April | Month #2 of Quarantine
Ooohh April....After the unique March madness experienced due to COVID 19, we all needed some upliftment in our lives and boy did the month of April deliver!
In preparation for General Conference our RS put out a challenge for the ward to read the Book of Mormon in 7 days. Each family that chose to participate was assigned a certain section of the book and we all reported when we were done. We started Sunday, March 29th and completed the challenge by Saturday. It was pretty awesome. Reading the Book of Mormon brings power into our homes and strengthens our family. I see it more and more as we continue to read the scriptures daily as a family.
April 4 - 5 | April 2020 General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Nelson promised that this coming conference was going to be unforgettable and boy was it ever! It left me in tears so many times throughout the sessions. It was such a powerful conference. Here are a just a few highlights --
- Hosanna Shout
- Pres Nelson called for a global fast
- New symbol with Christ extending his arms
- New Proclamation to the World - The Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World
- Announcement of 8 new temples that included Dubai and Shanghai, China. 😲😲😲
- Bishop Ho Ching, Bishop from our college days, was mentioned in one of the talks
- Two youth speakers! They were amazing!
- Pres Nelson's apostolic blessing ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ Thanks Pres, we needed that.
- The World wide choir that sang at the closing of the last session....all the feels! So powerful!
It was hands down one of the most impactful general conferences I've ever experienced, mostly because I was the most prepared I have ever been to #HearHim. Never have I felt a confirmation so strong and powerful that President Nelson is the Lord's prophet. And in a time where there is so much uncertainty and misinformation in news outlets, world leaders, social media...it's so reassuring to know that we have a living Prophet who communicates with God. So Imma follow him! Praise be to God!
April 10 | Good Friday
We joined in with the global fast that Pres Nelson invited us to participate in. Aljay, Mom, Brit, and I fasted. Out of the kids, Leila and Sefa fasted. Sefa was just fasting because everyone else was lol. He was ready to eat by 6pm. Leila fasted with Brittany until 9:30 pm. Proud of both my kids, but especially impressed with Leila girl. Any time she felt tempted, I would ask her what she wanted to do, and each time she said "hmm...I'll wait to break my fast with Aunty Brittany."
April 12 | Easter Sunday
We had an Easter lesson after Sacrament meeting. Watched Easter videos and had a yummy Easter lunch. I wish I took more pictures. I'm ashamed to admit it, but honestly Easter's beam (like most other holidays) has always been just a little dimmer for me than seasons like Christmas and Thanksgiving. I've always known the importance, but I think the preparation leading up to general conference and then the talks from general conference really made me look at the Easter week without the "holiday lens" and with more intent. This year it hit me a little deeper and I really gained a more reverent appreciation and gratitude for the Savior and His love for us. I wish I had started sooner in celebrating Easter with just as much intensity as I do for Christmas and even Thanksgiving. *sigh...Easter is definitely one of my favorite times of the year!
The day before Sunday we decided to do an impromptu Easter Egg hunt for our neighborhood kids. Aljay and I bought the eggs and candy, sat at the park and packed all the eggs, then went home and put all the eggs on all our neighbors lawns (with their permission of course). We invited all the kids to come out and they were able to have a quarantined style egg hunt in their own yards. It was so good to see the kids excited and happy.
April 14 | Prayers Answered?
We had an Easter lesson after Sacrament meeting. Watched Easter videos and had a yummy Easter lunch. I wish I took more pictures. I'm ashamed to admit it, but honestly Easter's beam (like most other holidays) has always been just a little dimmer for me than seasons like Christmas and Thanksgiving. I've always known the importance, but I think the preparation leading up to general conference and then the talks from general conference really made me look at the Easter week without the "holiday lens" and with more intent. This year it hit me a little deeper and I really gained a more reverent appreciation and gratitude for the Savior and His love for us. I wish I had started sooner in celebrating Easter with just as much intensity as I do for Christmas and even Thanksgiving. *sigh...Easter is definitely one of my favorite times of the year!
The day before Sunday we decided to do an impromptu Easter Egg hunt for our neighborhood kids. Aljay and I bought the eggs and candy, sat at the park and packed all the eggs, then went home and put all the eggs on all our neighbors lawns (with their permission of course). We invited all the kids to come out and they were able to have a quarantined style egg hunt in their own yards. It was so good to see the kids excited and happy.
April 14 | Prayers Answered?
- Governor extended school soft closure to the end of the school year (May)
- Found out that the funding for my position and the adviser positions that I oversee are going to be cut. This means my job will end in June. Sucks, but we're not worried. I've been praying about whether or not to keep working or to be a stay at home Mom. Maybe this is the answer or maybe I'm going to find another job/opportunity. Not sure yet. What if Aljay get's a big paying job and I can stay home? That would be cool. We'll see what the Lord has in store for us. In the meantime, I'll keep scanning the job boards, but plan to do more work with our Manusina Art Business.
April 27 | Grandpa Viiga's 60th Virtual Birthday Party
Dad's big 60th was definitely a unique and unforgettable birthday due to the distance. However, the atmosphere/vibes were the same as it would've been if we were all together in person-- lots of laughter, playfulness, good food, and dancing!
One of my favorite things was that Leila got to go through the experience of learning her taualuga dance from her Grandma, being dressed by her Grandma, and then performing for her Papa. She practiced two days before Dad's birthday and did so well for her first taualuga.
- Found out that the funding for my position and the adviser positions that I oversee are going to be cut. This means my job will end in June. Sucks, but we're not worried. I've been praying about whether or not to keep working or to be a stay at home Mom. Maybe this is the answer or maybe I'm going to find another job/opportunity. Not sure yet. What if Aljay get's a big paying job and I can stay home? That would be cool. We'll see what the Lord has in store for us. In the meantime, I'll keep scanning the job boards, but plan to do more work with our Manusina Art Business.
April 27 | Grandpa Viiga's 60th Virtual Birthday Party
Dad's big 60th was definitely a unique and unforgettable birthday due to the distance. However, the atmosphere/vibes were the same as it would've been if we were all together in person-- lots of laughter, playfulness, good food, and dancing!
One of my favorite things was that Leila got to go through the experience of learning her taualuga dance from her Grandma, being dressed by her Grandma, and then performing for her Papa. She practiced two days before Dad's birthday and did so well for her first taualuga.
And thus ended the 2nd month of quarantine in the year of COVID 19. jk
April has been a blessed month. We've seen our share of miracles and have experienced so many bright moments.Oh also...the memes that have come out during this pandemic have been sooo good! Hahaha and even though my tendency to not participate in trends it still strong...I'm almost warming up to the idea of downloading tiktok ahahh
Gosh will my kids (reading this in the future) even know what I'm talking about LOL
Other things that have happened during April....
Supporting Brittany's education
Brit waxed my legs and underarms and Aljay's arms...and tried to wax his ears as well hahah
My photography skills suck and ewww my legs are crimz in both pics, but isss wateva.
We doing it for the education!
Before (L) and After (R) Waxed Legs
We doing it for the education!
Before (L) and After (R) Waxed Legs
Before (L) and After (R) Simple Make Up Look
Brittany did so good!
Especially considering that we didn't have any foundation between both of ourmake up kits...what makeup kit? yeah I don't really have makeup haha
Oh and Sally girl got her make up done by Leila.
#SallyApproved #DaddyDiiiiisliked
Facials
Socially distanced FishingNo we didn't catch any fish lol
Viiga Lost a Tooth
Baby Boss started smiling more-ish
Mom had a virtual Graduation for her Online Courses. So we got her all set up for it.
We've done a lot of fun things like
1. a sewing project - pencil holder for Leila
2. Practiced jumping pictures (despite my fail camera skills)
3. Started training the kids at the field (mainly Sefa and Leila)
4. oh and I have been baking (who am i?? hahaha)
oh that's about all I can think of right now.
Oh and keeeeep eating! oh my life the snack struggle is strong!!!
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