Callings

For a few months, I've been the teacher of the 12-13 year olds Sunday School class in the Tongan ward here. I have really enjoyed it. There's something about preparing and giving a lesson that makes the information penetrate you even more deeply than just hearing it as a student. And I have a true, deep desire to make a difference in these kids' lives. Every week I hope I can say something in a way that will get through to them. Maybe, just maybe, I can say something that one of them will remember as they go through their teenage years.

Now, I have been given an additional calling- Relief Society teacher. It's only once a month but it made me nervous! I taught for the first time this past week and I was definitely nervous about teaching an adult class. I'm naturally a shy person anyway, and I'm only 23. Many of the women are older than me, have grown kids of their own, and have more life experiences than me. What could I teach them?? I don't want to come across as a know-it-all or claim to think that they have need to learn from me. But what I remembered as I went through the lesson this past week is that teaching the Relief Society is more like guiding a discussion. There are always things in the lesson that might be new to one person or another, including myself, but just being able to contemplate gospel doctrines with other women, and talk about it and share experiences and feelings, is wonderful. I love Relief Society for that reason.

I am grateful for my callings.

My last post was 6 weeks ago. On that day I was surprised that Soni could sort of "walk" with the toy pushing walker. Now, he's really walking! He took his first real, unattended steps 4 days ago, but then didn't seem to want to do it again for a few days. Then suddenly today, he was ready to try again, and he doubled his distance and balance. :) A few times today he even stood up and started walking on his own when we weren't even near him or telling him to.

Well, that's my exciting story of the day. Or week. Or month!... But in other news:

*Our trip to Tonga is coming up in 9 weeks!! We're getting very excited. We're going to have Taisoni's first birthday party while we're there too. :D I bought some cake making supplies... now I just need to practice it before we go!

*We are enjoying teaching the 13 year old Sunday school class in our ward. :)

* We love going to Goodwill on Thursdays and looking for good $1 deals

Mmmm, that's all I can think of at the moment but I guess if I think of anything else I'll just write another post.

Ready to RUN!

We have a little lion toy that a baby can sit on and ride, or you can lift the seat and turn it into a handle for them to use as a walker when they get older. So far we've just let him hold onto the handle to stand while we hold onto the lion itself so it doesn't roll anywhere. I thought it would roll forward and he would face-plant into the handle or the floor. Today however, we found out that he can WALK with it! I was so surprised! I guess I shouldn't be though, he's always standing up against things every chance he gets and eyes the other little kids with envy who are running around playing. Grandpa and Taiyo think Soni will be walking by the end of March... we'll see about that! My prediction from the beginning was that he'd walk at 10 months, which will be in May. So maybe he'll take his first steps in April, right in between. :)

Playday at the Park

Soni LOVES to be outside. Doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, as long as we're outside he's happy. We took him to the park recently and let him get a feel for the jungle gym. It'll be nice when he can actually play on it on his own!

Let the Biting Begin

Yesterday I was playing with Soni and he chomped down on my finger like he always does, and to my surprise, I felt something a little sharp. At first I thought he had something in his mouth but I quickly realized it was a bottom tooth popping through! I was surprised because he hasn't even been feverish or excessively fussy, and his cheeks haven't gotten flush, or any of those signs that I've been waiting for. Hopefully it will stay that way as the rest come in too! He's such a good baby. :) I guess we're starting another new phase of his baby life!

A Little Bit Country

I've never really been a fan of country music, but lately it has been growing on me a lot. Taiyo likes it, and so we've been listening to the local country station lately, and I must say I'll openly admit that I like it now. I'm still not into the old style real twangy kind, but the modern poppish country is nice. It's catchy and the themes of the songs are often a whole lot better than what you hear on other types of popular music these days. I mean, it's so refreshing to once in a while hear a guy singing a love song to his wife, rather than to the stripper or bartender at the local club. I guess my conversion is official now that I'm listening to it while I'm home alone with Soni and Taiyo's at work!

Playtime

I finally thought I'd put up some videos of Soni. Here's one of him playing tonight and us being silly just to try to get him to smile, haha :) {Please excuse the poor quality; it's from a web cam...}