XOXO, Via

So... Jacob.

He's a Prophet of old. And I'm only going to hit the main points of his story.

I sat in Sunday School today and Brother Warner was teaching. Now his teaching method is very... what's the word.. "open".. So in a sense, its very open discussion. He likes to print off his lesson and read it straight from the paper. I'm not complaining or anything, everyone has their own teaching methods and when your heart begins to yearn for growth, you take what you get. Simple enough ya? So.. I'm sitting in class and although I've sat in many of his classes, this one in particular had my attention for some reason. It could have been the topic, it could have been the spirit.. I don't know what it was. I just know that I was suppose to be there for that lesson. I guess you can call it a gut feeling.

I usually don't make it to the beginning of Sunday School cause I'm still in Primary helping run that program before I try and get to Sunday School for myself. I walked in and Brother Warner was talking about "love at first sight."

Go figure.. I cringe at the thought of love. I just don't think it's in the cards for me. Not in this life anyway. I'll maybe get into a little more feeling details later on.. not sure if it's necessary yet.

He goes on saying that "love at first sight" is possible. And plainly says, "If anyone asks you if love at first sight is real, you can say yes because your Sunday School Teacher said so." lol He then asks directly to a few members of the class.. "how did you meet your spouse?" or "What were you looking for in a spouse before you married?"

Now is that something awkward for someone like me? ummmmm YES! lol I wanted to walk out and just go sit in the Chapel and wait till it was time to go pick up Hene from his class.

If I was asked either of those questions... I'm sure my face would have turned pink. haha But he did apologize if the topic and what they were discussing offended anyone. And I'm sure he was referring to me and Ani who was sitting in the back, cause we are both Single Mothers. But, I wasn't offended. To my surprise, I was open minded. I took in whatever he discussed with the class and lets just say, I accepted it.

Now, back to Jacob. Jacob was the Son of Rebekkah and Isaac. Jacob loved Rachel. This is the story Brother Warner leads into from his "love at first sight" bit. Jacob pretty much had love at first sight with Rachel. Rachel was the daughter of Laban. When Jacob sought to pursue Rachel, he approached Laban and asked what he needed to do to have Rachel. Laban required him to work for him for 7 years.

Would men do this today?.. No.

Jacob worked his 7 years.

Rachel had a sister. Lea. Lea was older then Rachel and back then it was custom that the oldest was to get married first.

Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Lea by putting a vale over Lea instead of Rachel. Jacob went to Laban and asked why he tricked him into marrying Lea. And he explained how the oldest gets married first. Then Jacob asks again. What do I need to do to have Rachel? Laban, again said work for him for another 7 years.

Jacob worked his 7 years and finally married Rachel. Yes, Jacob married sisters but back then, things were more "legal" then they are now.

There is much more to the story. What I didn't know.. was that between, Jacob and his two wives, they bore the 12 sons who we know today as "The 12 tribes of Israel." I thought that was cool. I knew bits and pieces to the story, I just never connected them till today.

Anyway.. Jacob in the end, ended up working for Laban for 21 years because He loved Rachel.

That's a lifetime to me. And I couldn't imagine what things were like back then or the kinds of struggles they had to endure waiting for 21 years.

All I really am trying to say is - Love.

I'm not afraid to Love. I'm afraid of Love. In my 24 years. It's been End Love. We search for Endless Love. Right?

Well. If another chapter opens up to me, then I'll let it unfold on it's own.

But I have already prepared myself mentally and emotionally, to not dwell on what might not even be there.

Let us all Carpe Diem, Enjoy Life and Stop to smell the roses.

xoxo Via

I Am A Latter Day Saint

Change.

I hear that a lot these days. And it's also occurring right now in my life. In the past week a lot has happened.

It's been a few weeks since I started at the Distribution Center, Printing Division. Even though I wake up the next morning super sore and super tired, I somehow constantly have the energy to keep going. Along with school and church too. I worked long 12 hour shifts this week and shuffling school gets to me every now and then.

Yesterday, I held Faith in God. I taught on bullying and we transitioned from bullying to making friendship bracelets. The girls and I had so much fun. Each of them made 3. One for them and 2 were for friends at school or someone they felt they could befriend.

Today, I was the only Leader in Primary and it was definitely overwhelming. But I got through it and I feel that I put in an honest work.

Now, even though I lost an incredible friend last week and I wanna say that that's the reason I worked long hours this past week, to sort of get my mind out of the dumps and continue on. Everything is slowly coming together.

I got a call from church headquarters offering me two jobs. A receptionist at the Church History Center and a Doctors Assistant up at Primary Childrens Hospital. I can't wait to learn more of these two jobs. They both come as full time, benefits and great pay.  I feel at this point in life, doors have begun to open for me. I'm excited to find new adventures.

I love working at the Distribution Center. I love being able to help produce his material for the Saints and the Saints to be.

If you've ever been to an Opera or a Ballet or any type of concert, there are many rolls to the production of that show. You have your stage/backstage crew, your audience, your performers and other rolls.

I imagine when I began working at The Printing Division of the Distribution Center the Missionaries and many church leaders like Young Women Presidents to Nursery Leaders to The Elders Quorum... They are the performers to our show. Those we serve such as the Children in Primary to our Neighbors we make banana bread for and friends we invite to Church... They are the audience. Now all the workers at the Distribution Center and the Printing Division, binding folders and pamphlets and music books and even the Book of Mormon... We are the backstage crew.

I find honor in working there. I really do. I enjoy going to work. I enjoy waking up the next morning with cuts on my hands and hurting arms and sore feet, legs and an aching back. I feel that it is my "little" contribution to perfecting the Saints. I never served a Mission. But I do know that the route that I have taken has brought me to a greater Mission Call.

I am a Latter Day Saint. I am not perfect. I sin just as everyone else does. I make wrong choices and have made many mistakes. But you know what? I am only human. I can strive for perfection but I will never be and that's ok. I don't need to be perfect. I will be only what I feel in my heart the Lord would have me be and work where I feel I need to work.

I am happily imperfect.

I am a Latter Day Saint. I get to church on time. I do my best to fulfill my calling as the Primary Second Counselor and Faith in God for Girls Leader. I can strive for being an example for young children. And through all the chaos, and headaches that may and will come, I will still get to church on time.

I am fulfilling my duty.

I am a Latter Day Saint. I have other tasks that must be done on a personal level. Education and Healthy Living must be met. I cannot indulge in simple pleasures nor overlook the angles of a rhetorical triangle. I need to learn - to grow.

I am learning.

"And the Lord said unto me; Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can nowise inherit the kingdom of God." 

Have a great week everyone. 

xoxo Via

An Unfair Loss

I have to say. Sometimes thinking with your heart isn't always the best way to go. I think it's good to have good intentions and that inside you want to always see the good in others. But I've learned from experience that there will come a time where you can't play the good guy card. You can't be the one to help in any given situation that comes your way.

I think it's good to want to live a Christ-like life. But lets be realistic. In this day and age, we have to set boundaries for ourselves. There have to be limits. There needs to be a fine line the deciphers when you can cross and when not to.

I've crossed that line. Like.... crroosssseeedd the line. And because I tried to be the good guy and help someone I felt needed it, I now am paying a big consequence.

I lost a real friend.

 Now, I don't want to get into all the gruesome details. So lets skip to the chase.

Dear {TP}
I feel terrible. I am sorry my good intentions led to this. I am sorry that losing you this way was by far so ridiculous. You are a very good person and I hope one day I can once again find a friend as good as you. I never intended any of this to happen. I never thought it would go this far. But seeing as it did, I would sincerely like to apologize from the bottom of my heart.

I expect to never hear from you again and I completely understand. I wouldn't want things any other way so long as you are ok and safe from harms way. I have brought this upon you and I know that our decision to part ways as friends is the utmost best decision.

Take Care. I care about you more then you know.
Love Via.

It's hard. Life is hard and I wanns say we are brought to hard times because we are ready to be that much stronger. As much as I hate what's going on right now in my life, I have to Let It Be. I can't change the past and but I can change my future.

If any of you have a best friend out there. Keep them as close as you can, you never know when they won't be there anymore.

xoxo Via

My Banner Will Be Clear

Do not stand at my grave and weep. 

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

 I am the diamond glimpse of snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened green.

 I am the gentle autumns rain.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

 I am not there. I did not die.

There's a lot boggling in my brain right now. I lot of bad and far more good. And I can't help but feel that right now, everything is coming together. I can't put my finger on it but so many things have fallen apart but have somehow brought many things together at the same time. Is it me or do I sound like I'm all over the place?

"Don't be like the boy that dipped his toe in the water and claimed he went swimming."

This past sunday I taught sharing time and my lesson was on Choosing Liberty and Eternal Life versus choosing Captivity and Death. I went on telling the kids that each and every day, they make decisions. Some decisions need a little more thought then others. But in the end we decide on a choice.

I brought two gift boxes. One that looked super good and fancy the other a brown paper bag with a sticker on it. I called on little Tali to come up and I  showed him the two gift boxes and asked him to choose only one.

Now, in front of a little 4 year old, what do you think he would choose? Exactly. The fancy one.

In the fancy box was a nice looking rock. lol in the brown paper bag, a bag of treats. I then explained that some of the decisions we make may "look" like the one you want but in the end doesn't have very much value.  Little Tali understood and sat down with his treats.

I've been thinking. Some of the decisions I've made in the past have somehow stuck with me. some good and some bad. But when bad decisions you've made in the past come back to haunt you, how do deal with it. I mean... I can ignore bad and annoying things just fine. I just think its crazy how hard satan works to get his way.

I just know that even though many decisions I've made in the past have sort of seeped into my skin, I have to learn to live with it and move on.

And coming back to "The little boy that dipped his toe in the water.." I feel that if I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it wholeheartedly. No more half assing things. It's time I take charge and stand my ground. It's my salvation that I need to salvage. It's my life and my testimony I need to protect and in doing so, I will have saved Tamara and Henele's also.

It's time I set aside worldly things and tainted dreams. Because when he comes again, I will have the heart to say who I am and where I stand and bring unto him, my posterity in it's fullness. I will have actually went swimming instead of toe dipping.

Making small changes here and there and making the "liberty and eternal life" decisions has brought me to my knees. I am humbled for the opportunity to be here in the life and in this day and age. I am enthralled with the compassion the Lord has given me with Tamara and Henele under my wing.

I am Eternally Grateful.

Last little bit I want to share....

"You were Generals in the War in Heaven one day when you are in the spirit world, you will be enthralled by those you are associated with. You will ask someone in which time period they lived in  and you might hear, "I was with Moses when he parted the Red Sea," or " I helped build the pyramids," or I fought with Captain Moroni."

And as you are standing there in amazement, someone will turn to you and ask you which of the prophets time did you live in. And when you say, "Gordon B. Hinckley" a hush will fall over every hall  and corridor in heaven and all in attendance will bow at your presence. You were held back six thousand years because you were the most talented, most obedient, most courageous, and most righteous. Are you still? Remember who you are."

-Boyd K. Packer

I sat at work and watched this video I've watched it many times as a teen and yesterday was the first time I watched it since then and it's got me humbled for this man. I am still very astonished with how far the church has come because of this One Man. Because of a 14 year old boy and claimed he had a vision and because of his courage and dignity, he has set the bar high for us all. It is my goal to make it this far.

Enjoy.
xoxo Via

2014 - Welcome!

So much has happened in just the last two months. First and foremost.... Willy has reported to the MTC!!! He has been called to serve in the Nukualofa, Tonga Mission. Nothing but proud is what this kid has shown our family. He literally is our Golden Child. He doesn't ask for anything. He doesn't complain. He is always helping around the house and does it with a good attitude. I honestly can't say anything bad about my Little Bro. He really is such a good kid and I only want the absolute best for him. He is ready to take on the work and I know he will put in the best Tonga has ever seen. I hope Tonga is ready for him. I know he will be unstoppable. Here are a few pictures from the day we took him to the MTC.

 These guys right here play a HUGE role in Tamara and Henele's life. Along with Nai and Chester.. They are the "dads" that Tamara and Henele will grow up knowing. But these 4 right here. They will forever have my heart. I know without a doubt that they will always look out for my best interest. They will only tell me things I need or should know and that there love will never fade. Willy looks ready to report. He looks able and willing. His heart is where is should be and he will definitely strengthen the army for the people of Tonga.

Here are the people that mean the world to me, Tamara and Henele. This is my family that will always have my back. The Elder in the middle is the one that stands out. =)

This is the first picture we have taken as a family in the longest time.. Wait... maybe EVER! Cause I can't think back.. oh wait. When June reported. We took a family picture. But this crew has come a long way. This is one army that literally has so much that so many don't see. The 7 of us have that type of team work that is just incredible. I love the family bond in my family. I really do.

Tamara and Henele love this Uncle!! Between Willy, June and Mone, this is the Uncle I know without a doubt they will run to. =) There is a special bond between them and their Uncle. By the time Willy returns, Henele will be Tamara's age but might look a little bigger given he is a boy. Tamara will be 6!!! 2 years shy of Baptism. They totally miss their uncle!

Farewell Elder Langi! Reported January 15, 2014. Should be heading out to Tonga about February 25, 2014. Then we wait for 2016 to roll around. I am still adjusting to the changes of Willy not being around. It sucks but I would much rather him be out there serving the Lord. The very next day, I had to run to the school for whatever errands I needed to get done and I remember walking with the kids to the car and Tamara asking, "Are we just gonna stay with Uncle Willy?" I seriously almost started crying. I told her that Uncle Willy has a big job and he won't come home for a long time. She said ok. While taking the kids with me, things were crazy as usual. Kids fighting. Me trying to trug along with life and really just taking the steps I need to take to keep going. It's hard and I know that in my next letter to Willy, I will be thanking him like crazy for all the hard work he's done when I asked him to help me babysit. He's the best Uncle ever!

Onto another note. The Holidays were a blast! As usual we keep it family leveled and we did our standard, Christmas get together and our New Years get together. Here is a clip of a performance done by our very own Monster Crew....

 Our family Holiday Festivities are always the best. I credit a whole lot of the "togetherness" to the kids. They totally keep us together and bring a lot of the laughs and smiles to our family especially around this time of year.

This is right after our countdown to the new 2014 year! This is everyone going around hugging everyone and welcoming everyone to the new year. Always bittersweet. But then Kuuipo and Aki had to start this whole 'HAPPY NEW YEAR' screaming contest. lol It was pretty hilarious. All my Mom said about it was, "They were drunk."..

Then of course the 'LONG' wait for the countdown... The family home evening "speech" from the Sir is always soooo full of advice and wisdom. lol



Well, there is my update for the end of year 2013. It was a good year and we definitely ended it off with Family. The way every year should end off. With Family or even Friends. Happy New Year Everyone! Welcome 2014. This year is going to be epic and I cant wait to see what is in store this year.

xoxo Via

Building Bridges

Giving light to others. Pretty simple. Have you ever wondered what goes on in someone else brain? What's really in someone's heart? We all see things physically and the actions of others and based on that, we think that is enough to judge. We think that is enough to know what's on the inside.

My mom had told me a story a week ago and it's got me thinking about things that fall into that category.

While at church, my mom was in Relief Society and there were a few visitors because of a baby blessing. Now, I don't remember exactly what the topic was that they were discussing but a visitor ended up sharing this story.

In her ward her bishop decided to dress up like a bum, hold up a homeless sign and stand out by the road right before you pull into the church parking lot. His task was to see what the members of his ward would do or say. As the Bishop stood there in his disguise, members of his ward slowly pulled in and yelled awful things to him. They yelled and mocked him. Sound familiar?
As the congregation met in the Sacrament Room, he stood up and explained that the man standing out on the road impersonating a homeless man, was actually him. They were all shocked. They couldn't believe what they had just heard and really it brought them to a new perspective. A more Christ-like perspective.

How much do you really have to see to judge someone? Whatever happened to "getting to know" someone?

{Learn of me, and listen to my words. Walk in the meekness of my light. And I shall give you peace. My love will never seize. For I am Jesus Christ.}

Point of this entry is to simply love one another. Dont judge. Some people need more love then others and if ever I come across someone that needs extra, or a someone to talk to, you better believe I will be that kind of Christ-like person that will accept anyone, even if it mean others looking at me differently. Everyone was given a life and no deserves to be treated like the way the disguised Bishop was treated. Everyone should get a chance. Everyone should try a little harder to be kind, to love, to be open minded and above all to be Christ-like.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! 2013 is an awesome year and I know that I have pulled out a beyond beautiful mix of colors for myself this year. I hope you all have done something you are proud of this year and if you have, I would say that you lived a good year.

To Tamara and Henele, I love you two so much. Mommy can't comprehend the amount of trust that Lord has put in me with the two of you underneath my wing. This Christmas, we will be happy. That's all that matters. The three of us will always stick together, just our little family and one day we will look back on these days and remember that - He is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas Tamara and Henele. You two will always me my present each and every year and I will know that I have the greatest gift of all. I Love You both!! xoxo Mom

Till Next Time. Hopefully before the new year comes.
xoxo Via

The Upside and The Downside

Things lately have been very... whats the word, overwhelming. School, Work, Kids, Calling and just Personal Life have been taking huge tolls on me. I feel like I have lost focus in a few vital areas of my life and I need to figure out a way to kick things back into gear. I need to grasp a way to to handle all areas and just master them all. You know, .... boss mode. lol

Anyway..

Taking all that into consideration, let us shift into the right gear of Thanksgiving. I want to share this article with you all and before you continue please read it and while you read it, open your mind and your heart to it. It just might be that little something that will lighten up your holiday season. =)

THE ARTICLE

Intense huh? It really does open your mind to the little things we take for granted each and every day. so this Thanksgiving, I want to share that I am grateful and thankful for EVERYTHING! By that I am really putting emphasis on the air that I breath to the dirt under my feet all the way to those that are out there breaking their backs to accommodate our living lifestyles and are getting paid less then minimum wage or close to nothing.

There is a lot to be thankful for and I hope that this Thanksgiving you may all take a moment to really think about the LITTLE things and be thankful for them.

Happy Thanksgiving from my little family to yours.
xoxo Via