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BIG NEWS!!

I understand that it has been some time since I wrote on my blog, but rest assured that I havenā€™t been taking it easy. On the contrary, I have embarked on a few exciting ventures that I believe will pave the way to something truly remarkable. Stay tuned for the developments ahead!

I have not been active in e-commerce before, but I have started an online store that you can find at https://homedesignharmony.com/ When reading about creating a store, the selling point was that it can be open 24/7, and you only need to check it occasionally to see that it is running smoothly.

The other thing I am excited about is ā€“ I am going to be a coach ā€“ a parenting coach! I know ā€“ you are thinking, what? 

Aloha! My name is Ruth Elayne, and I am from Hawaii. I look forward to being your SmartSteps Parenting Coach! Parenting is an exhilarating yet challenging journey where every step we take shapes our childrenā€™s futures. As a Parenting Coach, Iā€™ve poured my heart and experience into crafting The SmartSteps Parenting Course, created to guide you through the hurdles that might dim the joy of your parenting adventure.

What makes me qualified to assist you? I donā€™t boast ten children or a formal degree in Child Psychology. Instead, I draw from raising four remarkable individuals whoā€™ve carved their paths in inspiring ways. My daughter, a Doctor of Nursing, embodies compassion in her clinic and is nurturing her own family. My son, a Colonel in the US Air Force, serves his country with dedication, raising a vibrant brood of his own.

My third child is an enterprising soul, impacting education through software, and a humble member of the Tabernacle Choir, while my youngest, a talented graphic artist and musician known as Cubworld, brings creativity to life. These incredible humans, and my twelve grandchildren, have taught me invaluable lessons. We have instilled in them a desire to exercise their agency in making good choices.

But, itā€™s not just my family that equips me to guide you. With a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a rich history of writing for esteemed publicationsā€”particularly on Parentingā€”Iā€™ve connected with countless parents facing diverse challenges. My articles have helped families navigating varying circumstances, fostering improved communication and harmony at home.

My parenting course will be on this blog and also my YouTube Channel. 

I look forward to seeing you there. 

My journey extends beyond the written word; Iā€™ve hosted podcasts and broadcasts, sharing insights gleaned from friends across different corners of the globe, enriching conversations on diverse parenting styles and experiences.

In the SmartSteps Coaching Program, I tailor-make videos to address your specific parenting obstacles, allowing you unlimited access to themā€”whether you wish to view them solo, with your child, or alongside your partner. Your feedback is crucial as I embark on this inaugural launch, helping me refine and enhance the program for future parents.

Iā€™m here to be your advocate, standing by your side through the toughest moments, unraveling challenges, and formulating personalized plans for success. Together, weā€™ll focus on one or two objectives, nurturing your confidence with each accomplishment, empowering you to be the best parent you aspire to be.

Join me on this transformative journeyā€”Iā€™m ready to support you every step of the way.

Again, the SmartSteps Parenting Coaching Course is still in the developing stages and I will post when it is ready to go.

Christmas 2023

I try to make a Christmas newsletter each year to summarize what we have done during the whole year. However, since I havenā€™t kept a great record of what we have done this year, Iā€™ll just spell out some of the highlights:

Israel and Emi were married at a beautiful ceremony conducted by our son, Robert, in Shirley, Idaho. They moved to Portland Oregon and we miss them so much!

Sister Rachel Ileina Kinikini is serving a mission In the Auckland New Zealand Mission

Sister Eryn Moana Kongaika is serving in the Ohio Mission (Spanish Speaking)

We traveled to Arizona to go to Robbie Mateialona graduation from High School. Robbie Mateialona started college at BYU-Hawaii and we were able to travel to Hawaii for a week and got to see him in his element and ate some yummy Hawaiian food.

Our son, Joel became a member of the Tabernacle Choir after much testing and auditioning.

Zion Viliami #55 was playing football during his senior year of high school and broke the record for weight lifting.

Isileli Tupou got COVID as well as several others in our family (except me ā€“ yeah). ā€˜Isi was released as a stake patriarch but continues to be a sealer in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. We now attend the Herriman 15th Tongan Ward with Mike Filipe as our Bishop (ā€˜Isiā€™s nephew).

Anna, Jacob Tupou, and Eryn took Tongan classes at BYU Provo. Anna continues to take courses in film making at BYU Studio.

We also took a short trip to Las Vegas and stayed at our timeshare at Tahiti Village.

A few friends passed away, Marie Paongo, Darlene Stradling, Connie Moffat, Mote Moā€™unga, and a friend Nomani Soakai. We were so sad to hear that they have left this earthly probation but look forward to our reunion in heaven.

We attended the Open House for the Saratoga Springs Temple with some of our grandchildren and it is so beautiful

We meet every month with my siblings for dinner to catch up with each other since Dad passed away. We also attended the Christensen Reunion to stay in touch with Momā€™s family.

Both Liana and Siope changed jobs and seem to be doing fine.

I have become disillusioned with online money making so have decided to spend more time doing my artwork. I had a neighbor come to my home and purchase several pieces of my acrylic pours and that made me happy.

Thanksgiving was less than ideal, but we look forward to a 

Merry Christmas and wish you all one too.

Ruth Elayne Kongaika

SmartSteps Parent Coaching

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Queen of Change

In the affiliate marketing world, so much emphasis is put on telling your own story so people will know, like, and trust you. So, here is mine.

While these may not be impressive statistics, especially for a military person, I am a girl who started out in a small rural town, and over the course of 40 years, we moved 20 times.

You may think I got relieved from some jobs (fired), but actually, I only got fired once! Mainly, the changes in occupation were necessary because of relocation.

One of the things that have changed ginormously during those years is technology. In high school, I excelled in shorthand. Now almost obsolete, it was the most progressive and competitive job ability to have at the time. I was awarded a certificate for achieving 120 words per minute taking Gregg shorthand. I used this skill as an executive secretary in three different jobs, and can still take shorthand (albeit much slower) today.

I also was adept at typing on a manual typewriter speeding at times up to 100 words per minute. I eventually graduated to a Selectric electric typewriter passing up many job applicants on the timed writing tests. Just as a side note: I feel that I have digressed somewhat as I try to text on the tiny keypad of a smartphone. I watch in admiration as the younger generation deftly maneuvers their fingers over minuscule keyboards on their touch screens. This typing skill has been used in most of the jobs I have had, even the current one as a freelance writer.

One of the earliest jobs I had was taking medical dictation. In the laboratory of a hospital, I used a dictaphone which had a large plastic belt (3.5 inches) loaded onto a cylinder. They called it a ā€œquantum leap forwardā€ in technology for dictation. A pedal on the floor would speed up, stop, rewind, or fast forward the ribbon as needed. I typed medical jargon pathologists dictated onto the recording belts and got quite good at it. Being a medical secretary was one of my favorite occupations.

My first experience with computers was as a keypunch operator. Say, what? Yes, I took a course to learn to punch holes in cards, which were then loaded onto a data processing center (early computer) half the size of a room, which told it what to do. Need I say, we have come a long way baby?

Thankfully, we now have personal computers and do not have to hire keypunch operators to tell our computers what to do.

Another of my favorite jobs over the years was wiring integrated circuits. I got this job right out of high school working for Signetics, the first electronics manufacturer. Similar to Intel, we made microprocessors, but we did it all by hand with gold wire, whilst looking through a microscope. Once the skill was refined and became automatic, we had some great times keeping up with the latest gossip. I remember getting $2.85 per hour for wiring chips and thought I was big stuff!(Maybe that is what sparked my newest hobby making wire-wrapped jewelry).

Now that I am retired, I reflect on the great experiences I have had on and off the job. My main reason for learning affiliate marketing is to keep my mind sharp and to supplement my meager pension and social security for which I did not realize I would have to pay taxesā€¦WARNING!

If you are still reading this, you know way more than most people about me ā€“ I have experienced abuse by men in the workplace and out ā€“ may they get what they deserve ā€“ and have been discriminated against because of age and for marrying out of my race, but each experience taught me somethingā€¦.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW A WAY TO MAKE A PASSIVE INCOME ONLINE, DM MEā€¦FOLLOW ME ON THIS JOURNEY!

Thislinkcouldchangeyourlife:bit.ly/3ZoVsWj

bit.ly/3ZoVsWj

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grant

Grant for Small Businesses

Aloha! This information is meant for your company admin. It is meant to help your company fill in the financial gaps when you were forced to cut back or unable to work in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID.Does your business have five or more W-2 employees?

If so, were you impacted at all by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 (we all were right?)

Well thereā€™s a way you can get reimbursed MAJORLY through the ERC Program.

If you havenā€™t already applied for it yourself, I can connect you with someone who specializes in it, get you pre-qualified and get you back the most money per employeeā€¦ somewhere in the range of 7k-10k and possibly moreā€¦TAX FREE!

If that is something that may be of interest to you then simply fill out this brief ERC Submission Form and a specialist will get back to you ASAP!

The federal government approved the grant and they want to help small businesses that are still trying to recover from the pandemic. A company called BottomLine Concepts is facilitating   the ERC (Employee Retention Credit) grant for small businesses.

Apply for the ERC grant at:

https://bit.ly/3qR0sTW

by clicking on the button ā€œGet Qualifiedā€.  After you apply, Bottomline will request that you make an appointment with them so they can make sure you qualify for it and help you with the next steps.

Requirements for small businesses include:

1. A minimum of five W-2 employees (FEIN)

2. No more than 500 employees

3. Apply in a timely manner since the grant is time sensitive

4. Even if the business has received another grant, it may still be eligible for the ERC grant.

I am an affiliate for BottomLine Concepts and I live in South Jordan, Utah. I would be so happy to see you get the grant as well as others in our community, especially those of Polynesian ethnicity.

Ruth Kongaika

Kautaha, LLC

AGING, Artwork, BEAUTY, CULTURES, ELDERLY, family, FINANCE, food, Grandchildren, grant, HAWAII, HEALTH, holidays, home, Music, PARENTING, photography, Radio Station KJJC, RELIGION, SENIOR, TRAVEL, Uncategorized

December 1st, 2022

What a way to start the new month!

ā€˜Isi has been coughing for two days. He woke up saying that he felt sick yesterday, so I gave him some Alleve. It made him feel better, but he started coughing and it has gotten worse and worse. I did a COVID test on him which was negative. Liana came after work with a flu test and it was positiveĀ ā€“ type A. So she gave both of us medicine ā€“ mine is preventative. I am feeling quite tired so it may be the start of the flu. Both of us have been staying home for the most part.

For Thanksgiving, we had ā€˜Isi, Emi, and Aliā€™i over for turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, and pumpkin pie. Then Liana, Ileina, and Siope came later as well as Joel, Jojo, Eryn, and Anna. Jacob, Mandy, Jakey, Zion, and Bella also came. We still seemed to have so much food. The grandkids put up our Christmas tree in the front living room and it looks very pretty there.

We had stake conference in the Tongan stake so I had to sit up on the stage (I really donā€™t like it). but I am trying to support my husband as Patriarch. Since then, he has done four blessings. I get to type up the blessings and they are very inspirational.

It has been so cold lately with some snow. I donā€™t really want to leave the house right now because I seem to be colder than usual. I keep the temperature in the house at 73 degrees but the sisters downstairs like it cooler than that so I usually wear a jacket or sweater.

A couple of years ago, our family started picking names for Christmas presents. It really has taken a lot of stress out of my Christmas. It is always fun to shop, but I usually feel like I donā€™t have enough or the right thing for everyone, so we decided to go this way.

I donā€™t think I wrote about our trip to India so I am going to now.

INDIA

Never did I ever think that I would travel all the way to India. Our son, Robert is a Colonel in the US Air Force and he is currently stationed in New Delhi, India. So, we took the opportunity to go there while he was still there. It took many hours to travel all the way to India, but luckily the flights were uneventful.

In our party, we had Joel and Anna, Aaron and Losa (Annaā€™s cousin and wife), and ā€˜Isi and I. We stayed at Robertā€™s home about three nights and the rest of the nights we were on the road. Our friend from when we were at BYU-Hawaii, Benson Massey, planned the whole trip for us because he owns travel agency. We traveled by local flight and then by bus the rest of the time as we caught some very beautiful landmarks and heard about their history.

The traffic was chaotic. Horns beeped almost constantly as cars, buses, tuktuks, motorcycles, bicycles, and cows maneuvered their way through the narrow roads. Their driving was on the left side of the road. Cows are sacred in India, so everyone would avoid them and let them do whatever they wanted. Robert always has a driver because it is quite dangerous to drive. We had a few different drivers and several tour guides that were so nice and thorough in explaining what we were seeing.

My favorite place was the Taj Mahal and we got up early in the morning to watch the sun come up and shine on it! it was so beautiful and it is the result of a love story. The hotel we stayed at was so amazingly beautiful and the food we ate at the hotel was delectable.

Ā 

We got to ride on an elephant, see some amazing forts, the Wall of India, palaces, crematorium, elegant buildings and very poor areas of towns. There were such stark contrasts between the castes ā€“ very wealthy and then so poor that it pulled at my heart strings. There were many beggars at most places we went and there was one mother that was holding her nearly naked baby who kept begging from me. Rob kept telling me to ignore her, but it was very difficult for me. I think she knew it, so she was relentless in her begging until I finally gave her some money. I felt somewhat better and then she went after the rest of my family.

There are huge malls in Delhi with many familiar stores and fast food places. However, the food was not the same as the familiar ones we had back home. I ordered some KFC and it was very spicy. I ended up with very bad indigestion for about half a day. So, I was much more careful after that.

I loved seeing the beautiful attire of the Indian women. They wore sari of every color and material and they loved to wear amazingly fancy jewelry. The newest style is like a bell earrings. We met the wife of one of Robā€™s drivers and she gave me some fancy earrings. We attended church at a small ward with Rob and I was surprised at how many native Indians there were there. The bishop was from Idaho.


The trip to India seems like a dream, but I know it was real. Iā€™m grateful that we got to go on this journey to the other side of the world. It was beautiful, enchanting, mesmerizing, incredible, as well as enlightening, inspirational, and sad. Humanity in India do not enjoy the freedoms we enjoy in America, but it seems they make the best out of what they have.

It made me wonder why some people choose to be born in India knowing the difficulties they would be faced with. It also made me appreciate the wonderful freedoms we enjoy in the United States.

AGING, Artwork, BEAUTY, buy, CULTURES, ELDERLY, family, FINANCE, food, Grandchildren, grant, HAWAII, HEALTH, holidays, home, Music, PARENTING, photography, Radio Station KJJC, RELIGION, SENIOR, TRAVEL, Uncategorized

Life Can ChangeĀ Suddenly!

Why does the last month feel more like a sprint than normal?Perhaps because I spilled tea on my keyboard and nothing seems to work properly since then!!

Suddenly all the grandkids are back in school and I am left trying to be an affiliate marketer and mostly I have just gotten myself into debt even more than before.

My husband is trying to help with the marketing but it is so foreign to him to try to make money-he only works because he loves to!

So, then i decided to try to be an affiliate of a grant giving business called BottomLine Concepts and they are offering small businesses an ERC grant to help them recover from the pandemic.

thinkingofcuttingmyhair

When i approach people with the idea, they think i am trying to scam them, but this is legit and can help so many people that were out of work because of the shutdowns and lockouts and changes in the world where people stopped going to work outside their homes.

So, if you want to know more about the grant-here it is:

Hi. I live in Founderā€™s Park in Daybreak (South Jordan)Utah. Currently, Iā€™m an affiliate for BottomLine Concepts. They are now helping small businesses obtain the ERC (Employee Retention Credit) grant. It is for small businesses affected by the Pandemic to help them get back on their feet, especially those of minority groups.

The process is made simple by BottomLine, and your business could be getting back about $10,000 per W-2 employee. ERC is a refund in the form of a grant and can return up to $26,000/employee ($11,000 is the average) depending on wages, health care, and other personnel expenses business owners have already paid.

A requirement of the grant eligibility is to have 5 or more and less than 500 W-2 employees per Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN). Even if you received the PPP, you can also receive the ERC.

If you feel your company may qualify for ERC, I would be willing to help you apply for it before it runs out! Also, if you are aware of another small business that would benefit from ERC, share this great news with them.

The link below has much more information including a video, FAQs, and testimonials for BottomLine. Here is the form if you want to see if you qualify. Donā€™t miss out on this timely grant to help your small business grow! 

Employee Retention Credit Program

Ruth Kongaika, Kautaha, LLC

rkongaika@gmail.com

text msg (801) 833-8495

Please get back to me and tell me what you decided to do.

Seems there have been so many funerals lately so i am just happy to be alive! We are going to India next month while Robert is still stationed there, another place I have never been.

All of our family are relatively healthy-Siope is improving and Ileina is trying to stay well so she can go on her mission to NewZealand.

If you want to check out what Iā€™ve been doing, go to:

https://mcs.samanthasdomain.com/7-figures

Ileina went to the temple for the first time and many of the family showed up to support her.

Rachel Ileina is the one in yellow with two chubby grandmothers on each side.

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July and into AugustĀ 2022

Anna Luiza

Our family has had some major milestones lately. Our sister missionary, Anna Kongaika returned from her mission in Las Vegas West, Nevada. She reported her mission and shared a strong and inspirational testimony of the Gospel and of the work she had been doing for the past 18 months. What a blessing Anna is to our family. She will be attending BYU Provo this fall.

Our sweet Rachel Ileina Kinikini got prepared by seeing her bishop and stake president for the purpose of submitting her application to serve a mission. Just this week she received her calling to serve in the Auckland, New Zealand Mission. We were all soooo excited for her. There are many reasons for that ā€“ one being that she has Maori blood in her veins and also that some of her ancestors and relatives lived there and served there.

Our sweet Rachel Ileina Kinikini got prepared by seeing her bishop and stake president for the purpose of submitting her application to serve a mission. Just this week she received her calling to serve in the Auckland, New Zealand Mission. We were all soooo excited for her. There are many reasons for that ā€“ one being that she has Maori blood in her veins and also that some of her ancestors and relatives lived there and served there.

We also continue to have guests on our Podcast, Pacific Tales. This gentleman came all the way from Ghana and it was great to be in touch with him after 20 years. Have a listen:

Spotify ā€“ Pacific Tales

We also got together with our siblings and spouses for a dinner. We plan to do this every month if we can. It is good to keep in touch since Dad passed away. Kirk was able to sell Dadā€™s home and it was sad, but also a big weight off his shoulders.

We were able to spend some more time with some of the grandchildren since they were out of school. We had a fun day with them when they came to our Daybreak swimming pool and then we had a BBQ afterward in our backyard.

Other than all of the above, I, unfortunately, got scammed a couple of times online. Beware of people offering to help because most likely they are just trying to help themselves to your money. It was an expensive month for that reason. Watch out for people, especially in Affiliate Marketing groups. I have been trying to learn about it and people seem to genuinely want to help, and then they turn around and charge you for their help saying that you need to ā€œput some skin into the gameā€. I also got bullied by some which was a result of the same game and so my mental, and emotional state took a hit, but Iā€™m doing better now. So, before you pay anyone online for this or that course, ask yourself:

Grandpa and I also got to go to ā€œSinging in the Rainā€ with Joel and Lily. It was incredible how they had it raining on the stage at the Hale Theater ā€“ so fun!!

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Our Trip to England and DenmarkĀ 2022

It was with much anticipation and a bit of trepidation that we had prepared for our trip to the UK and Denmark. We had previously visited Scotland and had meant to touch ground in England but because of the unexpected demise of my uncle Terry (my fatherā€™s brother) that our trip was cut short, and we had to take Dad home early.

I had revealed my apprehension a few too many times, in fact, so much that it became quite a joke between my children and grandchildren. We had made sure that our living will and trust were in order and made well known in case of our untimely demise due to airplane dysfunction, our physical limitations, or questionable culinary overindulgences.

And then, here it was, the year of our 50th wedding anniversary and we decided it was time to try again. We traded our valuable timeshare points at Tahiti Village in Las Vegas for a place in Denmark and we also arranged with our previous missionary (Hesikaia Hingano Fakatou and his wife Sela who served with us in the Tonga Nukuā€™alofa Mission from 1989-1992) for us to stay in the temple apartments at the Preston and London Temples. Because of this, the cost for accommodation was minimal. The Fakatous went way beyond anything that was expected to make us feel comfortable and well taken care of.

Our sturdy son,Ā JacobĀ delivered us and several luggage at the massive newly renovated Salt Lake City Airport. Our first flight was on Monday, April 25th at 4:00 pm on SkyWest destined for United headed forĀ Chicago Oā€™Hare International. The airport was huge, and we had reserved special assistance and were taken on wheelchairs from one point to another to help our achey joints. This included getting pushed on and off of a train (kind of scarey). We arrived around 8:00 pm without major incidence and contemplated the rest of the night sleeping some 35,000 feet above the ground as we made our way to Copenhagen which was an 8-hour 15-minute stretch. TheĀ Copenhagen AirportĀ seemed a bit redundant in their checkpoints since we had to have our passports checked twice at the same place by the same guy.

We were taken around on a golf cart by a guy who promised we would be gathered once it was time to board. Finally, safely on the next plane with a destination of Heathrow London Airport, I took all my usual pills plus one diazepam which I knew would help put me to sleep for most of the trip. I woke up intermittently to observe that Isi was up watching movie after movie. I asked him why he was not sleeping, and he replied that he didnā€™t want to bother others with his snoring since he couldnā€™t wear his c-pap machine. That was not a good sign since I knew he wouldnā€™t be worth much to me the next day. I also use a c-pap, but it was not as urgent as his.

We had one more short stint to London which was the real start of our journey (because the tickets were cheaper that way) taking only an hour on Scandinavian Airlines. We were greeted warmly by Hekesi Hingano Fakatou. We had served our mission in Tonga from 1989 to 1992 and part of that time Elder Fakatou had served with us. We were so excited to see him again. His wife Sela was very sweet and greeted us as though we were long-time friends. They suggested that we drive the added hour or so to Birmington to stay the night there, so we traveled on to avoid early morning traffic to catch the morning endowment session in the Preston Temple.

I showed Hesi and Sela the information I had gleaned from familysearch.org of persons who had lived and died in Kingā€™s Norton (Thursday 28 Apr) and surroundings areas. Afterwards, Hesi and Sela took us to a place called Home of the Roast where you could choose slices of all different kinds of meat and then choose your vegetables and gravy. It was very yummy and filling. The reason Hesi was living in England was because he had been recruited to play rugby any years ago and he stayed on and is now doing construction. He has four wonderful children and loves living in England.

We were able to enter the Preston Temple on Thursday and met several MTC missionaries. Since I had slept some on the airplane, I was ready to go to the Preston, England Temple and I had brought a name of one of my ancestors to do her work which made it much more meaningful for me. As we were getting up, I tried on the new shoes I had purchased to go with my new dress and found that they were slipping (with my nylons on) so I just took off the shoes and ran to the temple so we wouldnā€™t be late. We just barely made it to the session on time! I hope the sister I did the work for understood the condition I was in and that it was still done with sincerity.

I couldnā€™t help but notice the beautifully groomed hedges of the grounds at the Preston Temple. It reminded me somewhat of New Zealand and the fauna there. We walked around the back of the temple and there was a pond and beautiful flowers. We met some very friendly MTC Missionaries.

Later that day, Hesi took us to an enchanted place called Ribblesdale where the first Latter-day Saints in Great Britain were baptized by Heber C. Kimball. The first baptisms in England occurred on July 30, 1837 where nine individuals were baptized in the Ribble River in the presence of approximately eight-thousand onlookers. By August 6, nearly fifty individuals had been converted and Elder Heber C. Kimball organized a branch in Preston. There was a Japanese garden where a commemoration rock announces the occasion of the first Latter-day Saints in Great Britain. Some lilac trees were nearby and I just had to get pictures of them.

Then we traveled to Liverpool where 45,000 saints from the British Isles eventually migrated to Zion (Salt Lake City).  In 1837 the Prophet Joseph Smith sent Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde and several others on a mission to Great Britain. This mission produced some 1500 converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It wasnā€™t long until a migration of converts began, lasting for more than a half century. In most cases, the point of embarkation was Liverpool, Lancashire on the banks of the Mersey River which then ran into the Irish Sea. Following that first mission, the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were called by revelation to labor in Great Britain (see Doctrine and Covenants 118). Thousands more were converted to the Church during the period of this mission.

The Legacy sculpture can be seen overlooking the River Mersey, outside the Piermasterā€™s House at the Royal Albert DockThis statue of a young family commemorates migration from Liverpool to the new world.

Uncategorized

Discrimination in the ModernĀ World

In 2020, my empathy was stirred for those who have been wronged in our society for so long. For me, that included all people who have been forced to give up their homelands, language, and culture. They were coerced to change their way of life in order to serve others. This includes African-Americans, Hawaiians, Native Indians, and others I have come to know and love.

We lived in Hawaii for 20 plus years, and I had the privilege to know people from Polynesian, Melanesia, Micronesia, Asia, India, South America, and Africa. At BYU-Hawaii where we worked, there were students representing over 70 different countries. My husband was the Foreign Student Adviser and knew most of the students from other countries..

Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to physical appearance and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another.

Me on the right ā€“ same age as my cousin

Our family has experienced quite a bit of prejudice throughout the years. On a personal level, it goes back many years before we even started our mixed family. I was a below average-sized newborn. As I grew, I did not keep up in height with others my age. I was continually compared to cousins and friends. Teachers expected me to lag behind academically. I had to prove myself in school, sports, and socially. (Heightism: prejudice or discrimination against someone on the basis of their height).

As a teenager, I had American Indian friends and in high school, I had a Hawaiian friend. I really enjoyed learning about their cultures. When I met my husband for the first time, he told me he was from Tonga and I wasnā€™t aware of where it was on the map.

There were naysayers all around me when I decided to date my new boyfriend. He didnā€™t fit in, was too dark, too Poly, not sterile enough, not wise enough, etc. for many. I only saw his potential, good nature, and humor. Despite much criticism, we decided to get married. We learned from one another and raised a fun family that brings much joy and happiness.

Our family.

I donā€™t think you can ever really understand another culture with everything that comes with it (the food, dancing, music, language, and customs, etc.). We were able to immerse ourselves into the Polynesian cultures, in particular Tongan, Samoan, and Hawaiian. Once my family got to know ā€˜Isileli Tupou and his family, they could see what wonderful people they were.

After we had lived in Tonga for ten years, my husband was called to be Mission President over the Tonga Nukuā€™alofa Mission. This was the best time of our lives as we served with hundreds of missionaries.

Artwork, BEAUTY, CULTURES, family, FINANCE, food, Grandchildren, HAWAII, HEALTH, holidays, home, Music, PARENTING, photography, RELIGION, TRAVEL, Uncategorized

Beautiful Fall 2021

Istarted last month with a major fall that ended up with a trip to the Emergency Room. So, I have become much more careful in the way that I get out of bed at night and my husband put up a night light near the bathroom. My head has been quite painful ā€“ where I hit it, but I finally picked the medical glue out of my head (along with quite a bit of my hair), and am slowly recovering.

Pacific Tales kept me busy trying to find old friends to share their stories on my podcast on Spotify. It has been interesting. Some people are very eager to be part of it, yet others are very against it. My experience so far is that those that have participated have enjoyed it quite a bit. I enjoy learning more about our friends and they usually give praise to God for all the good they have had in their lives. So, I believe it can inspire others to do good. Hereā€™s my latest podcast: (you will need to open it on Spotify)

Riley, Harvey, Chris, Brent, Maureen, Me, Isi

We just finished General Conference. It was like a marathon. There were five sessions in two days. It was very inspirational and the Holy Ghost spoke to my heart, especially when I knew I needed to improve. I loved President Oaks talk and have had to repent and change my attitude about going to church. Also, our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson announced 13 new temples and encouraged us to make use of them as often as possible. COVID is still a problem, so we have to make appointments online, but we have an initiatory scheduled for next week. ā€˜Isi goes to the temple at least twice a week for sealings and still does Patriarchal blessings so he is very busy giving service, but I have been kind of laid back and need to get going again. I used to be a temple worker and really enjoyed it until COVID made everything more difficult.

I am still having therapy and learning so many skills in managing stress and depression. Here are a few of the skills I have learned: Find a safe place (somewhere you can go to as a refuge when you are feeling stressed that you feel safe), a container (a place you can put your worries into (written on a paper so you can put them aside until you are in a better place and able to address them better), tapping (where you tap certain pressure points on your head, face, chest, etc. that will give you some relief and take your mind off your problems), and the last one that I am still working on is to prioritize a list of words in categories such as: important, very important, somewhat important, and not important. Then you take only the words in the very important list and prioritize them ā€“ which should tell you something about yourself. It is quite a difficult activity and one that takes much effort to recognize what means the most to you. Some of the words that means the most to me are: hope, belonging, inner peace, creativity, and self acceptance.

Classmates from Orem High School Cathy, Denise, Linda, Joann, Me, Jean

My high school buddies got together for a luncheon and we had a fun time. They went up the canyon to stay at a cabin at Sundance but I wasnā€™t feeling so sure on my feet yet, so they went without me.

Yesterday, I went with Liana, Ileina, and Princess to get our nails done. I asked for a tropical theme:

We hope to be going to Hawaii for our anniversary/birthdays this month so we had the booster shot. I was very sick from it!! We have the reservation, we have the tickets, we have the hotel, just need to pass the COVID requirementsā€¦ā€¦ā€¦wish us luck!!

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Bloody Head Slammer in SeptemberĀ 2021

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS IMAGES THAT MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME

I have been busy creating podcasts recently and getting in touch with old friends and family members. It has been a new experience and one which has been a challenge and a joy. Here are some of the people that I have interviewed on my podcasts:

I was gliding along at a rather fast pace until one early morning when I woke up to use the restroom and somehow hit my head on the corner of the door frame resulting in 14 staples and 7 stitches at the emergency room. It was unfortunate that Isi was away with the boys in Vegas for the BYU/Arizona State Football game. After falling and hitting the wall, my hand reached for my head and it met my raw scalp and a torrent of blood which soaked up my clothes, carpet, and any rags I could grab. I called for Isi not remembering he was away. Then I realized what a serious situation I was in and debated whether to call 911 or Liana who lives a couple of blocks away. I chose the later and rang her number and she answered right away ā€“ ā€œI gashed in my head,ā€ I said frantically, and she replied she would be right over.

Just the day before, Isi had asked me if I would be alright if he left to be with the boys at the game to which I replied, ā€œof course!ā€ Little did I know that my foot would catch on the rug, my blood pressure would plummet, or whatever else would culminate to put my life in danger ā€“ I really didnā€™t plan it at all! Upon arrival at the Riverton Hospital, there were three people ahead of us, and Liana and I were scheming how we could get closer to the front of the line ā€“ head wounds always bleed profusely, and it seemed this one was no different. It was reminiscent of an accident I had experienced when we lived in Hawaii where the claws of a hammer fell from the top of a ladder onto the middle of my head requiring two staples some years earlier. Iā€™m pretty clumsy it seems!

Once I was finally taken into a room, they made some comments about how the gash was pretty deep and long and then for the next two hours they never touched it. They did several tests including blood, urine, CT scan, EKG, etc ā€“ never once touching my head. They found out my blood pressure was very low and that my heart rhythm was off a bit. Also, my potassium level was very low which could explain why I fell or it could have been that I had tripped on the rug near the bathroom in the hall. I guess we will never know why I fell so hard (enough to go through the five layers from the outer skin to the inner skull).

Patience is definitely not one of my strongest virtues and Liana was trying to keep me occupied as she has done while taking care of me and others several times in various Emergency rooms. I didnā€™t want to interrupt Isiā€™s getaway since he really couldnā€™t help from where he was so we made the decision not to notify him until after the game was finished.

Finally, after all the paperwork was done, they irrigated the wound with cold water managing to get me and the whole bed wet. I got chilled a bit and asked if they could put new sheets on and change my beautiful gown. They started to numb the edges of my injury and the needle pricks hurt as it was going up and down the layers from dermis to scalp so they could put in the staples and stitches. The injury was a curved shape and they first put seven self disintegrating stitches inside and then 14 staples in between the stitches to make it lay flat against my head. I had thought perhaps they would need to shave my hair off, but was glad they did not need to. There was still quite a bit of blood on my hair and they said I could not shampoo it off for 24 hours. So, I looked a lot like Cruella with half of my hair blond and straight and the other blood red and curly. I was quite a sight!

Finally, everything was finished and we went home to rest. Liana planned for someone to be with me at all times. My grandchildren took turns staying with me and I felt very blessed. Food was provided by my sister, Shauna and my daughter. I am so blessed. It could have been much worse. Isi was a bit upset that he had not been informed earlier and I donā€™t blame him. We are working things out now. It was not the best start to the month of September. I feel like Humpty Dumpty who took a great fall! Hopefully September will get better going forward!

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August Already

The Swimming Gang

We were able to spend quality time with some of our grandchildren lately. Robbie was here from Arizona and ended up being traded between Jacob and Joelā€™s family. It is fun to see how much the kids enjoy each other. We finally got our chance to be with him and took the kids swimming in the Daybreak swimming pool. We had a fine time and even Grandpa and I got in with the rest of the kids. I think it had been more than two years since I had been swimming.

I love how the cousins and siblings help Lily have a good time and they tease each other incessantly. Robbie is hoping to be adopted by someone here in Utah, but he left to go back to Arizona. We will miss him. All the kids have been very busy growing up.

Robbie

In the last post, I mentioned some lessons that grandparents can teach their grandkids that will supplement what their parents are teaching them. Here are a few more:

Work

Grandparents understand the consequences of being lazy. They can motivate grandchildren to be self-reliant and responsible. Learn the job and then do their best. Teach them that actions will speak louder than their words. Go the second mile and make sacrifices to do a good job. In order to take good care of a spouse and children, grandchildren must learn that work is a blessing. They can learn this in their youth by having daily chores and responsibilities.

Knowledge

When children complain about a subject in school they do not enjoy, grandparents can help them see that they are learning how to learn. The subject matter is not as important as developing the skills to keep their mind actively growing. No knowledge is ever wasted since they learn how to reason. By reading they build creativity and expose themselves to new things. They learn how to be independent by picking up all they can. By working their brain muscles every day, they will be better prepared to learn a new skill, adjust to changes and master new languages.

Values

Our world is ever evolving but good values are always cherished. Teach grandchildren to have integrity.  Keep promises or donā€™t make them. Cherish virtue and keep standards high. If they play sports, advise them about good sportsmanship. When they are alone,

Joseph, Robert, and Zion

think good thoughts and read uplifting material. Instill in them reverence for sacred things. Whatever the success a child has achieved, they should always be humble and willing to share what they know with others.

Manners

Through example and experiences, grandparents can teach grandchildren how to get along socially. This includes being gracious and considerate of others. They can imbue benefits of using proper words, including please and thank you. Since the child has inherited the family name, they are expected to conduct themselves properly. It is best to look people in the eyes when communicating. Keep the Golden Rule, which means treating others as you want to be treated. Improve their vocabulary so they will be respected. It is better to use good words than cursing or telling off-colored jokes no matter the situation. 

Nature

Parents are often too busy making a living or trying to keep up with a busy family schedule. Grandparents are usually retired and have time to go for a walk with grandchildren, go on a picnic, and spend time outside enjoying the out-of-doors. The time they spend in nature will help them physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Persons fortunate enough to live long often get the opportunity to know their grandchildren. Blessed is the child who can gather a lifetime of wisdom from their loved ones to help them navigate through the maze. Grandparents can be their mentors. They have time to inspire them. They can live life fully and make the best of every moment together.

I remember spending time up in Fairview Canyon with my paternal grandparents. They had a small trailer that we could rest in and hiked in the beautiful wilderness. It was so beautiful and my memories are very positive. I remember their garden, sheep, chickens, baked goods, and good examples. I hope that our grandchildren will remember some of the things we have done with them in a positive way.

My paternal grandparents and great grandmother in the front

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Is it Spring atĀ Last?

My favorite season of the year! COVID-19 almost contained! Fully immunized and ready to get my gardening on. Spent the weekend filling my flower pots with soil and fertilizer. Dug up any weeds left in the yard and confiscated some great wood trunks from the neighbors to spruce up the garden areas. Iā€™m stoked! Positive Easter vibes and loving it up with the grandchildren lately. Have also been doing some redecorating in the house (or at least, telling ā€˜Isi what to do to change it!

Two of our grandchildren will graduate from high school this spring. James Aliā€™i wants to be an engineer and has chosen to go to Arizona State University where his sister, Princess attends. Aliā€™i has excelled in basketball, and is amazing to watch. We are hoping to travel to Aliā€™iā€™s graduation next month.

Jacob Tupou will graduate from Lehi High School and is still deciding what to do going forward. He is very artistic and would like to pursue a writing career. He was one of the unfortunates to get a bad case of Corona. It put him behind a bit in school, so he has been playing catch up! We love him so much and are glad he is doing better.

Our oldest three grandchildren are doing fine and keeping very busy. Israel works as a graphic designer near us and he and his girlfriend, Emi like playing house together. They met in Okinawa, attended BYUH together, and we have them over every month for dinner. I miss Isiboy so much!

Princess is studying Marketing and taking 19 credits (just because she can), and she is very good at making videos. She has a cute kitten (cat) named Lucy who keeps her company in lieu of fickle males. I miss Esa so much, too!

Anna Luiza, a.k.a. Sister Kongaika is serving a mission in Las Vegas West Mission, Nevada. She shares her amazing experiences and we canā€™t get enough. Both her sister and mother got Corona not long after she went on her mission. That left Lily Ruth with a bout of separation anxiety from her mother who has been homeschooling her. Joel has become an expert in multi-tasking.

I could go through each of the grandchildren, but you get the idea that they are the center of my world, and since they are all so busy with school and friends, I have to find other things to occupy my time. I am still a thrifter and shop several times a week to find bargains to turn around for a profit at https://poshmark.com/closet/elayne001. So far this year, I have been doing fairly well. I also write blog posts for Joelā€™s company, rseventytwo.com

Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot to tell about my partner, ā€˜Isileli. Besides his working in the temple as a sealer, patriarch, and my errand boy, he has recently been doing some yard work with a friend. He still loves cooking, sewing, and baking. Oftentimes, I question his gender. His sister, Simulata will be turning 80 this week and we are looking forward to celebrating with her.

I will be having a stress test this week, so if things donā€™t go as planned, this may be my last post. My heart seems to be weakening. My sleeping patterns are upside down, and Dr. Kinikini has nearly given up trying to diagnose and help me, so I try to keep a low profile. I am currently seeing three different physicians and will report as soon as I know what malady they have come up withā€¦

Meantime, I am actively oil painting, making jewelry, and attempting acrylic pouring. I have enjoyed decorating nearly every wall in the house. I recently had ā€˜Isi paint my bathroom purple and it is my sanctuary. Honestly, who needs a day spa when you can enjoy your own candle-lit, lavendar-fragranced, color-coordinated

My 12-generation chart from Puzilla.org
Colonel Kong ā€“ newly assigned to New Delphi, India (India, here we come)!

We already made reservations to stay near Copenhagen, Denmark next spring. So, if you have any travel advice, email me at rkongaika@gmail.com. So excited for that trip! We hope to swing by England on the way.

My father requires quite a bit of help because he is getting physically and mentally weaker. I am trying harder to fill in some of the needs and give my brother and sister a break.

I still have a testimony of the Gospel, even if I have not returned to in-person church worship. I quite enjoy the Zoom church and FHE arrangements. God is good! Lots of aloha!!

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Our December Went Viral,Ā Literally

Corona manifested itself with a force in our family a week or so ago. Where it was transmitted from is not known, only that it has made some of us very sick! Covid-19 is not discriminatory nor merciful. It affects children and adults and has made itself well known in our Polynesian community. Some of my own children and grandchildren have suffered because of it. Many tears have been shed and prayers said for those who suffer.

As I go about my activities during the week, I am dismayed at the number of people who still think the virus is a myth. Many take no precautions against the attack

and are most likely the super spreaders. We went to a craft fair yesterday and masks were not required! Once the virus has penetrated your own family, you become hyperaware of the ignorance and disregard some have for their fellow humans.

Body aches, fever, chills, lack of smell, fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, and low oxygen

levels are some of the gifts of Corona. It is strong enough to put our existence in limbo for the time being. Many businesses have disappeared, people unemployed, schooling off and on, church is online, as well as entertainment. We are so grateful for a prophet who has continued to guide us through social media. We were challenged to give thanks during the month of November and share it on social media. This helped me realize how blessed we were despite the current difficulty. Russell M. Nelson is the prophet for the whole world, not just our church.Ā https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng

The Polynesians have had to forgo their manifestations of ā€œalohaā€ when greeting each other. Hugs and kisses have been replaced with nods. Those that have lived in the South Pacific realize how difficult that is. They have had to alter their inclinations, in fact their very nature. They must suppress

their expressions of joy or sadness at gatherings such as birthdays, funerals, celebrations, holidays, and other events. Their propensity towards affection has been dampened.

Since I am normally an introvert, the isolation has been welcomed. For my husband, it has been very troublesome. He is a very social person and loves to be among his friends and family. I donā€™t believe I have ever seen him depressed during our marriage until now. Being forced to separate himself from others has been torture!

We have a new appreciation for technology which is used for visits with

our family, church, school, and concerts. The present situation would be more difficult without it. Past pandemics have caused many more deaths than the current one. Projections for Corona were much higher, but it still may catch up if we are not careful and diligent in our counterattack.

We have had to change many of our travel plans this year due to the pandemic. His face reflects that disappointment.

Please be careful out there and pray for those who suffer. Do your part to mitigate the pandemic and alleviate suffering due to a blatant disregard for others.

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October Fun

October is a fun month for our family. Not only are there several birthdays, but it is also our wedding anniversary as well as Halloween.

Happy Birthday to all our October babies! Robert, Meilani, ā€˜Isileli, myself, Grandpa Bob, and Ileina

Although Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays, it has been fun watching the grandchildren in their costumes and being delighted by all the candy they are allowed to eat!!

Here are some of my favorite Halloween pictures of the grandkids:

All I can say is kudos to their parents for coming up with such cute costumes! Far cry from what we did back in the dayā€¦

Masked Halloween ā€“ Liana and Robert are on the right!

Of course, our wedding anniversary falls right before Halloween (how appropriate)! We usually head out to Vegas since we have a timeshare there:

One anniversary in Hawaii at the PCC
One of our favorite shows!
One of our favorite places in Vegas!

October is a special time for us to listen to General Conference and get ready for the long winter. Not sure I am ready for the snow just yet!

Jojo in the Autumn leaves.
Pumpkin patch with Ileina!
Love my grandbabies!

It was seven years ago that I moved here from Hawaii. Isi came a couple of months later.

October always makes me melancholy, especially now that most of my grandchildren are grown. One of them has graduated from university, another is in college, and one just received her mission call. So grateful for the good times we have had and hope to have many more.

Happy Halloween!

Some scary stories I have written:

https://hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/Story-of-the-Cursed-Tiki

https://hubpages.com/literature/Hawaiian-Ghost-Stories-I

https://hubpages.com/holidays/Hawaiian-Ghost-Stories-II

I wrote about one scary experience I had when we were in Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Center (sad to think it has been closed for quite some time because of COVID)!

http://www.euroradialyouth2016.com/travelogue/2012/08/31/my-haunted-lagoon-experience-hawaii/

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Grandchildren Back to School = SadĀ Grandma

Some of the grandchildren had online school, some opted to go to their schools with protective gear on, and some are being homeschooled. The ones that are homeschooled miss their friends, the ones in school say it is weird, and the ones that do it online think it is pretty hysterical. Everyone is having quite the adjustment to new ways of doing things. I have to hand it to the parents for being so flexible and helping their kids succeed.

We got to meet with our Arizona family a couple of times this summer which was glorious. Our oldest grandchild, Israel, graduated from university and is now holding down a job near to where we live. Princess is still attending ASU and when she visits, she always has homework but seems to have a bit of fun with her cousins. Anna is attending BYU Provo and living in the dorms. She also got a job in the tv studio. JT Fisher (Jake) is attending PG High and finishing up his senior year. He is looking forward to being a professional writer. Aliā€™i is also a senior and back at volleyball and working towards university. He says that although the players can keep their distance of six feet, they still handle the same ball. Ileina got a cute bug and loves to take her friends and cousins for rides. She has had her first paid working experience taking temps and now working in retail.

Eryn has decided she wants to be a nurse. Her horse, Flash is getting older and she will soon have a new colt. Zion and Bella got parts in a play at school. Zion lifts weights along with his dad. Robbie and Joseph keep their computers connected much of the time, but now that summer is over, hopefully they can get more sleep. Robbie is back into basketball and Joseph is trying weight lifting. Bella has grown a foot this year and loves taking care of her new little cousin, Liam. Lily has had many fun adventures during the summer. She especially likes bird watching in the state parks and reserves. She knows most of the types of birds she sees. Iā€™m so glad that this Pandemic has not hindered the grandkids from learning new things and enjoying one anotherā€™s company.

We were supposed to go to Hawaii for our grandsonā€™s graduation, but Covid ruined that. So, we took a road trip to Twin Falls, Idaho. We saw the Snake River and Shoshone Falls. What a beautiful country we live in. We ended up at Bear Lake and met Siope, Liana, and Ileina there.

Whenever we all get together, there is plenty of music, food, and fun. We have all eaten too much and hopefully we can get back on track this fall. We have missed going to church and the temple, but we are trying to follow the church curriculum of ā€œCome Follow Meā€. Is it a coincidence that what we are reading about in the scriptures coincides closely with what is happening in the world? It is a reminder of who is in charge and what we need to be doing.

We had a great harvest from our garden this year. We had huge cucumbers and made pickles. Also, we had plenty of squash, beans, peas, tomatoes, and beetroot. It has been a very dry summer, so I was surprised with our bounty.

When I was not entertained by my children and grandchildren, I spent time painting, selling on Poshmark https://poshmark.com/closet/elayne001 Currently having a BOGO sale.

I am working on a commission for a friend. If you want me to paint a person or place, let me know (I am an impressionist, not a realist in case you wondered).

For some reason, the boys decided it was a good time to teach the grandsons how to shoot guns. Joel and his friend arranged for each child to have a turn at several different calibers. They went up high in the mountains to shoot. Hereā€™s proof of their adventure.

So glad we had time together as a family and looking forward to more good times.

Last, but not least, we completed a project we have had for four years. We published a book entitled ā€œTender Mercies of the Lord in the Tonga Nukuā€™alofa Missionā€. It is now on Amazon and it shares faith-promoting experiences of the missionaries and ourselves while we served in Tonga from 1989-1992. Copy and paste this link to find it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H9R63V9?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Have a safe fall and winter season. Stay well and stay safe!

CULTURES, family, Grandchildren, holidays, PARENTING, photography, RELIGION, TRAVEL, Uncategorized

Pickleball, Pioneers, and Riverton CityĀ Park

Many of our ancestors left the countries where they were born to escape religious persecution. Several crossed the plains to settle in Utah. I recently discovered a park in Riverton, Utah that was established by the Daughters of the Pioneers http://isdup.org/ and the Sons of the Pioneers https://www.sup1847.com/.

Fantastic grove of trees in the Riverton City Park

The 24th of July, otherwise known as Pioneer Day, is a state holiday which commemorates the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers in Salt Lake Valley. They were forced out of Missouri in 1847 by Governor Lilburn Boggs. He had ordered the militia to exterminate them if necessary. They then settled in Nauvoo, Illinois and established a beautiful city out of marshland and built a temple there. Once again, they experience religious persecution and soon after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith followed their new prophet, Brigham

Young, to a safe haven in the Rocky Mountains. Now thousands move to Utah every year.

My ancestors came from Denmark, Scotland, Sweden, England and elsewhere settling in the Salt Lake Valley. Many of them traveled along with the Mormon Pioneers. They gave up their homes and some of their family even lost their lives in order to escape religious persecution. Salt Lake City and many surrounding towns were developed by Mormon pioneers and their descendants. I feel very blessed to have such a rich heritage.

One of the towns settled by Mormon Pioneers was Riverton, Utah. The organizations, The Sons of the Pioneers and The Daughters of the Pioneers were instrumental in establishing a farm community. In 1886, with 233 members in thirty-five families, Riverton was organized as a ward with Orrin Porter Miller as its first bishop. Members met in a combination meetinghouse/schoolhouse which had been built in 1879. By 1900 there were 517 members (ninety-two families) and construction was begun on a new

The Dome Meeting Hall at the front of Riverton City Park

meetinghouse. Completed in 1908, this domed structure in the Romanesque style was designed by Richard Kletting and was generally recognized as one of the finest LDS meetinghouses in a rural setting. It was demolished in 1940. They now have a replica of the first meetinghouse which can be used for meetings, weddings, etc. https://www.rivertonutah.gov/parks/locations/riverton-city-park.php

More history of Riverton https://www.rivertonutah.gov/

We currently live in South Jordan which is right nextdoor to Riverton. We recently visited the Riverton City Park. I was mesemerized by its beauty and charm. There is so much available for the community in the way of recreation including pickleball and tennis courts, playgrounds, pavilions, walkways, a rodeo stadium, and so much more. It is beautifully landscaped and includes a history of the park on plaques along the way.

My husband first learned of this wonderful historical and recreational site when some of his buddies took him to play pickleball. He was excited to show me all it had to offer. We took a walk around and I wanted to share it with others. The Riverton City Park has a great history and it is fabulous that it is still a gathering place.

Here are some more pictures of the park to enjoy.

May you and yours have a Happy Pioneer Day!!

My youngest granddaughter, Lily Ruth
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Racism in Utah?

Having grown up in Utah, I realize how sheltered I was. Most everyone that lived around us had the same beliefs, spoke the same language, and were economically in the same bracket. At about 12 years old, I traveled to the New York Worldā€™s Fair with my parents. We drove for days to get there. It was the first time I remember being so far from home. New York was so exciting and I told my parents that I wanted to move there! New York City was and still is the immigrant gateway to millions of people wanting a better life.

Utah became the 45th state of America in 1896. Both sides of my heritage include individuals who left their homes in Europe and sought refuge in America and particularly in Utah. Many of them crossed the Atlantic Ocean, traveled across the plains with the Mormon pioneers, and settled in small towns in Sanpete or Utah counties. They devoted themselves mainly to living their religion and providing for their families.

John Anderson and family

John Anderson of Bailleston, Scotland together with Helena Eleanor Rees of Wales, eventually made their home in Fairview, Utah. John later married Mehitable Cheney Brady and she is the mother of my paternal grandfather, Hugh Cheney Anderson. Mehitableā€™s father was a translator for the American Indians as well as a doctor and shoemaker.

Mehitable Cheney Anderson. My grandfather is the baby on her lap.

On my motherā€™s side, Niels Christensen married Christiana Jeppesdatter and they left Denmark and ended up in Moroni, Utah. At about the same time, Niels Thyregod Jeppsen Andersen and Karen Marie Nielsen left Denmark and settled in Moroni, Utah. That is where my maternal grandparents, Harold and Zina Ruth Christensen met.

When I was in junior high, I had a good friend who lived on the Navajo Indian Reservation during the summer months and then he lived with a foster family so he

could attend school. He was very kind. I didnā€™t realize until then that the land we lived on once belonged to the American Indians. Utah was named after the Ute Tribe of American Indians. Before that it was part of the Union and called Deseret.

Niels Heber Andersen, Mary Ann Knop, and family (my grandpa, grandma, and family)

I was always drawn to people that were a bit different than me or underdogs Anyone at a disadvantage, whether in general or in a particular situation, can be called an underdog. My curiosity led me to search out people of various races and interests. In junior high school, I had two friends who could not hear. I loved watching them sign to each other and tried to learn some sign language from them. In high school, I had a friend from Hawaii. She taught me how to do the hula and exuded ā€œalohaā€. I have fond memories of all of my friends from divergent places with unique cultures and traditions.

When I first met my husband, he was at a dance with many of his cousins. They were so happy and talking and laughing. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him where he was from. He told me, ā€œTongaā€. I asked him where that was and he told me it was close to Hawaii. I did not know anything about Tonga at that time. I can truthfully say that I had no negative feelings towards any race or person. I know that my life has been enriched by knowing all of these people, especially my husband and his family. They are so loving and giving. They are very respectful and supportive of my husband and me in every way.

Some of our beautiful grandchildren

Interestingly, my husbandā€™s ancestors come from different places. His maternal grandfather, James Herbert Brown was born in New Zealand, the son of Thomas William Brown from Scotland. He married Ema Luā€™isa Manu Tupou who was a descendent of Tongan royalty. ā€˜Isileli Tupouā€™s great grandfather George William White was from England.

Nina Ringaono
James Herbert Brown

His great grandmother is the daughter of a Maori Princess Nina Ringaono from the Bay of Plenty. His paternal grandparents, Sione ā€˜Aholelei Kongaika and Mele Pasi were from Tonga. Sione was an ocean navigator. So, my husband is part Scottish, part Maori, part English, part Tongan, part Dutch, and part German. They were a traveling family and some of them lived in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. What an amazing heritage!

When the recent ā€œpeaceful protestsā€ in Salt Lake City, Utah turned into riots and chaos, it hurt to know that Utah was not the refuge it once was. I cried for my children and grandchildren and also for the memory of my ancestors who came so far to live here. Why does racism exist in America, in Utah, and even in families?

Since I am married to a man of divergent races, my children and grandchildren are hafakasi (mixed). Being mixed isnā€™t easy. You are too light to be fully accepted by the darker-skinned family and

Viliami and Luisa Kongaika

too dark to be accepted by the lighter-skinned family. Itā€™s hard to come to terms with oneself when everyoneā€™s pointing out your mixed features and even more so when they keep referring to you as hafakasi. It makes you feel as if youā€™re not whole.

I know my children have experienced some prejudice in Utah. When we lived in Polynesia, there were so many races that they all accepted one another. I remember only one racist experience when I was accused of stealing land. https://hubpages.com/politics/Blatant-Racism-in-the-Parking-Lot After a bit of research, I understood where she was coming from. https://hubpages.com/politics/Annexation-of-The-Hawaiian-Islands

Our own family lived in Tonga for 13 years, American Samoa for two years, and Hawaii for 21 years. After we retired, we came to my home state of Utah. Our children live here or in Arizona. Sometimes, I would like to wrap up all of our family and take them back to where they felt accepted and at ease.

I recently saw this post online:

Shout out to all the Afro-nesians, Polynesian-Latinos, and all those who are Afakasi / Hafakasi folks who are not mixed with white.

What!! Prejudice can go both ways. I recently posted on my Facebook thatĀ Black Lives Matter. It drew criticism right away and I was shocked to think others were offended by it. I do know that the blacks have a long history of abuse. I know too thatĀ allĀ lives matter (including white and mixed) who have sacrificed so much to get where they are today. Some Polynesians were once traded as

A happy reunion with some of our grandchildren

slaves. It was called blackbirding. https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/currently-history/blackbirding-new-zealands-shameful-role-in-the-pacific-islands-slave-trade So many people have experienced injustices throughout history and still do today.

In the world today, we should not shame anyone for being different than us. Each person is precious and important. We should treat each other with love and respect. https://www.ldsliving.com/President-Nelson-Calls-for-Repentance-in-Statement-on-Racism/s/92936?utm_source=ldsliving&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=popular&utm_content=pop2200603

Interracial marriage in the United States has only been legal in all U.S. states since the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court (Warren Court) decision Loving v. Virginia that deemed ā€œanti-miscegenationā€ laws unconstitutional.

Not too long ago we could have been arrested for being married. Fortunately, my children are well adjusted and love all people regardless. I am troubled when I watch the news and see the country we love divided because of race. It was never meant to be like this! I am sure our creator didnā€™t mean for it to be this way. I hope we are learning to be more accepting of others who do not think, talk, or act like us from the current situation.

Evil forces take advantage of racism.Ā RacismĀ is the belief that human traits and capacities are primarily determined by biological race and that some races are superior to others. Will it ever end? We canā€™t afford for it not to! I believe prejudice and racism is learned and not inborn.

I love the rainbow of races around me. Jesus experienced prejudice from his own people. They crucified him! The humility with which Jesus entered the world, lived and died, provides our model for right living. He loved everyone and was willing to die for all.

If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.Ā  ā€“Ā I Corinthians 12:26

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Since the Corona VirusĀ Lockdown

It has been almost two weeks since the lockdown due to the corona virus visitng us here in Utah. Social distancing has been used several times to remind us that we should not get close to another person for our own and their safety. Many people have suffered from the sneaky tiny virus that is lethal. People have either shown their worst or best side during this pandemic. It has been a difficult time for all of us (the whole world)!

Personally, the viral breakout together with a medium-sized earthquake a week ago literally rocked my world. Having a predictable schedule is now a thing of the past. Last month my husband had a car accident which resulted in him being let off work. I was just getting used to him being home almost every day before the corona virus came to America. He still worked in the temple two days a week until the temple was closed for his work there. We have discussed having couple counseling since we are not used to being together 24/7!

The hardest thing for me through all of this is not being able to hug my grandchildren. We now do feet or elbow bumps! We also have drive-by visits. Luckily we have the app Marco Polo to check in with our children every day and also utilize Facebook and Zoom. We can hold a family home evening where everyone of our children and grandchildren participates. Two of our grandchildren were at university and now they are home with their family. Our new normal is difficult to get my mind around some days.

I worry about my daughter since she is on the frontline of this battle against the enemy. She goes everyday to help sick people. As for my work, I can still write articles online but my reseller job has gone stale. Evidently, the virus can stay on cardboard for several hours so it is not feasible to send packages out every day. Now I feel like getting rid of all of the items in my Poshmark closet but there is no where open to take them. So many people are out of work and suffering much more than I am.

A few days into the lockdown, I felt like I was suffocating and had to get out of the house. I drove up and down Redwood and was shocked by the lack of traffic, closed businesses and vacant schools. I tried to come to grips with the current situation. I grieved for lost opportunities and my lack of freedom. With loss comes the need to check priorities.

I have kept up on my scripture reading and anticipate our conference that is coming up soon. Our prophet warned us to ā€œtake our vitaminsā€ and be prepared for a memorable conference this spring. All of the temples have been closed, missionaries sent home, and church services now take place in our living room. A lot has changed since the last conference. My prayers have been more often and sincere lately. Thatā€™s a good thing!

Funny how much things can change in a couple of weeks time. Comedians have been my ā€œgo toā€ when I am feeling low. Many have posted new poems, songs, affirmative thoughts, and inspirational quotes. I appreciate them! There is still so much good in the world. This is a wakeup call for all of humanity!

One thing I have been doing to use my time is artwork. I have never had this much time to do the things I enjoy. I share the art with my

granddaughters and it inspires them to be creative. I hope you enjoy them, too! These are all watercolors and I also paint with acrylics and oil.

Stay safe and carry on!

BEAUTY, CULTURES, family, Grandchildren, HEALTH, home, PARENTING, photography, RELIGION, TRAVEL, Uncategorized

Coronavirus COVID-19 andĀ Grandma

The latest epidemic of Coronavirus has been on my mind constantly. I feel empathy for the many who have suffered from this virus and especially those who have lost their lives and their families. As an older person with chronic autoimmune issues, this virus is a threat!

So far, Utah has not had any known cases of the virus obtained instate. However, paranoia has emptied many shelves in the local Costco and Walmart. People are panicking in ways I never imagined. You would think it is the end of the world! Perhaps it is!

Well, at least I have learned something from all of this chaos, like how to wash my hands properly! Before, a quick dab of soap and a second or two of water sufficed. Now I feel that everything around me has germs on it, especially things I touch often like these computer keys. I use my clorox wipes much more than ever before.

I have also decided not to go out to the movies, to shop unless I really need to, and I have questioned attending large gatherings. It has affected almost all of my interactions with others ā€“ I even found myself elbow bumping my own granddaughter (what)?

Our church (LDS) has had general conference every spring and fall for as long as I can remember. For the first timein my life, they have told everyone to watch conference from home and that no international leaders will meet as usual at the conference center on Temple Square! Even the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah is not accepting new missionaries in lieu of being prepared online. Some temples have been closed and missionaries reassigned or sent home.

Our daughter and our family at the Salt Lake Temple

All of this has affected my psyche and ultimately affected everything I do. My daughter is a Nurse Practitioner and I worry that she might be exposed to the virus at work. She has been taking care of my husband and I and this adds another dimension to her job. I have Graveā€™s disease and use oxygen at night due to respiratory problems.

When will this nightmare end? Hopefully spring will bring warmer weather and kill off any hint of the virus! I am praying this time next year, the coronavirus will be a bad memory and not a significant threat to many.

Some of our family in Italy only a couple of years ago where the coronavirus currently rages

I realize how unprepared I am for a full-out emergency situation. We have been slowly eating up all of our food storage and not replacing it. I regret that right now!

While we are retired and doing okay financially, the recent stock market crash has eaten away at my 401-K! That is not the worst thing that could happen, but it is very frustrating.

Iā€™m trying hard to have a positive outlook for my children and grandchildrens. I hope and pray that all of them will avoid the effects of the coronavirus.

Our latest family photo ā€“ missing Israel Kongaika
Artwork, BEAUTY, CULTURES, food, Grandchildren, HAWAII, holidays, home, PARENTING, photography, RELIGION, Uncategorized

Christmas Past

Idecided to look back on our time as grandparents and Christmas celebrations with the grandchildren. It took a bit to find all the pictures, but here are some of them.

One year we went as a family to visit a dear friend in his 90s, Elder Glenn Rudd. He had been our Area President when we served in Tonga.

Since Lily joined our tribe, we have been going to her Friend to Friend productions which are a highlight of the holiday season. She has never been afraid to get up and sing in front of an audience and astounds us every time.

One year we had the children dress up and we did the nativity scene. It was very fun and special.

One of our favorite places to visit during the holidays is Salt Lake Temple Square.

We have two birthdays in December and one anniversary.

Christmas decorations at BYU-Hawaii

One of my Christmas Days with my brother, Kirk in Orem, Utah

A few more picturesā€¦

Christmas just wouldnā€™t be the same without grandchildren! We are so blessed to have our grandchildren!

A Hawaiian Snowman!

Wishing each of our friends and family a very Happy Holiday. Christ is the reason for the season.