Wisdom from Anne (with an 'e')

My niece, Nina, heading home on a country road. Photo courtesy of her mom.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The newspaper published a list of Anne Shirley's musings, and these were my favorites:

• It's a serious thing to grow up, isn't it? ... it's a great responsibility because I have only one chance.

• What a splendid day! ... I pity people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one.

• There must be a limit to the mistakes one person can make, and when I get to the end of them, then I'll be through with them. That's a very comforting thought.

• No matter how hard I try to be good I can never make such a success of it. ... But don't you think the trying so hard ought to count for something?

• I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it?

• I'm so glad it's a sunshiny morning. But I like rainy mornings real well, too. You don't know what's going to happen through the day, and there's so much scope for imagination.

• It's such a solemn thing to be almost 14. ... It's perfectly appalling to think of being 20. It sounds so fearfully old and grown up.

• I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make.

• Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out that there are so many of them in the world.

• The world looks like something God had just imagined for his own pleasure, doesn't it?

Blessing Day

Here's the star of the show, waiting to be dressed for the occasion.

I'm glad neither of us has to hold Makai for family pictures anymore. Too heavy. I'll take Tevi. Hey, that rhymed.

The proud parents admiring their work.

The men who joined Aki in giving the blessing: Jared Small, Justin Piacitelli, Inoke Funaki, Dad Aki holding Tevita, Marcus Bell, Armando Reyes, and Mark Johansen.

Those four siblings (Inoke, Tema, Melinda, and Aki) have not been together at the same time in 10 years...Inoke, the youngest, was 10 going on 11. They were only missing Tevita, Jr., who is in Hawaii. Some day they will ALL be together again, maybe even with their parents!

My sister, Symonie, and her family were there. Cord's wife, Heidi, also came with her kids (how she managed to miss the camera, I don't know). We love our families!

Nina and Ame, the best of friends and cousins.

After the blessing, we held a luau dinner to celebrate Elder Inoke Funaki's return from his mission.

Aki says "We look like an old married couple in that picture." Whatever. Just for that, I'm going to post this one of you stuffing your face (with roasted pig, no doubt. . .see the greasy fingers?).

.We were so happy to have our friends and family with us. Here are some other relatives that came to support us. Above: Crystal, Tema, Alisi, Pasi, Melinda, Auntie Sepi. Below: Marcus and Cortney Bell, yours truly.

Ready for bed after a LONG day. He's just starting to smile these days. I love it.

A gracias grande goes to my wonderful friend Daisy for taking the blessing/dinner snapshots.

[For those of you wondering what a baby blessing is, it's not an infant baptism. It's a prayer given by the baby's father or someone else who holds the priesthood, with the special purpose of bestowing first, a name, and second, promises and blessings on the child regarding its future (the parents' hopes and desires for the child such as qualities or attributes, good health, loving family, Christlike life, etc.). It is not a set prayer, but is rather said from the father's heart, whatever he is prompted to bless the child with.]