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. I’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 ‘Isi what to do to change it!
Two of our grandchildren will graduate from high school this spring. James Ali’i wants to be an engineer and has chosen to go to Arizona State University where his sister, Princess attends. Ali’i has excelled in basketball, and is amazing to watch. We are hoping to travel to Ali’i’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 can’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 Joel’s company, rseventytwo.com
Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot to tell about my partner, ‘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 don’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 with…
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 ‘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
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!!
