promises

I don't know how well I do with adults, but keeping a promise I make to a child is a big deal.  It may take years for me to keep the promise, but it nags at me until I do.  (Julia, I haven't forgotten that we owe you a trip on the ferry to Angel Island.  Luke and Samantha,  I know I still owe everyone prizes for our Pioneer day contests.)

So when Julia made a promise to 7 year old Tzuri, in my name, I knew we had to keep it.  He wasn't feeling well at his mom's (Rocio's) wedding, and was having a hard time smiling for all the pictures.  At one point Julia yelled out "Smile Tzuri and Auntie Nancy will make you some chocolate chip cookies!".  I don't know if he heard Julia or not, but he did try really hard to smile for every picture, and so I felt obligated to keep Julia's promise.

Rocio was kind enough to send us a picture of Tzuri enjoying the box of "Famous Amos" cookies we sent.  We figured they were less perishable then homemade, and probably just as good.  The picture is priceless.

the 12th day of Thanksgiving

I'm so happy that each member of our family took part in the 12 days of Thanksgiving this year.  As the last post I want to put something that I know we are all thankful for: dance.  This has been on my mind lately because Samantha is in a dance class at school.  It was not her first choice for an elective, but it was the only elective that would fit in with the other classes in her schedule.  Turns out she is having a great time.  She is so happy to show us the new dances she learns with each genre - ballet, jazz, etc.

Even though none of us in this family are making a career out of dance, we certainly all enjoy it and admire those who do it so well.  We have some priceless footage and memories of so much extended family doing Just Dance together. There's nothing quite like the fun of picking up your baby (or grandbabies) and twirling around the room.  Dancing is a wonderful way to celebrate life.

In honor of the holiday season and of dancing, here is a video.
                   



And I have to add this one, just because.

Lester's 11th Day of Thanksgiving

I am grateful for family. Family is awesome. Family is happiness. Through family I may find eternal happiness. Family goes wherever I go and I go where family is. Family is there when times are hard and are there when times are happenin'. I love my family. Does it get any better than this? I submit it does not!

Mariah's 10th day of Thanksgiving

'Worry does not rob today of it's problems, but tomorrow of it's joys. '
I always learn something profound at church. I am grateful for God.

the 9th day of Thanksgiving, by Andrew

I'm grateful for tithing.  Tithing is a commandment we practice in our church where we give 10% of our income to the Lord.  Recently, one of the leaders of our church, Elder David A. Bednar spoke of tithing to a worldwide audience.  He made the point that a lot of the blessings that come from obedience to this commandment go unrecognized.  Many expect the blessings to be immediate and obvious, but often they are not.  As the primary financial provider for my family,  I have faith that we will make end's meet because of our willingness to pay tithing.  This is a blessing that, were we not paying attention, could go unnoticed.  It would be easy for me to take for granted the fact that my wife and baby have what they need on a daily basis, but I can't do that because I know that the Lord is providing for us in a time of need.  I'm grateful to Him for that and grateful for the small blessings He gives us as a family as we try to keep His commandments.

The 8th day of Thanksgiving, by Reggie

I was looking out the window this evening and saw the orange colored sky over the ocean and remembered how thankful I am for nature.This past year I've flown all over the country - over Niagra Falls, the GrandCanyon, visited the beaches in  Florida also Northern Michigan with all the fall colors and the Great Lakes.We should all stop where ever we our and admire the beauty of nature all around us.

The 7th day of Thanksgiving, on behalf of Audrey

This year Audrey is grateful for LIFE.  Haha!  No but really, right now I think she is especially grateful for her body.  She is discovering new things about it all the time.  She kicks her legs vigorously when she’s excited, uses her hands to grab onto anything and everything in reach, and sucks on her fists like they are lollipops.  She communicates everything with her body, from extreme anger to overwhelming happiness.  She loves to be free and move around and she also loves to cuddle.  Yes, I believe she is definitely grateful to have her own little body.

Hillary wrote the above and emailed a picture to go with it, but I can't seem
to get that picture on the blog.  So I am inserting one of my all time favorite
pictures of Audrey.  She's so cute!

Julia's 6th Day of Thanksgiving

“Pioneer Up!” I cannot tell you the countless times that my husband has told me this, or the amount of times I have ignored it. Growing up, I heard tale after tale of the incredible feats my ancestors accomplished. Of the sacrifices they made, of the miles they walked, of the expectations I felt sure I could never live up to. I think I looked at them in a fond ‘sure thats great, but that was so long ago it basically didn’t really happen’ sort of way. 

Until recently that is.

Having a child changes everything I think. It has made me ponder what I want to leave behind-how I want to be remembered, and of how my posterity sees me. I would hope that someday they could look to my accomplishments [few as they might be] and my struggles as a source of hope and encouragement-a place of understanding, even when they thought nobody else in this world did; much like I do with my ancestors now.

I would hope they wouldn’t just remember the old lady me, when my body is someday failing and I am unable to crawl around the floor with them or stay up partying till the wee hours of the morning. I would hope they would be able to look through pictures, journals, or hear memories of times when I stood on mountains or swam rivers, or helped others in need while without being asked, or made the impossibility of college a reality, or worked through things like post partum depression and made it out to tell the tale.

I would hope my love story could be looked at as one to aspire to, like my Grandparents. They made it through missions, jobs, educations and even World Wars-all to meet up a soda pop joint where my Grandma worked. Yet that  small, and comparatively insignificant meeting began what I consider their greatest accomplishments of family. 

I would hope my work ethic could be remembered as being like that of my Grandma Hanaike’s. Dedicating my life to providing for my kids in good times, and extremely hard ones, and never allowing my resolve to crumble in defending or taking care of them. Or like that of my in laws, who worked there way up the ladders of life into a careers that stands for itself.

I would hope I could be as unbreakable and righteous as my literal pioneer ancestors, who lost countless family and friends, walked hundreds of miles, suffering physical, emotional and spiritual pain, sometimes even sealing their testimonies with their deaths, all because I knew that my families, and my own eternal salvation was worth more then the things I was losing.

I would hope I would be remember as practicing the doctrine of inclusion-of being open minded and open hearted, like my Grandpa. A cousin of my Mom’s related something my Grandpa said to him. When asked how he was liking San Francisco [being a devout LDS person, and coming from rural Idaho originally] they were surprised when he answered “Well. You take your whites. You take your blacks. You take your Asians, Filipinos, Hawaiians, your gays, your straights, your democrats your republicans...and you put them all together in the same place....and it is absolutely wonderful.” 

I would hope I could be remember as one who can make people laugh, and also one who can laugh at myself, like my Dad does.

I would hope I could be remembered as the person who my posterity, or any friend, could come to for a good hug, a shoulder to cry on, or a person to celebrate with like my Mom is.

I would hope I could my looked at as somebodies rock like my husband and daughter are for me.

Above all, I hope I could be remembered as a person who really did ‘Pioneer up.’ Somebody like my ancestors who sacrificed so much to get me here. So this thanksgiving, I am grateful for my ancestors. Thank you. I will live my life striving be like you, and I will never get over being grateful to you.

[my grandma and my baby]

[my parents and I]

[these two love birds]

[grandpa as a ww2 soldier]

[my aunt, my mom, grandma and baby me]

[my grandma and sister]

[my pioneer stock, crazy family]

Hillary's 5th day of Thanksgiving

This year I’m grateful for libraries.  The Provo Library is not too far from our apartment so Audrey and I are able to walk there on nice days.  I love everything about it- the walk, the trees, the other young moms pushing their strollers.  And then I love getting lost in the library when we get there.  Usually by the time we get there Audrey has fallen asleep and I am able to spend some time by myself looking at books and movies and magazines.  Then when I find something that I can’t put down I can take it home.  FOR FREE.  I think that libraries are just wonderful because of that.  You can learn about anything you’re interested in, or find a movie you didn’t see in theaters and you can do it all FOR FREE.  It’s really pretty amazing if you think about it.  It doesn’t matter how much money you have.  In recent years I have taken an interest in drawing and painting.  I’ve looked at books about it in bookstores but every time I find one I like I put it right back on the shelf as soon as I see the price. At the library I can take it home for free and learn all that I would like to learn from it.  We are still living on a student budget and hobbies usually take a back seat financially.  But because the library allows me the freedom to pursue an interest I’m able to find ways to be creative and to have some me time without worrying about spending.  This is why I am grateful for libraries. 

I never had a conversation with my grandpa about why he loved libraries, but I think that the way they enable people to learn must have been one of the big reasons for him.  I think of him when I’m there and I feel like he would be proud of me for still learning while I’m not in school. 

P.S. And look how pretty the building is too, with the snowy mountains in the back and Brigham Young in the front.

Add caption

4th Day of Thanksgiving By: Samantha

MY TURN! I am grateful for laughter, the reason why is because it's pretty much the best the best medicine in the world! As many of you know I am a person who practically can die of laughter every single time a person does something that is funny or out of the blue that I find amusing I will just "die" of laughter! The three people who can make me laugh the absolute hardest are my three best friends Jessica, Maria & Avonlea, every time me and my girls are together having a slumber party, we will do the craziest things and it usually ends with us on the floor laughing super duper hard till our sides hurt, I always look forward to those slumber parties because it's just the four of us because times with my besties always come along! Laughter is also very fun because it can brighten your day and be a big aspect of your life, I've gained that through the years and I'm so glad that I have because if I didn't, I'd just view it as something normal and not love it as much as I do! But overall I think that laughter is one of my most important things since it always makes me more happy as a person and that I can share that happiness with others so yeah, to make myself laugh let me just say. . . LAUGHTER IS CLEARLY THE BEST MEDICINE EVER PEOPLE!

We get dorky with it, we get mindless with it, we don't care if people
gaze and when we Carlton with it! When it's just. . .
Me & My Girls!

Third day of Thanksgiving - on behalf of Addy

Addy is very thankful for her stuffed animal, George.  She has been a fan of Curious George from way back. When she saw Luke's stuffed monkey from build a bear she fell in love.  If we offered her any other stuffed animal to play with she would push it away; but George, she would hug and kiss and tackle, etc. etc.  So for her birthday she got her very own.  Friends are a very important part of life - even the stuffed ones.

 

2nd day of Thanksgiving - by Luke

Christmas 

Christmas. It means so many things to people. There are so many perspectives on the true meaning of Christmas. The main purpose is to celebrate Jesus' birth but it can mean so much more. And this 12 days of  thanksgiving has given me reason to contemplate what I interpret to be the meaning of Christmas. To me Christmas is not just about Jesus' birth, although that is the main aspect, but it is also simply about the joy and beauty in life. The tradition of having a Christmas tree to me represents life and beauty through the dead of winter. 

Christmas just brings a feeling to everybody that cannot be described. It can even give an opportunity to put aside all stress and trouble that life brings. I do love Christmas and I'm grateful that I get to enjoy the holiday every year. 

12 days till Thanksgiving

And you know what that means?  No, not 12 days till Black Friday shopping.  It is time for the Hanaike family's 12 days of Thanksgiving  posts.  There are 11 of us now, including the babies, so technically only one of us will have to repeat themselves.  As usual, I'm going first.

I am thankful for my brown boots.  They make me so happy whenever I wear them.  Here is why:  (I wrote the following in my journal last January.  At first I thought it was too personal to share, but now I think it's okay.)

I'm feeling pretty emotional this morning - in a good way, actually; in a counting my blessings sort of way.  Christmas is over and the kids have/are going back, and I will be going back to work soon; all difficult things.  But I look around me and see things that remind me of love and of Christmas Eve.

  I know that material things are not the point of happiness or of Christmas.  But Christmas is about the kind of gift giving that is done with love, not obligation, like in the story of the Gift of the Magi.  I look around the house and in my memories and see and feel that love.

  I do most of the Christmas shopping which I absolutely love.  Reggie and I discuss the ideas  beforehand, and then again before I wrap anything; I lay it all out for him as far as who is getting what so he can see and we can make any changes if wanted.  Sometimes we joke exaggeratingly in front of the kids that Dad doesn't know what we got them, but he does.

 He doesn't really enjoy shopping, except at particular times. This year I look at my boots and socks and remember how much Reggie loves me.  We got up early Christmas Eve to go get some last minute things.  I hadn't told anybody that I saw some boots a few days earlier that I would love to have.  I hadn't told anybody that I had realized the other day that I am still wearing boots I had before the kids were born.  But out of the blue Reggie asked if I had seen any boots lately that I would want.  I spoke right up and told him.  He was insistent that we go to that store, as soon as it opened Christmas Eve and get the boots.  He was patient as I tried several pair on, to be sure that I got the kind I wanted.  Then we went to Target and he wanted me to pick out a couple of pair of the fuzzy socks, cause he knows I like them.   Shopping is not Reggie's thing, but he was so determined and happy to get these things for me.  The day after Christmas he told me that maybe I should look at Kohl's for boots, since they were having such good sales, and maybe I would find something I liked more than what I got.  No way.  I look at my feet in those boots, and see nothing but love. 

Dear Mariah, things have been moved around in the house a lot over the summer, but don't worry, we've saved you a room:

Don't worry, as you can see, lots of boats make their way over to Alcatraz.  We'll visit you everyday!
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA.   AH,  HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Actually, when we were in the city Saturday, enjoying this gorgeous view, we realized that you've never been to Alcatraz.  Maybe we should make a day of it and take the tour when you come out.  Can't wait to see you!  We miss you!

Happy Veteran's Day Dad

My cousin came to visit us Friday night.  He was on a business trip from Utah, although he has lived all over the place, including a few miles away from us when we were all young parents.  It was so good to talk and catch up.  I especially enjoyed him sharing memories of my Dad, his "Uncle Sam".  It made me feel closer to my Dad who I've been missing a lot lately.  I of course asked how his Dad is doing, my "Uncle Homer".  Uncle Home and his sister, Aunt Dove, are the last 2 remaining children of their family/2 out of 12 children left.  I was happy to see Uncle Homer at my Dad's burial and luncheon in Idaho.  He reminded me so much of my Dad that I wanted to stand near him as much as possible the whole day.

My Dad, Uncle Homer and many of their siblings fought in WWII.  They were an amazing generation.

As for a picture to go with this post, I thought this was worth posting even though it is blurry. This is my Dad right after the war.  Ready to take on the world!

Prophet of the Week #5 - Jacob (and a little about #6 - Moses)

What a life Jacob, from the Old Testament, had.  Born a twin, struggling with his brother from the very beginning (Genesis 25:22 & 26).
             
In studying Jacob we've learned a lot about the birthright blessing - how the oldest boy was supposed to get it and then use it to take care of the rest of the family.  But it rarely happened that way.  Abraham's son Ishmael was his firstborn, but Isaac received the birthright blessing.  Esau was technically born first but Jacob got the birthright blessing in a very dramatic way.  Then Jacob's firstborn (Reuben) did not receive the birthright blessing and with Joseph's twin sons the younger Ephraim received it instead of the older Manasseh. It seems that trustworthiness, spirituality, reliability, etc. were the real requisite for the birthright blessing instead of birth order.

I've blogged before about how much the story of Jacob & Esau means to me - about how both men showed such an example of forgiveness.  Before reading the story this time we all admitted that we felt sorry for Esau and wondered why it was okay for Jacob to, under his mother's direction, trick Esau into selling his birthright and then trick the Dad into giving Jacob the blessing.  But after studying it in depth, with the seminary lesson manual, we learned that the Mom, Rebekah, was told by God in the beginning that Jacob was supposed to get the blessing in the first place (Genesis 25:23); that Esau showed how little he cared for it by agreeing to trade it for a bowl of pottage (Genesis 25: 29-34) and by marrying outside of the covenant/idol worshipers (Genesis 26:34).  The manual reminds/advises us to not sell away our birthrights/our standards and beliefs in order to satisfy temporary, physical satisfaction.  And of course, the Mom overhears Esau vowing to kill Jacob because of all of this (Genesis 25: 41-43) and sends him to live with family.  I tell ya, I am impressed with this Mom/Rebekah.  She was so in tune with the spirit and with what was going on with her children.

We found the whole story of Jacob & Esau to be heartbreaking, dramatic and fascinating.  My favorite part is when the brothers meet each other again, after more than 20 years of separation.  Jacob worried so much that Esau still wanted to kill him that he sent word and gifts to Esau letting him know he was coming home.  The messengers returned saying, basically, that Esau got the gifts and he and 400 of his men are coming to meet Esau (Genesis 32: 6).  Definately not a good sign.  When Jacob saw Esau and the men coming towards them he was very afraid and then surprised as Esau "ran to meet him and embrace him" (33:4).  There was no demands for apologies; no hashing out what each did to each other.  They were family; they loved each other and just let the rest go. Then it was, and I'm paraphrasing, "Why did you send me these gifts?  Because I've been very blessed by the Lord so take them.  No, I'm doing great too, you keep them.  No you take them.  Well, okay, if your sure." (33: 8-11). They then divided up the land and lived in peace for years to come.  The last mention of their relationship is that when their father died they buried him together.

The rest of Jacob's life is fascinating too: his marriages, his children, his in-law problems, his continued relationship with God who eventually changed his name to Israel, etc.  He lived a good long life with integrity, full of trials and blessings.  When he was old he and all of his posterity moved to the land of Goshen, which was part of Egypt.  The Pharoah loved his family so much and treated them like royalty (remember that Jacob's son Joseph was the one with the coat of many colors who eventually became a ruler in Egypt).  Jacob even gave Pharoah a blessing, along with all of his boys (Genesis 47).  Right before he died Jacob made Joseph promise that he would take him back to his home land and be buried near his parents, Isaac & Rebekah, and his grandparents, Abraham and Sarah, and his first wife Leah (Genesis 49:31-33).

So, that's Jacob, in a nutshell.  I know it's crazy that I would take the time to write all this out.  It's just something I felt impressed to do.

For our family activity we are either going to make or buy a toy called "Jacob's Ladder".  It is named after a vision Jacob had of a ladder reaching up into heaven (Genesis 28).

Coincidentally, the next prophet that was picked at random by Luke is another Old Testament prophet - Moses.  This will also be fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspirational, because we know that as the Bible ends with Jacob's story it takes us into the story of Moses being born into slavery in the land of Goshen.  The Israelites went from being loved and taken care of by the Pharoah to being turned into slaves.  We have already decided that our activity will be to watch the movie "The Ten Commandments".

 Then it will be December, and in honor of the Christmas season, our prophet of the week theme will switch to Apostle of the week theme as we learn more about Jesus' original 12 disciples/apostles.

A November day in San Francisco

It was "time well wasted" as the song says.

My kids

When Luke was born 12 years ago I knew he was the last one.  5 kids - we were complete.  Then we added 2 sons-in-law and I started thinking of them in terms of our 7 kids.  Now we have 2 grand daughters, giving us 9.  I know our blessings will continue to grow in this way, and I find myself needing to stay grounded when I am in the stores during the Christmas shopping season.  I can't help but think how much each one of them would like this or that.

And now - I didn't expect this - when I am in the stores I also find myself thinking about how each one of "my kids" at school would like this or that.  There are 8 of them and each is unique; we (the teacher and us aides) have come to recognize what motivates each child and what each is really interested in.  I wanted to buy some Dora books for one student, a Sponge-Bob Christmas DVD for another, some Disney plush animals for another, etc. etc.  I could go crazy!  I think that for the next couple of months, whenever I go into a store I'm going to have to wear blinders to keep me focused on what I went in for, and not look all around!

Youth Conference Half Moon Bay

Samantha spent all day Saturday at a youth conference for the teenagers of our church.  It was held in Half Moon Bay and kids from all over the Bay Area came - about 250 according to Reggie. He spent most of the day helping out.  There were workshops, presentations, an outing, a testimony meeting and a dance.  Samantha's favorite part was the presentation given by a man that works at Pixar.  He gave them little souvenir buttons from the company.  She was also very moved by a speaker who told about his 14 year old daughter who died from cancer.  His testimony of God's love and that he will see her again was very moving.
She also enjoyed the food, catered by Subway Sandwiches, and she enjoyed ending the day with the dance.

Reggie and Darrell Draper's main task was to take groups of kids on a hike - about 50 at a time.  Behind the Half Moon Bay church building is the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve/tide pools.  Above the tide pools are lots of trees/woods that lead down to another part of the beach.  On this hike they had a presentation given by a man who knows a lot about the Maverick Waves that Half Moon Bay is famous for.  Reggie was very impressed, and very tired as he and Darrell did this hike over and over again.

We are very grateful to all the people that made this special event happen!

The Mime