Another year...

It seems like forever since I've updated my blog. Like always, so much to catch up on, but for now, will just focus on the past 24 hours.

It was my birthday yesterday. I turned 36. Yeah...can't believe it. Four more years and I'm 40. Sounds so old. I always tell everybody, you're only as old as you feel. And I don't want to feel "old".

I know you all are just wondering how my birthday went...huh? Well, nothing spectacular. Just another day.

It began with me attending a funeral. It was my sister in law Sela's niece. Baby Hingano Kivalu was only 3 months old. She passed away from complications. Baby funerals are so hard for me to attend. I haven't been to very many, but just this past year, there have been so many. It's a simple reminder of how precious this life is.


Here's a picture of me and my cutie nephew Daniel. He has this thing about making funny faces whenever his picture is taken. Silly kid.

After the funeral, I went back to work.

I had originally planned to stop by the Driver's License Division before going to the funeral, but we were running late. Instead I stopped by after work. I get there and stand in line with my already filled out paperwork and I hear the lady going through everybodies docs saying to a Tongan gentleman, "you need to have your birth certificate translated"...then goes on to say "and this says BIRTH REGISTRATION not BIRTH CERTIFICATE, we can not take this". Standing behind the gentleman, I say to the lady out loud - mine says the same thing, but it is a birth certificate. I'm sure the lady was probably thinking "um hello, was I talking to you?". To make a long story short, I didn't have any problems with my docs since I am a US citizen. I was given a "standby number" and told that I might not get called. What the? What do you mean I might not get called? I chanced it and waited.

While I waited, I wasn't paying too much attention to those around me. I was on my phone playing games and killing time. Well, it got to where I overheard this mom talking to her son that appeared about 3 years old. The kid was all over the place. I looked behind and noticed that along with the 3 year old, she had twins in their carriers on the floor. You could tell she was stressed. As she tried to chase her 3 year old, one of the twins (they appeared to be about 8 or 9 months) was crawling out of the carrier. The other twin was beginning to cry. I looked over and I saw Suli (who was with her husband - the tongan gentleman I was talking about earlier) get up. She looked at me, I looked at her. And I know the same thing was going through minds - should we (strangers) offer her help. Before I could react, Suli asked the poor woman if she needed help. I think she was caught off guard and a little hesitant. She agreed and Suli took one of the twins and carried her.

It reminded me of a story that I heard when I was younger. I believe it was President Spencer W. Kimball who did the same thing. The young mother that he helped probably never forgot about that moment. I'm sure the mother yesterday felt the same way. I on the other hand thought of how 'slow' I was to react. However, it left a last impression in my mind that next time, I will be quicker to lend a helping hand.

They did manage to call my number. Thank goodness because I am always waiting last minute. My driver's license expired yesterday.


Goodbye old license!!!

The rest of the evening I spent at the gym - well about 2 hours. I caught a Zumba class and worked out in the weight room.

Like I mentioned - nothing spectacular on my birthday - but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Those that matter most are in my life and that is what's important!