Mom's 70th

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So this video represents the first make-as-you-go photo album (at the second half) of guests at her celebration.  We used a polaroid camera, had people sign in with their greeting and glued/taped the photo on their page, slipped it in a sheet protector and it was done.  I have these albums for her 70th, 75th and 80th Birthdays.  We loved the idea so much that we also made it for weddings, baby showers and my Hubby's and my 60th.

Daddy's hobby was photography and he was behind the camera of most of the early pictures that we have.  Mom was a model for Aloha wear I think.  Sounds like a movie.

The story of their meeting goes like this:  Daddy drove a taxi in Honolulu.  He was called to pick up a guy and his date (mom).  Don't know the details but they were attracted to each other and met again.  _________________ fill in the blanks here.

Grandmother Hattie had been in the hospital and daddy asked Grandmother for permission to marry.  Hattie made dad promise to take care of her precious daughter.  She died on March 31, 1939 at age 42.

They were married on July 5, 1939.

A week later...

It's astounding to me that just a week ago, I was preparing full-speed-ahead for my Galang Gang Reunion.  It became...more than I could even hope or dream or plan.  It became what it was meant to be, all by God's design--ohana meeting again or for the first time, engaging in conversations, asking questions and sharing thoughtful answers, hugging lots, eating too much food, seeing the generations interact.  It's taken me a week to put away all the party stuff and wash the dishes, etc.  I've never been tidy or orderly but enjoy the fruits of after--like leftovers and a clean house.

It was fun to change it up for picture taking--by the decade... wished I had thought to take more family pictures to share, but oh well...

Three wahine from Kamehameha Class of '91.  How fun!  These are the peeps born in the 70's: Kimo and Kiyono Sato Queypo, Sherri and Kanoe Kanoho, Matt and Terri Medeiros Smith, Alisa Smith Greig, Keoki and Ashley Battung Smith

And two 2017 graduates from different high schools both going to HCC for Liberal Arts!  Our 90's babies are Scott Suzuki and Cheyne (Kanoho) Fonoimoana

Aunty Evelyn brought pictures of her great-granddaughter, Cousin Chelsea Hardin (Steve Young's granddaughter) when she won the Miss Hawaii USA 2016 title and first runner up in the Miss USA pagent.  

I googled her and watched youtubes of her in the Hawaii and national competitions.  She has such grace and remarkable composure which is so natural and appealing.  Beauty inside and out.

She looks up to brother Brandin Hardin and his achievements in the NFL and as a business man.

A highlight of our reunion was that of having Aunty Evelyn Young attend with her daughters Hileah and Terri and hubby Al.  Terri and Al attend church at Inspire Waikele and we attend at Inspire Mililani--we even went to an event and didn't know we were related!  It is truly a small world.

So glad we made the rock wall to be sitting height :) and my rainbow plumeria tree makes a nice backdrop.  Did I mention it was a perfectly beautiful day?

Our precious 30's kids--Elaine 'Lei' Wagner and Paoa Medeiros, and Keala Wagner Kaimimoku--who came by HandiVan. 

She's very independent and proud of it.

Our 40's kids: Al and Terri Young Doi, Hileah Young Reigh, and James Perry

(missing from photo--host Clifford)

50's keeds: Gen 4: Faye Wedemeyer Kanoho and Great-grandson Cole and tail end of Gen 3: Cecelia chiyo higa Smith

60's babes: Lynne Medeiros(Robin's wife), Nani Medeiros Richardson, Malia Queypo and Laurie Queypo Ganibe

Oh, oh, do over cause two missing in the first 60's picture:Deborah Perry Suzuki, Laurie, Kat Perry and Malia

Here's the kids born in the 80's: Marc and Lindsey Smith Rocheleau and Tony Greig

Millennial babies born in the 2000's: Austin Smith, Kupono Richardson, Avery Smith, Logan Smith, Ayva Greig, Mason Smith, and Kwyn Greig
(Missing from photo: Nysa Greig)

And our babies, born in the 2010's: Laurie's Granddaughter, Bella Ganibe and Kanoe's grandson's Ezykiel and Cole Okamura

We had another photographer on the scene, grandson Austin and his footage will be shared in a separate blog.

Ah family...nothing like it!  God Bless <3 font="">

Hawaii Galang Gang Reunion: Descendants of Domingo Galang and Hattie Kaaua Galang August 26, 2017

It was a perfect day in Hawaii Nei, a lovely gentle and cooling breeze, clear blue sky, shady seating and 40 people related and married to the children of 
Domingo Galang and Hattie Polani Kaaua
Harriet Galang and Trent Wagner
Louisiana 'Lucy" Galang and Richard Perry
Domingo 'Ingo' Galang and Marilyn
Cecelia Galang and Daniel Kahoiwai
Margaret Galang and James Higa
Edward Young and Evelyn Heau

First mahalo to my wonderful husband, Clifford who has always made all my dreams come true and indulged me when I didn't deserve it.  He thoughtfully planned the outside set up and tirelessly worked on the yard making it as comfortable as it could be on an August summer day.  It was he who knew that the guests would want to be inside in the air conditioning for the 'talk story' portion of the gathering.  

We gathered in one big circle to pray and I asked Keala if she would do the pule for the food and she agreed.

One long table and one big circle

My heart was so full to see the Ohana holding hands

 Of course there was an abundance of ono kaukau:pupus, salads, fruits, pickled mango, chips and dips, gondole rice, fried saimin, 

ALL AT ONCE

We've been involved in small groups at church for many years together.  Late last year, hubby returned to meeting with guys he had known for years who met weekly 20 years ago.  He was invited and chose to go.  I was feeling a little left out and it occurred to me that I should find a group of women that I could engage with, laugh, share, pray.  I was already leading a sewing group with monthly meetings, projects, instructions to prepare, teaching how to make this or that.  I NEEDED a place where I did not have to lead, be in charge of, just be one of the girls.

Each year our church has a church-wide Fast.  This may be our 6th year and it began on the first Sunday of January for three weeks.  The Daniel Fast is recommended (which we did the first year for two weeks), but we are given the option to choose what we feel God wants us to abstain from for that time.  I chose to give up meat, sweets, Tuesday Senior Citizen shopping at Ross & Savers, facebook, Candy Crush Soda (only one set of 5 per day).  We are to focus on God and what he wants to say to us during that time.  I had been journaling more frequently in November & December of last year and written down many good goals that I wanted to set for myself with affirmative words. 11/18/15 entry:
When the news around me is awful and hopeless, stop and ask God for peace, clarity and direction.  Seek Balance=limit:Korean, games, sitting around.
Find peace & comfort in His Word
Call, text, write words of encouragement, thanks, peace as people are brought to mind.

12/11/15
10:52 am  Watched youtube video Daily Diary/(bullet journaling) or what helps me stay sane, organized and happy by Becky Roode.
Liked the way she organized her life-interests-important things
Will start today.  Love the Washi tape.
Need to make a Key Symbols chart  Woo Hoo!
Devotional read:Psalm 143:7-12
Daily Bread PARADOGS
Let me see your kindness to me in the morning for I am trusting you... Show me where to walk, for my prayer is sincere.
10  Help me to do your will, for you are my God.  Lead me in good paths, for your Spirit is good.
We may not be instinctively generous or forgiving or patient with those who annoy us.  Yet Jesus commands us to trust Him enough to do things that may be difficult but that will advance His Kingdom.
My prayer--Thank you Lord for giving me this new beginning to journal & keep my many thoughts together.  Help me to eliminate the unnecessary & clutter of my mind and space.  I seek order & clarity and purposefulness.
Then I made my check boxes and the tasks for the day and added pretty washi tape at the end :)

Got my new prayer/praise/scripture/sermon notes book put together in a composition book with a stretchy cover for the new year.  Decided to attend Joy Shackles Connect group.  First meeting of the season was January 7.  Of course I was a little anxious about meeting new ladies though I knew two.  It was great and I loved them all right away.  There was a confirmation that I had done the right thing, yay!  This is where I belong.  A lovely mix of ages and situations.  I could see the bonds that they had made before and jumped right in.  They were welcoming, I was home.  

February was the Arise Conference month with Lisa Bevere, Janine Kubala, Dawn Chere Wilkerson & my Pastor Lisa Kai.  At the Servants meeting, Lynnette Garces told us that there would be something extraordinary taking place at this conference, that we should empty ourselves completely to prepare for that.  It was a visual that has stayed with me.  I had been to all the Arise Conferences which began in 2011.  Expectation, anticipation... every moment was filled with God confirmations, illumination, words from the speakers, sisters that I hadn't seen, daughters at my side.  I savored each conversation, and was saturated by the presence of God.  Emmanuel God is with us.

All at once--but not really.  I learned that my little step of obedience--joining the group brought many of my scattered fragments of my life like puzzle pieces together.  Things are slowly fitting together in a way that I can only credit to God and his patience with me.  I've loved him for a long time and he is showing me that He knows the way, I have nothing to fear and I have a lot of work to do--all with his help.  Empowered.  NOW!

Catching Up

Journaling--something I've needed to do and tried many, many times, watched how others have done it, read books, and found myself lacking and so very unsure of myself.  That feeling of needing to do has not gone away and as I prayed for the "Ah ha moment" to come--when I would be able to say, 'that's how it should look like, there you go this is it!', it came to me (from God I'm sure) that I've been doing it already for a long time.  Here and there, writing notes to myself about what a good day it's been, making facebook observations, even instagram counts, right?  Just documenting where I am, what I am doing.  What an exciting revelation!!!

Discovered bullet journaling in December 2015 and began making the boxes and tasks, watched youtubes galore and decided that everyone does it differently and I need to make it my OWN!  It's for ME and will not and should not look the same as anyone else's.  Goodness, that is so freeing.  Now I don't have to be down on myself for failure to measure up to someone else.

Shared on New Year's Day with my daughters & daughter in laws about bullet journaling and on Super Bowl Sunday & granddaughter Ayva's 9th birthday celebration, daughter in law Ashley decorated a bag tag & journal cover with Ayva's name done in a calligraphy using a water brush and crayola water colors leftover from one of her son's school supplies.  It was beautiful!!!!!  We were able to practice on watercolor paper & it was delightful.  Ashley's mom Gin did calligraphy 20 plus years ago professionally and beautifully lettered their wedding invitation in 2002.  Ashley wed Keoki on 2-2-2 with a medieval theme. Practice, practice.

It's about doing something instead of thinking about it.  It's not going to look the same every day!  Something new--stretch.  What is God trying to say to me today?  Who else needs some freedom?  How can I share?

Long Time No Post

Oh my, I can't believe that it is nearly a year since I've posted, but it's okay or has to be okay since that's what happened.  It's November 30 already and December starts tomorrow.

This Thanksgiving weekend turned out to be not what I had expected but oh well.  Learned that the grandkids are getting older and not having the same level of interest in the same things anymore so it is harder to do planned things with them all at the same time.  I need to spend more individual time with each one to find out what's going on with them.

Working on my plan for Christmas and what I want to do.  Also need to plan for the Dec 10 Threads meeting, send out an e-mail, decide what to teach:make another size of kimono jacket; make patterns to copy; jpg of the one I already did for e-mail; sew a simple bag and a pocket pouch with instructions. (jpg to post on Threads of Hope page.

It's nice that it has stopped raining and am able to go out.

Need to download and design the Thanksgiving group picture to add text for Christmas Card & also design the 5x7 card.

Praying I can get myself together.  At least a little.

Happy New Year! 2015--What will you bring?

The fireworks this year had been going off now and then all day yesterday.  We decided a long time ago not to waste any money on fireworks, even when the kids were younger, others would give them to us.  As homebodies, we stay in on most holidays except for Christmas Eve where we served at church for the Candlelight service (11 pm to 1 am).  We even tried to go to bed at 10 pm.  About 11:30 pm it started getting louder & louder, from more homes in the neighborhood and up the streets.  You really couldn't tell that there was a fireworks ban or permit only useage.  Hah!  At 11:50 pm it was like the old days & it went on at the loudest for a half an hour.  The cat was howling and didn't know what to do with herself.  She became ours exactly a year ago on New Year's Day 2014.  What a sweetie she is, not doing much but lazing around, eating, using her litter box, napping, and just making us happy.

Got up this morning to make my Mandarin Orange Cream Cheese Jello, a recipe that was first made by my sister Margot about 28-30 years ago.  I can't believe that this year will mark 25 years since her passing.  She was a recipe collector & helped to make a cookbook at the school she worked at.  It's one of my treasures & something I've done several times as well.  I miss her still.  What a blessing to see how well her four children have turned out.  Missing her husband Roy too, he's been gone twelve years.  Here's the recipe:

She made it for New Year's a long time ago and it's one of the traditional things I make for New Year's Day eating.  When we were young, we always went to Grandmother Higa's house in Waimanalo.  She and Aunty Toshiko & Aunty Judy would make Okinawan Shoyu Pork, potato macaroni salad with peas, fried noodles, nishime, namasu, vegetable tempura (I'm making shrimp/vegetable combo), and we'd have canned soda (bottled before).  What a treat!

This year with the kids I decided to have a 'no rules' open day, come when you can, bring what you want to eat.  We'll play games: the new ping pong table is fun, (I'm getting better but need to decide which hand I will use=equally crummy), brought out Mom's old Scrabble game with the built in turntable that I got for her many years ago & the tile drawstring bag she made.  Phyllis called from Las Vegas yesterday to ask me the rules for Russian Rummy since the whole Jerviss/Liu Clan, Higa Clan & Kalani had joined them for their annual festivities.  We'll play that too.

Need to finish sewing the tabs on the twelve rainbow bags that Alisa will take to Thailand when she leaves on Tuesday.  Her first mission trip, being away from her family.  Immanuel God is With Us.  So many hopes and dreams.  Praying for the team that God will use them to Bless many & Be Blessed.  While I'm at it I should include my Christmas letter...

Looks like I'll have to convert my Christmas letter to jpg.

Got to roll my lumpia, vacuum the house, make my tempura.  It's 65 degrees at 9:35 am and I don't want to change out of my pajamas!

Have a great day, everyone!