Overcoming Trials

SO I am so so so happy and excited about our wonderful family portraits. I knew I wanted to get some done when Hinalei turned one and hopefully the tradition continues as we add more children to our family but as I was sitting tonight looking at our picture I could help but realize that something more beautiful was showing through on the pictures.

I am not going to go into details about what has been going on in our little family but sufficient to say we have been having some deeply personal family trials, yet grateful and humbly we have finally managed to overcome and begin working our way out of these.

So as I look at the beautiful picture I notice that our family is still very much linked and woven together, that we are smiling (yes even though life can get you down you need to smile, HAPPINESS is so important). I notice that behind us the clouds are dark and threatening but the important thing is that they are behind us and we are moving forward. In the picture we are sitting in the middle of a bridge, this to is so symbolic because it shows that we are crossing this bridge (trial) and that if we continue to stay linked and woven together we will keep smiling and keep carrying on we will be able to weather the storms of life together.

What a wonderful realization for me and my family. I look to the scriptures to help describe this event and I think of the counsel of Helaman to his sons in Helaman 5:12:
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I know this to be true! What TRUTH! I glory in TRUTH, just as I glory in the Savior and his atonement. May I continue to weather the storms so I may one day enter into the rest of our Father in Heaven.I love the gospel and the strength it gives to each family.May Heavenly Bless each of you that Blesses our lives each and every day. Amen.

Family Portraits

YAY!! We are published!!! Enjoy our family pictures courteous of Sarah Tafuna Snapshots.

1 Year old Well Baby Check Up!

Back to the doctors to make sure Hinalei is still growing up properly and healthy. She is weighing in at 22 pounds and measuring 31 inches. That is another 3 inch growth spurt from her 9 month check up! This little girl is gonna be taller than me pretty soon, hahaha. She is walking more and more confidently each day, is into exploring anything and everything and the bookshelf is definitely suffering because of that...haha. She loves to turn the pages of her storybooks and sing songs with actions. She is getting better at feeding herself but is quite the picky little eater and I have to get very creative about disguising the healthy stuff among the good stuff. Just like her dad she loves rice which I think is AWESOME!!!

Hinalei goes to PCC

We got to go to PCC yesterday to watch a Maori performing group that was visiting. While there Hinalei had a chance to play with the poi balls and she LOVES it! I am so happy for that! Little natural.

2 years ago today.

Last year I had just had Hinalei and my mother and Nicola had arrived to help us out for a month. On our one year anniversary I was so tired and overwhelmed and probably didn't enjoy it as much because I really just wanted to be with my precious little girl. I remember we went to dinner and a movie, leaving Hinalei with her Nanny and Aunty, I think Joe and I hated every second being away from her that we left the movie early to drive home, almost ran up the stairs (randomly thinking the worst) to find her fast asleep and completely FINE.

This year we saved for this weekend and guess what?? It was a wonderful week of celebration. Today Joseph and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. Actually we have had a weekend of celebration because it was Sunday today so we started on Friday night. Saturday was a pamper day for me and of course I loved every minute of it. However this week also gave me a really good chance to step back and see what I learned over the past 2 years. I know I have learned a lot about myself but more than that I have come to realize the importance of not only keeping your relationship alive but also recognize that BEST FRIEND that you first fell in love with.

For one of our many celebrations we watched "Valentines Day" and two things stuck out to me from that movie.

1. Marry your best friend. I know I did this because guess what Joe:
* knows what color dominates my wardrobe
* knows my favorite movie
* knows my favorite hymn
* knows what type of flower I love
* knows all of my life's favorite colors
* knows all of my dreams and goals
and for that I love him even more because we are best friends first and we can talk about anything!!!!

2. You can't chose to love only the good parts of your partner, you have to take the bad parts to. You can just give up because of the bad parts either, it is apart of them and of you (don't think you don't have any).

I really appreciated that because I think sometimes I spend way to much time focusing on the bad parts but still saying " I love you" when maybe I was saying "I love you when you are good." No! The actress Shirley Mac Laine went on to explain some other cool things but it made me realize that I need to STRIVE to love Joe MORE in his entirety, YES even his bad parts (because Heaven knows he loves all of mine).

p.s. I am not recommending Valentines Day because their are some other screwed up parts

SO to conclude>>>> I am so incredibly happy that I married Joseph-Hall Poasa Savaiinaea! He is my BEST FRIEND. He makes me laugh, smile, wipes away my tears, hugs my pain and loves me so so much!

% Hinaleis Birthday Song %

Hinalei is 1!!!

We held Hinaleis birthday Tuesday February 9, 2010 at the TVA Pavilions. It was such a fun party. She had all of her little February friends and many more come to the party. It was so much fun and we couldn't have done it without the help of Hinaleis Samoan family and all there yummy food and her Uncle Keone working the BBQ with her daddy and her Aunties just being good hosts and awesome helpers. I am not sure what I did???.... No just kidding. Lets just say it was a combined awesome effort. She didn't really have a theme, just lots and lots of color.

Pink Bag!

Click here:kellymooreclark. She is giving away a bag! Go enter to win!

This is such a cool bag and I want to win it.

A year ago today!

Today... a year ago my water broke in church. We came home, called Castle hospital, drove the stupid hour long to castle hospital, got checked in and confirmed that indeed my water broke and got ready to experience labor with the exciting intent of meeting our little princess. at the end of it all. It is so incredible to think that a year ago all this was happening and now my little girl is going to be 1!

I am so grateful to be a mother to this little girl and I can not wait to see her grow and develop. She has so much fun and light and joy and makes me strive so much to be the type of mother that she needs. Also to strive to be a light for her in a world that is filled with darkness and doubt. I truly hope that she knows she can always talk to me about anything, that she can ask me anything and that through anything she can depend and look to me as a trusted friend. I want to teach her independence, self worth and virtue but most importantly that she has a Heavenly Father who loves her, cares for her and is someone she can turn to at any time for guidance and love.

All smiles as we walk, and walk and walk....

Still trying to look brave... this was about 3:30am in the morning.

Getting ready to go in for the C-section. Ready to have this baby!

Chance for a Free Photo Session

You guys remember Stu and Malia? Well click here if you wanna win a fantastic photo shoot with Malia! So so exciting.

Just click here:
http://www.maliajohnsonphotography.com/2010/02/100th-post-and-giveaway.html

MOTIVATION

Motivation.

I find this one of the most interesting words in the world.
It is something I never thought I struggled with.

BUT.

I do. Motivation is so hard especially when you can see it in numbers.
Example?? Weight Loss.
80! That is a big number.
3 days. That is a small number.
Motivation.

I find it a constant struggle to be motivated
my only comfort is a day at a time
just like my daughter learning
taking one head lift
one sit up
one scruffle
one step

Such small small steps. little things.

BUT

now big things!!!

"...that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass;
and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. " Alma 37:6

I. can. do. it.
Because he knows I can.
Because he gave me a body and I need to take care of that body.