeping My Head Above Water

So, the kids are sick. And we won't be heading out to church today. So, I've just been catching up on some of the things that I love to do, but never seem to find the time to do. Finally finished a book I started about 2 months ago, A Single Voice.

Now, when I picked up this book, I thought it was about someones aspirations to becoming a singer or something like that, but nope. It's about being single. Could I have read a better type book at a better time? lol Seeing as I'm now single. But, a single mom. Being a single mom has it's challenges, yes, many challenges!! And one of the challenges that tends to cross my mind from time to time, is if I will remain single for the rest of my life. I don't know. I've been asked this question recently and all I can answer is, I don't know. But what I do know, is that if there is a guy out there for me, and I know 100% in my heart that he's the one, I will be prepared and I will give it my absolute all.

Who knows? The book is written by Kristen M. Oaks. Yep! Dallin H, Oaks second wife. He was happily married to his first wife, but passed away. Kristen, was one hard working women. She supported herself and through a good chunk of her life. He Dad constantly worried about her and was always pushing her to go to Young Single Adult activities cause one think a Dad worries about is who will take care of their Princess when he's not around. I believe Kristen married our Apostle at the age of 56. I know right? I totally envy her though. For all those years, she never thought she would marry, let alone an apostle. I give it up to her for her endurance and especially her faithfullness to the Lord. She's a real example.

I would totally recommend this book to you all! A Single Voice by Kristem M. Oaks

Next book on the plan - A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

John Irving is by far one of my most favorite authors. I hope when I write my book, I can relay settings and feelings as well as he does.


A lot of the books I read, I stumble upon. Not sure if someone gave me this one or if I bought it.

I found it on my book shelf in the closet. That's one thing that's make reading so much fun. You enter this whole different world not knowing where you'll end up, what you'll imagine or even the simple things you'll learn.

I know this one will be good.

You know whats funny? I keep reading all these interesting books but STILL have yet to finish the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Sad huh? I hate sitting in Sunday School and they discuss all these interesting stories from the book but I have no clue what they are about.

Sooooo.. I made it a 2013 New Years Goal to finish the Book of Mormon!! I'm not timing myself cause then I would be more focused on just reading it in time instead of actually grasping what I'm reading.


Loisi bought me a new set of scriptures for Christmas. And I found this cool Book of Mormon reading chart online to keep track of my progress.

On the back of my reading chart are 10 goals I want to accomplish in 2013. Kinda excited for the new year. Plus.. I haven't mentioned yet, I am now the Granger 8th Primary 2nd Counselor! It's a big deal to me. On the sundays I'm not teaching in Relief Society, you can for sure find me in the Nursery. And when I would sit in the Nursery, I would think about how Tamara will be in Sunbeam come January and I would ask myself, "How is the Primary program?"

I remember back when I was a little girl, I was always excited for Sunday and going to Primary. These days, it just doesn't seem like the kids are as excited. So I worry how Tamara will like Primary. Now that they've called me, I can see what it's like and hopefully be of help to making Primary a place for Tamara to want to be.

One of my first assignments, was to put together the bulletin board. I finished it yesterday and I'm proud of it. Yes, I bet the kids will tear it down or mess it up, whatever. But one thing I learned in my leadership training is that, the kids can tell whether their leaders care or not. So I gave the bulletin board my all and if the kids do tear it down or mess it up, I will just keep putting it back together.

Check it out..


Not too bad right? I hope the kids can see that we leaders care about them and their experience in Primary.

I'm excited but nervous going into this next year. I have a lot going on but I've learned something about myself. And that's that I love to be busy. I love the chaos. I love the overload. It's challenging and I love a good challenge.

So on the agenda (for now) for 2013..

1. MOM! (Family) - The kids are my priority. Their well being and they're future.
2. My Calling! - Magnifying my calling and raising my bar high.
3. School! - My future reflects the kids future.
4. Individual Worth! - A quality high lighted in Young Women. I will prepare to keep sacred covenants.
5. Service! - We all need help every once in awhile. So while I don't need it, I will give help to others.

Again everyone, HAPPY NEW YEARS! I hope you are just as excited for the new year as I am.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years Everyone!!

Overlooking this entire year and I would have to say, this past year I made a lot of changes, adjustments here and there and above all, AM BETTER!! That's what life is about right? Progressing and aspiring to new heights and levels. I am proud of everything I have done this past year. I have no regrets, feel no guilt and don't look down upon any past even this year.

January - Henele shined this month. He was with me every bit of January. He is the reason I made a few hard decisions this month. I would say, that in the month of January, my family was constantly running through my mind. Was a gonna keep fighting or was I gonna throw in the towel? What were the pros and cons if I made either decision? What would be the finalizing factor of what I was to decide. Today, I stand happy with my decision.
February - The month my divorce finalized. It's sad to think about, but when I do think back on it, I let out a big sigh of relief. I became an official single mom and this month I would say is the time I learned how to have true humility. I've never looked at things the way I do now since all this happened. I'm happy.
March - New routines and traditions kick in for me and the kids. I begin to evaluate how the kids will live, the kind of life I want them to live and the kind of people I want them to become through my work and example. I am happy.
April - The decision to head back to school. What will I become? How will I manage? I don't know. But I do know, I will go back, do my best and get it done. I am happy.
May, June, July - Things are falling into place. I'm smiling, the kids are smiling. what more can a mom ask for? I'm happy.
August, September - School starts and things become overwhelming. But does that stop me from doing what I gotta do? Heck no! lol I'm focused and happy.
October, November - The year begins to come to a close and I have a heart full of gratitude for everything that I have, especially MY FAMILY! I'm happy.
December - 5 Days left till the year 2012 comes to an end. This year was really good for me. I feel like I can conquer anything after all I went through. I feel like I'm on top of the world. I haven't been this happy since I dont remember. I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for me and my little family.

I am where I need to be and no where else.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Blog Hungry

Soooo many things happening at once. I keep doing things and I'm always thinking, "I need to blog about that." But I never get around to it. So, now that the kids are fed, washed and cleaned up for bed, I have their favorite Christmas movie playing, blankets and pillows on the floor and their popcorn popping.

Yep, I called a mandatory - Family Movie Night!

That's one of the ups of being a single mom. Whatever I call, goes. No negotiation, no having to hear out "that other persons" opinion. It's all on me!! =) Go me! lol Well, for now at least. Until these two grow older and understand that they have options, I will enjoy it.

Christmas is just around the corner and it's time for me to slow down. It's time to embrace it all and take it all in. Ever remember being a kid and literally counting down the days till Christmas? Singing Christmas Carols while looking out the window late at night staring at the snow falling. (ok, super soft? lol) Anyway, as much as I wish I could view this time of year as I did as a kid, I can only hope that Tamara and Henele can be the same way or better.

Tamara is full on potty trained! Thank You! I would have to say, most of the credit goes to her. I'm sure I could have been a far better trainer and I could have even trained her much earlier, but because she is the "go getter" type, using the toilet was a breeze.

Tamara speaks. And I mean, SPEAKS! She understands full on what I tell her and she communicates back to me and I can understand her full on. I would credit that to Mickey Mouse Club House, Super WHY and many other kid shows. Ya, the tv needs to be lessened a lot.

Tamara Dances. When she watches shake it up on Disney, ummm, Tamara takes it to a whole new level. It's quite hilarious. (tried to upload a video - major fail)

So in this pic, we are at instacare waiting for Uncle Willy to get his stitches taken out. Oh ya, Willy got stitches!! Kinda sad, long story short, Willy was at wrestling practice and yep, cut his head open. The end. And while we were waiting in the lobby, Tamara decided to do funny poses while I snapped pictures of her.

She's been very good lately. She's still her little bossy self, but she at the point where she's starting to understand being good versus being bad. She knows not to scream in the public, or even at home for that matter. She know's how to share, if who she's sharing with is super lucky. She's starting to count, and last I tested, she was able to count to 12. Woohoo! She knows the colors, pink, orange, blue, white, black. She mixes red with green and hasn't memorized the other basic colors.

Tamara is definitely what gangsta's say, "ride or die." Anytime we are at the store, Tamara knows to say, "excuse us!" and really loud, when we try and get by.

omg, that reminds me...

So at church, Tamara goes to nursery all by herself. She doesn't have a problem staying there while I go to class with Henele. The Nursery teachers have told me that she is really good in Nursery, but I think they are just being polite, cause lets be serious, Tamara? ya. I still was a proud mom as one of the leaders went on about how she's so good in class.

Now, when the 5 min bell rings, I usually will leave early so that the Teachers don't have to take her and come find me. I had left class and noticed they had already left class. So off to the sacrament room I went. I walked in and saw all the nursery leaders, but no Tamara. Finally, I turn and see Tamara running toward me. She had gone to sit on our chair, which has always been row 3 from the front in the center section for as long as I could remember. But all by herself, she sat and waited and I guess when I walked in, she saw me and came running.

Later to find out...

One of the moms that sits near us was sitting and was watching Tamara sit in our chair all by herself. A family (not in our ward) sat on our chair. And what does Tamara do? She turns to them and say, "Hey! this is my chair, not yours!" They moved. OMG right? My 3 year old needs a slap!! lol The mom that saw her do that laughed and relayed the story to my mom and then to me.

She's pretty much a great big present worth all the christmas' forever all wrapped in one, and to add to all that goodness, we have HENELE O'VIKSTER!!

Every time I take a pic of him, the first comment I say in my mind as I preview it is, "This kid." lol

He is just the kind of boy every mom want to have! The kind that makes funny faces, the kind that blows slobber bubbles in your face, the kind that hits your face, the kind that crawls toward you the second you stand up, the kind that laughs that laugh that makes you laugh, that kind that is simply genuine!

He's growing up everyone! Right before our eyes! I know you guys are thinking, he looks about the same size as a couple blogs ago, but let me tell you, he might have thinned out because of his full on crawling stage, but he is so much taller!! I'm a very short person, so if anyone knows what tall is, it's me! lol I guess that's unfair to say since my height is below average. Thank goodness they get their height from their dad.

I honestly can't believe that it's been a whole year with this stud muffin!! If I can say just one thing about him from this first year on this earth, I would say, "He's so good to me!" Seriously! When I'm teaching my english relief society class, he will just sit their and watch me teach. If he crawls around to the other ladies, he'll sit quietly with them. A lot of times when I have a lot on my agenda for the day, I think of having to take him with me as a hard task. But then when I have someone to watch him at home and I'm out and about with Tamara, I can't stand being away from him. So over time, I've learned that taking Henele, even with all his tasks to get him along board is far more better for me, then to leave him home with Grandma.

His attitude is a mix of Coco, Jay and Teta. I can totally see my 3 nephews in Henele. And if I havent already blogged about it, Henele is named after those three. =) The O' Vikster broken down is [O'] from Tangilot[o], [Vik] from [Vik]ita, and [ster] from Che[ster]. ya Jay's actual name is Chester, after his Dad, Which by the way is an amazing Dad! I'll have to blog about our "in laws" one of these days, caue they do play a big part in our lives.

 Here we are at Target. Not sure what Tamara was doing, or where she was even at. But anytime we go to Targer, he cries to sit in the cart so he can stand up this way. He's too cute!

Henele is at a point where all he looks for is fun and food. I'll be changing his diaper and anytime I forget to bring a new diaper with me and I have to run in the room to grab one, he crawls and hides from me behind the pillows. And as soon as I walk in he starts laughing and sticks his head behind the pillow. I'll walk closer saying, "Henele, I'm coming!" Then he laughs harder and tries to wiggle the rest of his body behind the pillows. It's funny. I laugh every time.

He pretty much incredible!! Every minute of him for me is like a day to a kid at Disney Land!! Speaking of which, we may be taking a trip there this next year. That plan is still under evaluation. Hopefully. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

See what I mean about funny poses. So I bought me them big fur boots and Tamara absolutely loves to wear them. So for the past month I've been looking online for a pair for her that's her size. But I just can't find them anywhere. And when I do find them, they are too small or too big. Sucks!

Looking at the picture, should I put her in karate? tai kwon do? She does have a mean punch maybe kickboxing? I've already told myself that she will either be in dance or gymnastics. I don't know. I'm afraid if I put her in something that I want, she won't pursue what she wants. I guess we can always change programs later on right? We'll have to see about that.

She is far stronger then me. I feel so bad sometimes cause I put a lot of my work on her. Like when Henele makes a big mess with something, I tell her to clean it up, or when I'm changing Henele's diaper and I'm too lazy to grab a diaper, I tell her to get it, when I can't find something I need, I tell her to help me find it. I really need to kick it back in shape. Thanks Tamara for helping mom! I really can't go a day without you. =)

So when the ladies in relief society give them sugar, guess what I get? SUGAR HIGH KIDS! lol Here we are setting up my class waiting for my class to head in. Like I said, Henele is good to me in class. When he turns that 18 month corner, were gonna test him in Nursery all by his self. Hopefully he'll be walking by then. When kids start to take their first steps, that's all they care about. They wouldn't care for toys or treats, the fact that they can now commute is all they want to do when it begins.

I'm not sure what it'll be like when he starts walking. I do think that they will start fighting a little more. Sometimes Henele will crawl to the tv and start pressing the buttons on the tv and it will either turn off, turn the volume too high or too low and it drives Tamara crazy. I've heard her say, "gosh, go away henele!" Things like that and then I'll go and pull him away and tell Tamara to not say those things. I know theyre just kids, but the last thing you want is for you to have kids that hate eachother. I definitely don't want that.

Here is a pic with 'most' of the Sistah Sistahs. Now on my moms side of the family, my mom comes from a family of 7 sisters, no brothers. Her sister consist of Lou'aki, Ana, Paea, Manongi, Sieli, and Sepi (who lives in new zealand and we've never met). And all the girls in the pic come from one of the 7 sisters. Yep, we are all first cousins or some girls are married into the family and married one of our brothers. But together we make the Sistah Sistahs and 4 times a year (every quarter) we get together for a lucheon or an activity day or just something. We call it the Sistah Sistah quarterly activity. Me and my sister hosted this quarter and held our christmas activity at Sweet Leilani's over on Redwood. Just down the street from Moki's. It was so much fun! Games, fun and food all mixed in with family is a recipe for A GOOD TIME. =)
 
And again. lol Last month sometime, I just decided to drop everything I was doing and take the kids out for Ice Cream. There was this pretty Christmas tree in the corner of Baskin Robins and Tamara asked to take a picture. So here she is, with yet another 'weird pose and the ice cream of her choice. I think is was chocola       te and bubble gum? Something like that. But I just remember her saying that she loved her ice cream. Henele and I shared rocky road and vanilla.

I told Tamara after this picture that we are going to start a new tradition. For just our little family. For the entire month of December, where ever we are, whatever we are doing, if we run into a Christmas tree, we have to take a picture by it. She said, "ok mom, lets go find another tree." lol

Well, with Christmas just around the corner, we have plenty to do. But for now, I'm gonna enjoy the kids, and have me some Tamara and Henele time.

In case I don't make it to blog before Christmas my little family wishes you all a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Oh ya, SHOUT OUT to my two readers in Russia! Thanks for the feedback loves!! =)