Thanksgiving Insight

I wrote this Nov. 2008...just forgot to post...

This Turkey Day is now my favorite Thanksgiving Day, not because we had good food or good company., but because of what I have finally come to realize. While, we sat down the day after Turkey Day and we were talking about, our families we have not seen. I have realized and come to know how PRECIOUS my sisters are to me. To hear of so many close family members, who have let the bond between sisters wither and die or have let petty things come in between them, has made me sad. I realized how blessed I am for two sisters who are hard headed. We argue a lot, but 10 min after our argument we will act like nothing happen. I now realize, that is the blessing in our relationship, we don't stay mad at each other, we go through the motions and get over it...

New Books

Ok, soo if you haven't guessed by now, I'm a BOOK WORM... love reading... So I've read 4 new books and have just started another one... If you are into inspirational books i recommend The Ariana Series by Rachel Ann Nunes... Just the trials, joys and strengthening of faith and increasing of one womans faith is INCREDIBLE... That consisted of 3 books... The 4th book is a small book called the CHRISTMAS JAR... It's a good book about the simplest sacrifice and the BIG effect it has on peoples lives...
NOW the book I think is really a MUST read.. (I feel like Oprah, too bad I don't have Oprah money) anywayz... The name of the book is Faith in the Service by Chad Hawkins..It's a very inspirational book. The book is complied of stories from our Service Men & Women. I have never found anything good from War, but in reading about the experiences shared in this book, I have found that during times of War or Controversy arise, many GREAT experiences if we view our surroundings with a Christlike manner. I now have a new found respect and love for those serving to Protect US... To all the TROOPS that have SERVED, continue to SERVE or are new to the SERVICE, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for all you do and all that you have sacrificed for me and my family... Ok folks well on that note...

Til Next Time,
Always Helen

ELECTION DAY is FINALLY HERE..

Well it's too early in the morning to share much. But I am so excited and nervous about today's' election. So much history making decisions to be made. You know I was telling Gloria last night, that I thought I would never be alive to see the First meauli(uliuli) president... Okay folks, I'll be back later with more details. HAPPY VOTING.. Hope there isn't too much contentious feelings at your voting poll.



Til Next Time

Helen

HAPPY 8th Birthday to TOFA of Sacramento

Hi All,
Well I just finished my first official day of Grant Researching for our TOFA Education Funding. It's not an easy task, but I feel accomplished. This year TOFA Celebrates it's 8th Birthday. I can't believe it's been 8 years. I still remember when I heard about TOFA I thought it was a dance group, like the ones in LA; because that's all I knew about TOFA, they Perform at State Fair, Luaus, weddings, etc. Now this year, on it's 8th year in the year 2008, TOFA has embarked into highlighting our Education Program. I have always loved working with the Mentoring Program. I remember when Poutu'a and I were over the Mentoring Program. We use to meet every Thursdays @ Health For All, Poutu'a had the Pre-K to 5th graders and I had the 6 to 12th graders.... FUN TIMES... My favorite memory of the whole program, was when I created these cheesy games like Jeopardy, Win Lose or Draw, etc. I loved watching the kids interact with each other to solve problems and answer questions. I think I had more fun than the kids. Well we've come a long way from our days @ Health For All... This year our Education Conference the Theme was SURVIVOR (above is a picture of our logo)... I feel it was our BEST ONE YET... Also this year TOFA (education board) is teaming up with Sione Tupouniua and MA'AMA TU'ULOA to revive our Mentoring program Sione's way. It's an Opportunity that we hope to help increase Math & English test scores amongst our Polynesian Children and also to provide an opportunity for them to continue on to College. 2008 continues to be a year of MAJOR Changes for me, Professionally, Personally, Politically and Spiritually. Well on that note...

Til Next Time
Always Helen

Mondays

Hey Everyone,
First I'd like to say, thank you to Liz & Gloria for the movie on Friday... Sorry, I was reading during our car ride there and back. I picked up a few good books to read on Friday from the Church Book Store. The name of the book (for all those who care) that I just couldn't put down on Friday is called "The Christmas Jar." I know it's too early to be thinking about Christmas, but it's one of the few things that keeps me sane and helps me to have peaceful frame of mind. I am one that likes to avoid the cruelty of our reality whenever I can. Also over the weekend we had Stake Conference, I am so grateful that I did not listen to that voice that was egging me to sleep in longer or come up with a reason not to go. At the Stake Conference the Theme was Spirtually preparing ourselves individually and as a family. With the Prop 8 Campaign the foundation of our religion is threatened. I for one am truly blessed and priviledge to be a part of a gospel that is filled with so many great examples of Courage, Faith, Wisdom, Endurance, etc... I love that I am able to find peace in knowing that on Sundays I can dust off all the DIRT (Unimportant Things) I have accumulated throughout the week and regain my strength, a feeling of peace, sanity, courage and renewed faith.

Today at work, I have received rounds of e-mails amoungst our cirlce of friends in regards to the Prop 8 campagin. It was really sad to read about the treatment our fellow brothers and sisters are receiving from the "No on Prop 8" campaigners. The protest in front of the Oakland Temple is the saddest of them all. I am not sure what protesting in front of our Temple is going to do for them, How they have forgotten that Tolerance is a two way street. They say it's a civil right and not a religious matter, yet they protest in front of our Temples. They say they are entitled to live their lives equally. Yet currently Gay that are bonded under civil union, have the same advantages as marrieds. They say that we are being biggots, yet they spit on us when we peacfully wave our signs, they steal signs from our homes, egg our homes. They say no one will lose anything. Yet our childern will lose everything. Please take the time, do the research and VOTE YES ON 8... Protect the Sanctity of Marriage and the future of our Childern. Well i better end this, so that Krysa and Gloria can get some sleep. I wanted to end with this scripture... "My son, a peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." D&C 121: 7-9. I am so grateful for the friends that I have been blessed with. It's such a comfort to know that when things at work are not easy to bear, I can e-mail one of my E-Gals and know that we have the same views on things. You know turn my back to my co-workers and their negativity and read an e-mail from my family and friends and find positive reinforcement and laughter. Well on that note folks...

Til Next Time

Always Helen

YES on Prop 8

I'm Back... Same Time Different Day...

So I would like to publicly state that I am a HUGE supporter of the YES on Prop 8 Campaign. I am really sadden, by how threatened the No on 8 campaign is by us, that they have to resort to violence. I still can't wrap my head around all the craziness the '08 Campaign brings with it. It's funny how people forget a simple, yet strong rule "Treat Others The Way, You Would Want To Be Treated." Ok so I am going to try and end all or at least most of my blogs on a positive note. Since my brain is kinda not all focused now I think I should end now. I am grateful, for a group of friends i can voice my opinions too, and know that i will not be attacked or put down for my opinions. i am grateful that our friendship has evolved into more of a family atmosphere. And on that note.

Good Night

Always Helen Sua

Beginning

Hey Everyone,
Not sure how i am to start this off.. so let me start by telling you a little bit about myself. My full name is Kalein Helen Sua, Kalein is a hebrew word meaning something you ask God for. My dad is big on giving kids names with meaning. Anyways, I love to read, I use write poetry in my spare time and i love watching tv =0)

Well i think that's enough about that, if I want to share more, i'll complete that in my profile thing-a-ma-jig... Over the weekend I had a blast with my girls and my family. On friday, we went to a YSA dance, we being (Liz, Gloria, Pua, Sala, Linzie & Tyler)... The shocker was that Liz & Gloria went... What can I say about the YSA dance, but We now know why we STAY AWAY from them... Well Gloria and Liz came out of the kindess of their heart and a promise i made to treat them to Breakfast @ Berts...lol.. Well we came home from the dance at around 11pm or 12am (not sure), but we hung around our dining table and had a laugh until 3am Sat. morning... I live for moments like that... Then I woke up at 7am to get ready for breakfast at Berts, and I am telling you this, Gloria and Pua are the hardest people to get up in the morning...:-)... We left for breakfast around 8:30am and us girls (Liz, Glo, Linz, Pua & myself), had a good start to our saturday... Well to make things short, glo & i rented movies, cleaned the living room and she slept while i watched movies and played on the comp until 4am sunday morning. Note to all, I WOKE UP for Church @ 8am the next morning... We went to Aunty Mai's ward, because my lil cousin Lauti was getting confrimed that morning. I missed his baptism on Saturday, because i WAS suppose to go into work that day, but ended up not going..lol... Gotta end this blog, i am clicking to loud on the comp and people have to sleep.. til next time