....Two-Uh

Where do I even start?!

{our family trip to arizona for thanksgiving in 2002}

Today my brother Tua celebrates his 25^th birthday. 25!! What in the world? I remember when we were younger we went to the FV building to watch General Conference. Tua was probably in the youth at the time and I was just….little. I don’t know how I remember this, but I do. Anyways, we were watching conference and Tua was taking the best notes I had ever seen. So what did I do? I started copying every.single.word. I’d look over his left shoulder every 2 seconds then write what he wrote. Well I guess he got fed up with me. Next thing I knew Tua grabbed my paper and wrote something on it. I looked at “my” notes then looked at his. Stumped. I couldn’t find what he had just written on my paper ANYWHERE on his! How was I to continue my conference notes?! Yeah, I didn’t.

I sort of like doing that to him today. Not necessarily copy conference notes because I’ve learned ;) but to be like him in other aspects. For example Tua is such a humble person, he’s easy going, gets along with pretty much EVERYONE, sings, plays the guitar wonderfully, dances and is downright hilarious. Nicole is without a doubt, more than lucky to have married him!

{find tua haha we're stylish children}

{this sums up his entire personality in one shot}

i told you he's hilarious. seriously, WHO in their right mind pushes their new bride over?!

TUA DOES


Happy Birthday!

....In His Hands

Back in August of 2007 I remember going to EFY at BYU Provo. Our session was the largest one that summer- over a thousand youth they said. Of alllll the people there I'm pretty sure I remember seeing ONE other poly. I talked to him every single day! Sike. We didn't say a word to each other. It was Friday’s dance and the last slow song of the night played (from what I remember). I walked right up to that poly boy and asked, "Do you....wanna...dance?" I know, classy! I'm glad he's nice and said yes. Turns out we were from the same area in California and yet, never met before. What’s even better is that our high schools are rivals. Since then we’ve kept contact through myspace and facebook (he was much better at it than me).

Two weeks after that EFY, my dad passed away. It was Sunday and we just had my brother’s mission farewell. He was to report to the MTC that Wednesday, the 29^th. That being said, my brother was set apart as an elder Sunday night and we took off early Monday morning for Utah. I knocked out and only woke up when Chris handed me his blanket to use as a pillow. Other than that- the only thing I remember was jolting straight up when our accident happened just outside of Nephi. There we were just 2 days before Chris was to enter the MTC-- our dad gone. Yet, he was here long enough to “see my brother off” on his mission.

Fast forward to August of 2011. That same boy I met at EFY years ago is well, no longer a boy. He’s ready to serve the Lord. His farewell was last Sunday and last night I received news that just two weeks shy of entering the MTC, his dad has passed away.

At that moment last night I was reminded that we are on the Lord’s timetable- not ours. Everything is in His hands. Similar to my dad, Jerry’s was here long enough to “see his son off” on his mission. I hope and pray that like my brother, Jerry will find the strength and courage to continue to go out and serve the Lord with all his might, mind and strength. It will be a blessing to him, as I know it was for my brother.  But not only that- it will be a blessing and strength for his family as it was for ours. Although it is difficult I know he is prepared to serve at this time. And as Pres. Wirthlin says, “Come what may, and love it.”

The Lord giveth and He taketh. Everything is in His hands for we are on His timetable. If we do all we can to live righteously and worthily, we will be reunited with our loved ones. 

Families can be together forever. I know this is true.