Tuakiapimahu

Maui and Anne Tuakiapimahu

Two weekends ago our friends were sealed in the Logan, Utah temple.  Their experience in the temple is definitely in my top 10 of spiritual moments.  It was beautiful to see them sealed to one another and their 5 children for time and all eternity.  They had so much support from their friends and family who traveled in for the occasion.  
For my friends who are not members of our faith, we believe that families are forever.  Literally.  When a couple is married to one another in the temple, they are sealed together, which means none of this death do you part stuff.  Their children who are already born can be sealed with them or those they have in the future will be born in the covenant.  There it is in a nutshell.  Jake and I were married in the Bountiful, Utah temple.   When you go to the temple for the first time you make covenants or promises with Heavenly Father, and sometimes that can seem quite scary.  This is why some people are married in the temple legally for the first time, and others wait.  You really want to feel ready for that kind of commitment to your spouse and your God.  but it in the long run, it is worth it.

  The after party was cool, but I had a hard time getting some really good pictures because of lighting and my flash issues.  

A lot of people were in attendance. 

The missionaries and younger boys got up for the Hakka. 

They had the older couples get up and dance.  It was beautiful to see them just do it without a care. 

Fortunately, this wasn't any normal occasion, it was a Polynesian affair.  So that means we partied.  They invited us to celebrate afterwards.  It wasn't what I expected.....Jake knew that it was going to be a big deal because of his experience in the Tongan Community on his mission.  There was a huge spread of Tongan food, a kids table that extended the entire gym with candy and coloring books to keep them busy,  a desert table with fruits and all sorts of sweet treats, and finally a show was put together. I couldn't finish even 1/3 of my food because there was so much of it.  They had family members serving people and when I got to the Woman who was doling out the roast pig, she looked at me and said I will only give you white meat, then she gave me a nice sized piece and told me that was all I could probably handle. In the end, she was right. 

 All the children had practiced for weeks choreographing dances from the different islands of Polynesia:  Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii, and New Zealand.  The Elders even were invited on stage to learn the war dance called the Haka which Polynesians would do back in the day to intimidate their enemies.

It was not only a spiritual day, but an entertaining and educational one.  I find the Kingdom of Tonga fascinating and hopefully Jake and I will visit it in our lifetime.  

What is Easter?

Someone in my Relief Society class mentioned that the Church put out a video on Christ and it appears on the YouTube home page.  It's a beautiful video and I encourage all to watch it.

Today my children got candy, Legos, and a nice dinner.
But sometimes I forget to teach them how important these special holidays are, and what they truly are about.  I want them to know Because of him, Jesus Christ, we can overcome so much.  The despair I have felt in in my life has been taken away and my burdens made lighter when I have sought after his help and guidance.  Before I was married, I felt alone a lot in my life.  Many times I felt lost and didn't know what I should be doing.  As a true Shepard he has guided me and continues to do so.  For his atonement I am forever grateful.

April Family Reunion

So I believe it wasn't really a reunion (no cheesy t-shirts, no rentals on the beach), but it was a family gathering.  Max's oldest cousin Kaylee was baptized this past Saturday.  The family got together to support her and also to celebrate her 8th Birthday.  We went to the hot springs, did some bowling, took some pictures, and went shopping of course.  Even the Men hit up Home Dept together.  It's weird witnessing Jake's younger siblings grow up.  I've known them for 6 years now and they are no longer "kids" to me. Tyler is driving now and Ashley is already finishing up her first year in college.  Our niece Kaylee was 2 when Jake and I were married and now she is old enough to be baptized.    It makes me reflect on my little boys and how much they have changed since we moved to Logan this past Summer. 

I was able to take some pictures at the hot springs.  Max is scared of the water due to an incident that happened last year.  He refused to swim until he was able to play basketball with Grandma Barb.  We were grateful that she was there to convince him to go back in.

Nothing but net!

Cousin Mya

Tyler.....need I say more.

Dexter loves the water.

Grandpa Ralph, Reagan, and Erinn.

Jacob.

I finally got a smile out of her. 

He shoots!  He scores!

Ali, Marci, and Murphy.

Cousin Kevin

Cousin Trampas

This was the best pic I could get  of Cheyenne.  She refused to let me take one. 

Reagan, Erinn, and Jess. 

Max on the ride home.  He was out!

They enjoyed kiddie bowling.  Here's Mya, Dex, Jake, and Jake's crack. 

Grandpa Ralph and Ben.

Jake's Dad made a toy chest for the kids and needless to say it has been a real hit around here.  Unfortunately, it's still empty.

It's a great way to boost them up so they can watch the cars outside. 

Then they realized it was a good dance platform.....

until they almost fell off. 

Dexter spent 20 minutes just opening and shutting it. 

Then I walked in and they told me they were setting sail. 

Bullying

I recently watched a video done by the LDS church on bullying.  Growing up I was either immune or completely naive to the bullying that takes place in childhood and adolescence.  Sure I remember being picked on as a kid by my older siblings, and a few kids back in the 2nd grade but was for the most part harmless.  

There were two brothers that use to pick on me starting at age 9 who lived across the street.  They would tell me things like I ate too much, made fun of me about my looks and one time one of them even kicked me in the stomach while we were on the monkey bars.  My brother gave him a pink belly for that, but I don't remember the teasing and annoyances stopping until the spring after I turned 12.  I saw them all the time, but I think I was able to get over it because of my parents and their support.   Soon after my body changed and suddenly I wasn't a little girl anymore.  After that they left me alone, and the only teasing I received was from the older one who was friends with my sister.  He would always ask me when we were gonna go on a date.    It wasn't until I was older that I realized he was half joking, half serious.

I forget sometimes how severe bullying can be....some kids are bullied their whole lives.  I was recently listening on a conversation my Bishop's wife and my neighbor were having about the bullying going on in their children's class at school.  They mentioned one little boy who seems to be a major culprit and then started to lament on how bad they felt for him because of the rough childhood he has had.  I think it's great when parents can sometimes see both sides to things.  Some parents are ridiculous and even encourage it.  Furthermore, some just look the other way and say it's apart of life.  I recently saw this video done by Mormon Messages that brought tears to my eyes about bullying:

It reminded me about how difficult growing up can be, even when you are around those with high morals.  I realize that even as adults we can bully one another.  How many times have I found myself innocently gossiping about a neighbor, friend, or family member?   How many times have I heard that someone has judged or said something about me.......and allowed it to really bring me down.  Even as an adult I'm sensitive to what others do and say about me.  So the words in this video and actions there help me to want to be a little bit better each day towards my brothers and sisters.

Elizabeth Giometta

                          Elizabeth Witt Giometta 1924-2014

Grandma and my Dad.

This weekend we said goodbye to triple G (Great Grandma Giometta).  I thought she had a few years left, but her time had come.  Back in the beginning of January she fell somewhere in her assisted living residence.  She couldn't remember where, how, or even that it had happened at all.  She bruised up her face terribly that it was hard to look at her without feeling awful.  That was the last time I saw her lucid.

Grandma and Grandpa.  She always loved to dance even until she was in her late 80's.

After being moved to a nursing home for Alzheimer's patients not too long after her fall, she was moved to a full time assisted living home.  It wasn't long after that when she fell again and hurt her head.  Within a day or two she stopped eating, drinking, and opening her eyes.  Hospice care was called in that following Monday.  We came to see her Friday afternoon.  I wasn't sure if we would make in time to say goodbye.  Fortunately, she didn't pass until Saturday afternoon.  I couldn't believe how long she held out.  She truly was stubborn her whole life  even until the end.  My sister Julianna and my cousin Vanessa stayed with her all day Friday and through the night.  They left Saturday morning to go eat when my Mother arrived.  My Mom stayed with her but then decided to go fill out some paper work for a few minutes in the office.  While she was gone Boots decided to leave this life.  At first I felt bad hearing that people were staying by her side so that she didn't have to leave this life by herself, but then I realized that maybe she wanted to do it alone.  Everyone needs to go in their own way.  All week I've been reflecting on the amazing memories I had with her.  My Father was an only child so we were her only Grand kids.

Grandma at the Trevi fountain. 

So she was around us a lot.  If my parents couldn't pick me up from school, practice, piano lessons, etc., they called Grandma.  She was at every holiday and every important event in our lives, including talks and performances at church.  She wan't a member of our faith, but I know that my Father is teaching her the gospel in the spirit world and that her arrival was a joyous time for him and my Grandpa Tony.

In preparing for her passing I created a list of all the funny and important memories I have of her.

1. She always wore shorts in the summer and would ask me to sit on her lap.  I hated it because she used an epilady to shave her legs so when the hair grew back it was extremely stiff and spiky, so it hurt.

Juli and Grandma at Jake's Birthday party last year.

2.  Since I was a baby she always made spaghetti and meatballs every Sunday.  She wasn't an awesome cook but she nailed that meal every time.  She would also make a soup with peas and pasta in it, which didn't excite the palate, but it was just her thing.

3.  She would always make our Birthday cakes, and she would whip them too much that they were always dry.  When we were little she would wrap coins with money and stick them in the cake so that we had an extra little surprise for our special day.  Also, she made this weird cake with strawberry jello and whipped cream.

She always supported my Dad at his soap box derbies. 

4.  She had this painting in her house for years that I thought was hideous.  It wasn't until I was in college that I realized it was a copy of a Rembrandt.  I still think it's ugly.

5.  She taught us to golf.  She wanted to spend the time with us, so she would take us to lessons, drive us to the driving range and putting greens to practice, set up our season passes, and even caddy for us when we played in tournaments.  A lot of people would have a hard time keeping their cool when they golfed, me being one of them, but she always kept her cool.

6.She would tape Saturday morning cartoons and episodes of Saved by the Bell for me so that when she was babysitting me I had something to watch.  I usually would watch a show while eating a happy meal.

She had taped the Wizard of Oz for us when I was a baby and we watched it every Sunday for years.  It was so old that for years I thought Michael J. Fox was just some guy from the Pepsi commercials.

Both of my Grandmothers at my High School Graduation Party. 

7.  She would take me shopping.  We had that in common.  For Christmas and Birthdays she didn't want to just guess or surprise us with something, she wanted us to pick out exactly what we wanted.  This was before gift cards were as common as today.  She even worked at Fannie Mae during the holiday season so that she could have more money to get everyone something special.  Plus, she always purchased trinidads from work just for me because she knew they were my favorites.

8. Sleepovers!  My Grandma had been living alone since I was 6 years old.  She would invite Juli and I to sleep overs whenever we wanted. Sleeping over at Grandma's was awesome.  We could stay up late, watch MTV (which my family didn't have), and eat crackers and drink root beer floats at 10 pm at night.  Then in the morning she would never wake us up, she would let us sleep in.  I would wake up to the smell of a fresh pot of coffee.  I nor my family drinks coffee, but I love the smell of it, it reminds me of her. After that we would go for breakfast to Hardees and get biscuits and Gravy.  I know, it sounds gross but it tastes so good.

9.  The green silk pillowcase.  My Grandma had this green pillow case that was so soft and smooth that it just felt so cool on my face.  I loved it.

10.  Swedish pancakes.  Whenever my Rockford friends go home they always want Swedish pancakes.  I crave them as well.  After golfing we would always go to this dive in Rockford called, "Sams", that stunk of cigarettes and white trash, but they sure did have the best sweeds.

11.  She wrote me letters all throughout college and on my mission, sending $20 in each of them. I would always write back of course.  But I will say most of her letters consisted of her complaints about getting old.

12.  Watching movies with her as she got older was frustrating yet entertaining.  She would talk the whole time, ask what was going on, and then after the movie was about to wrap up she would comment that she had already watched it and didn't like it the first time.

This was taken before I was born. 

13.  I'll never forget driving her from her house to the airport then going through all the motions to get us on the plane and fly to Salt Lake City.  She was really confused the whole time and kept asking me why we were at the airport and where we were going.  It was chaotic.  But as a child I remember she would always tell me that one day I would be driving her around and taking care of her, when she got old.  All those years ago I never believed that time would come.

14.  When she would come to my house over the past few years she liked to go outside and play basketball with my son Max.  She thought it was amazing that he was so good at getting the ball into his little playschool hoop.  I would watch them outside as her old body would chase him around and pick the ball up for him.  She really was young at heart.

15.  Her phone number will always be 815-399-5137.

I'll miss you!

Love, 

Rachel

Salt Lake City

A few weeks ago we went down to SLC for the weekend.  My cousin Vanessa flew in from Colorado and the fam was all getting together so we thought we would join them.  We took the kids to a few places that we cannot attend while living in Logan.  We went to our favorite restaurant (Moki's)  got cupcakes at sweet tooth fairy, and of course went to the zoo.  The kids were amazing at the zoo they walked the whole way and loved seeing everything.  Unfortunately the Hoogle Zoo has a hill to walk up towards the end which they were so tired for but they were champs.

We never get to take pictures on the elephant because there is always a line, but no one was there that day because of the snow.

First attempt to take a good picture with Max......failrure.

Max had to thank the workers of Moki's for their good service.

Eagle's nest.

2nd attempt to take a picture with Max.....2nd failure. 

WE stayed and watched the polar bears, seals, and sea lions for awhile, but Dex was afraid of the bears

.

Max loved jumping on our hotel room bed.