Good times

We stayed the nite in town on Thanksgiving. After recovering from good food on Turkey Day, Ev and I were going to hit the craze of "BLACK FRIDAY" but then we decided that it didn't matter that much, its not like we wanted to buy things that were crazy on sale, so we slept. We did however go out shopping later, lots of people, lots of cars, lots of traffic even in Hawaii. We used team work. I would shop and Ev would get in line (he's a trooper). After our day of shopping or should I say dodging and weaving through people, we went out with Mom and Dad Stubbs to a movie I have been dying to see,THE BLINDSIDE. I would highly recommend it! I am trying to convince Evan to take me to see it again because I loved it so much! It was super inspirational and so funny! A very well balanced movie!

Countdown to Turkey Day!

I am thankful for..

1. The Lord's hand in my life

2. The smell of rain

3. The people in my life

4. A good movie

5. An amazing husband

Entangled in the SAGA

For the past 4 days I have been entangled in a web. A web of Twilight Saga! I love to read, but I just hadn't taken the time to sit down and do it. After deciding to see New Moon on Saturday with Ev and some friends, I had to get caught up. I hadn't read any of the books. I started Twilight, but read here and there not getting very far and couldnt quite get into it. But then once I set my mind to finishing New Moon by Saturday, I devoted all my efforts to finishing. Poor Evan (someone might need to call Spouse Protection Services, he was neglected attention, I did make dinner though so not too neglected) I was happy to say that I finished Twilight and New Moon in about 2 days I think, but I was hooked! I could not put those books down..They were enthralling! By now I had felt like I was there observing all of what was happening. When I would have to stop reading, it was so hard, but it was as if their imaginary life had stopped too and when I would pick the book up again I jumped right back into my world. I loved it! I really enjoyed reading it and now Evan knows not to get me a good book if he doesn't want to be neglected--haha--He and are the exact same when we read "in our own little worlds". Emotions I went through while reading-fear, frustration, anxiety (too much arguing, it got me worked up), joy, happiness, enthusiasm, and I just wished Bella would stop being so pessimistic (it drove me crazy). I finished the final book last night/early this morning and I am probably the last person to have read these books in the world; Ev even read them before me..but its all good..I'm sad the story ended it was very good, but glad I don't have to neglect my husband anymore.

An Apostle came here

On Sunday, in place of what was suppose to be our stake conference, we had a regional (island-wide) conference..why? Because President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet of the Lord, and one of the Lord's Apostles, Elder L. Tom Perry, were coming to Hawaii. It was an exciting feeling to think that the Prophet of the Lord was going to be here, I was going to be here with him in the same room, listening intently as I would if Jesus were standing right there. Unfortunately, President Monson's wife had a fall and was hospitalized and he needed to be there to care for her. Completely understandable! Not gonna lie though, I was hoping He would be there. But we were still blessed with the presence of an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder L. Tom Perry and a member of the Seventy, Richard Maynes. It was a remarkable conference. Elder Perry is hilarious (if that isn't irreverent to say) and so in tune. I listened intently trying to follow along to what he was speaking about to see some way that it could pertain to my own life and my progression. I mostly just sat and stared trying to absorb the truth and Spirit radiating from his mouth and his aura. Elder Maynes spoke about how the church in Hawaii will never be stronger than the next generation, basically to be an example to the future kids and the pathway to raising a righteous generation. Elder Perry talked about the fruit of repentance, spirit of strength and overcoming our faults, humbly offer our prayers (willing to make course corrections), and give thanks. Most importantly though he bore a strong testimony of truth. President Monson spoke from Salt Lake City, Utah and it was like he was there in the room with us. He spoke about the Aloha of the islands (Spirit of love). He too spoke truth. He taught: have a desire to rescue those who may be lost and how the lost members know where the church is they just need a little help to find the way. He said give service to all men ("If we dont try, we dont do. If we dont do, then why are we here?"), that love is seldom expressed, live together in love, magnify our callings and then he said people can change. "Dont you know a leopard cant change its spots, I wouldn't know I work with men and men change." "A friend cares more about helping than getting credit." It was an uplifting meeting and I am thankful that I had to opportunity to sit in and listen to the Lord's servants.

Countdown to Turkey Day!

I am thankful for..

1. knowledge and learning

2. exercise

3. ability to love unconditionally

4. food

5. ability to forgive

Countdown to Turkey Day!

I am thankful for..

1. technology

2. living in paradise

3. learning lifes lessons and the faith that accompanies it

4. food

5. friends

Countdown to Turkey Day!

I am thankful for..

1. My husband and best friend-I LUB HIM!

2. My Savior Jesus Christ

3. My families

4. A living Prophet and Apostles on the earth-TRUTH!

5. Laughter

Saturday is a Special Day!

We had an early Saturday morning. Despite the forecast of much rain and flash flood warnings, we played in a 6v6 soccer tournament at the BYU-Hawaii campus. It was a fundraiser that our Women's soccer team puts on every year, basically the players are the coaches and round up peeps to play on their team. You have to pay to play, but you are guaranteed 3 games and if you have enough points you can move on to the semi-finals then the finals. It was a good cause and we always play every year. Our team was the LADYBUGS-woop woop- our coach was Lauran McCullough (I served in the McCullough's home ward in Kennewick, WA on my mission-see previous post about special visitors). We played three games and came out with a 2-1 overall record. The game we lost was a bogus one. I really had my game face on in that game (dont push me because I will push you back and I will make you fall and then if you do it again I will be just as mean to you) It was intense, elbows out! Anyways we ended up having 16 points for the tourney and you needed 18 to move on the the semi-finals so we didn't move on, but we had a blast in the rain and sliding in the mud.

Afterwards, Ev made me one of his specialty breakfasts, Eggs and portuguese sausage in the toast and it was yummy. One of my favorite breakfasts Ev makes!

It takes faith

"It takes faith--unseeing faith--for young people to proceed immediately with their family responsibilities in the face of financial uncertainties. It takes faith for the young woman to bear her family instead of accepting employment, especially when schooling for the young husband is to be finished. It takes faith to observe the Sabbath when 'time and a half' can be had working,when sales can be made, when merchandise can be sold. It takes great faith to pay tithes when funds are scarce and demands are great.It takes faith to fast and have family prayers and to observe the Word of Wisdom..But know this--that all these are of the planting, while faithful, devout families, spiritual security, peace, and eternal life are the harvests...But know this: that undaunted faith can stop the mouths of lions, make ineffective the fiery flames, make dry corridors through beds of rivers and seas. Unwavering faith can protect against deluge, terminate droughts, heal the sick and bring heavenly manifestations. Indomitable faith can help us live the commandments and thereby bring blessings unnumbered with peace, perfection, and exaltation in the kingdom of God. May this be our desire to develop this kind of faith and may we finally attain the blessings which such perfect faith can bring.."

--President Spencer W. Kimball

Life has many curve balls and many unexpecteds. But it takes faith to endure and faith to persevere. It takes faith to know you will be taken care of and it takes faith to act knowing that because you are going and doing you will be blessed and given what you need. It takes faith.

Naturally, most husbands lend an ear, a shoulder, and a hug when their wives have sad moments. My husband naturally does all those and more. He goes out of his way to make me feel better any way he can. I don't have "sad moments" all that often but Friday he bought me...

ICE CREAM!Very expensive ice cream! Now I am not really a huge ice cream fan, but.. I do like Mochi ice cream, it must be the Asian in me.I love my husband! He's always looking out for me.He sure is my favorite and my best buddy!

Saturday was a very Special Day!

Ev and I started out the day both working and then got ready to go into town. Today was a special day for us because we were going into town to visit Grandpa Quon at the cemetery. In all my time living here and being with Evan's family I had always driven past and known the cemetery as"that's where Grandpa is buried." I wasnt excited because cemetery's are the happiest place on earth, but more so because I finally could "meet Grandpa". I notice very quickly that on his headstone there were three small baby oranges. I couldn't help and be simple minded and ask," who would put oranges on a grave? they are just going to rot." Evan explained to me that in the Chinese culture, they have many rituals. One of the rituals is to put food/drink on the grave. Its considered an offering to the Spirits. By putting oranges, or any fruit and/or food and drinks in the "other" realm, they will take it, and use it to relieve their "hunger." I looked around and saw fruit, drinks, pumpkins..I thought to myself all I have ever brought to my Dad's grave was flowers, maybe he'd like some Dr.Pepper one of these days. haha..I took one of Grandpa Quon's flowers and put it on the grave next to him,Mr. Nakamura, because thats what I always do when I put flowers on Daddy Matthews grave, we always remember to put flowers on Clarence's headstone. It was a beautiful day especially to sit and be reminded of those we love. November 7th is Grandma and Grandpa Quon's Anniversary, it would have been 68 years today. Grandpa Quon passed away 2 days shy of their 57th Wedding Anniversary. When I was being told about the series of events that surrounded Grandpa's passing away, I was told that Grandpa was on a breathing machine in Saint Frances Hospital and the family had dinner reservations for November 7th (to celebrate their anniversary) at Kincaid's (Fish, Chop & Steakhouse), one of Grandpa's favorite restaurants that has a nice view of the Honolulu Harbor. Well last night, Evan, Mom, Dad, Auntie Chicky, Uncle Jonathon, Dems, and of course Grandma Quon, went to the same restaurant, Kincaids, that they had reservations for 11 years ago and set a place at the table for Grandpa Quon. It was a good day, a special day!

Dear Grandpa Quon,

Today, November 5th, 2009, We remember you Richard Kwai Yuen Quon. Another man I wish I could have known in this life. I am thankful for your amazing influence on my husband. Evan has so many stories and precious memories that I love to hear about. Its a special blessing to have such a strong relationship with your Grandparents. I am grateful that Evan has had that blessing in his life and still continues his special relationship with Grandma Quon. Thank you Grandpa Quon for touching my husband and best friend, I know he is a better person because you were in his life! You are missed! I love you!

FHE

“What is the great strength of [this] Church? … It is the emphasis which we place on families. … Keep your families close together and love and honor your children” -President Gordon B. Hinckley

One Evening a Week—Monday Night

“We have a family home evening program once a week [Monday night] across the Church in which parents sit down with their children. They study the scriptures. They talk about family problems. They plan family activities and things of that kind. I don’t hesitate to say if every family in the world practiced that one thing, you’d see a very great difference in the solidarity of the families of the world” (interview, Boston Globe, 14 Aug. 2000).

“[The Lord] expects us to have family home evening—one night a week to gather our children together and teach them the gospel. Isaiah said, ‘And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord.’ That is the commandment: ‘All thy children shall be taught of the Lord.’ And the blessing: ‘And great,’ he said, ‘shall be the peace of thy children’ [Isa. 54:13]”

"You have to establish in your life some sense of prioritizing things, of giving emphasis to the important things and of laying aside the unimportant things that will lead to nothing. Establish a sense of justice, a sense of what is good and what is not good, what is important and is not important; and that can become a marvelous and wonderful blessing in your lives”

A LETTER FROM THE FIRST PRESIDENCY

October 4, 1999

To: Members of the Church throughout the World

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Monday nights are reserved throughout the Church for family home evenings. We encourage members to set aside this time to strengthen family ties and teach the gospel in their homes.

Earlier this year we called on parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. We also counseled parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities.

We urge members, where possible, to avoid holding receptions or other similar activities on Monday evenings. Where practical, members may also want to encourage community and school leaders to avoid scheduling activities on Monday evenings that require children or parents to be away from their homes.

Church buildings and facilities should be closed on Monday evenings. No ward or stake activities should be planned, and other interruptions to family home evenings should be avoided.

Sincerely yours, Gordon B. Hinckley Thomas S. Monson James E. Faust

Now with all these wonderful words from the beloved prophet President Gordon B. Hinckley, Evan and I have always tried to read something or we each just get multiple parts of FHE or just go on with our busy life and think, "oh ya, we need to do that, next Monday we will get on that.." Well it was so up and down that Ev and I decided to invite a few friends over to fulfill our need and their need to follow the prophet and have FHE. Rebecca and Tyler Waldron & Dana and Chris Bradshaw and us have set a record. We have had FHE every Monday for an entire month. It has been so great! We always switch off whos house we have it at and move around the lesson, scripture, prayer,treat and activity. I really enjoy having friends over, but more than their company is just the increase of the Spirit that I am able to obtain from 1. being obedient and 2. allowing myself to be touched or become better by the lessons. We played a super fun game called Raving Rabbids on the Wii for activity recently and had a blast!

Happy Halloweeny 2009

So I decided to look up the meaning of Halloween to refresh my mind on why we have such a holiday. It was pretty neat to read about why people wear masks and why food or "candy" in our time is given out. Refreshers are nice. Ev and I didnt have a typical Halloween. We dont have kiddies and we werent going to head to Waikiki for Halloween, those could be some scary costumes on the streets..So we decided to head to the beach..ahh..I love the beach. Ev played baseball in the morning with some friends and then later we went with Rebecca and Tyler to Haleiwa, HI. I had never actually been to this beach, but once you been to one you been to them all right? wrong..this beach you werent able to really walk out into as the coral reef covers almost the entire bottom of the ocean anywhere where you can reach. So I hesitated going surfing because I really didnt want to get in a fight with the coral and lose. But it was too beautiful and serene to pass up. I'm not all that experienced but the better I get aka the more I stand up and not just ride the wave, the more I love it. Its so much fun! Well I caught a couple of really great waves and stood up too. I have a good coach, Rebecca, giving me pointers here and there. I love it! After surfing we headed to Mililani to eat food and watch, "Where the Wild things are". I enjoyed the movie, but I spent a lot of the time sitting there eating popcorn and popcorn chicken, thank you for a large purse, but I also just thought about the point of the movie and how were all very much like the little boi Max. We have different sides to us. We are happy, sad, disappointed, angry, frustrated...etc I liked the movie because it really opened my eyes about the importance of love and loving people for who they are. You cant change people. You cant make them become who you want them to be, but you can help them see the potential they have to become better than they think they are. I appreciate feeling that someone, my husband, can help me become a better, happier person so that I do not battle with all of my me's. The movie was definitely thought provoking and I enjoyed it and spending time eating candy that I did not get from trick or treating, but that I had to buy myself..and enjoyed eating reeses pieces while picking out all the brown ones (because I do not eat chocolate and even though I know they are not chocolate, but just a brown candy coat, I am still a freak and wont eat them) so Rebecca ate them =) It was a Happy Safe beautiful Halloween night!

This is just a random picture taken a few weeks ago where Evan happens to be cuddling with a skeleton (from Lolly's classroom) aka me.