[Miss them so much!!!]
I am really, really missing my grandparents today!!!
It has been a year since my grandpa passed away and almost 10 years since my grandma passed away, and there isn't a day that goes by that I haven't thought about them or wondered how they would have advised me on certain situations or decisions I have made or just what the overall conversation would be like about different world events that have taken place.
Today is their birthday. They were born on the same day just different years and although they shared so much in common their personalities were very different. My grandmother was very outspoken and assertive and my grandfather was much more quiet and reserved, but they both shared a deep love for the Lord, their family, the Tongan culture and especially for Education!
I truly have been blessed to have them in my life. It is only now, when I reflect back on my life, that I realize the importance of what they have taught me. I realize more than ever before how keenly aware they were of the world and how focused they were on their goal to raise a next generation of young people who would be rooted in our native Tongan culture but learn to carve out our own space in this new society.
They valued indigenous Tongan knowledge and even when it seemed that assimilation was the only way to be successful in this society, they refused to conform-- but instead engaged in personal acts of self-determination by making the Tongan language mandatory in our home, by telling us stories of their upbringing, by teaching us traditional Tongan proverbs and history, and by teaching us respect, love, and kindness, from a Tongan perspective.
I have spent most of my life in the classroom, both as a student and as a teacher, but the lessons I have learned while sitting across from my grandparents, working along side them, observing them, and emulating them have influenced me the most! The lessons my grandparents have instilled in my mind have carried me through many exams and final papers. The love they have instilled in my heart has sustained me through the most challenging times. The cultural values they have instilled in my life has humbled me in so many ways. I cannot deny how much they have shaped my consciousness, influenced my choices and have guided the work that I do. When you are raised around that kind of environment, you cannot help but to innately know that you must give back some how.
on this special day...I dedicate this blog entry to my maternal grandparents; Tonga and ‘Ana Malohifo’ou, who embraced me when I was alone, who loved me when it was difficult, who taught me everything good they knew, who instilled within me a love for my Tongan heritage, who taught me to love fiercely and to speak gently, who humbled me with their very presence, who encouraged me to dream dreams that surpasses the status quo, who believed that there was a place in America for a young Tongan girl who dared to dream, and who infused a love of God into my psyche, to both of you I will forever be indebted!
I know that they are rejoicing together today and I hope that they both know how much I love, respect, and honor their memory, everything they stood for, and all that they have taught me.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA & GRANDPA!!!!
'OFA LAHI ATU Xoxox 
[back in the day kickin' it with Grams and Gramps.]
[another generation of kids kickin' it with Gramps]
Really Missing My Grandparents Today...
Double Cuties!!!
Last night I got to hang out with my two cutie twin nephews --Arona & Arami-- They are almost 5 months old and are the cutest and nicest little boys ever unless you want to take pictures of them and then they start doing random things like rolling their eyes, turning the other way, ignoring me, screaming, crying or spitting up saliva all over me... LOL!!!! 
[My two cutie twin nephews...Arona & Arami]
I took about 50 pictures with my camera phone before Arami finally looked at the camera with that look like "is this woman for realz...Geez get it over with already!!!" LOL!!! yeah persistence really pays off!!!
[This is Arami or as I call him Orson Jr. Part 1]
It took forever to take this picture because Arona kept looking at me and refused to look at the camera. Everytime I turned him to the camera he smiled and right when I would take the picture he looked away. I finally had to hold his bottle from the top together with my camera and as he was looking at his bottle I took the picture (yeah I am so talented!!! LOL!!!), but how come he looks totally bored like he already knew what I was trying to do and finally gave up and just looked at the camera...hahahaha!!! So much for me trying to be tricky! lol! 
[This is Arona or as I call him Orson Jr. Part 2]
The whole night I had the TV on and was flipping through all the news channels CNN, CSPAN, FOX, MSNBC, etc., and unfortunately my nephews didn't really enjoy watching the news! LOL!!! 
[Arami laughing while we were watching Sarah Palin being interviewed on Larry King]
We watched the Palin interview with Larry King and basically the twins reactions mirror my own reactions when I hear Palin being interviewed. She either puts me to sleep or makes me laugh! I guess it's safe to say that my twin nephews share my same political views and convictions! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! 
[Arona sleeping while we were watching Sarah Palin being interviewed on Larry King]
I promise I didn't try to influence them toward any political party, although I had to change both of their poopie diapers right when Pat Buchanan came on TV... hahaha!!! hmmm... I wonder what that means??? Yeah it means Pat is full of CRAP!!! LOL!!!
Looking forward to my next night out with my twin nephews so I can follow up on how their political views have progressed! hahahaha!!!
Posts
