"The Divine Gift of Gratitude"

11.28.10. I am grateful today for Sis. Long and her wonderful lesson on 'The Divine Gift of Gratitude' in Relief Society! How could I NOT be grateful for that today? =)

Working on stuff for ATR, finally went back to church after weeks. Talks were great and the lesson on gratitude was wonderful. I'm full of gratitude, trying to just focus on love and joy and positivity and abundance and gratitude. Youth conference meeting at night. Busy week ahead with the service project for the HI HOPES Board. Have a great week everyone!

"A Day in Bed"

11.27.10. I am grateful for spending a much needed day and night in bed. . .

I think that traveling finally caught up with me, I've been feeling under the weather. So I spent the entire day in bed, sleeping, watching tv, reading "The Power" and eating. Perfect weekend to rest-did a little work for ATR. So great to sleep, sleep, sleep. . .

"Lucky I Live Hawaii"

11.26.10. I am grateful today for enjoying the beauty of Hawai'i. . .the tradewinds were strong, the waves were pumping, the ocean was the bluest blue and the beaches were full of families and happy surfers. Am I lucky to live here, or what?

Today, I slept in and then we went for a little ride around to Makapu'u and Waimanalo and Kailua. It was windy and the waves were rough, but it was sunny and beautiful and people were out and I was so grateful to be in Hawaii. I love this place and am blessed to live here and be from this aina. Enjoyed an evening at home.

"Happy Thanksgiving"

11.25.10. I am grateful today for a year of blessings. Heavenly Father blesses me daily with the gospel, with an eternal family, wonderful friends, my doggies, meaningful work, my church calling, music, a home, health, abundance, exciting opportunities and the most amazing place in the world as my native homeland. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, may you all enjoy gratitude every day!

Thanksgiving Day, 2010. Can you believe how quickly the year has gone by? I am so grateful for my life, for all the blessings my family and I have enjoyed throughout the year. Fosi made potato salad and I made stuffing and dessert. Niu brought drinks and ice cream and Apa and his house brought 2 turkeys and gravy. Kesi said he's bring ham and didn't come with a small ham until nightfall. Ah well, so much for planning. It was still a great day. I cooked and did laundry and ate and relaxed. Got stomach ache that evening but survived, just another holiday story! I am grateful, though, for today and everyday. . .

"Dinner with the Concepcions"

11.24.10. I am grateful for having dinner with my law school gals and their ohana. It was great to see Georgette and family visiting from Guam.

After a day of work, it was nice to have dinner at the Macaroni Grill at Ala Moana with Georgette and her ohana, Lise and Amy and Catie. Zach and Georgette are doing great, built a new home in Guam, the girls, Bailey and Skye are getting big-Skye is so cute and talkative. So nice to spend time with my law school buddies. Just like no time goes by at all, talking and laughing. They treated, so nice of them. Can't wait to visit them in Guam one day! Thanksgiving tomorrow, I'm making my famous banana dessert.

"Home Sweet Home"

11.23.10. I am grateful today simply to be home and to sleep with my doggies again. =)

Started the morning with a 7:30am CP Hui breakfast and had meetings and work, but it was great to rest with my doggies again and be home. Fosi got me an Android phone, trying to adjust. Can't wait until the holiday weekend.

"Mahalo Florida, Aloha Hawaii!!!"

11.22.10. I am grateful for a wonderful Florida adventure with my ohana and returning home safely to my beautiful island. Hawaii no ka oi!!!

We have had a wonderful time in Florida and we are grateful to God and the Livingstons for this gift. Our family has been greatly blessed. It is time to go home. Packed and ready to roll, another one of Disney's wonderful perks is baggage check-in and boarding pass printing right in our hotel lobby. The Magical Express picked us up at 10:10 am after breakfast and a fond farewell to Port Orleans French Quarter, wearing our matching reggae Mickey shirts, we were off. Flew to L.A. and was delayed an hour, changed planes and seats ( a little mix-up), ate dinner at Chili's, bought dad a LA hat and got safely home, tired but happy, after 10pm. Always wonderful to see the Honolulu city lights welcoming us home. Great to see mom, dad, the dogs and Timo. Gave them their gifts, they had slept in the house together the week. Mahalo ke Akua!

"Animal Kingdom and Epcot"

11.21.10. I am grateful for spending our last day in Florida with the wildlife at the Animal Kingdom and the evening at Epcot. Soarin, the Epcot countries, dinner in Japan and the fireworks were simply breathtaking. Disney World is absolutely amazing and we were so blessed to spend time here as a family!

Our last full day at Disney World and we spent it at the Animal Kingdom and Epcot. We did the safari and saw the animals and watched 'The Lion King' and 'Finding Nemo' shows and saw the tree of life and ate at the 'Rainforest Cafe'. It was lovely and we wish we had more time there. We rested and went to Epcot at night and waited 70 minutes for 'Soarin', a virtual ride over California. Epcot was lovely at night and the replica of the countries (Norway, China, Japan, etc.) was breathtaking. We ate at Japan, real Japanese food with people from Japan. Walking through the countries at night, with food and music from the countries was astounding and Fosi and I really want to spend more time there in the future. We loved it! Packed and ready to go home tomorrow. Its been a dream come true and we had a wonderful time as a family (learned that I need more patience with Sonny and taught him about gratitude, but was hard with him and the time change) and we were so blessed to be there. We are ready to go home, though, we miss Hawaii and the dogs. We're exhausted and happy. God Bless Arlynna and Michael for their gift. Aloha a mahalo ia Orlando. . .aloha no Hawaii!!!

"Blizzard Beach and Fireworks"

11.20.10. I am grateful for a day at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park and a night of fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.

Today was Sonny's favorite day-we went to the water park, Disney's Blizzard Beach. It was not crowded, cool but pleasant enough. Sonny and Fosi went on all of the slides and rides except the 120 ft. drop ride, the longest in America. It was a ski slope theme and a lift took them up to the higher rides. I read my book and went with them into the lazy river. We went back to the hotel, rested and spent the evening at the Magic Kingdom to watch the electric light parade and fireworks. The Magic Kingdom is beautiful at night, with the castle dressed up for the holidays and changing colors. We ate dinner and ice cream there. It was very crowded but the fireworks were magical. Sonny and Fosi went on the Speedway ride and People Mover and I went to the Monsters Inc. and Stich Ride (junk). Tired and long day, but another great day at Disney world!

"My Day with Harry Potter"

11.19.10. I am grateful for a fantastic day at Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!!

So my dream came true today. When I watched the opening of the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" on television a few months ago, never did I imagine I would be standing there before the end of the year. We paid for transport to and from our hotel. It was about 35 minutes to get there. Universal Studios were amazing! Islands of Adventure is where Harry Potter was and we went straight there. There were a bit of people, all who went there, of course and it was magical for me. Hogsmeade was recreated, with the Hogwarts Express, stores like Zonko's and Honeyduke's, Ollivander's (with a long line), Dervish and Banges, we ate at the Three Broomsticks and drank Butterbeer (caramel cream soda-yums!!!). Hogwarts was fantastic, to scale and the virtual broomstick ride in the castle was the best of the whole trip!!! I was afraid I'd fall out, but I didn't! We walked through the castle to get to the ride and walked through Dumbledore's office, the Potions classroom, passed the Sorting Hat and Mirror of Erised and Professor Sprout's hot house. Wow! I bought a wand, Professor MacGonagall's wand appealed to me the most and I bought a Hogwart's shirt. I was SO happy there and Fosi and Sonny had to put up with me, lol. We went to Jurassic Park and rode the Jungle River adventure and I thought it was a mellow ride but it was like Splash Mountain! Ugggh! I know now that if a ride says 'thrilling' and has a height requirement and locks you in, then that's a hint that it's a scary ride! Sonny and Fosi rode a ride over Jurassic Park and we went to Seussland (so colorful and just like the books) and Sonny rode "One Fish, Two Fish" ride while I went on a computer. It was so cool to walk through Marvel Comics land and see the Hulk roller coaster. We went to Universal Studios Florida next door and went to Shrek 4-D and ET ride and walked around. Went home and the boys went to Downtown Disney shopping while I went to watch Harry Potter 7: Part I by myself (I fell asleep) but it was a little darker and mature. What a day!

"The Magic Kingdom"

11.18.10. I am grateful for a magical day at the Magic Kingdom with my family. =)

So today was the day that we took Sonny to the Magic Kingdom and it certainly was magical. It was already decorated for Christmas and there was Christmas music playing and we took pictures everywhere. It was cool, not too crowded, lines were great. We started with the Dumbo ride and it was kind of a long line (and Sonny cracked up when I screamed on the ride)! We did the 'Tea Cups' and I screamed and got dizzy. We actually did Space Mountain and can I just say, NEVER AGAIN?!! Fosi was thrilled, Sonny was in shock and I was terrorized! We bought the pictures for proof. What was I thinking??? Sonny loved the Speedway Race Cars (he drove his own) and we did 'It's a Small World', 'The Haunted Mansion', they did 'Splash Mountain' and I watched the 'Wishes Come True' performance at the castle. I was just so touched and grateful as I stood there. We had made it to Disney World and it wasn't anywhere on my radar, but the Lord knows and provides! How blessed I am and we are as a family!!! We had lunch and I had ice cream, we watched the afternoon parade down Main Street and it was great with the characters. We rode the train around the park and went on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. The boys rode the 'People Mover' and we rode the Jungle safari boat ride and 'Aladdin's Carpet Ride'. Went back to the hotel by 5pm, rested and ate at the hotel and rested. We needed the rest, it was a long day of walking, especially the boys-they were still jetlagged. Gotta get up and out early tomorrow for Universal Studios and Harry Potter world!!!

"From Tampa to Orlando. . ."

11.17.10. I am grateful today for driving safely to Orlando, the safe arrival of Fosi and Sonny and an evening in Downtown Disney.

So I checked out and got my car at National. I literally cried when they said they were out of GPS and I got one. Hello, I needed it to get to Orlando! Driving across a strange state, I get lost in Hawaii! I prayed all along the way and listened to music. It was a nice, simple drive. No traffic. Took about 1.5 hours, like everyone said, to travel 100 or so miles, all on freeway. Dropped off the car at National, met the boys at American Air baggage claim and caught the nice Disney Magical Express to the Port Orleans French Quarters at Disney World about 3o minutes away. Disney World is HUGE, their own city!!! Tired, rested a bit and then spent the evening eating at T-Rex and looking around Downtown Disney. Tomorrow is at the Magic Kingdom-so great to see my boys. Sonny was so excited!!! Thanks to God for watching over me!

"Alone Time. . ."

11.16.10. I am grateful today for alone time, for being a part of work that improves the lives of foster youth and knowing that my boys are leaving Hawaii tonight to join me in Orlando tomorrow!!!

Great sessions at the convening, I attended the ones on Youth Engagement. The work the Initiative does is amazing and changes the future for these young people. Its great to be a part of the work and meet with and work with dedicated people! Its been hard to be so alone, but great, too. I've enjoyed room service and reading a new book and watching television and being alone with my thoughts on the balcony. I spent the morning crying there, missing mom and Feala and home. Silly of me, yes? No, it was necessary and I'm grateful for it. That's what happens when you're alone! Fosi and Sonny on the plane tonight, I'll see them tomorrow-if I can make it to Orlando by car!!!

"Jim Casey Fall Convening"

11.15.10. I'm grateful for starting my day in the Gulf of Mexico, enjoying a stimulating conference and ending with a starlit rooftop dinner. (Happy Birthday, Fosi! Can't wait to see you guys in 2 days!!!)

Got up at 6, took a walk on the beach, its so clean. There were seagulls and pelicans diving for fish. It was nippy and empty, but for a few people jogging or walking. Very privatized area and not crowded like Waikiki at all, more like a private island, almost. The conference was great and we ended the day with dinner at the top of the hotel-freezing but met some nice people from Tennessee. Soaked in the tub! I'm still jetlagged and missing my boys, can't wait to see them. Jim Casey rocks!!!

"The Gulf of Mexico"

11.14.10. I am grateful to be in Florida, to have a gorgeous suite and an amazing view of the Gulf of Mexico. God is good and has watched over me every step of the way. To be clear, though, Hawaii no ka oi!!! Miss my family. . .

So the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach is brand new and all suites with kitchens. Gorgeous, HUGE. The bathrooms are large with tub and shower, the rooms are grand, my bed was a tall, king sized. Full kitchen, large balcony looking over the Gulf of Mexico on the 14th floor. I LOVED IT! I literally screamed with joy when I saw it. The gulf of Mexico was lovely, but not as blue as Hawaii and the beaches are fine white sand, but very different from home. Its mid-70s in the day and down to mid-5os at night. Miss my family, hard to sleep alone but I crashed because I was so tired. I am just so grateful for this opportunity to travel and enjoy different people and places and get paid to be here! WOW-Life is GREAT!!!

"On My Way to Tampa. . ."

11.13.10. I am grateful for a safe flight and sitting next to a friendly newlywed couple. (41 degrees in Dallas-yikes!)

So I made it, after all my fears about 12 hours of flying next to another big person and being miserable, I sat next to a friendly Mexican newlywed couple from Texas. The wife was small and the flight went well. Dallas was cold and I enjoyed hot chocolate while I waited. Sat next to a friendly small girl on the way to Tampa. Mahalo ke Akua for watching out for me on my travels!!!

"Travel Preparations"

11.12.10. I am grateful for a day off to prepare for my Florida trip!Took the day off to prepare for my trip tomorrow.

Morning hair color at Paul Brown's, shopping, and more shopping. Whew, I'm tired already and nervous for the travel alone, but I'll be alright! I'm excited!

"Temple and Memorial Day"

11.11.10. I am grateful today for a family tour of the Laie Temple and a family potluck at the grave to honor mom's anniversary and visit dad, grandma, grandpa and Feala. Families are Forever. . .

Early trip to Laie, went through the temple tour with both Parker ohanas, Dinah, mom and dad Ulima, Tiah, Timo and us. It was beautiful. Spent a little time at the graves, Niu's family joined us. Mac them had to go home and Deb them went later, Nani them on Saturday. It was a little disappointing to not have everyone, but nice to clean mom's grave and visit dad, the grandparents and Feala. Holiday and tomorrow off to prepare for my trip this weekend!!!

"Anniversaries and Birthdays. . ."

11.10.10. I am grateful today to remember two very important women in my life. Today marks one year since my mom's passing AND the birthday of my best friend, Feala, who passed away two years ago. I love and miss you both-thank you for blessing my life and watching over me from above! (And happy birthday, Dad Ulima!)

I can't believe that its been a year since mom's passing. It is also Feala's birthday (she would've been 43) and dad's birthday. Wow. Lots of memories and still hard to imagine that mom is gone, but happy in the knowledge of where and who she's with. Going to the grave tomorrow to visit her and Feala and dad. We miss and love you mom! I'm so grateful for my life which is a product of your love and sacrifice. And thank you, Feala, for your friendship, sisterhood, acceptance and love. I miss you all the time! Mahalo ke Akua for both of these women in my life!

"The Future Mrs. Tiah Ulima. . ."

11.9.10. I am grateful today for meeting my new future sister-in-law, Tiah. Timo's happy, hope we don't scare her away!

Tiah came in today and I met her after work. After youth practice, we had dinner at Zippy's. She's a cute, short, Navajo girl. Very friendly, giggles a lot, seems fun-loving and mature. She and Timo seem to really get on well and love each other. I think she's good for him and I'm grateful for her in his life. I wish the best for their happy and successful future. Welcome to the Ulima ohana, Tiah!

"We Got Your Back!"

11.8.10. I am grateful today for Sisterhood, nothing like knowing your girls got your back, no matter what!!!

Girlfriends are the best! Spent the evening talking with Mz. Ozzie and laughing as she got incensed talking about past 'irritations' in my life. She was ready to throw down, lol!!! You just gotta love knowing that your girls got your back all the time!

"Wedding Plans. . ."

11.7.10. I am grateful for a fun time with the aiga today planning for a wedding and spending time together.

Family over today to eat and meet about Timo and Tiah's pending wedding in May 2011. We didn't go to church. We will meet the new sister-in-law in a few days. Lots to plan for, money being the biggest issues. Looking at about $500-$700 per family. Let's see how that goes! =)

"Is that you, Butterfinger?"

11.6.10. I am grateful that after a crazy busy week and Saturday, I have the NIGHT OFF!!! (Is that u calling me, Butterfinger ice cream?) =)

The crazy week ended with a busy Saturday and I am still exhausted! Set up for the Kapalama Family Fair (Fosi and the boys went) and Boise killing UH on national television, then working and helping to clean up at the fair in the PTA food booth. We got slammed and I was slammed, so I went home and stayed in bed all evening. So tired, so good to have a night off and yes, the Butterfinger ice cream was divine! I still managed to get a little 'canine therapy' by playing with and bothering my dogs-a favorite past time, isn't Mele adorable?

"From the State Capitol to Studio. . ."

11.5.10. I am grateful for exciting advocacy work and another fun and productive Friday night in studio.

So one of the reasons its been a crazy week at work is because there has been a lot of buzz around the suicide of Erwin Celes, a young man who aged out of care six months ago and hanged himself in September. An article was done about him, focusing on transitioning foster youth, when friends tried to raise money for him at work for the funeral expenses. That set off a media whirlwind of articles (by EPIC) and the paper following this piece, tv, DHS releasing his files to the public and finally, a legislative briefing yesterday, with John Mizuno at the capitol. EPIC, Family Programs Hawaii and Heart Gallery met with the representative yesterday to go over structure for the hearing and suggest areas of improvement. Thanks to our preparation and the work of the Initiative across the country, we had an outline for him with information to back it up and those were proposed to a group of non-profits, foster parents and supporters today at the hearing. EPIC testified (Arlynna, Wilma and myself) and it was on 'Olelo 53 live. FPH helped to facilitate, EPIC helped to record and our youth board was represented by Gernani, Noy and Carmen. Noy and Gernani gave testimony and Noy was interviewed for channel 5. They did such a great job! Lots of people came out and it was a positive gathering, in general. The family came to ask that the records be taken off public sites and that the media stop focusing on Erwin and the negative stuff (his girlfriend committing suicide and his drug usage) so the family and friends can heal. Mizuno offered his support and asked if Erwin's name could be used as a positive, to help change the lives and outcomes for other foster youth. True to form, it was another long night, with studio until 11:30. Derek came and laid down guitar for "Keep Hawaiian Lands" (how ironic!) and cleaned up a couple parts on "Siva Siva Mai". They were mixing down the road. It was just Luisa, me and Wendall, but we had fun and Luisa's voice was strong. She re-did "Someone New" and parts of "Silly Girl" and I did the harmonies and helped 'produce'. We are getting close to the end-we WILL do it!!!

"Long Days and Frostys"

11.4.10. I am grateful that my 13-hour day ended with husband-made nachos, good tv, sleeping dogs and son and a Frosty!

OK, this has been a crazy week and I'm exhausted. Long work days and busy nights-youth board sub-committee dinner on Tuesday night, PTA meeting last night, youth board meeting tonight planning for Camp Erdman and the service project, youth dance practice right after that. Taking the Nauahis home, it was nice to get a Frosty. Then home to Fosi's delicious nachos, kiss my son and dogs, shower, some DVR'd tv and I was crashed! I pray I don't get sick and I pray that my days ease up before Florida next weekend!!! Nite nite!

"Happy Birthday, Mom. . ."

11.3.10. I am grateful that on this day in 1939, Hazel Kamahea Yamamoto was born in Kohala, Hawaii and that she was destined to be my mom. Happy Birthday mom, we love and miss you.

Today was mom's birthday. She would have been 71. I can't believe that a year ago, we were throwing a 70th birthday party and celebrating her life. I remember how important it was for her to have that party, I wonder if she knew that would be her last on earth. A year later, I still can't quite believe she's gone sometimes. I'm happy she's not suffering and that she's with dad and her parents and siblings, but we still miss her on earth. May we continue to honor her with our lives. Happy Birthday, Mom. . .

"Don't Forget to VOTE!"

11.2.10. I am grateful today for voting and pudding parfaits-I would vote for one if they could run for office!!!

Voting day-big day in Hawaii for the governor's race and the Senate. I didn't particularly like my options-Abercrombie or Aiona, Hanabusa or Djou. You know, I like Aiona and Djou as people, but I just can't see myself voting for Republicans this year and I don't think they'd be strong leaders. (Abercrombie and Hanabusa did end up winning, btw.) So I cast my vote and enjoyed dinner at Zippy's with the youth board sub-committee on sibling rights: Signe (CP Hui), Kalani, Mele, Noy, Jeanne and myself. It was a good meeting and we gained a lot of insight into what the youth want and what we can move forward on in the strategic planning. Ending the meeting with a chocolate pudding parfait was the great way to end a long day!

"Kahi the Poi. . ."

11.1.10. I am grateful today for eating from the family poi bowl, just like small kid time. . .

When we were young, we loved when mom made her famous fried meat and poi. We would sit around and eat from the family poi bowl, sometimes with our fingers, usually with spoons. We would eat from one bowl-that's how it was done, from our ancestral times to the present. It was a time to share and eat and talk and enjoy God's abundance. It was a very Hawaiian thing and when we said "kahi the poi", whether that was grammatically correct or not, we were referring to cleaning the edges of the poi bowl with our fingers. I'm so happy that my two Samoan boys enjoy eating poi (with poke, which is something I never ate growing up) and that we, as a family, can share some of the same traditions and make memories around the poi bowl, just like I did as a little girl.

"Happy Halloween. . ."

10.31.10. I am grateful for a mellow Halloween: Sonny gave a talk in primary and the Mirandas gave us two loaves of freshly baked pumpkin bread. Nothing scary today-Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Well, it always stinks when Halloween is on a Sunday, no trick-or-treating for the kids, at least not for mine. When I was a little girl, Kalihi was the place to be on Halloween. As soon as it was dusk, the streets would fill up with children in their costumes (or in the case of the housing kids, ripped t-shirt, their mother's eyeliner and lipstick for face paint and pillowcases for candy bags), and take over the streets. It was a magnificent site, every house was open, all the children knew who gave the best candy (the house across Fern Park gave candy apples and the house down by K's market handed out quarters one year!). After we made our rounds in a four-block area, we headed home to view our candy treasures and see who made out the best. Mom would separate the candies by type (this was before concerns of people poisoning candy) into large plastic containers that we would dip into in the following weeks. Chocolate bars and other level "A" candies into one container (that went the fastest), and lollipops, suckers, gum and other level "B" candies (gosh, I hated candy corn), into another container. If we were lucky, there more than 2 containers. I LOVED Halloween-me and my siblings and friends enjoyed an evening of being loose on the streets of Kalihi and when we got older, we threw our own Halloween costume parties and cruised Waikiki to check out all of the freaks. It's different now for Sonny, but there are still ways to make it memorable for him, something he can look back at and smile about, when he's my age.

We made sure he had a number of things to do over the weekend and lots of places to wear his outfit and lots of candy to obtain-mission accomplished! So this Sunday ended up being like any other Sunday-laundry, church, except I wore a new burnt orange blouse for the occasion, the Mirandas gave us two delicious loaves of homemade pumpkin bread (if it had chocolate chips, it would be KILLER!) and Sonny gave a talk on how we can help others come unto Christ and did a good job. Until next year, Happy Halloween everyone!