Aloha Oe

Losing a loved one is one of the worst things you can ever go through. Tonight we lost our beloved Wicket. Wiki was like a little 4 lb. bouncing machine with tiny trampolines built into his paws. He always gave lots of love and wanted to be held. His last week was sad and our family is mourning our first loss together.

Please keep Grandma Lee company in Heaven...she never had a dog before. We love and miss you terribly and wish you could still be here with us. Thank you for the time we got to spend together. Bye Wik!

Time of Remembrance

Today marks the day my mom would've been turning 71...I can't believe it. In her memory I've always had her favorite treat...a Snicker's bar. In her last days she couldn't eat or enjoy any food so she encouraged us to eat something "for her." I celebrate every birthday in her memory and remember her loving and infectious laugh. She was such a strong woman and I hope that even a tiny bit of her strength has passed on to me. I've memorialized her as much as I could and I tell my kids about a memory of something she taught me every moment I can...but I still miss her extremely. It doesn't ever feel like she's really gone, although my brain knows this my heart won't accept it. I always said it was more like her being on an exotic vacation where there are no phones and we can't communicate verbally. I feel her spirit everyday and hope she's looking down on me...proud of who I am and what I aspire to be.

Home

Wow, I haven't blogged in a while. It seems that we were a little caught up in the move to Chicago and settling in. I finally have a minute to sit down and give a little update. For those of you who Facebook, it may be old news to you. I need to be more consistent (in all areas of my life) and make the time...period.

We decided to pack out ourself and do it all on our own because of how "particular" we both are about our things and how efficiently it gets packed. We spent a lot longer than planned packing and cleaning which put us on the road about 8 hours later than we anticipated...but on the road nonetheless. We passed thru Florida to Georgia then onto Tennessee. We had planned to stop in Nashville, TN for the night but as the night turned into early morning we settled for Chattanooga, TN instead.

The following day we awoke to the chilliest weather yet and had to let the trucks warm up while we ate breakfast...it was that cold. On the road we saw some very cool waterfall like formations that had frozen over and I multi-tasked and took a picture while driving. Come to find out Halana had the same idea in the Uhaul truck too.

On day two we started out in Tennessee, passed through Kentucky and then onto Indiana before we made it to our destination Illinois. We had printed out a mapquest of how to get to the house, but it failed us. Our second attempt was the GPS, it failed us. After being extremely frustrated and lost for 20 minutes we called our landlord to get us back on track. 25 minutes later we arrived at 9 p.m. at night and we were exhausted. We didn't even have the strength to get pillows and blankets out, we roughed in on the floor next to a heater vent.

So, yes...we moved from the Jacksonville, FL area to the Chicago, IL area in the dead of winter. The day we pulled in they cancelled school for -40 degree weather...what a welcome. It only took us a few days to get here driving our belongings, cars, selves and dogs. It was a long journey and we did not enjoy stopping for gas. As we got closer to the midwest the temperature got increasingly colder. Not just a gradual cold either, it was a biting cold when we stopped for gas the first time. It took my breath away and froze my nose hairs! It was a very long and tiring journey, but a journey anyhow.

Mele Kalikimaka

It has past, another year...and it was such a great learning experience for us all. Despite the challenges and the hardships, we are all stronger people. We had a great Christmas, even though we were far apart from extended family we had one another. Our "perfect" little nuclear family. We had a perfect small and hopeful celebration. I had my little cry when I watched "Joy to the World" and Brandon did his best to cheer me up. It really isn't the same without my mom around, it doesn't get any easier to celebrate holidays without her as the years pass. Hard to believe it's been 11 years since she passed. I love her and miss her everyday. I hope that I live my life so she can be proud looking down on me.

This year instead of leaving the old cookies, carrots and milk for Santa we made a gingerbread house. We made a card with his image on it and left him an ornament coke with his picture on it, just so there was no confusion on who it was for. I guess the reindeer missed out this year, or were high on sugar.

Equally, I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and that the season reminds us all how fortunate, blessed and loved we are. Hauoli Maka Hiki Hou for the year to come!

The dance

It seems fitting that about this time 13 years ago I was unaware of the plans that were being concocted to be eternally a Kros. I was very happy to be "out" of the dating scene...as we discussed not dating anyone else and being exclusive. This was kind of the big hint he needed to know that I was done looking. Not to say I was a subtle girl, I told it like it was. I told him not to attempt to kiss me that when I was ready I would kiss him. Besides the guy is always ready, and he agreed.



We did have several life changing discussions about where we wanted to be married, what I thought was a romantic proposal, and that my answer would not be right away if he did ask me. I wanted to be able to pray about it and know that it was right before I gave an answer, again he seemed very patient with my requests.



The hard part for us was definitely the talk about a mission. I was horrified to think about being away from him, but I understood the magnitude of the purpose he needed to serve. Secretly he struggled with the thought of going on a mission and not having me there when he got back. We had the whole discussion of me waiting for him and us being promised to one another as well, but it wasn't comforting to either of us. I understand the purpose of the way we ended up now, he needed to be there for me when my mom passed away...which would have occurred while he was serving a mission. So on his own accord he decided not to go on a mission, which devastated a lot of people, but I was understanding.

A very elaborate plan was concocted unbeknownst to me, and the plan for my hand was now in motion.

Holiday Season

I hope that throughout the years we've taught our children that the holiday season is for remembering the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ has offered to us and not just toys. Paka wrote an essay in school about wanting to have a magical power that he could create any amount of money, but only in one's. His story was about finding homeless and poor people and giving them all the money they needed to have a good holiday season. I guess we have done some small part to ensure they remember the reason for the season. We just put up a Christmas tree last night and we'll decorate it tonight. It's a great time while we're busily hanging ornaments to remind them what the Christmas season is about and why we celebrate it. If there ever is a legacy I want to pass on through my children it's to be grateful, thankful, and not take anything for granted.

I am so excited to celebrate this holiday, even though it'll just be the four of us, we always have a great time together. I can't help but reflect on how blessed we are and continue to be. Health, prosperity, and love keeps us going...and even if we were without one of them, it couldn't hold us down. Have a great holiday season, a very Merry Christmas (Mele Kalikimaka) and give a little to those who have none.

Future softball champ

Halana is an amazing athelete. She never complains about the vigourous workouts and strenuous practices she has to endure for softball. She wants to play tackle football next year for the first time for heavens sake! She pitched her first year this year and had at least a dozen strike outs. She's really come a long way and with some camps, practice and hard work she could pay for college! I think it runs in our blood, I have 2 nieces who excelled in the sport as well. It takes a dedicated and supportive parent(s) to get through sports. We love it!

Settling

Wow, we can finally settle down and relax in our temporary home for the holidays. It wasn't looking too good after we spent 2 weeks living like rednecks in an RV outside our house! After new carpet, new paint, and all our furniture out of storage we finally can breathe.

Thanksgiving is this week and we can't be more thankful for our lives and everything we have than right now. We are thankful for a roof over our heads. Thankful for each other...our beautiful family afar, friends who are always there for us when we need a hand or to chat. So thankful for the Church, Gospel, the promise of Eternity and our testimonies of it all. Thankful for food to eat each day, money in our pockets, and everything we need at our disposal. I am especially thankful for the choices my husband makes every day (and I know they're hard) to serve our country in this fine Navy. I love my 2 gorgeous children and how could I be anything less than thankful for their wonderful personalities and happiness they bring into our lives. If I had hand picked them I couldn't have done any better. I love the gift of life I was given and I plan to live it to the fullest and create a legacy my children can be thankful for.

Green Monsters

What a nightmare! There are green monsters invading our week old rental house...fun story to tell. I don't mind change, it's one of those things I've come to embrace. After all, it's going to happen and there's not much we can do to have a routine as monotonous as The Truman Show throughout life. Last month we were blessed to have sold our home before we moved to Chicago, not so fortunate to now have to find a place to live for a short 3 months before we actually make that move. Again we were blessed to have found a great landlord who offered a short term lease knowing we would only be there for 3 months. So when we saw that it was in bad shape, had an atrocious paint job of bright sky blue in the front room and salmon pink in the kitchen, had 3 panels missing from the "florida" room or screened porch, no porch door, filthy carpet and dog dug back yard we overlooked it because it was temporary. Little did we know just how temporary.

Yesterday while I was at work I got a distressed text message to call ASAP. To my dismay our rental home was flooded. My poor babysitter walked into it after picking up the kids. Brandon got there before me to assess the damages and everyroom was soaked. Long story short we missed work today, rented a U-haul, rented a storage unit and cleared everything out. They ripped out carpet and set up blowers in every nook and cranny along with dehumidifiers. It's about a 3-5 business day job so we are staying in a friends RV outside the house until then. Change. And I thought painting and moving was going to be our biggest challenge, what else could be in store?

Our beginning...continued

Brandon and I hung out as friends for quite some time. We cut a lot of classes together and went to a friends house and played basketball, jumped on the tramp, or talked. We tried a date a few times but plans fell through...we had fun just being together and hanging out was free. He had a great group of friends (Adam, Jason G., Trale, Joey, Jason A., Kenny) that were so gracious to accept a girl in their circle. I mostly preferred to be with boys because girls were so shallow, catty, and jealous at this point. I remained drama free when I was with boys, just had to put up with the teasing and fowl manners, no problem! The girl-free days didn't last long because I met Autumn, Joey's younger sister, and she and I hit it off. I never regret a day in my life that she has been a part of it, I love her with all my heart. To this day I consider her to be one of the best friends I've ever had.

I had a non-exclusive dating rule, which Brandon who only ever dated exclusively hated. I didn't date just one person, although I preferred to be with him. He had to book me in advance sometimes and there was one incident where I overbooked. This was memorable for me because I had to call him and break our date (for the record I didn't want to do, but it was the right thing to do) because I had already promised a second date with someone else. He was infuriated, hurt and confused. I felt torn but I went on my date and had a horrible time...he tried to kiss me and I cut the good night short. The next time I talked to Brandon he told me he and Adam (his cousin who he lived with) went on a double date. He took a girl from his ward who had a huge crush on him and he knew it would make me jealous. It worked, and I never broke another date with him again!

So, obviously we continued to date and we added a few friends to our very tight knit circle (Joel-home from a mish & Caleb) and had the time of our lives! We continued to date through Brandon's senior year at Woods Cross High. I had a scary date with a return missionary who after the second date was ready to propose and I decided that I didn't want to date any one else. When Brandon and I were together again we were driving towards his house in North Salt Lake and passing the temple I told him what I had decided. He about drove off the road but couldn't stop grinning. I don't know for sure but I think this was the push for him to start his plans for a proposal.