Day 11 - A flexible job

So I am learning not to procrastinate.  I want to wait till the end of the day to write however, I find myself so tired and busy it doesn't get done all the time.  Tonight I will be working on Science Fair project so I will probably not have a chance to get to this.

I am so grateful to work at HTA.  It definitely has its good and bad however the flexibility in my hours and ability to work from home make it sooo worth it! I really do love teaching... today was the first day back at the LC.  It was fun and I do enjoy being with students. Today we made atom models :) What I am most grateful for though is that I can work from home. I can do house cleaning and then get to work in 30 seconds. I don't have to pack a lunch. I don't have to get dressed up. I don't have to run out the door and sit in the classroom all day. Some days it is not the easiest.  However I still get to be in my kiddies space.  It really is such a blessing and truly priceless!

Day 10 - FHE

I know I said FHE already... still it was soooo fun! We had the best time laughing and playing.  I was teaching them how to lead music. Nalia and Pomai were laughing about how Namu was leading. And then the jokes about big triangles, small triangles, squares and circles.  I know it doesn't make sense to you .... it was one of those had to be there situations.  Anyway the laughter made it sooooo fun!

Day 6, 7, 8, 9 - Diligence... lol

Still working on diligence ... obviously... that is ok. I am picking myself up again and even though I want to change the date as I input I won't cause this is a lesson for me as well. :)

Day 6 - Thursday

Having a best friend here that is like my sister! I have been so blessed to have 4 sisters and best friends on top of that ... unfortunately my soul sisters all moved away (or I did as they might say).  This past year I found a sister friend in someone I had not expected.  I have wondered and watched Kyndra for many years... wondering what made her tick and how she moved with such confidence.  I felt so blessed when I was called as her counselor and if I am honest a little intimidated because I saw all she had done.  Then at our first presidency meeting I remember distinctly feeling like I had soooo much to learn from her and that I would have to work hard to keep up with her.  Well little did I know.  We became soul sisters last Feb. and man what a blessing she is in EVERY aspect of my life!  I have learned sooo much and I am truly a different and better version of myself because of her (hopefully she would say the same about me... lol) I am grateful everyday that the Lord saw fit to bless me with a friend who could love me despite all my inadequacies and just accept me for who I am and still make me want to improve and be a better mother, wife, member of the church and friend.  Thank goodness the Lord knows what I need better than I do :)

Day 7 - Friday
This has been the longest week of my life at work.  3 nights getting home after dark ... grrrrr. However here was my very happy moment.  I fed my family peanut butter sandwiches (my favorite meal ... lol ... not theirs) and after showers we all piled into our King size bed and watched a movie.  I was so exhausted that I slept for most of it ... however the BEST part was having my family all there, reaching across the bed and finding my hubby's arm amidst the bodies. JOY... PURE JOY! We haven't done that for so long...  it was pure BLISS! Pictures later .... even if they are ugly... lol

Day 8 - Saturday
Date Night - Oh this blessed thing!!!!! I am so grateful that my hubby loves it as much as I do! We start to get cranky with each other when we don't have it ... of it is such a blessing! We went out to Kaneohe with the Smith's for a quick meal at a wonderful little Mexican restaurant.... YUM- O. So good. The best part was time with my hubby and that the Smith's were willing to come home by 9 so Namu could work.

Day 9 - Sunday
Lots to be grateful for... today, my calling ... I do love it and it is such a blessing in my life.  The Gollayer's talk in church about sacrificing our lives to build the kingdom and how important temple attendance is. I loved their talks! Ana putting Ammon to sleep ... I got to enjoy the lesson. Namu cooked dinner and made fried rice. YUM-O again.  The WHY book and reading about the sacrament. Set the tone for the day! Blessings all around :)

Day 5 - My Parents

My parents.... If ever there were two people that sacrificed for their children and gave everything to being great parents ... it is them! I am so grateful for the daily sacrifice they make on behalf of me and my family. My parents watch my two boys everyday I have to work in town and this week that is everyday. Never a complaint ... can you imagine! They love and care for two rambunctious little boys and my boys LOVE them.  The list of what they do for my two boys would be endless. Walks, reading, playing, listening, diaper changes, poop clean up, lunch, snacks, naps, movies, tantrums, timeouts, hugs, kisses, and lots of love.  Thank you Mom and Dad for ALL you do!

Day 4 - My Girls

Pomai, Nalia, and Anela.... Unfortunately today I did not get home till 6:30... It was getting dark outside.  I came home to the kids all wanting hugs, time and food.  I did what I could ... rushed upstairs to get food on the table and started asking my girls to help me out.  I didn't hear one complaint (I know that is not normal ... however I soooo grateful that it wasn't cause I was so tired. Nalia helped with the table, grating cheese, getting out chicken, Pomai helped with the boys and dinner. Anela stirred food and helped with the table. I was so grateful because they helped so much I was able to get the other things done AND maintain a happy spirit in our home! Thank you girls!

Day 3 - Family Home Evening

Can I tell you how much I love Family Home Evening.  I must say I never really enjoyed FHE growing up. I had a moment that changed my life ... when I was a YW president in Utah I was in a PPI with my Bishop ... He asked me about our family home evening and if we were having it every night. I was full of excuses.... It is only Namu, Pomai and I... Namu is working 3 jobs and is never home.... It feels funny doing it alone.... etc.  He looked me in the eye and said, "When are you teaching your daughter the gospel? How does she know you have a testimony?" His words pierced my soul. He said, "It doesn't have to be a big deal ... just you teaching your daughter.. keep it simple.  The important thing is that you are doing it." I have tried to use that council in my life and apply the simplicity of FHE.

Tonight was one of those nights ... and still so fun. We didn't have much time because I got home late and Namu had to work (driving). So Anela chose a lesson using a ready made FHE lesson books ( her lesson was on the Second Coming). Love those kits. :) Then we sang the new Primary song "If I Listen with My Heart"... The kids love it ... We sang it 3 times. I love Family Home Evening ! :0)

Daily Tidbits:

• I started back at school today. Grateful for the job I have.
• Conversation with Helaman - Mom, my neck hurts. It hurts. I feel sick. I need water. Mom: Does your throat hurt?" Helaman: Oh yeah, that is what that is... I must have swallowed a bee."
• Anela's best part about her day was basketball
• Kyndra fed the girls and I pizza ... after my car had problems and was smoking

Day 2 - Why?: Powerful Answers and Practical Reasons for Living LDS Standards

Well I know I have so much to be grateful for ... today I have especially enjoyed a new book I just bought.  It is meant for LDS youth ... just my style ... lol ... however I have found it to be full of great reminders as to why we live the way we live.  I am loving it! I am also loving that Pomai is enjoying it and quoting the book already :). It was well worth the money I spent! I got my copy at the BYU bookstore ... you can get it online.  The authors are John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat. I have the follow-up book on order ... I can't wait! :)

Daily Tidbits:

• Family Council today - Grateful Journal for the family
• Helaman - Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Temple
• Anela - Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus
• Nalia - Christmas and the Ranch
• Pomai - Seeing the prophet and the Temple Open House
• Lilia - My family
• Namu - all the extra work - Turtle Bay and driving for Gaylene

• Namu - PPI with the girls
• Church time changed to 12:00 - ugh... hard with the boys... will have to work out :)
• Reminded about fasting in book and the purposes of fasting... just what I needed to hear today as I was fasting.  So grateful for his tender mercies.

Gratitude and Diligence (Day 1)

Happy New Year!!! What a wonderful thing... the new year.  Somehow it makes everything feel new again.  It brings me a renewed hope and excitement for the things to come.

I have decided to blog again... mainly because I want to enjoy a blog book at the end of this year.  I think how wonderful it will be to look back on the memories created.  I lack diligence in sticking to a goal like this... well ok many goals. I often get caught up in the newness of the situation... set unrealistic goals for myself and family I might add and then spend a whole lot of time over-planning. Yup! That's me ... lol.  What I often forget is that goals like this require daily effort and diligence (careful and persistent work or effort). I started reading 7 habits a while ago... ok many times ago if I am truthful, and would always get stuck on the part about "law of the harvest".  I would often think about my ability to cram and do everything last minute and how I often didn't receive "inspiration" till the last minute.

Well in this past year I have made a new and dear friend, Kyndra.  She and her husband own and run Gunstock Ranch. Yes, a ranch! And over this past ten months I have learned so much about how many little things have to be done EVERYDAY to make that place run.  It is soooo much work.  And yet they do it... day in and day out.  I have learned how good it is to live this way and how much nicer it can be when you plan ahead (not overplan) and do a little bit at a time ... as you can. I have also learned to listen better and move with the spirit in the daily tasks. I am so much happier living this way... not great at it, by any means, however I just found my planner from last year and I simply stopped using it in April. I spent so much time planning and thinking about things and then would get lost in the doing. 

So my goal is to be more diligent this year.  To be persist in moving toward my goals and to work at it a little at a time.  I am hopeful this blog will help me to become that... as it will be evident in my daily posts.  I will obviously have to write less... however it will be fun :0).  I also have this friend I admire a great deal and she started doing a gratitude post everyday since Thanksgiving. I have wanted to do this for some time so... I am going to join her and my sweet sister in the quest to express my gratitude daily.

So for today my gratitude begins with the man I love! I am so very grateful for him! This past year has been a trying one for us in many ways and yet we have seen it through. Yesterday we just hung out.  Something we rarely get to do anymore with 5 kids, both of us working full time, his two side jobs, our callings, helping to build a house and the list goes on and on.  However yesterday was one of those days where we just hung out. Talked about two books we were reading, our children, watched an episode of Lie to Me, and played with our boys.  Such fun being in his space and both of us enjoying the little moment for what it was... a moment to reconnect and enjoy the simple and most important things... us and our family. Love you dearly my love!

Daily Tidbits:

• Helaman went to the potty today... all by himself. I have not dared take on potty training again.. since last year.  He was not ready then and making it an issue has only led him to do the opposite. So when he announced .... "Mom, I'm gonna go pee" I said ok ... and played it down. ... till he came running out of the bathroom .... "Mom! I pooped! I pooped!".  Only to find out he really did. :) (it was the two smallest pieces of poop ever.... lol... but we all made a big deal about it!) So fun! Congrats Heman.
• Girls played in the very large ranch puddles... again. :) The water was chest high on Nalia. SUCH FUN!
• New Year's dinner with Mom, Dad, Kyndra and 3 girls. We popped the last of the fireworks... cause this is the last year for fireworks on Oahu :(