One of the biggest thing that my mom is good at is surprise visits or putting a great party. This year she wanted me to come to California for Christmas. I haven't seen her and my sisters for a few years now, but mainly to surprise my Dad Stephen. We planned it and we had a blast surprising my dad at LAX as he was getting his luggage at baggage claim. I snuck behind him and said " excuse me but may I pass through?". My dad turned around and shouted "Heeeeyyyyy you!?!" The look on his face was priceless. My sisters were also surprised by my visit. We hanged out at my mom's sister Mary home. Spend time with her family and did a ton of shopping. Of course my dad had to get a rental car and get a hotel room for our family. Eating good foods, buying new clothes and talking to my brother Henry who's on his mission. He wasn't too happy to know that we were in California together about to go to Disney Land. But he got over it. I love spending every moment with my family, because its the best feeling and its just straight up precious. I wished that I stayed longer but I had to come back to work which sucked. They had fun at Disneyland and I just enjoyed my time with Mika after my trip. I missed my mom and dad so much that I would call them everyday since I've left cali. This was the best family trip I had in a long time and I hope to have more of them in the near future.

Love makes

all hard

hearts gentle.

George Herbert (1583-1633)

Hooah Pops!

Well my waist size now is a size 36. I`m lucky that some elders that left home left some clothes behind. I can`t buy clothes here, only in san pedro, and thats out of my area. So, I managing with the clothes that I have. I can sow my own clothes now. I`ve been praticing and I`m pretty good at it. I hope everything is going well with you and trainning. Well thanx for the support and take care of yourself.

Con Amor, Su Hijo,

Hola Hermana

Well I`m doing fine here on the mission. Hope everything is going fine for you at utah. I`m still with the same comp. in the same area. I guess that I have`nt finish my work in this area yet, plus I probably gotta learn alot more or less from my comp. again. Thanx for sending the mesages to my friends. Can you please do it again for me. I just baptized like another person in my area and preping for more. I`m still a little slow in the lanuage,but getting their never the less. I going on 6 months in one area with the same comp. And I want to know how are all of yall doing...please keep a braddrah updated pleaseeeee!!!!!. Well nini til  next time or when we meet again. I love you and god bless yall. Here`s the addy`s to all my friends, please if you can send it to them so they can be posted on my work here.

Love you,

Elder Elu

Hola Gemela,

That`s so great to hear that your doing fine and had an inspirational talk. I so proud of you for being worthy to take the sacrament. Keep up the good job. Well the work here is alright, I was feeling kinda down that I had to stay with the same comp. for another 6 wks. I had an interview with the president, an he said that I might be with him til he goes home in feburary. I guess its more blessing for me huh!!!. Well if you can, keep all the addy of my friends so that it be easier to send my messages to them. but let me know which one`s you got please!. Hey, that`s great that the fam-bam is going to meet up in cali. I will exspect to here all of your voices when I call. Just to make sure you sent me a package?. I did`nt get anything yet. But I will keep you posted on the work here in hondo-land. Tell mika and his fam-bam I said hi and Elder Fuamatu is still waiting for a respond from vise.....Well til  we meet again...much love and aloha.....from hondo-land...

Con Amor, Su Gemelo, 

Hey gryl,

I doing fine here in los almendros in choloma. The people here are getin use to me. I will tell you next week the goodies I need, I´m in a rush cuz my comp. want to play ball at a town far away. So til next time. Much aloha.

Con Amor, Su gemelo hermano, 

Elder "baba" Elu

THANK YOU!!!

Otay Gyrl,

Here`s my addy,

Hey gyrl,

Yeah, I`m doing fine here in hondo land, nothing much but planning for the baptisms this month. Tell mika and them I said hi and stuff. Yeah!, my friend Elder Fuamatu wanna hala at vise for a moment so here is his letter to her....

hola vise..

this is elder fuamatu from long beach california.  serving out here with your brother in law elder elu.  he showed me a photo and i remembered a time back when my cousin terry got married.  thats where i saw you guys perform for the first time.  i dont know if you remember that.  but, thats when the power went out in the chapel.  well, i just wanted to say hello.  may this not be last. Hoping to hear from a californian Angel... 

Yeah, So thats with that. Tell your ota family I said hi and stuff, if they wanna write, feel free to do so... the work is progressing. Faith and Fasting is what keeping me going on. I hope all is well with you and kohl. Yeah yo husband told me where you worked. tell ma braddha k-den. Well I lafa u berry mach. til we meat agan.

Con amor, su gemelo hermano, 

Elder "baba" Elu

Hola!

Hey gryl,

 Okay, I got the message. but my friend wants more pics if you can and more emails from the gryls. Tell mika its vise!!... and molly!!. yeah!, he wants to hala. but if they want to hala at me its ok with me too. Tell mom that I love her and have her to write me an email with just her addy so I can know who is who. Also, thanx for helping me write to my friend, its sucks cuz other missions can, but we can`t. So tell mika and them I said hi and take care. Tell the family I will be waiting for their emails.

Con amor, su gemelo hermano, 

Elder "baba" Elu

I`m not mad at yall or mika and them. But I glad to hear that everything is aight with yall. I doing fine here in hondo land, I`m still with the same comp. in the same area. I did`nt get a change yet!. I pray always for strength to carry on with the work. The lanuage is coming along. Howzit wit da family ovea tea in utah?. Tell mika and his fam-bam I said hi and stuff. Yeah!, my pal here wants to know if you can send more pics, and if yall can write to me to tell him stuff or just write to me. I love hearing about my family and what their are doing, even my extended family. Cuz all in all, yall just family, so let a braddha know how yall doin up tea!. (Well I be waitin fo yo replies) So, take it easy and wait for me, I`m glad that yall goin to wait til I get back to get sealed in the temple. Much love and aloha.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!

Hey Gryl,

I´m really upset with what you did, cuz you and me are the closes one in the family. I´m mad cuz you didnt bother to tell me. If you told me, I would of been fine with your decision, cuz you counsel with me about it. But you didnt. Remember the promise you made with me, that we will be in eachothers weddings. And We will wait for the other. Remember I said, that any kids you have with whatever husband, thats all your going to have together,cuz I´m going to chop off his religion. REMEMBER!!. You know me nini, I dont play around when I make promises. But I´m really happy for you and your decision to get married in the temple, cuz I want the best for my sisters. I´m the only brother that you got. You can talk to me, cuz I dont take sides, I analyze. I´m  the counselor, psycaligist, and the bishop of the family. I´m fine with the decision. N-E-Wayz, take care of yourself. And send me your home addy if you moving to utah. If you send me a package, get the addy from mom. OH!, my frien comp. wants a another pics of mika and the group. eh!, ask mika if he remembers a terry faliono wedding, cuz he was their and wanted to hala at one of the gryls. But I love you and mika and his family, if they want to write me, feel free too. Cuz my friend want a letter,but thru my addy. Take care

Con Amor, Su Twin Braddah,

    Elder "baba" Elu

It's nice to know that he wasn't mad at me for not writing back to him in a few weeks. Life was crazy since I had to work and travel. Plus marriage is a whole new world that I'm still getting use to. This weeks letter was simple and nice. He express to me that he enjoys receiving my letter since I was the only one writing back to him. Hey when I had the time I would write back cause I feel for him being bored and lonesome. Kalae is learning how to play Slack guitar from one of his friends. Well one of his good friends. His other home boys are trouble some and thats why he went to the hoe last time because of them. Idiots! Being in prison he realize who are his true friends. Because the friends he had on the outside don't give a crap about him now that he's in prison. What a bunch of punks?!? Goes to show who is really there for you and who's not! True colors comes out of people when shizz hit the fan. I felt kind of bad... I sent him a book of Mormon to read, but I can't just send anything like that since he's in a Federal prison. So I had to get proper permission to do that. He said it was ok and that he wasn't going to get in trouble for that reason. My bad cuz!! Kalae shared a little moment he had with Kolina on the phone. He said that he said " Hi Baby girl!" and she told him, "Daddy, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a big girl now!" How cute is that. That is something my nieces would say to their parents or grandparents. I'm glad to know that he gets to speak to her on the weekends when she's at his moms place. What a blessing! He continues to tell me how things are going for him every day and nothing new so far happened. I'm glad that its been good for him. Life for me has been very hard and dramatic. So my final letter I wrote to him was to let him know that I may not be able to write to him because I'll be moving and I won't know what my future will be like. I know it may seem sad but honestly its not looking too good. Who knows what the future holds for me and living wise. I pray that I would be able to write to my cousin who needs fellowshipping from family. If it meant to be than it will be. Other than that we will see. Until next time...

Cousin Kalae wrote another simple and heart felt letter to me. Hoping that things are going well for me. He talked about Kolina and how he misses her every day. He's still hoping for a new pen pal and photos of girls I'm suppose to send to him. heheh Sorry cuz nothing will happen cause they have lives and so do I! I wish I could but I don't any available ladies to hit you up!! He expressed to me that he still has 2 years to go and that he will have to go to court next year to talk about parole. I hope all goes well for him next year. Yippie he finally talked to his daughter Kolina. Oh man I'm so happy to know that. I can tell just by reading his letter who excited and emotional he was to finally hear his daughters voice when he called his Mom's house. Like father like daughter, well thats what his mom told him about his daughter. Acts like him, both word and deed. How funny is that? Too cute. I know that every kid has the exact same attributes as their parents. Its so true! I know I act like my mom when I least expect it. Only my family would tell me that cause I sometimes don't see it. Funny stuff. Well all is good and the same ole for cousin Kalae. Okay until next time...

Yippie I got a letter from Jeri today and I couldn't be more happy. She wished me congratulations since I'll be planning on going to the temple soon. Well I'm taking the temple classes and I hope to go soon and experience the nice spiritual things in the Temple. I got an updated mailing address for Henry's new area on his mission in Honduras. She goes on with he annoyance with my biological father and his bull crap ways. It goes on and on with that guy. A new family and a new life, not taking responsibility. I'm glad I don't have to deal with him anymore. A New chapter for me and I don't care about him. But when it comes to my baby sister Jeri and her needs for school and stuff. Thats when I'm not a nice person. I wish I had tons of money to support my baby sister and my mom. This sucks. Sorry baby girl, I'm broke and I'm not smart. Lord please help me and my family. PLEASE!!!! Anyways, Jeri express to me how she really wants to see snow so bad. Even dreaming about it. Poor sister of mine. You will one day, just hang in there!! I love you and I pray for your safety and well being. Good luck in school baby girl. Talk to you laters!! Thanks for the letter!!

He sent me a photo of Kolina his daughter and a recent photo of him. She looks like my cousin that is half filipino half samoan. So adorable. Honestly he looks like his dad, like spot on like my mom's brother. You can't deny that genes!  He didn't hear anything about his daughter or if she is going to visit him. That sucks a lot. My poor cousin. I would feel really sad if I couldn't see my daughter that I miss. I hope something will happen soon.  He asked if I was planning on visiting home and come for Jerica's graduation in 2007. As for right now I am going to try to go for her graduation because she's my baby sister and I want to support her even if I live so far away. He's excited to meet with the family when he gets out, and I hope it will be a pleasant one. I told him in my letter that don't expect too much from his dad's family because they are judgmental and drama. But he doesn't have to worry about Me, Mom, Dad, Nita, Jeri cause we are cool and drama free. Well he already knew that. Other than that, just the same things he dose every day, he said nothing new but just trying to get by. That's it with his letter to me this week. Until next time...

Another informative letter from my good ole funny cousin of mine. This time he's asking more probing questions about Mika. I don't mind it cause I've gotten to know him more through his letters and from my mom. I told him about my husband being in a band and I would sometimes go traveling with him. And of course my buff bad guy cousin had to tell me to tell Mika that he would put him in check if he finds out that I'm not being treated good. I got to give him some respect on that part of being family and being worried about his young cousin, me. Kalae shared with me in his letter what he usually would do on the daily. Playing card games or chess, play hand ball, lift weights with his home boys, watch the airplanes fly by since he's near the airport and sit in his cell staring at the walls. It's very depressing and annoying. Every letter he would write to me he would mention how he wish he was out of there and being free. I pray after these next 2 1/2 years goes by fast so that he can be free from his mistakes. He also read a few books to pass the time like Four blinds mice, 1st to Die, 2nd Chance and Black Friday, Monster and other books they have. I'm glad that they can listen to some local music while hanging out around the cell or eating areas. On the weekends they get to watch movies and thats one of his favorite time because it makes him feel like he's not in prison for a moment. He jokes about him turning into a Haole (White Person) because he's hasn't been going out as much and he's turning fair. heheh I know the feeling of loosing your nature tan because being indoors majority of the time. Well he ended his letter to read a good book. Okay dokie! Until next time...

It's been pretty interesting traveling with Mika's family in a van bunched with so many bodies. Let's just say, when you're ghetto you will do whatever it takes to travel to where you need to. I had a good time visiting places where my husband grew up and meeting family friends too. We even went to the Mall of America and had a blast seeing the gazillion stores and floors. But I really enjoy the them park inside the mall. A full size roller coster and fun rides that you can go on non-stop. As you can see my face I wasn't a fan of rides. Really I don't like going on any free fall rides. Not one bit! But I went on cause Mika wanted to go on but not by himself. You can never know a person until you do things with them that you don't like....and I just experience it with Mulek, I mean Mika. Sorry my family calls him that, cause my mom calls all of us by our middle name. heheheh Anyways, Minnesota is an interesting place, kind of reminds me of Chicago but less dirty looking. Well I would not want to live there in the winter. I like the winter time but not the winter like Minnesota. Deep in snow, below freezing temperatures and living in the country side. No thanks! I like living in the City or near civilization. Thanks hun for taking on your childhood journey it was fun!

 

He finally got my letter which I was hoping that he got it. He was trying to be funny when he said who was writing to him. I thought to myself when I read that part of his letter, fool who else is going to write to you?!? hehehe But he was joking with me as always. He going to send me another one of his drawings. Which I'm very excited for. Now in this letter he wants me to find him a pen pal. Ugh come on cuz, I'm so anti social right now and I can't help you in that area! Again, i'll pray for you in that department. He lifting weights so that he can be buff and strong looking and not look like his Dad!?! hahaahhahahaah that was sooooooo funny I couldn't stop laughing. You got jokes cuz!! Anyways, got to go now. Until next time...

Wow! He just got out of the shu hoe that he had to stay in a more tight cell for about 1 1/2 weeks. I guess he screwed up on something. Now he loss his job that he was making 12 cent and hour. How sucky is that. Poor thing, i wish him the best of luck. He finally talked to my mom this past week and she was worried about him because she would always get a call from him every week. But now that he's out of the hoe he called to let her know he was ok. I know that my mom gave him an ear full for worrying her. In his letter he asked if Mika is treating me ok. It made me smirk for a moment because I know if he hears anything negative about Mika from my family, he would do something. Well thats what he said. Since he thinks he's the bad cousin in the family. I've told him that there are more worst cousins in our family that he hast met yet. Kalae got a new cell mate and new room to stay until the next change. He said that this room mate is cool and not drama. That's nice to know. Other than that things are ok, he seems worried about me and my well being. I'm glad to know that I have another over protective cousin in my life. i wished I got this letter sooner than later. Well until next time...

Life has definitely got me busy and I felt bad not writing to him every week. With traveling and stuff I've been putting it off. I really need to get back into that. My poor cousin has been hoping for my letter every week. Sorry cuz! Well this letter he talked about how he really wished he could of changed his past and lived better. He's more upset about his girlfriend that sent him to jail that he said he didn't do. Honestly I can't judge him cause I don't know what happened, so who am I to say anything or judge. He asked about Henry and hows he doing. I'll past the word to Baba on his mission. He thinks that I moved since I haven't wrote back, I'll let him know that I haven't just been busy. Plus someone always check the mail before I could get to it and leaves my mail somewhere else. Which I get annoyed because by the time I find that letter, I've already received another letter from him. Ugh so annoying!! Anyways, that it with this week letter. Until next time....

Well thanks Mom for telling my scary cousin in prison my drama with Mika. Oh boy was he livid when she told him that she don't like Mika. Thank goodness she didn't tell him any more details cause I would get an ear full both Kalae, my mom, dad and my siblings!! Ya I don't like that one bit. Besides that, my chill cousin is doing alright and hanging in there each day. I hope to get more news from my mom about meeting with his Mom and daughter. Okay gots to go now. Until next time...

Oh man this letter is funny. Kalae told me that he beat his room mate in a card game and now every time that my cousin calls his name, his room mate has to answer him by saying "Yes Daddy!". How hilarious is that! Only dudes can do stupid stuff like that. Well he remembers my little sisters birthday and sent her a Birthday card. How nice is that! What a nice thing he did. I know Jeri would appreciate that. Good news to hear from him, he mentioned that his mom and his daughter is going to visit grandma and my mom.  Awesome I hope mom takes photos so she can send it to him. I think that would make his year! Well thats all for now. Until next time...

My cousin is an amazing artist! I have so many cousins that are very artistic and I'm so proud of them all!! Life is still the same for him and wrote a quick letter since it was late when he wrote the letter to me. I was hoping that he got a letter from my family, I guess not cause he didn't mention it. Oh well maybe next time. I really like my drawing from my talented cousin. I pray that he will use this God given talent and make something out of it.

What a trooper!! My cousin is doing well in prison and I'm very happy that he got my letter filled with photos of our cousins he hasn't met yet and of my little family. It still gets me sad to know how much he feels so left out in family things and life. Prison life is boring and depressing in Hawaii. I'm glad that I can bring a little joy to him from my letters. I sometimes think I'm a lousy pen pal, but I guess I'm doing alright. Kalae wants me to make a copy of the most recent photo he has of his daughter Kolina. I was shocked that he don't have much photos of her. Dang I wish I lived close by so that I could take some photos of my niece and give it to him. Too bad my mom lives too far from the prison he's at. I'll let her know about it. Mom would definitely do something about that. And as always he wants me to find him a girlfriend...I'm like come on cuz how in the heck can I find you someone cool and down to earth who wants to write to a guy in prison?!? I don't know that many girls like he think I do. hehehe Let's just say that I'll let him think that way and I'll pray for him on that subject! Luv ya cuz but you are on your own on that! A fun letter to read. Thanks cuz!

Cousin Kalae got jokes when it comes to friends and family stuff. I felt kind of bad for not writing him back sooner. I got busy with life and stuff but I'll make an effort to write two next time. This letter he really talked about getting his life in order. He's hoping that his dad would help him out when he gets out in a few years. Honestly, I don't think his dad is going to help him much since he has his new family and life is kind of tough for them. But I know that my mom would do what she can to help him out. It's funny that he wants me to show my friends that are single a picture of him. I'm like what???? I know we are family but I don't about hooking him up with anyone of my girlfriends. They are picky. Sorry cuz! heheh. He shared with me that he wants to be buff and bulky to look good for the ladies. I giggled when I read that. He's funny. My cousin sure does love his daughter Kolina very much. too bad his ex won't bring her to visit him. I don't know what their relationship was before he went to prison but I think it sucks for him not seeing his daughter. I hope one day that she will let that happen for him. He hasn't been up here to the mainland ever. Hopefully one day he could travel up to California and experience the mainland fun. Well that ends the letter and my writing. Till next time...

Another letter from cousin Kalae in prison...it was cool to know he got my letter and that everything is going well. This letter is funny. Bless my poor cousin. He's definitely related to me because his humor is just like my brother Henry and my guy cousins. It's nice to write to family and knowing that I'm bringing some hope and joy to someone. What a good day! I'm about write him back and beat my little sister to the punch. heheh I guess I'll go now and write that awesome letter to my awesome cousin. bye!!

I've never met this cousin of mine that's in prison. He is my uncles son from a previous relationship. I was very surprise to receive a letter from him and I tried to figure out who he was and how did he get my address. Thats when I talked to my mom on the phone and asked her about him. She told me his back story and how she met him and why she gave him my address. He doesn't know his father side of the family and my mom thought it would be nice for her children to get to know him. She also told me that I met him before. I was like when did I met some cousin I don't know. My mom laughed and said that we meet when he first found his biological father which is my mom's older brother and wanted to meet family. Mom told me that my brother and I just got home from school and we went to the gas station to meet with our cousin. And it hit me, I remembered meeting him now. So long story short, we did meet and now life turn for the worst for him and my mom wants us to show some support because its not easy to be in prison. Oh a quick funny story I have to share about when I received this letter from my cousin. Mika noticed I received a mysterious letter and he wasn't very happy about that. But I comforted him and told him that it was from a long lost cousin. But just seeing his facial expression at that moment was funny. He thought I having a love affair with a pen pal or something. heheheh too funny. I did wrote back and it was nice hearing his story and being a good cousin in showing support from the outside. It's also sad that he doesn't have any of his close  family write to him. How lonely he is in prison and its mundane thing of living worried about your life and learning from past mistakes. I can tell that he really wants to do good and feel important in someones life. The biggest message I got from reading his letter was that he really wants me to write back and he is lonely. Poor thing! I pray that the Lord will watch over him and bring him peace. 

God bless and best of luck to you cousin! 

Life will be different for me now, no more hanging out late with friends, changing how I look at life and my priorities. Including another person into my life who I care for is something I need to remember and focus on. I'm glad to have someone who truly loves me and knows me in and out. No more puppy love bull crap, just real wholesome kind of love and respect for each other. He's been my best friend for over4 years and I can honestly say that he's truly someone unique and genuine. Today marks a new beginning for Mika and I. Getting married to a man who has so much to give and so much to learn about. Even though we may have our differences, we have so much love for one another. I don't care if people don't like that we are together or even being married. So what! We chose each other and thats what matters. WE LOVE EACH OTHER! Point blank PERIOD!!! May the Lord forever bless us as I know we would need it more than we know. Lets make all the haters eat $#!%. We got this babes!! Luv you!

In love. She remembered the

excitement of those days. The

sudden ecstasy of an unexpected

telephone call. The brilliance and

beauty of the most mundane

objects. Laughter over nothing,

shared across small candlelit tables;

walking together on sunlit

pavements; smelling lilac on a city

street; frizzing in his car down to

the country, with the sun roof open 

to the sky and a whole weekend

ahead, and the sensation that there

was nobody in the world but the

two of them.

ROSAMUNDE PILCHER, b. 1924

Love... is so sweet- 

Sweetest, dearest, 

fleetest comer, 

Fledgling of the 

sudden summer.

Louise Moulton