Lavenita and Seonne Kafoa

Lavenita reached out about a month ago to tell me that she and Seonne and their kids would be sealed in the SLC temple. As a ward mission leader in the 26th ward I visited them often with Mike Chambers. Seonne is a big Polynesian guy. He progressed quickly with the missionaries because of how diligent he was at reading the Book of Mormon. He started to dig into the Book of Mormon while in jail. When he got out he continued to feast on its words. Eventually he was baptized. I still have the baptismal program I created for it.

Kneeling across the alter from Lavenita, he had tears flowing down his cheeks. The same occurred when his children were brought in to be sealed. This really was a spiritual setting. The sealer shared some insight for them to understand how important this moment was. He explained how Adam and Eve built an alter after being removed from the garden. They didn't know why except that they were commanded to and they were obeying. Their faith and humility were strong enough that an angel visited them and taught them the purpose of the commandment they were given. He told them that the alter and sacrifices represented the Savior who would come and make it possible for them to return back into the presence of the father again. The sealer taught Seonne and Lavenita that as they joined hands across the alter they were now including the Savior in their marriage covenant. That making covenants with Christ brings power and blessings to our marriage and to our lives.
 

 

Loads happening over at the house

 

  

Tons of progress over at the house. That project is quickly becoming a reality. We are definitely moving this summer. 

Another update 4.6

 

 J

Keat drivers ed

Keat has been parking the car or moving it for me (with me in the passenger seat closely guiding him) for a bit now. A couple of weeks back I stepped up his drivers ed with some church parking lot practice.  👌 He's pretty good for an 11 year old. We'll have him dialed by the time he hits 16. His mom won't have to worry a bit about him. 

 

Alaska

Poor Keat gets razzed about a girl named Emmerson that use to be in his Spanish Immersion class. She's smart, athletic (she played against him in Jr Jazz & we ran into her at Snow Basin & randomly at the airport) She also happened to be his Secret Santa in 3rd grade. Well, she moved to Alaska last year. Jas just picked up Alaska. We were talking about his 12 year old trip & witty  Jonas said,"you should go to Alaska. It would be good with fishing & kissing." 😂

Jonas' 9yr trip to Seattle

This week we surprised Jonas with his 9 yr trip. When I went in and hugged him goodbye on Monday Morning he said, Dad can I go?  On any other work trip, this wouldnt be too easy to pull. This time though we had it all planned out and his bags were already packed so I said, "alright!"  He was very surprised!

 

We played hard and did pretty much what he felt like doing. 

 

He wanted to go climbing so we jumped in an uber and went to s climbing gym. 

 

 

He wanted to go ride gokarts so, we went. He was proud to dominate all the other kids there. 

 

We ate a lot and explored a lot....and ate some more. 

 

 

 

 

And we stayed out late and went to the Batman Lego movie. 

 

 

  

Loved this trip! Jonas had a blast and so did I. 

Jenn is up next with the 12 year old trip. That will be a good one. Keat is up next. 

Valentine's Day 2017

Thad was so very excited about Valentine's Day! 

He was meticulous with drawing his Valentine's & choosing gifts for Teacher Julie & his cousins😍 Here he is w Keat after giving Keat his Valentine.

We decided to Pinterest it this year--Keat & Jonas gave bouncy balls that said "I hope you have a ball this Valentine's Day." Thad & I made playdough which said "I'm Dough"glad you're in my class. 

Boys hard at work.

VDay breakfast.

We missed Jas as he was working in Florida. 

I went to TOFW with Candace, Aly & Melinda & came home to my VDay surprise of a clean house, flowers & gift certificates to Tonas😍 I love my 5 Valentines.

 

Jude's First Time Skiing

"Baby" Jude really isn't a baby anymore. On Fri Feb 17, we took him skiing for the first time! He absolutely hated the ski boots the second we put them on 😂

He had a hard time walking. First trip down the mountain, he became a wet noodle and was not loving it. However,that quickly changed & he grew stronger & more confident. 

Jude especially liked it when Jas would take him down the rollers & he would get "air."

Silly Keat.

It was so fun to go with the entire family!

This is Jude maybe 60 seconds after we got in the van. All tuckered out.

Thaddeus & Jonas followed shortly after. It's a lot of hard work taking everyone up the mountain, but worth it. Memories were made! Go Baby Jude!