Activate the Active

I was just contemplating this Sunday afternoon these words that was shared a couple Sundays ago from our Stake presidency. I don't really remember what his talk was about, but when he said these words.."We need to activate the active", it struck a cord with me. I consider myself an active member in my church and my faith, but it really made sense to me and made me realize that although I may be active, I may not be ACTIVATED so to say. I know I'm guilty of just going thru the motions of what I know I'm suppose to do,..but lacking the ENERGY OF SOUL and SPIRIT of what I'm doing.
I guess when your truly 'active' you are in a state of mind of constantly looking for and doing what you feel you need to do. Selfless acts of service, random acts of kindness, anxiously looking for teaching and learning opportunities, etc. etc. So I guess I'm gonna try a little harder to not just be 'present',.. but actively present...not just living but actively living...actively engaged in good causes, and actively engaged as a mother and wife, sister and daughter.

over the weekend..

Went to California over the weekend with my son Tele. We stayed at the Queen Mary in Long Beach,..it was so at first something I didn't want to do,..but when we got there I had such a good time with my siblings although the kids for some reason annoyed me. I was there to support my mother who was the guest of honor for the Tongan celebration they were having there. 11 out of the 17 siblings were able to make it,..we did a performance in honor of her and it ended up being really fun. No drama's..just good times. Just one small glitch,..but no fights..heehee.
I guess I left feeling appreciative of my parents no matter our differences. And I loved having one on one time with Tele..... anyway..its my birthday..and I think I want some cookies...ciao

back in business..

After only having my laptop for 4 months it crashed on me,.. and trying to get it fixed with the manufactures warranty and with the warranty I wasted my money on purchasing...it ended up being just a whole big mess and I will never purchase a warranty again. So I'm just calling the local pc place to have it fixed..ughh. In the meantime a friend called up and asked if we were interested in a brand new mini notebook.....heck ya...its a little small..but its good for what you need. So I'm back in business and can get back to my blogging.

Not much has happened, just busy with work,..which I will be leaving in Jan. Felt some movement in my womb..so that was exciting...and just enjoying my beautiful kids in the meantime. I really love being with them and know that this time will soon be a distant memory.

My Family Tree!

My sister in law ANA posted this up on her blog...and I loved it...so I'm sharing it on mine. (Sorry Ana...I don't have the patience or knowledge of how to put this together on my own)

Its my 'WOLFGRAMM FAMILY TREE' in order from the oldest to the youngest minus my 2 adopted brothers. Its so cute how she did it...anyhow...enjoy. Click on the pictures to see the enlarged
version.

choir pics...

Well my weekend to Park City was a total BLAST!!!!
I just walked in.... and if I could... I would walk RIGHT BACK OUT!
It just wasn't long enough...and my house smelt like DOG when I walked in...what a dissappointment

Anyway...I met some wonderful people from my neighborhood and I was surprised that I didn't
feel like an outsider...they were terrific and hilarious...

Anyhow....yesterday we had choir rehearsal at the CONFERENCE CENTER...it was so much
fun....

I look like a WHALE,...but for memory sake I just have to accept the photos...and
let it be...

so here are some photo's thanks to my sister in law JAYLYNN....THANK U THANK U THANK U!

Here we are in the place of the great MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR!!.. It was amazing to be right in
front of those huge organ pipes....


You probably can't spot me..but I'm in the middle right area like 3 rows down...


Wow...I'm a little nervous about what I'm gonna look like if I make it on camera..I'll have to find something else to do with my hair...should I wear my glasses or not??..hmmm


Raquel,Dayna,Sally and I...just a few of the women I hung out with in Park City...


I'm not sure their names..but they are in the General Relief Society board...I just missed Sister Allred..and I hope to get one with Sister Beck...

SO LONG...FAREWELL!!!

Good bye messy house!!
So long... pile of laundry,...honory child...smelly pets...the sound of disney channel...
quarreling kids...music obsessed tween...golf addicted dad...toilet that needs to be scrubbed...
etcetera etcetera.....I seriously can go on forever,,,,,

And Hello to my weekend getaway to PARK CITAAY!!! YAY! (with a group of women from my ward)
I'm about to leave in less than 10 minutes...got my bag packed with some really good books...and I'm gonna ENJOY AND RELAX!!

See ya'll later.

random act of kindness!!.....

To my complete surprise today... I became a victim of a random act of kindness!! I've been so excited and TOUCHED by it,..that as soon as I got home...I just wanted to blog about it.

So my day started out pretty slowly, I promised my daughter a reward for reading her scriptures for an hour each day this week...so today we went out to get it.
So after stopping by at the mall, and a few other places..I was feeling pretty tired, and just wanted to go home...but I knew we needed groceries so we'd have to make a quick stop at Walmart.

I stopped and counted what was left in my wallet, and knew that before we went in..we'd have to stick to the budget,..and no wasteful extra's... I hate being on a budget when it comes to groceries....

On my way in, there was a group of people on their way out... whom I didn't really notice,..but my older kids did...I was just concentrating on getting JJ to stay put in the cart....
anyhow....I walked passed the old people who greet you when you walk in the store...

til this lady runs towards me,.. out of breath... and I couldn't really understand what she was saying,.. all I understood was that there was something for me,..if I could follow her back outside.

So I followed her back out of the store,.. and theres this group of about 10 people. A couple of men and a bunch of women with a cart of groceries. They introduced themselves and said they had gotten together to do a random act of kindness..they had purchased groceries for a full on Thanksgiving Dinner... and were hoping to find the right person to give it to. When they had seen me walking in,... they said they knew..."THAT IS THE ONE!!"

I felt like I was on a hidden camera show... and I always thought to myself,..'I WOULD NEVER CRY'..but whatdaya know... I bawled like a baby... I was overwhelmed and very appreciative.
They all gave me hugs and told me their names... told me that I'm loved and Special and walked me to my car along with the kids to put the groceries away.

This group was from different parts of Utah...from St.George to Bountiful. I don't know if they were a church group or what...but it didn't matter. It was a wonderful act of kindness that definitley made a difference for me!!

I was greatful that my kids got to see that..and we had a great discussion about it on our way home. I sometimes wonder was it really meant to be ME or was it a mere coincidence....

I believe it probably WAS meant for me...and another testimony to me that the LORD puts things in motion sometimes cuz he knows what is needed. It was not so much the FOOD alone that was needed... I wasn't THAT broke... but it definitely was 'LOVE FROM STRANGERS' that was ABSOLUTELY needed at this time in my life!!

I definitely want to spread the kindness and do something random within the next couple days....hope you will too!!

Bad Fruit inspiration.....

So here is what was read the night of my last choir rehearsal...we got a copy of it tonight...which I must say was another great rehearsal. We had an unexpected visit from Julie Beck, the Relief Society PRESIDENT.... her spirit and words she shared brought me to full on tears. I think she lives in my area,..she mentioned seeing alot of familiar faces from the grocery store!!

Anyhow....friends.....COPY THIS MESSAGE!! AND SHARE IT!!!

Strengthen the Hands of Your Fellow Beings

If you feel evil, keep it to yourselves until you overcome that evil principle. This is what I call resisting the devil, and he flees from me.

(Discourses of Brigham Young Second President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- Page 123
By John A. Widtsoe Published by Kessinger Publishing,2004)


When you are influenced by the Spirit of holiness and purity,let your light shine;but if you are tried and tempted and buffeted by Satan, keep your thoughts to yourselves--keep your mouths closed; for speaking produces fruit, either of a good or evil character.

If persons think they have greater sorrow and affliction than any others, when they reveal that sorrow and affliction, it produces fruit. You frequently hear brethren and sisters say that they feel so tried and tempted, and have so many cares, and are so buffeted, that they must give vent to their feelings; and they yield to the temptation, and deal out their unpleasant sensations to their families, friends, and neighbours ,we can bear them off alone.

But if we have light or intelligence--that which will do good, we will impart it; but our bad feelings, our desponding feelings, our dark hours, and disagreeable sensations we will keep to ourselves.

Let that be the determination of every individual, for spirit begets spirit--likeness,likeness; feelings beget their likeness; and custom, custom.

You know very well, by your own experience, that you are naturally inclined to more or less adopt the customs, feelings, and manners of the people you associate with. If, then, we give vent to all our bad feelings and disagreeable sensations, how quickly we beget the same in Others, and load each other down with our troubles, and become sunk in darkness and despair!

If you have anything good to say, speak it and comfort the hearts of the Saints. If you have that which tends to death, keep it to yourselves; we do not want it, for we already have plenty of it.

Frame you lives according to the precepts of the Gospel. Let your deal, walk, and conversation be that upon which an angel can look with pleasure. And in all your social communications, or whatever your associations are, let all the dark, discontented, murmuring, unhappy, miserable feelings---all the EVIL FRUIT OF THE MIND, fall from the tree in SILENCE and unnoticed; and so let it perish, without taking it up to present to your neighbours. But when you have JOY and HAPPINESS, LIGHT and INTELLIGENCE, TRUTH and VIRTUE, offer that fruit abundantly to your neighbors, and it will do them good, and so strengthen the hands of your FELLOW BEINGS...

(Journal of Discourses Volume 7:268-269)

I love this message becuz I'm soooo GUILTY of IT.... even with the best intentions,..I don't realize what comes out of my mouth in this sense sometimes...I love it when the LIGHT pops on in my head and I can be more AWARE of MY CONTRIBUTIONS to the world around me.
I guess I always thought if I keep my miserable and unhappy feelings to myself,..I'm only going to explode and uhhh it won't be nice... so mine as well let it out when you feel like it huh?...

Ya...I guess that makes me feel good for the MOMENT... but I truly believe there are lasting negative effects when you bomb out like that....so I'm gonna stick with the prophets words and do my best. I also know there are certain situations where you must let someone know what your feeling inside...when your unhappy and whatnot,.. thats when we take the next step and do our best to say it with wisdom and carefully choose are words....

Anyhowwwzzzz

To end off....Here was our GOAL for tonites rehearsal....

TO REALIZE WHO WE ARE....BEFORE WE REMEMBER!!

chocolate milk and green olives....

So I've self calculated that I'm almost 3 months. I've been feeling the typical pregnancy symptoms..and I feel really bad for my kids...cuz my patience/tolerance level is at a ZERO!..and its NORMALLY over 100%...my Pete is gone for a 2 day...ALL day golf tournament....I'm really beginning to despise that sport,..actually I've been despising that sport this whole darn summer... some people don't know what the word BALANCE means.....anyway..
its all ME I guess...pregnancies can really mess you up in the head...heehee...
I noticed today I've lost some weight...which is good...but I hate feeling hungry and not liking anything thats available.
I'm always wanting the extreme of something salty like olives....and something really sweet like some ice cold chocolate milk!

I'm reluctantly leaving my job..and will put in my 2 week notice today ;(
I just don't have the energy to go to work and then come home and help the kids with homework and chores etc. etc.

Every day my home looks worse and worse since I'm just too tired to get things done.
I love my kids for doing their best with their chores...but it just doesn't quite cut it.

Anyhow....just a blabbering about sweet nothings....til next time...

too cute...

had to steal this from Mike....

......more pics.

Natalia, Moana, and the baby of our family Tiare!
Me and My George!
My little bro.Donny,my bro-inlaw Jr, and Pete!
Group photo while my sister Moana visited from Hawaii and an old friend Carol from Minnesota!
3 of 9 of my sisters...Tiare, Natalia, and Etivise and little Kingston up front (kats son)

Slash :( we miss you....

Slash is our pet COCKATIEL! Butttt....he unfortunately flew out our front door when some of my kids had their friends over.....they forgot to shut the door.

I have to tell you... I was sooooo sad and angry when I found out about it. I trained the bird,..and was so proud of my accomplishment. He learned whistles that I taught it,..and he was so loving and cute...out of all the pets in the house..our dog Proverb,..and Tele's rat Swift..and some dwarf frogs...SLASH was my favorite and so easy to take care of.

I drove around our neighborhood for 2 days hoping to spot him.......
Here's some pics taken earlier that same day....:(

last weeks 1st day of school!

Anzehla 2nd Grader!!
Natalia 1st Grade!!
Vaitele 4th Grade!!
Jj had to feel a part of it...so she got to pick a backpack to take to the babysitters!

bad fruit.....

I just got back from another AMAZING choir rehearsal!!
And I was surprised towards the end when our director read this great quote from Brigham Young (which I will get a copy of the next time I see her) about OUR BAD FRUIT... how when things are not right in our lives... we feel we need to VENT... or share our OPINIONS and we share our bad fruit with others. Brigham Young says in a wonderful way how we should just let those fruits stay where they fall..... be SILENT... and ONLY let GOOD FRUIT come out of our mouths.

A TROUBLE SHARED IS A TROUBLE DOUBLED!! Isn't that SOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE!

In the preparation for about 300 and sumthing women for an experience that I know we will remember for the rest of our lives... I thought that this particular subject was an interesting one that was brought up and so perfectly shared.

We all live oh so different lives... but to have something like that for us to take home and ponder about til our next rehearsal... its like 'WOW'
the MUSIC and the SONGS and the INDIVIDUALS...SINGING those songs makes a difference in HOW it will be RECIEVED by those who will hear and listen.

-I've learned from this experience so far to ADD to a room instead of TAKE away.

-I've learned to let the bad fruit in my life fall silently where they may and not feel the need to share that bad fruit with the excuse of needing to VENT or share my OPINION...cuz in the end the trouble certainly DOES DOUBLE! I've seen how that is true in every sense of the word thru my own experience with such a big family as mine.

-I've learned to let what I feel in my HEART (whether I'm singing or not) show up in my FACE and EYES.

And most importantly since we've started this rehearsal....

-I've learned that MY SAVIOR FORGIVES ME FOR GOING INACTIVE THIS SUMMER... AND BECUZ OF HIS LOVE...HE's INTERVENED...AND KNEW THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WOULD HELP ME FEEL...AGAIN... THAT WONDERFUL,... FAMILIAR SPIRIT...I'VE MISSED SO MUCH OF LATELY. Its funny how far away you can feel in just a couple months............so in simple terms I've learned or have been reminded that the LORD still loves me and wants me back!

Ohhh George!!

Tomorrow I'm gonna go to work and get a pic. with George!!
George is a special special old man I've really gotten to know.
I guess what drew me to him was the pictures on his wall that showed he
served a mission in Samoa.

As I started to ask him questions,. I found out he served in Tonga as well.
...15 years BEFORE Groberg did. He served in Tonga for 4 yrs. and became
district president in Nuku-alofa..where my dad is from.
He apparently knew alot of my family!!
After serving there,. he was called to Samoa with his wife.

I've gotten to know so much about his life,..his family...his farm...and his accomplishments...
Talking to him has really made me miss my grandparents...and I wish I would have
talked with THEM the way I do with George.

I'm amazed by him... and I ADORE him...I can't imagine taking a boat everywhere and having to learn on your own... the language of the islands....

As I was working...one of the nurses stopped me and asked if I could do a favor.

I guess George is not doing so well.. and declining each day. So with that...he's been hard to deal with and not being too nice to them....BUT...when she told me he asked about ME...and wanted to talk with ME... I was a little taken back. She asked if I could go in and make him feel better....

So I did!!! And had a wonderful conversation... we even got teary eyed and I wiped his tears from his face.... I just LOVE that man.....

KUDOS to GEORGE CRAWFORD

Its our Anniversary!!!

13 YEARS to be exact!!

I can't believe we've come this far....especially as I look back to how we met,.we didn't even like each other....

And all the fights and getting to know each other stage....Whewwww...we made it thru!

But ya know...I truly lucked out. When you first meet someone and fall in love,..you never really know their 'REAL' selves til after you say I DO....

Its unfortunate for some who find out after that their spouse is a lazy butt...or has control or temper issues....etc..etc.

But for me.... Pete's turned out to be none of those things....quite the opposite. I would say after about 3 years of being married...I realized 'I' was the one with all the ISSUES!! HEHE

I can honestly say about the irkiest thing about Pete is that he loves GOLF just a little toooooooo much,..lacks in spontaneity,...and doesn't know how to enjoy the outdoors!...wierd huh..I know...you would think growing up in the islands..but noooo.

So those are little irks I can live with...well HAVE lived with... so I'm not gonna complain.

I don't really take pics with him that much...I'll try to look for some and post them.

feeling 'generated'!!

I just came home from an amazing rehearsal.
I was asked to be a part of the next 'General Womens Conference' womens CHOIR!!!
Its made up of the Highland and Alpine area wards.
About 4-5 women from each ward were asked to participate...about 350 total women.
I am so greatful to be a part of it...and after going to rehearsal...I'm just so excited.
We were pronounced a blessing by the Stake pres. which I never experienced before,..
and I was humbled by just how everything was organized and the way it all was presented.
The focus was on the spirit,.. and the message and not so much the music.
The music directors name is Sister Web,..and she kept us laughing and made the whole experience so meaningful and fun!

I'm just at a loss for words to what I experienced tonite...and I can't wait til our next rehearsal!!

'Generate' was one of our key words tonite.....

its official...well almost..

When I blogged about the pickles,..I didn't think it was becuz I was pregnant...
and the comments made me laugh...I was saying to myself..
'No way!!.. They're wayyy off...I'm just simply craving pickles...'
Heehee...
So here I am...I started feeling extremely tired and out of sorts last week and decided
to go buy a home test.

So its POSITIVE and I'm pretty sure its accurate!!
I'll go in to a doctor soon....ughh..I hate this part of being pregnant.
Hopefully everything will go smoothly. I miscarried twice last year,..and the first was
horribly painful. I dont wanna go thru that again.

But I'm so excited...I LOVE little babies...and after holding my sisters new baby..I was really feeling baby sick.... Its wierd cuz I'm sort of feeling sad that my 'having baby years' are almost over... I can't imagine being DONE...and into the next phase in life where you just see your kids grown..and THEM having children of their own....wierd....

I'm gonna really soak in this TIME of their lives..cuz it will never be the same again..time goes by just too fast.

Lets cross our fingers for a BOY!!

random pics

Olimpia's first day in the 7th grade!!! I am so excited for her. The school is huge inside...we had a blast going thru it yesterday!



A group of young men showed up @ work to do the ladies nails...it was sooo cute...then afterwards one of them jumped on the piano and they all started singing them songs....





Natalia lost both front teeth now.... I can't believe I'll never see her with her baby teeth again...time flies...she's my little princess for sure!!


JJ wasn't too happy with me yesterday....she's been acting honory the past couple days....hmmm