GRATEFUL

Thanksgiving is in two days and I thought I'd write down a few things I'm most GRATEFUL for. I want to start off with the gosepl. I'm grateful to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ who atoned for my sins and who has made it possible for me and my family to return and live with our Heavenly Father again. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have about the gospel and most importantly my testimony. Without my testimony I wouldn't be where I am now. Although, I've made mistakes in my life, but through the atonement I've been able to repent and become clean again. My testimoney of His gospel has helped and guide me back to the right path.

I'm most grateful for my FAMiLY. My parents, for raising me to be the woman I am today. Without their teachings and continual guidance and support I would be lost. Even today, being a married woman, they still reach out to guide me and help me to better build up my family. I'm grateful for my other parents aka my husbands parents. I do not refer to them as 'in-laws' because I want to treat them with the same respect I do with my blood parents. Also, it makes me feel comfortable and I know I can always count on them. So I prefer to call them like my own, 'mom and dad'. I'm grateful for the love of my 3 brothers. Even though 2 of them are married and 2 aren't near, I know they will always have my back. I love my brothers! I'm grateful for my sisters! I didn't grow up having any sisters, but I'm grateful to have gained 5. Three of them are my husbands sisters and two of them are married to two of my brothers. I learn from their wonderful examples. They are all truly great mothers. I'm most grateful for my husband. He is my world! Although we butt heads sometimes, but that's what makes us stronger. We learn from our mistakes and try to better ourselves and our relationship. I'm grateful to be his eternal companion and to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm grateful for the hardwork he puts into our family. I love him with all my heart and I'm truly blessed to have him in my life. I'm grateful to have been blessed with such a beautiful and intelligent little baby girl. She brings nothing, but happiness into our family. She is one happy baby that brigthens up my every day. I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for entrusting me to raise one of his children as my own. My baby has been the greatest blessing our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon our family!

I'm most grateful for....

• the roof over my head
• the clothes on my back
• our vehicles for transportation
• for technology
• for the food in our fridge
• our xbox. LOL.
• the microwave
• the oven and stove
• washer and dryer
• clean water
• life
• toilets
• showers
• beds to lay on

and the list goes on. I'm grateful for EVERYTHiNG in my life! There are many people in this world that don't have some or any of these things and are suffering. It makes me appreciate everything that much more. :)

BLESSED

Just another blog post...

Here's just an update of how my week went. I didn't do much this week due to major menstrual cramps and bad weather. I tried going to the gym on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but I couldn't stand the pain. It felt like I was having contractions and laying down was the only way that ceased the pain. Then came Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the weather was my excuse to stay home from the gym. Lol. Thursday I got ready, but I had an impression to just stay home. I'm unsure of the feeling I had that day, but I know that the spirit knows what's best for me and I'm glad that I recognized it and followed it. Going back to bad weather, 'it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas'....It has been snowing for the past 3-4 days now and we have over a foot of snow today. I've experienced my first two (lol) calamities while driving in the snow, just a day a part from each other. Yesterday, I was driving towards John's work to attend his family day and while driving up this road my vehicle lose traction and slid right into the curb. My mind totally blanked out and all I could remember thinking was...'glad Tina isn't with me'. I think I might've freaked out if she was. Luckily there wasn't any damage, but I was stuck in the snow. A stranger walking by stopped beside my vehicle and started talking, so I rolled my window down and he started speaking Spanish. Lol. I said, 'sorry, but I don't understand'. He then replied in English, 'reverse, then just go'. So, I reversed and then started to drive, but I kept sliding back into the curb. Everytime I stopped, the man yelled, 'goo, gooo'. Haha. So I held my foot down on the gas and kept my wheel turned out into the road and I finally got out. Horrible! I'm grateful for that lil old mico guy that stopped by to help me, also for no damage on my vehicle, and for my safety. I arrived safely to John's work and we all enjoyed his family day along with his sisters and their family's. It was neat to hear how much knowledge John has about his job. :) He sure knows his stuff and I'm grateful for all thta he does to provide for our little family. Today, while driving to church (only 3 blocks away) a vehicle ran the stop sign and our vehicles collided. I had the right of way and I thought he had seen me coming, but he didn't. I didn't see any damage to my vehicle and we both just called it good, but when I got to church I saw an indent on the front right side of the car. Ugh...I was just trying to get to church. :( But then again, I couldn't be more grateful for our safety and that it wasn't any worse. This is why I hate the snow. Both of our vehicles don't have four wheel drive and suck driving in the snow.

We just got back from dinner at grandma Nedra's house with Lota and Tina's family's. We had some delicious food and good conversation. Today in relief society a sister taught a wonderful lesson that I really enjoyed. It was about teaching our children and being an example to them. Everything we do, they do. The most important message was about our duty as parents to teach our children about the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we take upon ourselves to do so, our children will never forget it. They will know right from wrong, they will know about the scriptures, the Savior, tithing, keeping the sabbath day holy...and etc. So when they grow up and they start making decisions, they know the direction they were taught to choose. There was a time in my life where I decided I wanted to experience life. I made some poor choices that I'm not proud of. I made decisions that didn't make my parents or family happy. I became inactive, became distant from my family, and I just remember being miserable. Everyone was surprised of this person I became, my church leaders, friends, and family. In that time of darkness, I still remembered what my parents taught me. I knew that I was making wrong decisions because my parents taught me that. Because they raised me in the gospel I knew the path that I had to return to. I remember from when I was a little girl and growing up my parents always held Family Home Evening, a daily scripture reading, taught us about His church. After I got married, there wasn't a question in my mind on how I wanted to raise my children. I didn't get married in the temple, but I knew the guidelines I needed to follow to get there. I'm grateful and blessed with goodly parents for the wonderful examples they've set for me. I made mistakes, but I'm grateful for the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know it's because of Him I can repent of my mistakes and become clean again. There's no doubt in my mind or in my heart that His church is true. I know that if we truly convert ourselves, heart, mind and soul to the gospel, we can withstand the adversary and become more like Him.

Baby girl is 8 months

Today my baby girl is 8 months. My oh my...has time gone by too quickly! It amazes my husband and I at what this little girl can do. Tina you are too smart for your own good little girl! Lol. You are a very intelligent little girl. Baby girl has already learned how to say 'mum' and just last week she started to say 'da da'. At 6 months she started to feed herself. About 2 weeks ago she started crawling (no more rolling anymore), and now that she can crawl she thinks she's a big girl. She crawls about everywhere and getting into everything. She learned to shake her head no. Just today I asked her to come to me and she shook her head no. It was the funniest thing. Starting to mimic sounds she hears. Sometimes when I change her diaper I'll hum or make sounds and here and there repeat after me. A couple days ago we were watching TV and this lady started crying on the program we were watching, Tina repeated the same sound and had us cracking up. She is starting to grab and hold onto objects to help her stand up. She can stand, but she can't walk. Tina is one happy child. She loves to smile and laugh. She has the funniest laugh. Tina you make us so happy. I love being your mommy and I thank God everyday for blessing me with such a beautiful, fun, and happy baby!

Tina's Baby Blessing

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012, John blessed our precious baby Tina. Tina was 3 months. We decided to hold her blessing then because it was the day after our sealing and all our family would be in town. John did a great job in preparing spiritually to bless Tina. It was sweet and beautiful. He worked hard to be worthy to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood to bless Tina and continues to be worthy to hold it today, so he can bless our family and those in need of it. It's a great blessing to have the priesthood in our home. In sacrament meeting he also bore his testimony. He mentioned that it had been many years since he stood up there and to see him stand up there and bare his testimony, touched my heart and many of our family members. I am grateful and truly blessed to have him in my life and to see him make the effort to change to become better for our family, but more importantly for himself.



Oh mah heck...

So I just reread my last post and my daughter was 3 months. She is now 8 months. Haha. I've decided that I want to try make this a habit on Sundays because this my only journal/blog/whatever I'm keeping up with it. It would be even better if it was a daily thing, but my life as a mother and wife is crazy. Therefore, imma keep up with the posts and updates on a weekly basis.

4 months ago on June 2nd, 2012, our lil family had the opportunity to go through the SLC temple to be sealed 'Together for All Time & All Eternity'. It was the neatest experience of my life and a moment I will cherish forever. I get the goosies just thinking about it now. My all time favorite part and I think I can say this for everyone too, was when they brought Tina in the sealing room. She had the biggest smile and she was very alert. She made everyone smile and laugh. My baby girl just has that affect on people. From decorating our reception, to receiving our endowments Friday, June 1st , and getting sealed on Saturday and celebrating our special occasion...it was crazy, emotional, fun-filled, beautiful, spiritual and overall...just WONDERFUL! Another big blessing in our lives. Now, it's keeping those covenants and enduring to the end.



Our Eternal Family
June 2nd, 2012
Sealed Together For All Time & All Eternity



With our lovely parents



Our Lasitani Family

L to R: Hina's brother Tau holding his daughter Lini, Kimm (Tau's wife), Mom Lasitani, Dad Lasitani, Katrina (Vaea's wife) holding her son Misi.

Missing brother's Vaea and Keni



John's sisters Tina, Lota, and Angela



Grandma Lota on the left and Great Aunt Kalisa on the right



Grandma Nedra



These lovely ladies flew down from Cali to celebrate the special day
On the left is Marji, good high schoo friend, and the right is my cousin Sii, we grew up like sisters



Our Cake that I helped create
Good Friend was able to make it for a very affordable price ;)
Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting

Our beautiful display/guest sign-in table, thanks to Lota

Our Reception Decor
Our Family helped us put this master piece together



 

You can find more pics on fb :) Lol