Tuesday May 28, 2019

Today we had our weekly District meeting, I was up early making cinnamon rolls for the Elders, this is becoming a tradition to do before every transfer.  They love them and eat them up while drinking a gallon of milk. Then we went into the VC for an interview with President Bekker.  He is such a wonderful leader and has taught us so much.  His wife is just like a good friend I've known forever.   Here is a picture of us before our interview.  He also gave us a terrific blessing and we felt so close to our Father in Heaven as he was speaking.

After we left the interview we rushed home and got ready to attend the Dedication of the new Teaching Center.  As we were driving over a huge thunderstorm came and just poured down the rain.  We arrived and saw all the chairs set up outside and groaned.  The refreshments had been moved to inside the garage of the Allens, so they were safe.  Five minutes before we started the rain stopped and everyone hustled to wipe the chairs dry.  President Bekker said in his speech as they were driving through the storm they looked up at the Temple and sun beams were shinning down through the black clouds over the Temple.  Everyone had been praying the rain would let up and it did,  just in time.

Sister Shirley and Sister Tonga
They sang beautifully while Sister Tonga
played the ukulele

President Bekker inside of Teaching Center

Elder and Sister Bekker in Teaching Center


We hadn't ever been so involved in a dedication before but enjoyed it and loved the Dedication Prayer President Bekker gave.  Afterward I took a quick picture of the Sister's eating dessert (cake).

On Wednesday I got up early (5:30)  and made a batch of banana bread muffins to take to the Geronios at night.  I had a doctor appointment in town and then we had to shop for "break-the-fast" items for Sunday and then home.  Wednesday night we again went over  to the Geronio's to have dinner and a spiritual message with them.  We had a good crowd and the food was great as always.  After the missionaries, Elder Bowen, Catharine Zant all headed over to our place for a correlation meeting...good meeting but was long.

Kyton trying to climb a coconut tree!

The Tofa's, Keri Ann and Chris
While at the Geronios Ryan sent me pictures of Alexis' graduation that was going on right then.  It was hard to not be there but she was very understanding.  We are so proud of her.  She was the Salutatorian and had to give a speech.  She graduated number 2 in her graduating class of over 600 students.  She is a beautiful young woman and has a full scholarship to UCLA.  Here are some pictures he sent us.

The whole family, Derek, Ryan, Reeves, Alexi and Flora

Memorial Day 2019

Sunday we went to our two church meetings and came away a bit disappointed.  Not one hymn was sung or mention made of Memorial Day, with the exception of David Bowen, our Branch Mission Leader who gave a great talk about his grandfather and the war he was in.

We did have the two Sisters from our YSA Branch over for dinner and had a nice visit with them.  Peggy, our upstairs neighbor and landlady has been feeling awful so I made her a pot of chicken soup, that seems to help a bit.  Wish there was more we could do to ease her pain.

Monday we had our normal VC meeting and Elder Allen spent the whole time talking about Memorial Day memories he had and showed pictures of his family at the graves this year,  and then opened it up to testimonies or memories we had.  I wasn't going to say anything but the spirit pushed me up and I bore my testimony, which I rarely do,  I stood before them in my 4th of July dress and mentioned that we, like the Allens, celebrate Memorial day by decorating our loved ones graves.  I then mentioned Ramon and his service to our country and how this is also a great part of Memorial Day, and how I often don't tell Ramon how proud I am of him and what he did.  I then mentioned his Purple Heart and how he went right back out after healing to fight some more!

This year Maile put flowers on my parents graves, as well as Bill's and our grandson Max.  Ramon said she is growing up just like me and he could kiss her!   funny...

After, we went by and picked up Leslie to take her with us to Sam's Club and Walmart.  Since she doesn't have a car we try to help where we can.  On the way back we stopped at some "birthing" stones in Wahiawa and took pictures.  I guess the royalty came here to give birth.  Not my idea of a pleasant birthing process, plus it's hot out side.

Leslie on the trail to the stones...

                              Look comfortable?

After dropping Leslie off at her home, we came to ours and got ready for a swim party at the Kehoe's house.  It is a beautiful home on the hill above the ocean and they have a pool.  Just the kids swam, but we ate hot dogs and hamburgers and visited.  I took the 7 layer bars.  We had to miss a party the couples had at the Luker's new pad but it was okay.  We also missed our YSA who went into the Ala Moana park at dusk to float lanterns with the thousands of others, we watched it on TV.  There were so many things going on but our obligation tonight was to our Family Branch.  I came home and made up some dough to bake tomorrow for District Meeting for the Elders to have cinnamon rolls.  We also have an appointment with President Bekker and a special dedication of the Teaching Center tomorrow night that we need to take things too as well as be present.  Here are some pictures of the swim party.

Trenton and baby Van

Ramon taking a picture behind Nick Geronio

Beautiful home and setting!

Saturday May 25, 2019

 Yesterday we had the most mazing Zone Conference.  Our Mission President Elder Bekker has been called to be an area Seventy in the church and he is such an amazing man.  Everyone loves Elder Bekker.  He inspires us all to try harder and be better at calling people to come unto Christ.

President Bekker's wife is also a great leader.  They had just met with President Nelson in Kona last week and she wanted to share some of his words with us.  President Nelson was asked what he had learned in the 10 decades he had lived.  He said that we should learn to live with disappointment but what matters most is that our Father in Heaven is concerned that  those who have left should come back to Him again.  He left them with 10 things to know:

1.  That God is our Father and wants us to have joy and return to Him.  He will never take away our agency.

2.  Jesus is Christ and came to do one thing, the will of His Father.

3.  We are created in the image of Them.

4.  God communicates through His Prophets, in all the past dispensations he didn't because the Gospel was lost, but it has been restored and now He communicates again to men through His Prophets.

5.  Scriptures are true, and we have been given the Book of Mormon.

6.  The church is true,  it's the same church as was here for Adam, Noah and Abraham.  It was been restored as it was then.

7.  Satan is allowed to function on earth today.  If you want to be miserable follow Satan, if you want to be happy follow Jesus Christ.

8.  The youth of Zion today are the greatest chosen generation ever.

9.  Joy comes from one thing, keeping the commandments, the world needs to be more religious, devote yourself to the Lord.

10. Salvation is an individual matter but Exaltation is a family matter.  Blessings come by following certain laws.  If you want a blessing for something find out what the laws are for the blessing then you will receive the blessing....like the law of tithing.  (which I totally know is true!)

Sister Bekker reminded us to keep the Sabbath day holy, that how we keep the Sabbath day holy is telling the Savior how we feel about Him.  The blessing that come from this law are:
1.  We are unspotted from the world
2.  Are blessed temporairly
3,  Spiritually blessed

President Bekker later bore his Testimony.  He said it was different from the one he had born before to us.  Since then he had been called to be an area Seventy and they had spend a week in training with the Apostles of the Lord.  He said he now does not witness of Jesus Christ but he now knows assuredly that he lives.  He was so humble when he told us this.  He is such a great man and leader of this mission.  He told us if we'd do four things we would never fall away from the church.
They are pray, study the scriptures, go to the Temple, and Serve.

We also played around with the Family Tree app and I found a close 4th cousin sitting right in front of me.  Everyone else's closest was 9th cousin so this was pretty cool.  He came from my mother's side, my grandma was red headed and he has red hair.  He is one of our 8 Elders we work closely with and now I will ask him more questions next time I see him.  His name is Elder Allen!

Tuesday

We had a wonderful surprise last night and met up with the Kaanapus and had a quick dinner with them and their grandchildren, they are here on grandparent tending trip!  Today we met them again and had lunch at Pounders.  Good friends are those you can talk and talk and talk and never get enough said on either side.  Gee, we missed them and all our friends....and family.

Peter Ramon, Hutia and I

Good Eternal Friends!

First thing today we went to do a session at the Temple, and then went to our District Meeting at 10:30.  At noon we met up with the Kaanapus for lunch.

A side note, our dear doggie friend Chester is going to heaven tomorrow.  After enduring to the end bravely he will be released from his pain and hurts in the morning.  His hind legs don't work anymore and he has a big tumor on the top of his left leg, you can see it in the photo.   We have enjoyed this gentle giant doggie.  Ramon has especially loved him.

Monday May 20, 1919

Grandma brag page...

Today was a glorious day for my two grandsons:  Aisea and Sam Sanft.  Both graduated from Timpview High School and both are headed for great things.  We felt bad we couldn't be there to celebrate with them.  They had a party in our back yard Saturday night and then today was graduation.  We received pictures but it's still bitter sweet for us.  I know this has got to be the tough part of a mission and the part where we make the greatest sacrifices!

Aisea has done so well in school and is headed to Chicago for University work with a full ride scholarship there.  I've been a bit worried about the area but we have two missionaries from Chicago here and I have talked to them about my concerns and they have reassured me he will be safe!  I don't care if I'm not the Mom, I still care a great deal about my children, whether son or daughter or grandchild, they are still my child, to fuss over.  Asiea, has such a good head on his shoulders and is very mature and intelligent for his youth, much more so than the normal 18 year old.  He is also such a sweet boy, when we lived by Timpview he'd drop in every day as ask if there was anything we needed him to do for us.  Aisea loves my cooking, and he actually cooks quiet a few of my specialities for his family, usually in the middle of the night though!  Such a thoughtful and amazing young man.  He is Kameron and Anne's son.

Sam lives next door to us and he and Aisea are best of friends, although have very different interests.
Sam got a perfect score on the ACT plus numerous other academic awards.  He is very humble and quiet like his father Doran.  He was accepted to Princeton, with scholarships  but asked them to defer his scholarship until he served a mission.  They wrote back and said they'd see him in 2020!  He has mission papers in and will soon be on his way to serve the Lord.  Sam is just like Aisea in worrying over us and showing kindness and help. Sam goes very quietly about doing what he knows is the right thing to do.  No fuss or attention, he just does it. He and Aisea are my go-to  tech guys whether my computer, phone or  just the stupid printer.   Sam is Doran and Marni's son.

We are so blessed to have such fine grandsons.  These are our number 4 and 5 High School Graduates, Alexis (Ryan's daughter) graduates next Monday in California.  She's pretty special too.
More on her next week!

We've been busy this past week so I haven't written.  Same old things day after day that keeps us happy and busy.  We did get a new Branch Presidency yesterday.   Our Sunset Family President is moving with his family into Kahuku, another ward.  So President Daniel is our new President.  He will be wonderful.  He has a great family, and he has a great support system.  Our over the fence neighbor Craig Freebarin was called as a councilor, so we are happy about that.  Craig is a super guy, so humble and spiritual and such a fun neighbor!

Sunday Mother's Day

Church was nice today, special speakers and lots of people visiting our Family Branch.  Michele Morgan, our RS President in the YSA called and met us there.  Michele is a remarkable person.  The only active member of her member family.  She needed the day free for family and so came over to our meeting at the Family Branch this morning at 8:00.  I just love her, such a sweet beautiful person.  I should have taken a picture of her to put here.  I'll add one later I think.

We had l7 missionaries to dinner.  No one signed up to feed them on Mother's Day so I decided I'd love to do it.  I love feeding my children and these people are my special children over here.  We had a good dinner of ham, funeral potatoes, a special fruit salad I made called pineapple fluff, green beans, fresh pineapple coated in this red powdery spice-like thing called li hi mui, and because it was Mother's day, my favorite dessert, vanilla ice cream covered with mashed up fresh strawberries!

We all had a great time, they are such special young people.

Elder Sanft, Sisters Beuhler, Cho, Lee, Mohe, Shumway,
Elders Larkin and Higa

After we are through eating, Sisters Lee, Mohe and Shumway

I missed a few face time chats with my kids due to time differences and church but over all it was a great day.  I did get to talk to Ryan for a bit in the morning and Marisa, and Shahara's kids face timed me.  I swear those boys of Shahara's grow a foot every time I see them.  Robby is so tall now! Then Doran and his kids, called during dinner and we talked for a few minutes.  They are taking care of my house and spent Saturday morning doing yard work in front and planting flowers for me.   Kam called later and we had a long visit. I need to face time his children Monday. Mai sent me a cute video of Inde telling me "Happy Mother's Day" in his cute little voice and I got to see them for a bit on the video.  Esme is getting fatter and fatter, love the rolls! I hope to catch up with Adam's family tomorrow.  Grateful for wonderful children!  My heart overfloweth!

Friday

Just a little up date...last night was the men's Fire Knife event. They announced the winner of the women and my favorite was a local girl, Jeralee Galeai, and she won!  The men had so many contestants we came home at 10 and finished watching it live on the computer.  They narrowed it down to 7 and will announce the winners at the night show on Saturday during intermission of Ha.  Tonight was the Keiki events,  ages 6-11 and 11-17.  It was really fun but when the little ones came out on stage to get their awards it was sad, so many of them had bandaged hands and arms.  They looked like they were miserable.  There were two little girls about 9 that competed.  One touching part was one of the girls kept dropping her knife and would jump back out of the way, like she was scared.  But she endured to the end and as she ran off the stage her Father swooped her up in his arms and walked off with her.  Nice Daddy! Here are a few pictures.  I took mostly videos which don't show here.

This little guy is 6 yeas old

Wednesday

Today we had a District meeting with our Elders in the Hauula Church building.  Someone broke it to our Zone Leader's car and stole stuff plus keys to our Laie Buildings.  We had a great time role playing and trying to decide how best to introduce Family Search into our discussions.  Elder Bekker said "what is the number one hobby in the world?"  Geneology!  So there is our opening for discussion. I baked banana muffins and Elder Larkin said he had 9 but he only had 3 or 4 I think!

At night we met up with Leslie and went to the World Championship Fire Knife contest at PCC.  Tonight it was women and there were 7 contestants.  All the girls were great but I liked the local Laie girl Jeralee Galeai, she made the final three.  Personally...there was a girl from Taiwan and one from Australia that also made the final three.  I think they got in because of the distance they traveled not because they were any better than the locals.  All girls dropped the knifes at least once, some three times.  I was watching carefully to see how fast they were and the variety of the moves.  Jeralee was the best!  Tonight we find out.  We go again and watch the men tonight.

Tuesday

Last night, Monday, for FHE we played "Clothespin Samuri".  Alora, our fearless leader always comes up with unique fun games.  I hope I can remember them when I get home.  This game we played out in the parking lot because no one had keys, and the Elders had their keys stolen last week with some other items.  Anyway, you choose a Samuri and he is blindfolded, then clothespins are put  all over his clothing, and he is handed a swim noodle cut in two pieces.  The rest of the group tries to capture the clothes pins without getting whacked by the noodle.  It was really hilariously fun! We only had 3 members of the Branch there plus us 6 missionaries.  Poor turnout.

Alora and Cody

Elder Higa

Elder Larkin

Elder Larkin and Sister Mahe

Sister Shumway and Sister Mahe

Today, Tuesday we went in early and did a session at the Temple with our District of Elders.

Next time I'll wear grey!

Tonight we went up to Kaneohe to Hale'iwa Joe's restaurant for a Mother's Day treat with two other couples here, the Tuitupo's and the Sebrings.  We both got the gigantic Prime Rib and brought home about 3 lbs of it for future meals.  We had a great time with them and the meal was wonderful.

Monday

Saturday it poured rain all day long, a grey and colder day for Hawaii.  It was the first day we did absolutely nothing outside of the apartment except feed the dogs, and wash clothes in the washer on our deck!  I just wanted to hunker down and get a few things done and not go anywhere.  I stayed in my muumuu all day and caught up with things.  People did come in and out to visit and talk, but we didn't go anywhere.  Doran, Isaac and Amelia ran in the 1/2 marathon in Provo.  Doran took 1st place in his age group and the kids both took third in theirs.  I'm proud of my kids, they have "fleet feet"

Last Thursday we were to work at the luau, our first assignment, but we got all dressed up in our matching outfits and when we got there found out it was not to be.  Somehow we didn't know the schedule well enough and we weren't on it.  But here is a picture of us dressed to kill!

We both think we got our clothing a size too big!

On Friday we had a usual day of meetings and other activities.  Yesterday was Fast Sunday so we had two Break-the-Fast dinners we prepared for.  After, we went to the Visitor's Center to hear Elder Allen give a Fireside on the Rome Temple.  Still on our bucket list!

Break-the-Fast dinner