October's Over? Wow!

I guess I haven't uploaded my camera for a couple of weeks...here's some photos of my dad's visit as well as our Halloween costumes. We actually didn't celebrate Halloween much--since it was on a Sunday we didn't go trick-or-treating and Saki had to work Saturday so we were unable to go to the stake activity. I tried to do some fun stuff at home-cheese cat toast, dress up, making a paper turkey (Glenn kept trying to tear it), playing and popping pop corn-but you know how it is with kids, sometimes it doesn't all go like you had planned it. I know they enjoyed sliding down the slide into their play balls and Mere loves popcorn, never made it before in a pan. So I guess they had fun and didn't know what they were missing. I always enjoyed Halloween because I love costumes, I would love a costume ball for my 50th wedding anniversary! I love making and seeing all the neat costumes and ideas, but I DO NOT like all the gory, gross, and "sexy" costumes that are becoming so rampant. In my book Halloween is for kids and wholesome fun... and cute little kid costumes!

There's also some photos of Saki's family members, one Aunt and Uncle visiting from his mom's village in Fiji. Then there's photos of the kids playing in the water fountain at the temple. You may wonder why I'm always talking about the temple and going to the temple. The temple is not our chapel, but it is a place of worship. It is dedicated to the Lord and is the Lord's house. It is a sacred and beloved place. We do work for ourselves and for the dead in the temples-performing ordinances like baptisms for those who did not have the opportunity to be baptized in this life and marriages or as we call them sealings of families for all time and all eternity. This is through the sealing power of Elijah (see the Old Testament). We believe that those who have gone on are taught the gospel in Heaven and are able to choose to accept these ordinances if they wish to. Paul speaks of this in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?"
While only worthy church members can enter, anyone can attend an open house and walk through a temple before it is dedicated. What we learn in the temple helps us more fully understand our purpose hear on earth and the eternal perspective of things. It is a place of peace, love, and joy. It is a place where Saki and I find comfort and strength.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK-FAMILY PHOTOS






Mere walking with Glenn-they're cute when they do this, Mere walks a little bit with him, but then she speeds up and looses him. He is pretty good at walking to the park (just down the hill) and is understanding a lot now-hold hands, go take a bath, where's your car book etc-fun to see. I have to say I love kids growing older, it's a great source of joy to me to see them develop and change and grow!

See Glenn's double cowlick? Makes a mohawk no matter what I do...

Happy Birthday Boxer!!! See our paper turkey-Mere thinks they say cock-a-doodle-do, so we watched some turkeys online and will keep practicing gobble gobble :)


Does this remind you of Brenna Tima?

Typical Glenn, typical Mere


Glenn loves this car book from the library-he LOVES vehicles and balls!




Bui Kiti, Aunty Ruci (Seru's 1st cousin), Uncle Mosese, Saki Sr, Seru

Aunty Tara, Seru, Aunty Ruci (ruthy or ruth) (Seru's 1st cousin), Aunty Asena (Seru's sister), Aunty Gade (gnanday) (2nd or 3rd cousin?) and in front Uncle Mosese and Saki Sr.



Ruby and Lydia-my neices!!!

Yes-I do post rather late on Sunday nights...

More photos to come-the camera's in the car.

The outside of our triplex-it's a cul de sac of 7 buildings like this surrounded by hills in the back. It's an interesting town.

My dad with the publishing broker for his book In God's Image and Likeness Ancient and Modern Perspectives on the Book of Moses which I have only briefly mentioned before with the intent to say more. I am amazed at the tremendous effort that went into this book and know many people have appreciated the insights it has brought them! Please click on the link (book title) to read more, because this is such and extensive volume it would be hard for me to word better than what has been said on the website.

Saki's family...

...Saki works a couple hours in the evening-so that is my computer time or do the millions of things I have to do time since the kids are sleeping too. Just want to say that my brother Samuel is doing great on his mission in AZ! He is a man of few words, but I know he's enjoying spreading the gospel and is doing excellent work with the members of the Spanish branch!

We've had a crazy week with Saki's boss in the hospital, but he's back so Saki's back to work. I am so grateful that the Lord watches out for us, I would think after being blessed so many times I word worry less and exercise my faith more-I'm getting better :) I guess the better we get at developing Christlike qualities the more we are stretched to develop them further!

We had Stake Conference today (where members from local congregations or wards all meet together). I enjoyed the talks from a recently returned missionary and the temple president and his wife about the strength of our youth and their taking the initiative to attend the temple and resist temptations of the world around them. It is such a blessing to have the standards the church gives us as adults and as parents raising children to give guidance to our behavior and what we aught to be doing in life. So many good people get confused and lose their way before they recognize they could have chosen a better path. How grateful I am for the church leaders and prophet who are a "watchmen" on the tower to warn and guide us as we go along!

Fun filled week...

Grandpa was here Monday and Tuesday, though working-Mere and Glenn had fun with him, and maybe I mentioned it before, but Mere kept calling him Uncle Robert. Did a fair amount of cooking and some Christmas stuff this week. Mere and I also made some paper pumpkins and cats to decorate the place-she thought that was neat!

Saturday we went to the Stake temple day in the morning and I've been pining to go to the temple and was excited that they had the young women and some ladies watching the kids so I could go to the temple. Mere had fun and was wearing dress ups when I came back and Glenn-not so much of a crowd person had done well too, but he's funny he kind of wanders with a dazed look when he gets in a big crowd of people he doesn't know. We also went to the temple visitors center and watched some clips on families and Jesus Christ and temples.

Then we got some lunch and went to the park for Mere's first (non-family) birthday party. It was for our neighbor's little girl. Mere loved the cake and was very confused about the pinata. It seemed like she couldn't figure out why your are allowed to hit it, I thought she would get excited but she was kind of looking puzzled. She is a bit of an observer and follower when she's around other children. It's interesting to watch. It's good in that she seems sensitive to others rather than running the show, but she'll need to learn to lead too. I think she's really a lot like me.

Her and Glenn get pretty loud together too. They're having fun, but I wish it was outside not in the house....

I'll put up some photos next week...

Just want to close my post by saying how grateful I am for my amazing wonderful husband. He's my perfect match! I am so happy seeing him serve in the church and that I am sealed to him for all time and all eternity! I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! It brings such joy, strength, comfort, and peace to my life! I love being able to teach my children about Jesus Christ and about how to become like him. I love taking Mere and Glenn to see the temple (thought they can't go in yet). Mere is always asking to go to the temple and go to church. I am grateful for the guidance the church gives in being a family and raising children!

Grandpa Visit

Grandpa's in town for 4 days, and so we've been spending time with him-another post to follow. Earlier we went to a gorgeous beach and I did finally take photos of our home, which as you will see I have not been motivated to fully unpack as I'm tired of moving and don't know how long we'll be here...


Gorgeous point Reyes Beach





Children's map-they love looking at. How mere likes to sleep on her, actually my slug and her caterpillar.


kitchen

Glenn's room aka the storage room since he's still in a crib. Bathroom

Dining room which is our computer/sewing table as I don't want the kids getting food on the carpet... Mere's room again


Living room-Mere and Glenn running towards the hall to bathroom and bedrooms.

General Conference

Well, so you all know our computer is down, so we are unable to post photos for a while... but we are doing well and Mere and Glenn are getting over their colds and we are enjoying listening to general conference this weekend!!! http://lds.org/broadcast/gc/1,5161,9199,00.html there have been some excellent talks so far and I'm glad they're accessible online so I can listen again :) as the kids can be distracting... I enjoyed the primary president's? talk about children!

I am starting some Christmas stuff with Mere, we've been reading the New Testament stories of Jesus's life and got out our little people nativity and have been reviewing what Christmas is about. It's an exciting time of year and though decorations won't go up for a bit, it's fun to help Mere learn about the reason for these special holidays and get excited about them. Mere and I really enjoy reading scriptures in the evenings, and made it through the children's Book of Mormon and she thought it was exciting there are more scriptures, when we started reading the New Testament which is a separate book:)