Keep Keeping On

I'm not going to lie, today was a hard Sunday at church.  Sacrament meeting to be exact.  It has been almost 4 years since Kyle has been in the bishopric of our current ward and so I've spent that time juggling three, four and now five kids on my own.  I decided when Kyle was first put in a bishopric when Kekoa was less than a year old, that we would sit on the front row so that it would kinda feel like we were sitting by him.  Sitting there has kept us close to Kyle, but it has also put a lot of stress on me to keep the kids behaved while rows and rows of people behind us can see their every wiggle.
Today was, I think, the third time I was brought to tears at the frustration of my ill behaved children.  It is only the 2nd time I've brought the kids to church since Akoni has been born (we missed almost 2 months trying to avoid RSV season). And as I struggled and cried, I had the thought go through my mind,  "I've already missed 2 months, it would be so easy to go inactive."  I knew as I thought it that it was from the adversary, but I didn't feel any better.
Thankfully, the meeting soon ended and we moved on to our next meetings.  I went to Relief Society as the final hour of church.  I was a bit distracted by caring for Akoni, but I heard the teacher share a story that taught me such a powerful lesson.  She talked about her time as a young mother when she found herself a single parent.  She said her boys did not like to go to church and since she wasn't very active, she didn't take them.  Now, they are grown and not in the church.  She shared how much she regretted her choice and how it affected their lives.  I thought about what came into my mind in sacrament meeting and my children and there vowed that no matter how hard it was or how crazy my children ever acted, I would not give up.  I will not give up because I love my children and want them to be happy and have the blessing of the gospel in their lives.

Baby's First Laugh

We always look forward to the celebration of our children's first laugh.  This time it was Kyle who got the first giggle out of Akoni.  He was with him on Monday morning as I slept in an extra half hour.  It was then he laughed for Daddy.  Hooray.  Because of a full week, we finally got to celebrate it Saturday night.  I looked up an article about the celebration to remind myself of it's significance.  Here is what one article wrote:   

First Laugh, Navajo  
Written By Putnam Goodwin-Boyd

According to Navajo (or Diné) tradition, a baby is considered to be of two worlds at birth: that of the holy people and that of the earth people. As weeks pass, adults wait and listen for the child's first chuckle — a sign of joy that signals his desire to join his earth family and community. In Navajo culture, it is believed that a child assumes the qualities of the person who witnesses, or coaxes, his first giggle. (So it might be wise to keep your less noble relations away!) To commemorate this event, the laugh witness hosts an A'wee Chi'deedloh ("The Baby Laughed") ceremony. Guests, often bearing gifts, file past the infant with plates full of food. With help from the host, the baby holds out salt crystals for each of them. Placed on the food or tongue, the salt is meant to rejuvenate the good character in each recipient and serve as the first in a lifetime of generous acts by the child.  At the meal's end, either the host or a community or family elder blesses the baby, wishing him a life of generosity and gratitude.


I love this tradition.  I think it is wonderful in every way.  We are so grateful to have Akoni and just as his name indicates, I know he will be the reason for much happiness in our family.

 One funny thing I want to remember - The boys knew we were having this celebration and looked forward to it very much.  The following morning Ikaika came up to me and said, "Mom, we forgot to all laugh at the Laughing Party!" So cute, Ikaika.

Michail

Tonight, while I was working on editing pictures I received an email informing me that my father, Michail, had passed away.  It was from the woman he was married to and had a daughter with.  She was very kind in her email.  I have never met my father and it was only when I was a sophomore in college did I begin communication with him through email.  English was only one of many languages he spoke and so it was at times hard to communicate with him.  We wrote back and forth a bit, and he always wanted my brother and I to visit him in Mongolia.  I always felt like I was too afraid to try.  For I wouldn't dare take my kids and I wouldn't dare leave my kids.  It was an interesting feeling, recieving the news.  Sadness because I knew I would never met him in this life, but also confusion and disconnect for not having known him very much at all.  There was a silver lining in it all - I finally connected with his wife and daughter, Ainana.  I was touched that she (my sister) cared to know me and kept the few photographs I had mailed my father of me.  I hope that we can get to know each other, though it will be difficult as she does not know english and will have to communicate through her mother.  She is in her late teens, but here is a photograph I found of her as a young girl.

And here is a photo my dad sent Kyle in an email a few months ago. 

Times like these always help me to reflect on and appreciate the plan of salvation.  I am grateful for what I have been taught and found testimony of.  I am eternally grateful for the Savior.   I am grateful for my family and the way the gospel has and will bring us happiness.

Conference

(So this picture has nothing to do with my post, just thought it set this Conference apart from the rest - happy Archuletta made the choice to serve)

 I always look forward to Conference weekend.  It is so rejuvenating, relaxing and uplifting.  I had my thoughts and questions in my heart approaching conference and it was wonderful to feel them addressed and answered in the wonderful messages shared.
One of those was about my role as a mother.  A week or so ago, I happened to watch a commercial on TV for Mirena, a type birth control.  As the commercial spoke of the product it showed a mother with her one child who was about 3 or 4 who seemed to be a handful with the messes, etc he produced.  The phrase, "Keep Life Simple" shone across the screen.  I couldn't help but watch that commercial and wonder if I was crazy to have not only two, three, but five children (AND have thoughts of having one more).  So, I wanted from my conference experience validation for my choice to be a mother of so many children.  And I did.  I loved so much Elder Packer's talk as he spoke of children and the responsibility of parents.  Instead of the guilt and confusion of the TV commercial, I felt peace, gratitude and a increase of strength to do all that is required of me as I heard him speak.
I enjoyed the rest of the messages and was amazed that even with my lack of sleep with caring for Akoni I didn't struggle once with being sleepy.  I am so grateful that twice a year we can have this great blessing of increased faith and perspective.

Koa's Love

I can't really remember when it all started, but it was well past the deadline of signing up for a team that Kekoa first showed interest in soccer.  We were not sure if it was just a passing thing - he's had interests from superheroes to horses to spies that came and went.  But this interest continued throughout the winter season.  He waited patiently until I could put him on a waiting list for Spring and then to find out if he'd been placed on a team and then until his first practice.  Well, today he had his first game.  We were all so excited.  Kyle helped him get ready in his uniform and even gave him a fancy good-luck-hairdo (we had to convince him to be a little unconventional:).  I was worried when I first heard his game was this Saturday because I knew it was Conference weekend, but happily his game was the hour before and we didn't have to make the hard decision of what to do. 
It was a great game - Kekoa even scored a goal - and we are so excited to support and follow him in his new passion.  Who knows how long it will last, but for now it is great exercise and even motivation to be good and get his homework done : )

6 weeks

One of these days I'll get caught up with posting some newborn pics of Akoni.  For now, here is one I took today. It is amazing how slow the end of a pregnancy goes and how fast it is afterward.  Already 6 weeks, wow.
I love this picture because it captures his beautiful colored eyes.  I don't think they will stay colored (Ikaika had green eyes until he was 6 months and then they went brown), so I'll enjoy them this way and then love brown later.  He is a typical newborn for me anyway and having some troubles with his tummy and a bit of reflux, but we hope to get medicine for it soon.  He is also starting to focus more and smile.  The other day Kekoa saw him smile for the first time.  He was so excited and said, "He's coming to life!"

Blessing Way

Today we blessed Akoni.  It was quite the event to prepare for with making his outfit, getting the house and meal ready for friends and family.  I also thought it was madness to try and get all 5 kids ready for church for the first time (we've missed church until today because of a late RSV season, doctors orders) and have a clean house as everyone was headed to our place right after.  Whew, I am tired just remembering all that we got done.  But it all turned out beautifully.  Kyle gave Akoni the sweetest blessing.  How grateful I am for a husband who can give our children blessings to help them in their lives.  I enjoyed being back to church and feeling the peace and strength of feeling the Spirit.  And it was wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family we love so much.  

My mom was visiting for Spring break and as any devoted mother would do, she stayed and made the frybread for all of us and then left to drive 8 hours back AZ because of work the next morning.  I grabbed a few pictures of her with Akoni before she left.  Here are three pictures - we always tease mom that she has her eyes closed in half her pictures.  I wasn't up for swapping heads so here are a few to get the best of mom and Akoni.

 

And here are pictures I took of Akoni in the studio before hand - what a sweetheart :)

His blessing outfit was a traditional Navajo outfit with the velvet shirt and pants.  I also made his faux moccasins.  His bolo tie was one that belonged to my twin brother when he was small.  We were happy Akoni could borrow it for the special occasion.

I hope I didn't miss the mark of the blessing in all the things that surrounded the event.  I just wanted it to be special as we recognize the great, great blessing of adding another child to our family.  And we couldn't be happier to have him : )

Pretty Pretty Princess

The celebration is coming for our sweet Imi girl . . .

Terrific Twos

(Maybe if we approach this year with a positive attitude it will be not so terrible two-ish . . . )

 
So today our princess turned two :) I thought all morning about the day she was born. It seems like it just happened.  I can't believe I now have another little one and she's two. Amazing how time flies.
We are going to celebrate her birthday more this coming weekend with family that's coming into town, but I couldn't miss a chance to give her a cake on her actual birthday.
I tried my hand yet again at baking and finally came out on top with a cream cheese pound cake. It was so yummy with strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

It was a great evening and a great day.  I watched her all day and thought if how grateful I was to have her.  My only regret was not being able to hold her to sleep today.  At nap and bedtime both I was needed by Akoni.  I'll have to make up for it throughout the week.
Since it was Monday, we include her in the FHE lesson tonight. We talked about Daughters of God and how precious they are and how the boys need to treat them well and respect them.  It was a prefect finish to the day.  We love our princess Ka'imi!!!