the grahams got sealed!

this morning it rained and rained and was cold, but my heart was warm, as i attended the temple with two people i love very much, as they received their endowments and then were sealed together as husband and wife for time and all eternity. best of all, when we went outside afterwards, the sun came out, for just long enough to make sure that we could get some pictures to remember the day forever.

it's been a long road to the temple for the graham family since they joined the church many years ago, but seeing them reach their goal today was such a wonderful experience to be a part of.

pat & penae are such wonderful people and i know that their entire family will be blessed from their efforts and their amazing example ♥

love is what it's all about and what brought them here today, love for each other, love for their family and love for their father in heaven... and what could ever be better than that?

ellenbrook sisters ❤️

i love these girls... a few weeks back, sister aperaamo was transferred on, and i got a phone call asking if i could please snap a few pics before she departed.

i was only too happy to do so, and laughed with these awesome sisters as they messed about, said silly things and walked down a nearby alley way.

it has been such an immense pleasure having them in our ward and although i am sad to have said goodbye to sister a, i know she is needed elsewhere to continue to serve...

♥

♥

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” - Joseph Smith Jnr

sia's kitchen

its' hard to find good samoan food in perth, which i think sometimes makes my husband a little sad. so, we were stoked to find out that a lady from church had opened a samoan food store at the wanneroo markets and decided to check it on mondays public holiday.

my very happy husband had a plate packed with a little bit of almost everything they had on offer, while the kids and i had chop suey and rice, with coconut buns for dessert. so so yum. looks like we will be heading back here more often. go and try sia's kitchen in the courtyard at the wanneroo markets. even if you're not samoan (or married to one!) it's worth a try.

also... these kids are the cutest. that is all ♥

york salvos

another day, another awesome haul from the york salvation army jumble sale. this very overflowing ikea bag full of clothes and other stuff cost me $40... for so many things!

after all this time and so many opshops, this one is still right up there in my favourites and very rarely disappoints and it certainly didn't today! i was stoked. 

lunch with mum and the kidlets at my friends house after... best day this week! ♥

one year down!

monday marked one year in our kendall dream house and i was so proud of myself, because the photo wall was done with two days to spare! i promised doug when we moved in that i would have it done before we had been here a year, so i realised a few weeks ago that i would have to get my act together if i was going to make the deadline.

when we moved in, the previous owners had kindly left their frames in place for us to have... and i was so grateful, as it was done beautifully... all perfectly spaced, aligned, matched... every ocd's dream. also amazing as i would have had to a) find new frames that perfectly fit into the spaces that were left, or removed all the screws, filled, sanded and repainted the wall. ummmmm, nobody has time or patience for that!

so onto etsy i went. i had a rough idea of a few prints i wanted to purchase, and got looking for the family proclamation with the option of adding our own wedding photo, the thirteen articles of faith and the living christ (the testimony of the twelve apostles) my search came up great when i stumbled across lemons that are pink on etsy, who had all three prints that matched, but was willing to go the extra mile and create me a custom family proclamation to match them. yay! i was completely and utterly amazed by her customer service and attention to detail, as all three prints came out beautifully, were sized perfectly to the measurements i gave her and she sent 3 proofs of the family proclamation with ever so slight changes, with no problems at all. i highly recommend samantha... she's the best!

i am so beyond happy with the wall and how it turned out. i couldn't help myself for the first few days, i would just go into the hallway and stare at it. so happy! 

a picture says a thousand words... but this wall says a million ♥

increasing faith in jesus christ

this weekend, the dianella relief society six week program "increasing my faith in jesus christ" came to an end as sisters from each ward in our stake (including kalgoorlie ward, who had driven all night!!) met at the temple at 6am (yes, am) to reflect in the grounds, before a 6:30am testimony meeting in the relief society room, breakfast together then a temple session. emotions were strong and many tears were shed as a combined group of sisters spoke of their experiences during this period and how we had felt as we studied and learnt more about the lord and ourselves.

to be with that many sisters and to share time with them in the temple afterwards was something i'll never forget. i was brought up in the gospel by a strong and faithful mother, which i am eternally grateful for, as it gave me something to learn from and aspire to. i do know as well, that there was  amazing example set by my two grandmothers who joined the church independent (at the time!) of their husbands and embraced and loved the gospel, setting an amazing example for their children and also for me, as their granddaughter throughout my life, as i hear the stories of their lives from my own mother. 

i love that my daughter will now have that too, two grandmothers strong and faithful in the gospel, guiding her on the path of truth, back to her father in heaven. i am eternally grateful for my membership in the church and for the relief society... i know i am on that path and i am determined to stay there. ♥

a birthday treasure hunt

doug is off tonight to put his birthday present to use, flying to brisbane to spend a long weekend with his best mate james. it's been quite some time since they have seen each other and i decided enough was enough and sent him off. he was so stoked and i am really glad that we made it happen. 

i wanted to make it fun for him to find his present, so i made a treasure hunt around the house...

where is somewhere

you might sit and think

and watch a movie -

and have a drink?

at the end of a very long day,

we read these to the children,

then sit and pray ♥

in samoa people are never dumb -

and they always dance to the beat of a drum...

live, love, laugh, sing

on the wall is hanging a picture thing

a day without cooking

is your good wifes wish

but she is always using

a casserole dish

your children can't cook

although they might think -

you'll find your next clue

under their kitchen sink

daddy we know you have so missed your friend -

but today we have decided that will come to an end! ♥

we hope you enjoy your holiday, have the best time!! 

x