It's Ten,Ten,Ten Today

Aloha Blogging 'Ohana! It's been 3 months of neglectful blogging. I'm glad to be back and am thankful that I'm able to catch a few minutes to myself to write my thoughts. I just finished my first quarter teaching K, being the GLC, having the title of CT which is modeling for an ST. Yes there are a lot of acronyms in my profession. At first it was so overwhelming but now that Fall Break is here I'm quite relaxed ready to go back to all the titles. Most of all I've enjoyed being a full-time mommy this break, I got to know my kids again and husband again, and I actually made dinner and ate as a family daily. My goal is to continue to balance all my hats and put the family first. I'm looking forward for the holidays and the last few months of the year.
This month particularly is one of my most memorable months the month I remember my dad here on the earth with us. I will always miss him and look forward to being reunited with him someday. The gospel brings me peace in knowing that families are forever. I will continue to remember his legacy and take care of all that he has left behind in this world. My next entry will be a celebration of his life...we have wonderful plans in the works, hope all comes to pass. Dad's favorite saying before he said goodbye to anyone was "Take Care" so I'll say to all of you, may God bless you and take care. Aloha, Christie

Summertime Fun with Friends

These past two weeks from June 29-July 6th has been filled with reuniting with friends from the past, and making new memories to carry us through the future. It started off with a visit from Jen on Monday, we drove around and I showed her my school where I teach we went to visit with Ku'u, Sina, Kanoe, (aka da K's). While we were there we ran into Ren, took pictures, saw Cheryl, Mish and Noe. Tuesday we met Kehau, Pualei, Heidi came over and felt impressed to gather a group to see Tash, that evening was a life changing event for me. We were surrounded by Tash who's battling a fight with cancer, and as I was there with my friends the spirit was so strong. There in attendance was Kim, Aim, Tamz, Heidi, Jen, Cheryl, and me. We sang "In this Very Room". We were so blessed to be in Tash's presence! Wednesday was beach day, I met Tamz and her girls, Jen, Kehau and kids. Thursday was girls night out at Banzai Sushi in Haleiwa. Yum! Friday said good bye to Jen, and made our last cruise around town.

This week saw Fireworks on the 4th with family and friends, went shopping on the 5th, and had fun at the beach followed by Matsumoto's on the 6th. Enjoying Hawai'i, I'm so blessed to be able to live here and have friends who make the time to spend with me while their here. Who knows when the next time we'll be able to see each other again. So enjoy your summertime with family and friends!

Memorial Day- Weekend

Our Memorial day started early this year, we went to Grandpa Akana's grave in Kaneohe, and Papa Akana's grave in La'ie. My mom and I have a tag along grave assistant, he's been at the grave since he was one. You'll see him in the picture when we are cleaning the grave. It was nice to see that at both graves a surprise visitor thought of honoring my grandpa and dad. We didn't take a picture of grandpa's and don't know who left the fresh rose, but at dad's we found out Uncle Norm T. placed beautiful flowers on the grave. Mahalo to all those that are thinking about my dad at this time and the legacy he left behind for his family. Now it's time for us to cheerish our small family here on this earth.

Almost half the year gone by...my first post of the year!

Well it's about time I move forward from my last post which was Christmas 2009. Welcome 2010 a year that hasn't given me time to breath. So here it goes a quick recap up until May 2010. January I celebrated my 37th birthday, first at the mall with a pedicure and manicure,then at the movies. January Mikayla won the Leeward District Science Olympiad, Kaden was Super Citizen. February we went to Kaua'i to celebrate Grandma Kajiwara's 90th birthday, March was spring break and we celebrated my mom's 67th birthday, April was Kahana's 3rd birthday, our grade level celebrated Aunty Laverne's birthday, mom went to China and walked the Great Wall, and mom and I went to Chicago to see the big O. Mikayla's Kahuku Water Polo team won the 2010 OIA Championship game. Now it's May I got through my first Laie Elem. May day, Kaden's 9th birthday, and Kindergarten Graduation. I'm now in the process of moving rooms to B-102, the leagacy of Mrs. S. Will live on through me as she retires. So June is approaching and then hopefully things will slow down so I can go back to blogging on time.

Mele Kalikimaka 2009

Christmas came in a flash this year! Before I knew it school was over, and the Christmas rush began. Less than a week to get ready, and it was here. We picked up mom from the airport on the 22nd and had Christmas at the Kloeppels in Hawaii Kai on the 23rd. Christmas eve was fun to be home and relax. We enjoyed the evening with Amie, Joshua, and Lavinia too. Then it was getting late the children went to bed and awaited, Santas arrival. The next morning we woke up and opened our presents. That afternoon we went to our first movie on Christmas Day, just John, and I the kids wanted to stay home and play they bonded with Grandma. John and I joined the Paytons and saw Sherlock Holmes. It was mighty crowded and a sold out show we barely got in luckily our seats were saved. The show was great and so was the company. On Saturday the 26th I got a virus, a stomach flu. So did Kahana and we were very uncomfortable for about a week till new years day. I can't believe how fast time went. Christmas, New Years, and then my Birthday. New years eve we got invited to the Paytons, watched movies, played games and waited till midnight to welcome the New Year 2010. The next day we celebrated my birthday since it was a saturday. We went to get our nails done, had lunch, and saw the movie Blindside again since mom didn't see it. I was happy to see that movie, very inspriational as a mother and teacher. That just got me quickly back in the mood to start school on Monday, the 4th of January. I can't believe how short our break was and that the older I get the faster, busier my life gets. Hopefully now things will slow down a little. Let's do it again in 2010!

Thanksgiving 2009: Physical and Spritual Feast

Thanksgiving of 2009 turned out to be an exciting event. On Wednesday, John went to Hawaii Kai to pick up his parents and I was at work participating at our school turkey trot. We came home and welcomed the Kloeppels into our home. That night I was fortunate to go to a movie with the ladies, it was really fun going by ourselves. Thursday, was Thanksgiving and I had a list of food dishes to get ready, and a plane to catch in the late afternoon. It came down to the wire but I managed to accomplish the meal and at 12:00pm we had a wonderful luncheon. Good food, good company, good everything. Get to the airport by 4:50pm and catch a plane to Kona, Hawai'i at 6:00pm. I was so excited I couldn't contain my excitment!
Prior to the planning of this trip, which had been a goal of mine since January 2009 as one of my resolutions, I encountered a lot of stumbling blocks along the way. From the La'ie Hawai'i temple being closed to waiting a year to do the work, and then getting it done without any family members present. It was an attempt I had to do for my dad by myself it couldn't wait, he needed to be with an eternal family. His parents needed him. I needed the comfort to know that he had a place and parents ready to greet him with open arms. All was possible with the help of my Heavenly Father, prayer, personal revelation, and friends ready to serve. The spirit was so strong at the temple and I know that everyone was pleased with me. It made me grateful to know that I was able to do this because I was obedient to the Lord's commandments and promptings of the spirit all my life. My grandparents waited 30 years for this blessing. Just comes to show that you should use the talents and gifts you are given to one day bless the lives of others waiting for you. I learned to act upon the promptings of the spirit, and to not give into temptation.
I returned home Friday night and was very grateful and able to now focus on taking care of my immediate family. My children were happy for me. They missed me while I was gone.

On Saturday I went to a funeral. A member of our community passed away. The funeral services and message was very uplifting and the message and music was just what I needed to hear. Basically those that are called early in life have a great work to do beyond the veil, and family members left behind should talk and share experiences about their loved one that left. It's all part of the healing process. So share your memories about your loved one and talk about times you remember when they were here with you on Earth. Also don't be afraid to approach others and tell them what you remembered about their family member.

That evening my husband and I were able to go on a date to see a movie. The movie was inspiring, uplifting, and taught me to that one person can make a huge difference in someones life. Now it's on to Christmas and remembering to LOVE our family, friends, and the world we live in. So that was my crazy, emotional, busy, whirlwind of a Thanksgiving break.

Hauoli Halloween

Halloween 2009 proved to have some scary changes. Not only was the crowd not there in Laie but the treats were different too. All signs of the economic times. We mangaged to keep one tradition alive and that was trick or treating with Auntie Amie, Joshua and Lavania. Prior to that evening we went to Kaden's soccer game and shopping with mom. No time to buy and carve a pumpking this year, or even pick one from the patch. However, all in all we made our own fun, with great company, food, and a movie. We look forward to next year and hope it will be filled with a little less change. Now it's on to Thanksgiving...