Kelly Clarkson What?? Lol. . . . .

This past Thursday, Kassie & I drove down 2 Orem & met up w/my cousins 4 the Kelly Clarkson concert. It was only $15 general admission & was worth every penny spent. :D So being that we're both sooooo PREGO, lol, as soon as we entered the gates we headed straight 4 the concessions in the stadium cause we were STARVING!! Hahahaha!! And we weren't subtle, @ all, about our separate orders. Our orders were filled w/churros, hot dogs, pizzas & every choice of chocolate available there. Lol. . . . .or was that my order alone?? Hahahaha. . . . .

My cousin, Line, emailed me some pics 4rom the event yesterday & I totally jacked the ones Kassie posted. Lol. Ahhhh. . . . .the joys of not having a charger 4 my camera. Boooo. . . . So here they are:

We had a GREAT time so a BIG SHOUT OUT 2 Line 4 the invite. Kelly Clarkson is so TIGHT live & the next time she comes out 2 UT, I'll be taking my girls along w/me. If I wasn't pregnant?? I'm sure I would've remembered 2 get them tickets as well, but I totally 4got about the concert 'til the day of. Lol. As soon as she performed Kassie & I's fave, 'Since You've Been Gone,' we were up & on our way out of the stadium so we could TRY 2 beat traffic. Keyword here: TRY. Hahahaha!! We had a GREAT time hanging out & it was so much FUN catching up!! Thanks 2 my BESTEST 4 coming out!! Love you tons Kass!! And it's always GREAT seeing my most FAVORITE cousin everrr!! Love you Line. . . . .oh yeah & Jackie, too!! Lol.

'First Stake In Mongolia Is Organized'

The north Asian nation of Mongolia now has its first stake of Zion. On Sunday, June 7, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy organized the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia West Stake.

Elder Hallstrom said that establishing the gospel in our lives and in the lives of our family is just as important as establishing stakes, districts, wards and branches. Elder Joseph Chung, an Area Seventy from Taiwan, spoke of building Zion where we are.

Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission President D. Allen Andersen thanked all of the young missionaries, senior couples and mission presidents who had served in the mission since the land was dedicated for missionary work in April 1993 by Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

Newly-called stake president O. Odgerel said, “In these Latter-days, God has given us a promise to create Zion. In order to build Zion, we need to have stakes. However, one stake is not enough to build Zion, so I believe that this is just the beginning of the great work of our Mongolian saints to establish more stakes.”

A total of 1,230 members crowded into the Mongolian Union Cultural Center to witness the historic event. The Church was first registered in Mongolia in 1994. The first missionaries came soon thereafter. Since then, Church membership in the north Asian country has grown to over 8,800. Now a stake and two districts, with 20 congregations among them, are spread across a vast and scenic land of desert and mountains.

The Ulaanbaatar Mongolia District was divided into the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia West Stake and Ulaanbaatar Mongolia East District. The new stake presidency, five bishops in the new stake and a new district presidency of the Ulaanbaatar East District were called and sustained during the conference. Almost all of the bishops and branch presidents in the new stake and district are endowed.

This year, five trips to the Hong Kong China Temple are planned from Mongolia. To attend the temple, as many as 40 members travel together on a three-day train ride across China.

“Their devotion to the temple has played an important role in the members’ preparation for a stake,” said President Andersen.

B. Batzorigt, first counselor of the newly-created Ulaanbaatar East District presidency, explained that they now see what their goal should be.

“We need to work hard so that our district will become a stake,” he said, “Then we can strive to have a temple built in Mongolia.”

Elder Maxwell, in his dedicatory prayer said: “May Mongolia ever be a beacon light to other nations.”

Over the past 16 years, Mongolia’s 20 fledgling branches have sent out more than 650 missionaries.

At the last Ulaanbaatar Mongolia District Conference it was announced that there were 120 missionaries serving from the district. Currently, there are 115 Mongolian missionaries serving within the country. Another 40 now serve or have received calls to countries such as Japan, the United States, Australia, Korea and the Czech Republic.

Speaking of the historic occasion, Stake President O. Odgerel said, “I believe that the organization of the stake will not only bless the members in Mongolia, but it will bless our whole country.”

This is one of the many happs going on in our church right now. How GREAT is that?? I think it's AMAZING & shows the continual & ongoing GROWTH of our church. What an unbelieveable time 2 be alive on this earth. Such great things are happening around the world. :D

Last Week Of School Is Coming 2 An End. . . . .

So today's Thursday, which makes 2morrow the last of school 4 our girls & I'm SUPER EXCITED!!  :D  I always figured that the last day of school was filled w/not that much 2 do, but clean up, play games & just have fun.  Lol.  Well, apparently I'm wrong.  The girls have been PRETTY busy this last week of school.  :D  

Aaliyah kicked off the beginning of the week w/a field trip 2 BYU.  They toured a museum on campus.  I wasn't able 2 go, again, since there were already enough parent volunteers who signed up.  :(  Yesterday, Liyah & Lote, had class parties where they watched movies, had activities & chowed down on some goodies all day.  And now 2day, Aaliyah has her 'Bike Rodeo' that's being hosted by the South Jordan Police Dept.  

I think it's so GREAT that they're being PRODUCTIVE all the way til the last day of school.  :D  They are all encouraged 2 bring their bikes 2 school 2day so they can participate in an obstacle course that's been setup.  How cool is that??  I have no recollection of having events like this in elementary when I was younger.  Lol.  I swear the HIGHLIGHT of my elementary life was looking 4ward 2 the day when the police dept, fire dept, & ambulance came & did their demos flashing their lights & sounding off their sirens.  Hahahaha. . . . .And since my kids don't have helmets. . . . .cause we like 2 pride ourselves in our heritage & act like we don't need 'em. . . .she'll be getting one 4rom school 2day.  $10 & she gets 2 choose 4rom a variety of styles & designs.  :D  I know I know. . . .terrible, right??  Lol.  Well, I have that @ the top of my 'to do' list now & will be getting each & every one of our kids a helmet w/knee pads.  :D  

Now I need 2 flip this house upside down & find my camera charger.  I need 2 capture these memories cause they fly by so quickly & before I know it. . . . .these girls will be off 2 college & out of the house.  Lol.  So on that note. . . .I hope you're all having a FANTASTIC rest of the week!! :D  I'm looking 4ward 2 my lunch date w/my BESTEST, Kass. . . .It's been too long sis!!  :D  

'LDS Mixed Martial Artist Aims 4 UFC'

Derek "the Gentleman" Downey is not your typical mortgage salesman.  Although he can check credit, consolidate debt & refinance mortgages w/the best of them, he can also get you into a submission hold much faster than he can get you into a home.

But Downey's mortgage-selling days may soon be over.  Having recently signed a contract for 4 televised fights w/the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Downey is one step closer to stepping out of the office & into the ring full-time.

While the UFC is the organization that pits fighters against each other, the sport Downey & other fighters participate in is called Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA.  This sport combines various types of martial arts, including Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai & Judo, & w/the foundation of the UFC in 1993, MMA has taken the U.S. by storm, raking in more than $200 million annually from pay-per-view alone.

Downey got involved w/MMA after he returned home 2 Orem, UT, from his mission in 2001;  he started off doing Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu w/some of his friends @ a local gym.

Downey's instructor noticed his natural ability & started spending more one-on-one time w/him, & as Downey progressed, he became a sparring partner, helping prep other guys 4 their fights.  Once he started beating the guys he was prepping, Downey tried a fight of his own.  He never looked back.

"I took 2 it like a fish 2 water," said the father of 4.  "It made sense 2 me."

As a BYU graduate in philosophy, it may seem odd that Downey would be so involved in what many believe 2 be a violent & mindless sport, but just as Aristotle suggested that our perceptions are often wrong, there may be more 2 MMA than meets the eye.

"It's more like kinetic chess - 2 guys using their minds & their bodies 2 try & win a physical contest," said Adam Legas, Downey's sponsor & owner of the Throwdown Elite Training Center in Orem.

And what a grueling contest it is;  in order 2 simply prepare 4 matches, Derek trains anywhere from 5-7 hrs a day, w/strength training @ 8 am, sparring @ 10 am, work @ noon & then team practice @ 8:30 pm.

It can be hard 2 juggle so much, but Downey is careful about focusing his efforts on whatever he does - whether it's training or family.  "When I'm @ work, I'm @ work, when I'm lifting, I'm lifting & when I'm home, I'm @ home;  I don't let them overlap," Downey said.

In addition 2 his responsibilities as a mortgage salesman, fighter, husband & father, Downey is also the 1st counselor in the Young Men's presidency in his ward & attends every mutual every Wednesday night.

"My goal [in the UFC] is 2 be the world champion, & I want nothing more than 2 fight 4 a title & be known as one of the best fighters," Downey said.  "But I love the youth.  This is my 2nd time serving w/the Young Men, & eventually my long-term goal would be 2 work w/high school kids, speaking 2 them about goals & preparing & conditioning."

How AWESOME is that??  :D  I think it's so GREAT that there's more positive aspects of this sport being portrayed by the media & that it's not just looked @ as a 'mindless' sport.  I love it!!  :D  It's such an INTENSE sport that requires so much training & I totally RESPECT all the fighters that participate in it & give it their ALL 2 become the BEST!!  :D  I love this article & just had 2 post it cause it just goes 2 show that if you LOVE & WORK HARD @ things in your life. . . .there's always a way 2 balance things out in a way that YOU benefit 4rom it most.  Although it may not be EASY, the outcome always outweighs the less appealing side of things.  It's like Christ's famous words, "I never said it would be easy.  I only said it would be worth it."  

'Trust In The Lord'

So I totally had 2 share the new 'YOUTUBE Mormon Message' that's on the LDS home page right now.  They all truly touch my heart in ways that strengthen my faith.  I have a few people that are close 2 me in my life that I know have struggled these same struggles as this faithful mother has.  And I love the strength & courage she portrays while struggling w/the trials & tribulations in her life that cause her so much pain.  And then 2 be able 2 realize thru all of this how much the Lord loves us & how he knows what's BEST 4 us even more than we do.  She is truly an example in my life & has strengthened my testimony in knowing that God lives.  And that he wants us all to be HAPPY.  But that doesn't stop the endless trials 4rom entering our lives.  But instead teaches us all 2 endure 2 the end & give our lives 2 the Lord knowing that we will be BETTER people 4 it.  

It has allowed me 2 look back on my own life & notice how much my husband & I have done just that recently & have allowed our burdens 2 be lifted 4rom off our shoulders.  Instead of trying so hard 2 be so INDEPENDENT & think that we can do everything ourselves w/no outside help that it caused us a lot of heart ache in the past, we have built our faith up & kept hold of our covenants so that we may be able 2 rely on the Lord in our everyday strife.  It's been a continual journey & one that I'm so GRATEFUL 2 be sharing w/my husband of 9 yrs as of this coming October.  :D  I thank him dearly 4 being worthy of his priesthood & 4 keeping himself worthy 2 take me 2 the temple frequently.  I'm honored & most importantly, GRATEFUL, 2 be his wife & the mother of his kids.  :D  

Half Way Point Already?? :D

It has recently occurred 2 me that we have reached the 'HALF WAY POINT' for 2009 & I can't believe how much time has just flown by.  :D  This week is the last week 4 the girls in school & they're so EXCITED 4 the 'TUAKOI FAMILY REUNION' camp 2 start a week 4rom 2day.  :D  Woo hoo!!  :D  A lot has been going on in our family these past couple of weeks & we're so EXCITED 2 kick off our summer VACAY w/a 4 day camp @ Bear Lake w/all our family!!  :D  And especially grateful 4 the Finau family 4 being so ORGANIZED w/creating groups & delegating activities 4 this camp that'll make it so much more PRODUCTIVE & so much more FUN 4 all of us while we're there.  :D  I love it!!  :D

2day we are also celebrating my niece's 6th grade graduation!!  Yay 4 Cedez!!  :D  She has been such a JOY in my life since the day she was born.  Kind, loving, thoughtful & always doing 4 others.  She continues 2 set such a GREAT example 4 all of us.  She will be attending a 6 day educational trip 2 Washington DC in September & if my health is well enough. . . . .I think I'll be going too.  Lol.  :D  She strives 2 do her best in school & we're so PROUD of her & her accomplishments thus far.  :D  She's AWESOME & continues 2 strive 2 be better!!  We love you so much Cedez!!  :D  And I don't care if it's just your 6th grade grad.  Hahahaha!!  We're still so PROUD of you!!  :D  And the theme of their graduation 2night was 'Dare 2 Dream Out Loud'  How powerful is that!!  Totally LOVE it!!  :D  Way 2 encourage our next generation 2 reach 4 the stars!!  :D  Woo hoo!!  :D

With that said. . . .we have a busy summer in store 4 our family & are definitely looking 4ward 2 the good times!!  :D  Gotta get out there & LIVE IN THE PRESENT.  Don't let life just pass you by & don't be a result of circumstances.  MAKE THINGS HAPPEN in your life.  You are in TOTAL CONTROL!!  :D  I love that we're @ the 'HALF WAY POINT ALREADY'  And look 4ward 2 every single moment of living that we're doing & will continue doing 4 the rest of our lives!!  :D  

Sneak Peak @ More 2 Come!! :D

I had 2 post our family pics that we took on Memorial Day w/Hoko's side of the family.  They turned out GREAT & I can't wait 2 see the rest of 'em.  These are just a few of the ones that we had taken & I want 2 thank Sila so much 4 taking our pictures.  :D  She's an AWESOME photographer & so TALENTED @ what she does.  I definitely recommend her 2 any & everyone out there who wants 2 get their pictures taken.  She's AMAZING!!  :D  I'll definitely post again once we receive the rest of the pics that we took on that day.