WORK IT OUT

2 Hours at the gym

TORTURE

And still IT runs

through my mind...

MAGICAL MEMORIES

There's nothing like getting out of bed, twisting my hair into a clip and leaving it there all day. I figured since we were just going hiking that I didn't really need to spend much time on it.

What a spectacular day in the majesty of Zion National Park. Today we hiked the Emerald Pool Loop. Two point six miles of beauty beyond description.

The first pool was a water fountain wonderland. The spray was a welcome surprise to cool us off in our quest to reach the top. A quick stop for water and we were off again. The next pool was an opportunity to get my feet wet and the final pool was worth the walk.

The peaceful sounds of tricking water, the song of a bird and the call of a frog, the touch of a gentle breeze. The beauty in the sights around us. It was completely tranquil and serene.

Only Isaac, Asa and Hamilton were able to come with us. Rakai and Ammon had to work. We treated ourselves to an ice cream by the lodge and after a quick picnic in Springdale Park we headed home. It was a perfectly wonderful day with my boys.

See the slideshow here.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG

Sometimes I like to go to the Gospel Essentials class for Sunday School. This is the class where the basic principles of the gospel are taught. We think we know all there is to know but sometimes the reminder grounds us to reality. This is a pleasant place to be when I just want to focus on the essence of my testimony.

The topic of today's lesson - The Sabbath Day. As the instructor spoke I was taken back to my Sabbath Day Memories. Many lessons were learned while growing up in the Scoville house.

And I remember...

The sound of music - Mom, Moana and I singing our favorite hymns. Dad would tell me years later that he could hear us through the heating vent. And he loved the sounds.

Walking to church - it was 3 blocks to church and we lived in Calgary. The roads and sidewalks were icy and being vain children we refused to wear our boots with our Sunday best. So we would hold on to each other as we slipped and slid our way along the path.

Sunday Pictures - In the warm months of summer dad would tell us, "Don't change your clothes we're going to take pictures." And we did on many, many Sundays. Just like the pictures in the collage above.

DON'T - Change your clothes or turn on the TV.

Snowball fights - Be very careful when making your way up the sidewalk. You never know who could be hiding around the side of the house...snowball in hand...DAD!

The Sound of Music - Like Unto Us, Saturday's Warriors - I still know all the words.

Dinner with the Missionaries - "Moana made the dessert" "Lani mashed the potatoes" Really mom they're on a mission and we can find our own dates thank you very much.

The Sound of Music - Dad and his polynesian delights. Years later I would learn that some of that music was being performed by my (at the time) future mother-in-law.

Youth Firesides - Always at someones house. We took our shoes off at the door and there was always yummy treats.

I learned to love the Sabbath Day. I learned the importance of going to church on Sunday...even when I don't want to.

Today I remember the teachings of my parents and the joy I still can find in the Sabbath Day.

SATURDAY MORNING

THE SOUNDS
Regae on Pandora

THE SMELLS
French Toast on the grill

THE SIGHTS
Blue skies and sunshine

THE TOUCH
Everything that goes with fixing breakfast

THE TASTE
Peaches and Creme on French Toast

It's quiet and peaceful as I make breakfast for all my sleeping men.
And when they wake
SOCCER
and
SATURDAY SURPRISES

WHAT SHE SAID

Karamea's blogpost explains Tuesday and Wednesday of my week. Except she failed to mention what it cost me...more than just a whole lot of love. But at least now I know she is comfortable in her little loft apartment 300 miles from home.

In the last couple of days I have been reminded that downtown Salt Lake in the spring is a beautiful place. There are so many memories there.

Then we went to Provo to watch Dixie play soccer. Uggh! The game was great until some kid on the opposing team decided he didn't like Isaac. Can you say injured at minute 25 and out for the rest of the game? It was awful and even more so because I am his mom and there was nothing I could do. I really wanted to go punch the kid and then go punch his dad.

The Deseret News describes the game like this but they failed to mention Isaac's injury and the fact that Provo would've lost if not for their violent behavior.

JOY FILLS MY SOUL

My Mother's Day morning has been spent looking through files of photos. I selected only a few to share in a slide show. These pictures bring joy to my soul and a smile to my face. I am blessed.

Happy Mother's Day to me and to everyone who has a mother.

PERFECTLY PLEASANT

This evening was spent with Rakai. Father's and sons camp out took the boys and their dad away for the evening. Rakai leaves in the morning for Vegas so he chose to stay home.

::Cupcakes from Twenty Five Main::
::Take out from Benja Thai::
::Movies on Hulu::
::A Full Moon::

It has been a perfectly pleasant evening.

Tomorrow will find me at the Cotton Days parade by 8:30am and the Red Rock Music Festival for most of the day. Good friends all through the day.

POLYNESIAN LOVE

If you feel connected in any way to the spirit of Polynesia then you should've been with me last night.

I stood at the entrance to the luau and took tickets. I reconnected with my extended Polynesian family - the Southern Utah Polynesian Association (SUPA). Hugs and kisses all around. My busyness with KCSG has kept me away, oh how I have missed them.

But the highlight of the evening...KAUKAHI. What an amazing performance! During the show they did a song that was first performed for Queen Victoria. One of the Aunties- unprompted - danced down the isle to the front of the auditorium and presented a hula. It was beautiful, magnificent and the most elegant hula I have ever seen. Even Kaukahi was blown away. As if that was the finale they said, "ok that's all we've got." It was breathtaking.

This prompted a hula jam. They invited other hula dancers to the stage. Random people popped up, walked up on stage and performed. Oh, it was so incredible.

Kaukahi took a break and allowed students of Polynesian dance to take the stage. They performed an evolution of Tahitian dance. Also incredible. Then Kaukahi was back on stage. They played for more than 2 hours. It was absolutely spectacular.

I am now more convinced than ever that I live in the wrong place. A member of Kaukahi says St. George is "lots of beach...no more ocean." I need the ocean and I need the Spirit of Polynesia.

Where is my island?

HAPPY LEI DAY

The first of May and its Lei Day in Hawaii. A day when the focus is love. Its like celebrating Valentines Day and Christmas in May. Any time a holiday urges us to focus on love for one another is a good thing.

The first lei day was May 1, 1928. The lei custom was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by early Polynesian voyagers, who took a journey from Tahiti, navigating by the stars in sailing canoes. With these early settlers, the lei tradition in Hawaii was born. Leis were constructed of flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers, and even bone and teeth of various animals. In Hawaiian tradition, these garlands were worn by ancient Hawaiians to beautify themselves and distinguish themselves from others.

There are very few "rules" when it comes to wearing a Hawaiian lei. Anyone can wear one, anytime. There are, however, a couple of "unspoken rules" one should know when receiving a lei for the first time. A lei should be a welcomed celebration of one person's affection to another. Therefore, always accept a lei, never refuse. The proper way to wear a lei is gently draped over the shoulders, hanging down both in front and in back. It is considered rude to remove a lei from your neck in the presence of the person who gave it to you, so if you must, be discreet.

I will be enjoying the spirit of this day with my extended polynesian family. All day at the ho'olaule'a in the park then tonight at the luau and concert. The sun is shining the forecast calls for a high of 81 degrees. My chocolate haupia cakes are ready for tonight and I am ready to hang with the poly's.