Come Follow Me!

     Late last evening Kalina was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her dad.  The baptism was at 9:00 p.m. and was held at our Stake Center.  This is the small spotlight about her that was printed in the program:  'In the light of the St. George Temple and before the Dixie Sun had a chance to smile down on the springtime beauty of March 2001, our happy Kalina announced her turn on earth and became a member of our eternal family.  Kalina LOVES life!  She has a special gift of finding JOY in everything!  She has a deep love for family and friends.  Kalina enjoys singing, art, reading, writing letters, swimming, ice skating, soccer, softball, tennis, camping, and hiking.  Kalina loves the Savior and the scriptures.  As she was preparing for her baptism she said, "I am so excited for my baptism!  I've been waiting for it my whole life!"  We love you very much Kalina and are very glad you are in our family!'

     People in attendance were:  Uncle Talikavili, Aunt Louisa, cousin Atelaite and her husband Samu and their young son Loketi.  Grandma and Grandpa Everett were there along with Ephraim, Brenda and Madilyn; Selma, Josie, and Ellie; Martha, Anna, and Addi; Rachel, Riley Jo, and Kinley Drew; Misha; and Ida.  Friends from our ward were Paula, Va, Viliami, Fatai, Simote, Noah, and Anau Mounga and Ofa, Ulu, Koli, Siousi, Daniela, and Sesi Palu.  It was very kind of them all to come and support us.  

     Dad conducted the meeting.  Fotu played the prelude and interlude music.  Misha played the piano while Selma lead the music.  Ida gave the opening prayer.  Grandpa Everett spoke about Baptism and gave Kalina a beautiful puzzle called, "Hand in Hand."  It has a picture of a little girl that looks a lot like Kalina holding the Savior's hand.  Uncle Talikavili spoke about the Holy Ghost.  He did a wonderful job speaking in English.  Then the baptism happened.  Kalina looked so beautiful.  She had her hair in little while elastics around the crown of her hair.  Then it was pulled back in a pony tail (messy bun looking because of her curls) and there was a pretty white flower.  Kalina was wearing her bracelet and necklace.  She had love sparkling in her eyes and a bright smile on her face!  

Dad did a wonderful job with the ordinance and Kalina was fully immersed in the water to follow the example of our Savior.    It was nice to see so many of our little cousins gather closely to see the baptism.  Kalina dressed carefully into her new white dress that has a beautiful lace pattern.  Kalina then received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Then Kalina and her two other 8 year old cousins sang, "When I am Baptized."  Litia played the violin and I played the piano.  Then Kalina bore her testimony.  It was very simple and sweet.  The closing prayer was given my Grandma Everett.

     It was then time to head home and enjoy the evening and night with family and especially cousins.  

     As we were driving across town to arrive at the baptism, the Y was lit up on the hill.  Kalina said, "Oh, look, my prayers were answered!  They lit the Y just for me!"  I said, "Well, they light the Y for graduation."  Kalina said, "Oh, I thought they just lit it for special occasions like my baptism!"  Then I said, "Yep, they must!"  Kalina is so full of love and focused JOY!  

Sing, Sing a Song!

    Kalina has been in our 3rd Grade choir this year because she is in a 2nd/3rd split class and was invited.  She loves to go to choir and learn the fun songs they perform.  Miss Dickson is a great director that has a fun time with the children.  This past week was their performance.  There are always musical instruments and funny songs that make the audience laugh.  Her favorite song has a beautiful melody called, "Oh, How Lovely is the Evening."  Other songs they sang were, Old Farmer Brown had a Cow; The Cat Came Back; and Knick-Knack Paddy Whack.

    Kalina is so excited to be 8 and loves going to activity days.  She can't wait for her baptism.  She is a happy helper around our home and is becoming a better reader all the time.  Keep up the great work Kalina!

Shine On!

     We awoke to at least 6 inches of snow!  We had to pull out the ol' shovel and do the walks.  This is "Spring Break!"  What is the deal?  We are bummed!  Now, finally at 9:30 a.m. the sun has broken through and there is a beautiful blue sky overhead!  Shine on sunshine, shine on!  Get us warmed up around here!  So, now the day is a one of a kinder!  There is beauty in the color exchanges of the white in contrast.  The poor daffodils and tulips are COVERED and we have so enjoyed having them bloom in their full wonder!  

     This morning as I was helping Seneti get breakfast, she saw the hard boiled eggs and decided that she wanted to open her egg by herself.  So, she got cracking and then with her dainty little fingers, she began peeling off little pieces of shell.  This took a great deal of time and energy for such a little friend, but she stuck with it.  The expressions on her face as she concentrated on her task kept me cracked up the entire time.  Her eyes would go a bit cross-eyed as she got to a tiny piece.  It was fun to see her so determined to complete a task.  Seneti is a fun little friend to have in our home.  Her morning koala hugs can go on and on.  She hugs so tightly that you can walk around without even holding her and she will still stay attached to you.  (Thus the Koala hug name.)

     Seneti wakes up each morning, wondering where every person in the family is.  She has to make sure that dad hasn't gone to work early, because that always makes her sad.  She has to make sure that she sees every person on her list.  If Dad and Fotu are gone to scout camp, she has to know exactly where they are and wants to know when they are coming back.  

     When the kids come back from an activity they have left home for, Seneti goes running up to them with her arms open wide.  She is the most excited about having her family together.  She is still very sad every morning when most of us head off to school.  She cries.  She needs a hug and kiss from everyone.  She stands at the front window and waves wildly.  She wants the rest of us to stop the car in front of the house and wave back to her before we move on.  These rituals she has created endear her to us deeply!

     At this moment, she is putting on long sleeve shirt number three (she must be cold)  and carrying around an old phone at the same time.  She is always a busy little soul!  She keeps us hopping!  

     Oh, how fun it is to have time in the morning with my kids and do regular mommy things and enjoy the pleasure that the kids bring into my life.  It is so much better than running off to work.  I am enjoying and have needed this break!  It takes this type of experience to appreciate the important and little things in my life.  

Togetherness

     Well folks, it is Spring Break!  Yes!  Taxes are complete and all is well at the foot of Y mountain, except that it is snowing profoundly!  What is up with that?  I can't believe this weather!  It has made it an inside day all the way, since there is so much water in the snow that snow sport is not part of the storm.  So . . . what to do with these energetic kidos who continue to have CABIN FEVER?  

     At this moment, the oldest three kids are having remote control car races on tracks prepared down the hall and around the round about of the kitchen and living room.  This was only accomplished after a trip to the dollar store to replenish batteries, and thanks to the remote cars given to us by friends who moved overseas.  Siblinghood and tears are getting equal amounts of time in this effort.  The big brother knows how to share as long as he gets the strongest car of the bunch.  The little sisters know how to turn on the tears when things are not going their way!  Don't worry, Seneti and I are doing a great job of being the ref's and before you know it the batteries will run out, or someone will send a car down the steps for instant crash dramatics. Then, we'll be off to different adventures on this snowy day!  

      It was wonderful to sleep in a bit this morning, and get some projects accomplished that have been on the waiting list!  It's not every Wednesday that you can have family time in the middle of the day!  

Dancing with the Stars (Twinkle, Twinkle Variety)

     Seneti has taken up dancing.  She turns on music (all by herself) and dances her heart out!  She loves to tug one of the rest of us into the family room to dance with her whenever possible.  She is the funniest when she puts on a long dress from the dress-up box and holds the skirt up with her two hands and twirls and twirls!  Many times she will sing along with the kid music and give the funniest facial expressions!

    Seneti is coming up with new vocabulary on a daily basis.  Just yesterday she came running into my classroom with green gum.  I asked her what she had.  She said, "Mom, gum is watermelon!"  She was right!  Today she said, "Ouch!  My yittle fingernail!  I need band-aid!"  

    Seneti keeps us laughing and enjoying life!  

    Dance, Seni, Dance!  Dance your heart out!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

     It is officially the beginning of Softball and Baseball season at our house!  We must admit that it is something we enjoy.  Sione signed up to be an assistant coach for the girl's softball team and instead the city needed him to assist with Fotu's baseball team.  Fotu has decided not to be on the traveling team this year.  It was a good experience overall, but because Fotu was not born in the area and didn't arrive at practice as soon as he emerged from the hospital, he is not able to play positions that were given to those that have warmed them from birth.  (That is only slightly stretching it!)  Fotu became a great home run hitter (way over the fence at times), but he has some skills to hone that he just can't learn if he's not allowed to.  Fotu hopes to be on the city team with a great friend he has in our neighborhood.     

     Kalina is playing up a level so she can be on the same team with Litia.  They enjoy softball and should have a fun time!

When It's Springtime in the Rockies!

     Well, what do you know . . . our heater is still ON!  Snow is still falling, and a few of our daffodils and tulips have "hatched."  (That was what Kalina said about our flowers when she was in kindergarten.)  We are worried that the frost will damage the blossoms because we don't have as many as years past, but I hope that patient TIME will still allow them to bloom.

     It's one of my favorite times of the year!  I love the rebirth of nature!   I love bulb flowers.  I love to see the first hint of spring green on the twigs and branches of trees and bushes.  I love to see the Pussy Willows outside my classroom window.  I love to see Popcorn blossoms.  I love ot get out and play with my family.  

     Spring brings another love . . . I love Conference Weekend!  I love to spend time together with my family listening to the voice of our living prophet and apostles.  What wise counsel they give!  What wonderful ideas are infused into my heart and soul.  How much I want to have my own rebirth of action and improvement!

     There is nothing like a fresh start!  

Just ONE Voice!

     Litia sang with our elementary concert choir at the tabernacle on March 31st.  Every elementary school in the district sang one number independently.  They did a wonderful job.  The parts were delightful!  Then, at the very end of the concert every child gathered at the front of the tabernacle and up in the balcony to sing two numbers together!  There were hundreds of children singing!  WOW!   What an experience!  I could just barely see Litia, but she was one voice adding to the miraculous sound!  What a full, rich, wonderful sound they made!  

     Litia is a busy young lady!  She went straight to violin lessons at 3:15 and with only a bathroom and drink break continued on with orchestra class at 4:00.  I picked her up to change clothes at 5:00 and had her eat a sandwich on the way to the tabernacle.  She practiced with the choir and then performed.  We didn't make it home until 9:20 because we helped clean up.  She had homework and didn't get to be until after 10:30.  Needless to say, I didn't have her attend early morning choir practice the next morning.

     The Provo Tabernacle is the very place that I sang with the BYU Children's Choir when I was in 7th Grade.  It is an experience I will always remember.  My very favorite memory is singing with a whole orchestra that had timpani drums right close to where I was standing.  We sang the new primary songs by K. Newell Dayley, "I Feel My Savior's Love and Every Star is Different and So is Every Child," while he directed us.  To this day when I hear either of those songs, I still have the entire orchestra playing along with the music, and the added emphasis of timpani drums echoing in my soul.    

Just a Little Science!

     On March 24th, Fotu attended the Central Utah Science and Engineering Fair at BYU.  When I went to pick him up at the conference room to attend the award ceremony with him, he came racing down the stairs and piled into the van saying, "Mom, that was a lot of fun!  No matter what happens . . . that was a great day!"  

     Then he excitedly told me about climbing the rock wall three times (in his suit - minus the coat and tie) bare footed and getting all the way to the top where he could ring the bell.  This was quite amazing to me since when we were in Salt Lake, Fotu was scared to death of being on top of the Conference Center and was hugging the wall!  I guess the difference was that when he was climbing the rock wall he was inches away from what he felt was security!

     Background:  Fotu won our elementary fair and then did not earn any award for our district fair, but was allowed to go on to the next level.  He was very distraught and decided that he just didn't want to do it!  I explained to him that science fairs are very subjective and that the experience alone would be fun and interesting.  Since he's done it before and enjoyed it, he finally decided to fill out the paperwork, write and edit his proposal and turn everything in.

     So, when he made the comment stated above, I was very pleased that Fotu had enjoyed the day and grown from the experience.

     Cosmo presented the awards and Fotu was excited - yet again - for the chance to hang out with Cosmo!  Fotu was tense during the 4th Place Awards. (All the different categories made for about 10 awards in each place.)  Then during the 3rd Place Awards he began to relax.  And by the 1st Place Awards he whispered, "It's OK, Mom!" While he stretched out and came to realize that his Science Fair experience was over.

     Oh, BUT WAIT!  There were still 5 HUGE trophies coming out from under the table covering.  10 National Junior Scientists were named.  Fotu was called for Life Science.  He quickly jerked upright and with jaw dropping and buggy eyed he walked up to the stage.  

     Then it was announced that there would be 5 Grand Champions awarded.  Fotu was named the Grand Champion of Life Sciences.  He earned a cash award of $50.00 - that he is very proud of!  

     The botany professor talked with me afterward and said that there is potentially great interest in medical research based on Fotu's research and had us talk with his secretary for future communication purposes.

     Fotu wanted to know why people were not doing more to prevent Plagiocephaly (Flat Head Syndrome) instead of working to fix it after had already happened.  His research noted that there has been a 500% increase in the problem since the launch of the "Back to Bed" campaign to prevent SIDS.  Although this has decreased the number of infant deaths due to SID related causes, it has created a much greater problem with Plagiocephaly, especially with premature infants whose skull is still maturing and much softer, and even more with those who have a health condition that does not allow them to be held.  

     Fotu first learned about this when Seneti was born premature.  He read a pamphlet and said, "That's dumb!  Why don't they just put the babies on a different surface?"  So, he went about figuring out some different surfaces.  He of course did not have permission to use live infants, so that was a limiting factor in his experimentation process, but he still used a great deal of creativity to figure out a way to prove his point.   

     Way to go Fotu!  I hope you know that my favorite part of the day was the talk we had that evening about how you had said your prayer the night before and told Heavenly Father that you wanted to do your best, but that you would be fine with the outcome, no matter what it was!  You have matured a great deal through this process, and I am happy to see you building your life around good choices and learning that you can't always have the outcome you want (like what happened at the district level), but that you didn't give up and kept trying!  It's just especially nice when the outcome was such a positive experience!  Thanks for being a good friend to the younger kids who went and helping them feel comfortable and get what they needed throughout the day.  Your example to them is also a great part of what you did!  Keep up the great work!