LOVE changes everything

Dear Life,

I am joining a new challenge from Finding The Grace Within.  Karen hosts Tuesday at Ten.  She puts up a quote and challenges you to use it in your writing.  You have six days to do so and then share on her page.  I am challenging myself to write more, and this motivates me to write weekly!  So....here goes.  This week the challenge is {the words I live by and what that means to me}.  

Something was missing. There was a gaping hole where my heart was supposed to be beating.How was I breathing?How did I wake up every day?Every morning things looked gray, unappealing, and just plain sad. I felt alone.Eventually I just started pretending.Laughing while I was quietly shriveling up inside.Then, one night, in a city 45 minutes from my own, in a group of friends, I met a man who would change my. whole. life.He was of course incredible sexy.He had sparkling, happy eyes and a beautiful, amazing smile.And... I thought he was crazy. He asked my best friend if he and his friends could dance with us.  She said yes.I told her she was nuts.And then we all danced.It was fun.
We exchanged numbers. We became friends.And then even better friends.We called each other all the time.We hung out.I started to like him a little. Then there was a bet.He wasn't allowed to call a certain girl who was RUDE to him.I wasn't allowed to call a guy who hung out with me only because he was on the rebound.Whoever called the person first had to pay for Disneyland tickets for the day.Guess who lost?Not me.  He lost.He bought my Disneyland ticket.He bought me a pretzel and a drink.
He bought be a balloon. 
And my. heart. started. beating. again. He loved me.He really cared about me.First as a friend.He called me.He listened to me.He sent me flowers.Then, he loved me more.He put aside his own personal fears about relationships and became my boyfriend.Someone LOVED me.Weird.He was incredibly kind, incredibly giving, and incredibly loving.I wasn't used to that.I felt my whole body tingle.I was ALIVE.All because of love.His love gave me strength, courage, and hope.And then together we discovered God's love for us.Especially when He blessed us with a baby boy.Because of this man I loved, I was taught the gospel.And I learned about eternal families.I learned about eternal love.No longer alone, no longer sad, I was so happy to learn about this principle of the gospel.I didn't need to fear marriage.I didn't need to fear love.For me, that was huge.Because of the love this man has given me for 22 years now, I have been given many gifts.5 amazing boys, and 1 beautiful girl.The knowledge of the gospel, and the light of Christ's love and sacrifice for me.A man who stands next to me, behind me, in front of me; who holds me when I am broken, lifts me up when I am sad, celebrates my accomplishments, and teaches me every. single. day. how much more he loves me.I am alive because of love.  I share love because it is a gift.  Love changes everything.  I was broken.  And now I am whole.

Sexiest Man Alive

Dear Life,

People magazine...it's what people are talking about.  Who wouldn't want to pore over a magazine with a whole lot of hunky men in it?  But Channing Tatum, although you are a great looking man, I have to disagree with People Magazine.

19 years ago I met this amazingly good looking man. 


 One of the things I really loved about him was how kind he was.  He was a gentleman.  He didn't objectify me.  He was my friend.  We had a great time being together, having fun.  We both liked other people....but over time I started to have a crush on him.  So....I decided to make a bet with him.  Our bet?  I wouldn't call the boy I was "dating" (cause he just wasn't that into me) and he wouldn't call the girl he was "seeing" (cause she was just mean to him).  Whoever won would get an all expense paid for trip to Disneyland.  Well.....I won.....and let me tell you something....I had never in my whole life been treated like a princess before until that day.  He bought my ticket to the park, he paid for my food the WHOLE day, he bought be a pretzel and a balloon.  And that night I kissed him for the first time.  He had my heart after that day.  

Over time, this man became my best friend.  He was so respectful to other people, so patient, so loving, so giving.  How do you not fall in love with that? 


 Eventually he became my husband.  He became an amazing father of a boy....and then another boy....and another boy....and another boy....and yet another boy.  

He became a coach, a cub scout leader, a boy scout leader, and finally a caretaker.  He is loyal, faithful, and loving.  He works hard every day at work, and comes home and helps me with the household. 
 In his spare time he coaches basketball in the community and serves at our church.  He works on our cars, and sometimes the cars of our friends.   All of these things are the definition of the sexiest man alive.  So, sorry People Magazine...I beg to differ.






















I am married to the sexiest man alive. 

The men in my life

Dear Life,


Have I introduced you to the men in my life?  It's about time I think.....


Let me preface this by saying how very blessed I feel having so many fabulous men in my life.  Growing up, I didn't have very many boyfriends, and I come from a family of girls.  (Two sisters and one girl cousin on my mom's side.)  So I am feeling very protected and loved by the amount of strong men around me.  I could live without the testosterone, wrestling and fighting that goes on.  The holes in the walls are not so awesome either. But at this point I am thinking God knew I probably wouldn't do too well with everything that goes along with a girl.  I would LOVE to have a girl to play with, dress up, and all of that.  But it's not to be....and I have come to terms with it.  But all of my friends with girls watch out...I am totally in the process of matching up my boys so I can pick my fabulous daughter in laws.  (Just kidding...sort of)


Anyway...back to my boys....


First and foremost...my sweetheart....

He's amazing, loving, sweet, giving, and a great father.  I thank God every single moment for Stuart.

And then there's this handsome kid.  Keoni.....my almost grown up...moving to Hawaii....Eagle Scout....future film maker.  He's an amazing kid....I'm happy to see him grow and get to see some really cool things in his life...but I'm sad he's leaving us.  It's hard to see your kids sprout their wings and fly away.

Here's Kekoa...my future lawyer.  This kid can talk his way out of a paper bag.  One time he got so mad at us he wrote out a letter pointing out every reason we were wrong.  Pretty hilarious.  He's a sweet guy and really cares about others.  He's also a budding surfer and knows how to be quite a dashing dresser.  Love his smile....it melts my heart!







Here is my Mr. Tenderheart Kalani.  He has been a total nurturing sweet boy from birth.  He's always the first to hold a baby, help with a toddler, and hang out with his little brother.  He's  quite the athlete....and has big dreams.  He loves basketball....wants to play for Duke University and of course he wants to be a Laker!  Isn't he dreamy?

Hilarious?  Yup...that's our Kawika.  He wants to be an actor, a hip hop dancer, and possibly a football player.  He's fierce...and sweet all rolled up in one little boy.  He gives us a run for our money....he's all boy and all play all the time.  His laugh is hilarious....makes you crack up!  

This is Kumaka.  Sunshine in  a boy.  He's more than we bargained for in many many ways, but we wouldn't trade any of it.  He's the reason our family knows there are miracles...and he shares his sweet spirit with anyone in a mile's radius.  And of course right now he's in a giant green cast.

I never would have guessed in a million years that this:

Would end up with this:

Blessed....yes....

Slightly crazy..... definitely!

Wouldn't change a thing....for sure!

Thanksgiving Special

Dear Life,

I am thankful for this man.....he is the better part of who I am.

I am thankful for my family....they have formed the woman I have become.

I am thankful for my Grandmother who has always been a rock in my life and my sister who has stood next to me through everything.

I am grateful for the family I have married into...they shaped the little girl I was to the mother and wife I am now....and loved me as I learned.

I am thankful for God giving me a father on earth to replace the emptiness I had....and for giving me a wonderful Hawaiian family to show me what unconditional love looks like.

And I am grateful I was able to pull a cute outfit out of my closet.....

And I love that this boy loves me and loves to be in front of the camera like his mama!!!!!! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

From...A Mom of Boys!