A great woman I know...

Woke up at noon today after a graveyard shift at the post office and headed over to my sister Sia's house to pick up my son.  He slept over last night after going to seven peaks with them for some summer fun.  The kids were down the street at the rec center playing and so I decided to give my son some more time with his cousins before going over and tearing him away from them.  He loves his cousins.  He loves being with them and I absolutely LOVE that he has them in his life to be around.  While I was waiting on the porch, I had a pretty great conversation with my brother in law John Satini. 

I think everyone can agree that one of the best things to ever experience in this life is love.  Love for another person and for that person to reciprocate the love back.  But as I talked to my brother in law, I realized that even better than knowing you are loved and loving others is knowing that the people you love have people who love them, even more than you do.  I felt that way as I talked to John and we talked about my sister Sia and what a pretty amazing woman she is. 

He shared with me that her Relief Society spotlighted her and called him to describe his wife in one word and the word he gave was "service".  I got teary-eyed as he was telling me this because that is my sister Sia, in a nutshell.  She's always there for everybody with her whole heart and she never asks what's in it for me.  I love her so much and am so thankful she's my sister, but even more, I'm so extremely grateful to know that her husband loves and appreciates everything wonderful about her even more than I do.

Just another summer day, lounging on the porch of my brother in laws home, learning one of life's greatest lessons through a simple conversation and appreciating every amazing person the Lord has allowed me to know and have in my life.   Pretty awesome stuff. :) 

Why am I still awake...

I hate when I can't sleep.  Almost as much as I hate exercising.  I mean my brain is on overdrive right now and I don't even know why.  There's no reason I shouldn't be content with the way things are going in my life, but my brain just can't stop thinking of everything I could and should be doing.  Is there a way to turn this off?  I seriously need to see a doctor about getting anxiety meds or something.  Sheeeesh!!  I'm going to make attempt #4 of trying to go back to sleep, if I don't succeed, best believe you'll be seeing another random post about nothing...HOIIII!!!

What we've been up to...

I've been so focused on my personal journaling that I have forgotten about my blog, please forgive me...

This is an attempt to sum up four months of posts in one...

Famani si'i is 4 going on 21...he's smart, articulate, friendly, hyper as ever, he loves to eat, loves his TV shows, still loves to read, loves to meet new people and play with total strangers, decided that during the winter his favorite place in the world would be the park, loves testing my last nerve, loves being his Dad's shadow, loves holding conversations with me like we're the same age, still loves hugs, is still a Mama's boy, enjoys playing video games more than toys, unless someone else wants his toys then he is ALL about his toys. He's growing physically WAYYY too fast for our wallets which is why most of his pants are floods.  His little brain is too advanced for his own good, he still corrects us when we're rude, he told his Grandma (my Mom) the other day that being humble means she has to talk nicely to Grandpa...and we love every second of it...even when he's driving us both bananas.

Hubby and I are doing great and have more time together as a family since moving back to Utah.  That has been awesome.  We have always loved focusing on our little family and trying to focus on things that truly matter and make a difference in life.  We have been so thankful for the blessings the Lord gives us and we are learning to enjoy them a little more and not just tuck them away for a rainy day.

Life is life at the moment, we love the great parts about it and decide to put the negative trash in the garbage where it belongs.  I have no room in my life for people or situations that will bring me or my little family down.  I have learned in the last four months that after you do all that you can even with good intentions always in your heart, ungrateful, selfish, rude, full of themselves, ta'e mahino people will always be just that.  I can't control them, I can't change them.  I can only control how I react and how I choose to go forward.  So my little family chooses to go forward...and you know what the funny thing is...Heavenly Father always provides a way...even when there are people rooting that you will fall on your face...He has always opened a door and given us exactly what we need when we need it most.  That's why I know that no matter what, if I am right with God...He will take care of my family.  And when I say right, I don't mean self righteously right.  I mean just being a good person and bettering myself and my family each day.  Because until the day I wake up perfect (which will be NEVER) I can never stop working on being a genuine human being. 

Certain experiences have left our hearts bruised but we will forgive and our little family will move on.  We feel blessed in the things that matter...not in money, not in posessions, not in how exciting our weekend is, or how many friends we have on FB or Twitter, or how many tasks we check off our list in a day.  The blessings are in real relationships, and in people who love us at our absolutely poorest, ugliest and worst, it's in having appreciation in our hearts for what we have and knowing without a doubt we did not attain them but by the grace of a loving Father in Heaven.     

F.A.M.I.L.Y.



Elsie Starr and Famani sii playing soccer

 So since the last time I actually blogged we've been up to a lot.  Mostly enjoying the time with family and friends.  We are so pleased with the choice we've made to move to Utah and be closer to our loved ones.  It has proven to be more than we'd ever imagined it could possibly be worth it.  We are loving it!  

Famani sii and Sela at the Payson Festival

Elsie and Famani sii...LOL

Enjoying the hammock at Grammy Paula's

Todd, Kalonikakala, Famani sii and Elisa @ Temple square

Maile sii and Famani sii, getting ready for a sleepover. Yipee!!

W/ Sia's boys at Stanford's football game, love seeing them together

He's overcome some fears while we've been here...jumping on the trampoline

Pumpkin patch with our niece Sela

and our dear friends the Iongi's

Absolutely LOVE being near my sisters!

My niece Sela...love her little face!

Watching Stanford's football game

Participated in his 1st Primary Program

 If there's anything that we've learned in the short two months we've lived in Utah, it is this...absolutely nothing will bring more joy to our lives than the people we love and who love us.  We are so grateful to Heavenly Father for opening every possible window and door so that we could enjoy the time we have with our family.  It has been beyond amazing.  There is no doubt in our hearts and minds that the move was exactly what our family needed to bring into focus the importance of life.  We are so thankful and our hearts and home is filled with joy. 

Update...

Alot has happened in the last 2 months.  We've moved to Bountiful, Utah into our own place and we love it.  We love being close to family and having them nearby leaves very little time for blogging.  But I would change it for the world.  There's something so fulfilling about being close to family and friends.  Living life everyday with the ones you love instead of hearing about it from a distance.  I think Famani si'i has enjoyed the move most of all having his cousins close by and his grandparents on both sides close.  Our lives right now feel so rich and full of LIFE.  We are loving every second of it.  Once I get a chance to upload pics to our computer, you will be able to see the pictures.  In the meantime...just know, we are doing great and loving life and living it to the fullest.  :)

Happy 4th Birthday...

Happy 4th Birthday Famani si'i

Our sweet little boy turned 4 today.

We can hardly believe it.

He slept with us last night and we shared with him

about the day he was born.

His birthday will always remind us of what a joy and blessing he is. 

This year he was VERY aware that it was a special day just for him.

So we had a little dinner with my brother and his family

and those members of our family we live with.

It was simple and short and just right.

I think he got just about everything he wanted and then some.

We asked him what he wanted for his birthday.

He asked for two things.

A bike and for Mommy to stay home with him.

So we spent the whole day together preparing for his birthday dinner.

He sang Happy Birthday to himself everywhere we went.

It was fun to see him for the first time really enjoy his day!

Gift from Mommy and Daddy - Spiderman Bike and gear

The smile says it all. :)

A guitar from Uncle Maile, Aunty Kanga and Baybeem

And this toy which Baybeem was having a great time with!

A new blanket and clothes from Veangu, Lupe and Mele.

 

 

 

By the time he got to Filipe's gift, he was super excited...as you can see.

Baybeem, Aunty Kanga and the birthday boy!

 

Once he got the guitar on, there was no taking it off.

And then he gave us a rockstar concert...LOL!

 

 

He really loved his Birthday!

Thank you to everyone who shared birthday wishes with him.

He really felt special today.

Oh, you make me smile...

His first attempt at writing the letter A :)

Went  to the neighbors house behind him, found this toy and brought it over to model for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's constantly taking pictures of himself on my phone...this is one of them.

And here's another one.

One of my favorite songs is Smile, by Uncle Kracker.

I know it's talking about a significant other...

but some of the words still apply to how I feel about my son.

Love you son.

You make me smile like the sun

Dance like a fool...

Even when you're gone...

You steal away the rain and just like that...

You make me smile...

Don't know how I've lived without you,

Cause every time I get around you,

I see the best of me inside your eyes...

Oh, you make me smile.