Obedience

Two weeks ago I was asked to teach the Relief Society Lesson on Obedience.  Studying and giving this lesson made me aware of how truly disobedient I have been since moving down here.  Yes, it took me two months to find the ward I should go to, but once I found it I was very lax about going.  It was just too easy to stay home and relax, especially after Dad came down and didn't want to go.  I made a decision that this had to change and I have been much better about attending my meetings and partaking of the sacrament.  I have also chosen to take on the Stake President's challenge to read from the Book of Mormon daily along with daily prayer.  What a blessing this has been to experience the change of heart that has come in just two weeks.  I look forward to reading from the scriptures every morning and I no longer feel the need to stay home on Sunday's.  I would challenge everyone to accept the Book of Mormon challenge in your lives too and see how much better it makes your days.  Here are two scriptures that I have read the past two days that have particular meaning to me.

1 Nephi 15:11
Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?--If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

1 Nephi 17:3
And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled.  And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God He doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them;

Family Changes

It has been a long time since I did a post.  In that time our family has grown by three.  I apologize that there are no pictures to view on this blog post, but my computer is on the fritz and I lost all the pictures I took at the wedding.  It is also giving me a hard time loading pictures to the blog.

On May 12th we welcomed a new grandson, Inoke to Sione and Lorien's family.  He is such a sweetie and we love him very much.  Glad to have you join the family Inoke.

Lindsay joined the family as Naki's wife on June 8th.  The wedding was perfect and everyone had a good time.  We are so happy to have Lindsay as our newest daughter-in-law and happy to get to know her family as well.  Welcome Lindsay!!!

Then last but definitely not least, little Vivienne joined Tevita, Makenzie and Vea June 22nd.  We have not had the privilege of seeing her yet, but we love our newest granddaughter so much and can't wait to cuddle her.  Grandpa will get that opportunity first as he will be flying to Utah on July 16th.  Hope all of you will get together and show Grandpa a good time. 

We look forward to future visits from Fia, Tre and Clay in August and Ela and Daniel over the Labor Day weekend.  We love you all and can't believe that our little family of eight has now grown to 24. 

Visit from Lua and Ari

Lua and Ari came to visit for Easter and we had so much fun.  Dad had been home for 3 weeks and he flew back with them.  It was great to pick them up at the airport.  Ari has gotten so big and talks so good now.

We went to the beach.  Ari had fun even though it was cold and overcast that day.  We got out feet wet in the cold ocean and Ari played on the playground.

We tried to go to Legoland and even bought our tickets.  When we got to Legoland, they were closed (very sad day).  We ended up going to the Legoland Sea Life Aquarium instead. 

Ari wasn't feeling well, so just kind of buzzed through the aquarium.  Her favorite thing was the legos at the end.

On the day I had to work Lua and Ari went fishing with Dad and Lake Wohlford.  Ari had so much fun fishing with Grandpa.  They used Ari's goldfish crackers to lure a squirrel close and then Grandpa caught it in the fishing net.  Ari laughed and laughed at the squirrel.  They didn't catch any fish, but had a good time.

The poor squirrel escaping from Grandpa's fishing net.

After fishing, I left work a little early and we went to the Pala Casino Buffet for dinner.  Yummy, yummy food and so many choices.  Lua and Ari spent their last day here swimming in the pool and finally getting some sun.  Then it was off to the airport where we took pictures and shed tears of goodbye.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon.

Naki and Lindsay

It was so much fun to have Naki and Lindsay visit.  We were able to get to know Lindsay and we are so happy that Naki is marrying such a wonderful girl.  They were able to do some sight seeing and came back to the apartment every night to play Skip Bo.  Of course they are pros and I didn't stand a chance.  One day they came to the ranch to visit me and look around.  They picked oranges and lemons and enjoyed the sights.  They also went fishing with Dad and got to see how they stock the lake with fish.  That night we went to the buffet at Valley View Casino for dinner.  These are pictures of them sitting high up on the parking garage.

Naki was very taken by the pool far below.

Thanks for coming to visit!!  It was fun to have you and we look forward to coming to your wedding.

January in California

Okay, so I figured I needed to get my blog updated.  After all it has been at least a month.  Christmas was great in Utah, but I had to come back too soon.  Don, Marie and Beth came down to visit for New Year's and mine and Marie's birthday.  We had a great time even though it rained a good deal of the time they were here.  We played Tonk or Quibbler at night and laughed until we cried and our sides ached.

Don't you just love our card table.

We put together a puzzle of Bear Lake, well Garden City actually complete with Le Beau's, Bear Lake Pizza, and the Bear Lake Monster.

Sunday after church Kamden, Stefanie, Kylee, George, and the twins came for dinner.  It was great to get together with everyone and catch up.  It's been a long time since I have seen them and I have never seen the twins.  They are very cute.

The very next Sunday Sione and Lorien brought Tevita down to stay with me.  Sione and Lorien were able to go visit friends and enjoy three good days here.  Thank you so much for bringing Dad here to be with me.  It has been wonderful to finally have my husband here with me.  The only time in our marriage that we have ever been just the two of us is between the time we were married and when Ela was born.  We are learning how to be companions to each other after 31 years and I have to say it is going well.  Of course, it kind of helps that he doesn't know any other Tongans here yet to hang out with instead of me.

On the 15th we went fishing at the Oceanside Pier where Dad caught two little fish.  Then we went to the Oceanside Harbor were we had a great dinner of Mahi Mahi for Dad and salad for me.  Today, the 22nd we went fishing at Lake Poway.  It was a gorgeous day in the low 70's.  Dad fished all day but didn't catch anything.  The people next to us caught 3 huge trout.  Dad is anxious to go back next Saturday and beat them to the spot where they were so he can catch the fish next week.  After fishing we went to Dad's new favorite Chinese buffet in San Marcos.  They have practically a whole steam table of nothing but fish. 

Lake Poway was really pretty, small by Utah standards and crowded with fishermen.  I went for a hike up this hill.

The trail goes all around the lake and even over to Lake Ramona.  Next time we go Dad wants to rent a boat.  It's only $16 per day for a little fishing boat.  I plan on hiking all around the lake 2.7 miles.  We miss the family, but it is nice getting to know each other all over again.  Love to everyone.

Christmas at the Ranch

So every since the last football game when we got snowed on, my camera has been a little fuzzy.  I'm sure that I have either ruined it, or gotten it out of focus.  I have taken pictures with my phone also, but can't find the cord to download them to my computer, so I'm in a pickle.  Hopefully when I come home for Christmas, one of my children who is tech savy will rescue me.  Until then, you will have to see slightly fuzzy pictures on my blog. 

Dr. Young is a Christmas decoration fanatic.  Christmas decorations are his hobby and we start putting them up the end of October every year.  He says that putting together the village scenes is his therapy and he does an amazing job of it.  I would like to take you on a tour of the village starting with the front door.

After you enter the door, you encounter the main Christmas tree and the Christmas village.

As you can see, it is too big to fit in one picture.  Next comes smaller pictures of the village.

I wish you could see all the moving parts on the houses and all the little details on the streets.  There are even 2 boats on the water.  There are little people dancing and ice skating.

The hills are actually the sofas in the living room covered in quilt batting.

The train tracks go around the entire display and the train runs either as fast or as slow as you want.  My personal favorite is the little sleighing hill with sleigh riders going down continually.  I don't have a good picture that you can make this out.  Also by the village is a life-size Santa.

All I could think was how much the grandkids would like to see this.  The pictures are too fuzzy, but there is a Christmas tree in every room along with an incredible Santa collection.  One of these years, we will have to have Christmas down here in California so all of you can see this.  The outside lights are pretty amazing too, but again my camera is having issues.

Merry Christmas everyone, can't wait to see all of you.

November Good Times

You know the saying "How time flies when you're having fun."  Well, November flew by and was lots of fun.  We had lots of great family times, like tailgating before the Hawaii game.

Then, of course, the skies opened up during the game and rained and rained.  We all got very wet and cold.  Sione was the hero with his tarps and Ela had lots of rain ponchos for everyone.  All in all, good family times.

November also brought contrasts in temperature for me.  One weekend, I'm laying out by the pool, soaking up the sun.

The next weekend, I'm sitting in snow for a football game and white knuckle driving through the snow and rain home to Provo. 

We had wonderfully spiritual and family times with Clayton's blessing.  Scott did a beautiful job with the blessing and Fia and Scott did a great job with the family get together afterwards.  Thanks Fia and Scott for the family day.

Then, of course, November brings Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday.  It was a good day to stay inside, be warm, and eat.  Everyone contributed to the meal and it was enjoyed by all. 

Last of all was the annual Christmas parade on Center Street.  We started out with dinner at Brick Oven and then proceeded to Center Street.  The parade was sporadic, but culminated with Santa coming to Provo.  Tre was most excited to see Darth Vadar and the Star Wars group and couldn't wait for Santa.  All in all a good month with a great family.