Saturday 27 August 2011

In Humility, Our Saviour

Today I was blessed to be able to meet with the Lale family, who are mourning the loss of six family members in the house fire in Slacks Creek this past week. I was there to take a donation on behalf of my colleagues, as one of the members of our work family is a close relative of the Lale family. 


As we sat together and spoke, I was humbled by their strength, continuous faith and their sense of duty to the community to ensure that everyone is welcomed with open arms, as well as being in the public eye as they grieve. As I spoke to the man who had just lost his wife and children in that tragedy, I really felt the strength and love he has for his family. I spoke of how I have family members in the heavens, and I'm sure they would be part of the welcoming committee up there, to look after his family until it's his time to join them. I couldn't hold back my tears. 


I am a firm believer that everyone grieves in their own way. There is no wrong or right way. When my Dad died and we went home for his funeral, I slept in the room he passed away in. During the funeral service, I had this overwhelming desire to feel closer to him, and had my hand on his coffin throughout most of the service. That was my way. 


As I spoke to my work buddy, whilst her family were busy around her, I was in awe. She is a Team Leader, and I could see where she got her training to be a great leader from - her family. The care and consideration she gives her team is exactly the same consideration and care that she gives to her family, and they give back in return. 


I met these kind hearted and gracious people who couldn't express their grattude enough for the community support and love. 




They are more than faces at a news conference or news story, they are real people. I hope when the time comes for them to bury their dead, they are given the privacy they need by the media and the public. I hope that they are given time to regroup as a family in their own time. We grieve for their loss, but they are the ones grieving the most, and I hope they are given the time to grieve in their own way. 


Today's lesson: Humility and Gratitude. May we hold our loved ones closer, a little longer and be grateful for the time we have together here on earth.  


Rest in Peace Jeannette Lale, Jerry Lale, Paul lale, Lafoai Lale, Dela Lale, Richie Lale, Fusi Taufa,  Annamaria Taufa,  Lahaina Taufa, Kalahnie Taufa and Ardelle Lee.


Families are Forever. 








Sunday 14 August 2011

There's A Beehive In My House!

Well, there will be soon. Number 1 is turning 12 in a few more sleeps, which means, as my Mormon buddies know, she enters the world of the youth and becomes a Beehive. 


Not literally hahaha.  Some of my non-Mormon friends freaked out and thought she actually was going to go work with bees. No, but she does get to go to youth activities, just not dances till she's 14. Then she'll be a Mia Maid, and then a Laurel at 16.  


There are a few significant milestones in the Latter-Day Saint family and this is certainly one for us. From when she was given her baby blessing just after she was born, and baptised when she was eight, her being part of the youth now has made us reflect, "Where has the time gone?"...  "Have we prepared her well enough" oh, and of course "Are we prepared!" hahahaha.. 


My time in the youth was awesome and I have great memories growing up in my home town, and when I look back I always think - I was blessed to have a really great childhood. I hope she feels the same way. 


I wasn't the nicest person, by all means. And I can picture a few the Young Women (YW) I grew up with saying out loud 'Can I get an Amen!' but I am waaaaay older and wiser now, and a teenie weenie bit nicer. I have graduated from 'backstabbing' to 'frontstabbing', it's so much more satisfying hahaha. I look at my old journals and cringe - double or triple cringe even! 


I know the next six years of her being in the youth will come along with its challenges. When I talk to my Mum about this she giggles about pay back. I wish Ma would keep this to herself, but that wouldn't be Mum hahaha. So, it's going to be a great rollercoaster ride - mostly because she's so much like me it's scary! But I am determined to make it as much as a blast for her, as it was for me. 


Thanks in advance to the YW leaders, and apologies too - you know just in case she is too much like me! In that case, it's best for you to speak to her Dad first.  












Sunday 7 August 2011

*R*E*S*P*E*C*T* : I'll Tell You What It Means To Me


RESPECT has been thrown around the rugby media this week in the lead up to the Bledisloe Cup Match yesterday between New Zealand and Australia. In the lead up to this game, the All Blacks Assistant Coach Steve Hansen commented on lack of respect the Wallabies have for the ABs.  Added to that as we await the Rugby Union World Cup this year, All Black fans were dismayed to learn that England, Wales, Canada and Japan have decided to wear an alternate black strip for this competition. I was amongst them and when I found out that there is a Facebook Group 'Get Our Gear Off'  - I couldn't click to join it fast enough. 





The Aussie media have commented that there's a difference between arrogance and self confidence and what they are exuding is self confidence. I've lived in Australia for 6 years now. I appreciate their patriotism and their Australia Day celebrations have always impressed me. It is something that we can learn from. The children sing their national anthem at every school assembly. When we were living in Sydney, it was every day before school started, and my children can sing along to all the verses. I went to one school assembly and didn't sing along - and one mother commented how un-Australian it was of me. I thanked her, 'Mate, I'm a Kiwi". But, there is a fine line between arrogance and self confidence and one that the Wallabies got mixed up this week. It's great to believe in yourself, but you don't need to drag others down in the process. 


Sledging is fine. It works both ways, and the banter can be sharp and even witty.  It is commonplace here that a tournament be moved from prime time to no time if the national team has been eliminated. When the Kiwis won the Rugby League World Cup Final in 2008, we didn't even get to see the ceremony because the feed was cut. How you handle yourself in victory, as well as in losses, defines a person as well as their team.


What is the big deal about other countries playing in black you say? At the end of the day, this is a respect thing too. When you think Rugby Union, you think All Blacks. Another team wearing black at the World Cup is like someone other than the bride wearing white to a wedding, going to a Royal Function wearing a "Make Australia a Republic" teeshirt, or how Harry Connick Jr felt about the Hey, Hey It's Saturday skit. It's like 4 day old chinese takeaways - distasteful and leaving you feeling sick to your stomach. No, we don't own the colour black, but it's about what it represents for us. It represents the pride of a small country on this side of the world who are proud of our achievements, despite our distance and head per capita. It represents our haka, a sacred challenge, the players (and their families) who have played before them. In short, it represents us. 

Welsh Coach Warren Gatland said, "I see going to New Zealand with a black kit as a sign of respect to the All Blacks." The thing about respect is that everyone has their own definition for it - All Blacks fans included. And people like Sean Fitzpatrick or whoever can say what they will, but as an AB supporter - that's the way I feel. 

Finally, as an All Black supporter, I'd to thank the Wallabies, the English, Welsh and other teams for reminding me about just how much the jersey means to me, but more importantly how much I love our little country. As for the All Blacks, they delivered their lesson on the field at Eden Park on Saturday night. I'm sure more than the Wallabies were taking notes.  

Friday 5 August 2011

I’ve got the Weight of the World on My Shoulders....


Actually its on my hips, my thighs, my butt and blaringly obvious, my tummy. As a matter of fact, my tummy is making a handy
resting place for my notepad as I write this on my commute to work. My kids still enjoy singing 'Wiggly Party' to it, like its a cool party trick. Oh, and don’t forget my Special KFC arms.  Haawwwwwt!




I am obese.

Okay, technically I am probably morbidly obese, but I have never actually made this official. Well, ‘cos you know – you don’t really need the scales to tell you – ‘cos you can like see it.


I know what you’re thinking! It’s the children. Carrying them for a total of 27 months really takes a toll on your body (for the non-rocket scientists out there - that's three babies at nine months each - I'm not really an elephant!). Quite honestly, the stretchmarks were there long before Number 1 was even a figment of our imagination. Number 3 is four years old now, so yeah, Strike One. 

The Word of Wisdom teaches us that we should eat meat sparingly. I actually read it again today to make sure I got it right and here’s what it says :


‘Yea, flesh also of the beast, and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used , only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.’ Doctrine & Covenants 89:12-13


Whoa – did you get that my pacific brothers and sisters? I cannot comprehend a meal that has a sparse amount of meat in it. I came home from work with my niece 'Phoenix", and the wife says, we’re having vegetable pie for dinner. We gave each other a puzzled look, but still ate away. So that’s a big Strike Two for me.

Some doctors say that certain emotions can trigger your need for a feed. That’s not the case with me. Happy, sad, angry, lazy, stressed, pretty much any emotion is a good reason to eat.

So what to do, what to do?


The Biggest Loser: No thank you. Although it would be an awesome experience, the time away from my family would be too much for me. Really, one of the main reasons is that I have no desire to get on TV and give everyone that show. I don’t even want to see that show. Plus, it has become a family ritual for us to eat KFC whilst watching the results show. I know that’s bad – don’t’ judge me! Hahaha! 

Lap Band/Gastric Bypass Operation: I have a couple of friends who had done this, and they are looking FABULOSO! (I would give you a shout out, but I’m being anonymous remember).  I’ve got some friends who are thinking about it, and apparently it’s becoming pretty common. All power to you! To be honest, if I had the money, I would probably consider it, but I don’t.  I think I would do this as well when I have really tried everything else, but I really haven’t tried yet. So that’s a no as well.

Diet Pills - My mother is a Registered Nurse, with a Masters Degree in her field. Even though she is in her 60s, I will not do anything that will cause her to cross the Tasman Sea and whoop my behind. So, no thank you. (Love you Mum!). 

So, there isn’t going to be a quick fix for me. It’s the good old diet and exercise. A lifetime ago, I would run up and down the basketball court and come home from the chapel really sore, but really satisfied. I don’t think I’ll be ripping up the court for a while, but I have not forgotten how to box people out!

I’m not promising to be like Laurel and run a half marathon – because honestly, if the trainer stood at the treadmill in front of me and started yelling, I would’ve knocked her out!  (Read Laurel’s blog, you’ll understand). Plus, the odds of me doing a marathon, triathlon, anything-thon are pretty low. Unless of course it's to raise money for charity - 'cos that's how I roll (no pun intended). 

The promises attached to the Word of Wisdom are to 
'receive health in their navel and marrow in their bones..... And to run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.' Doctrine & Covenants 89:18,20.
First things first. I would like to walk up my driveway without sounding like I'm having an asthma attack. 


Of course the greatest motivation is being around longer for the kids with the bonus one day (far far away) of hanging out with the grandchildren. I want Hubby and I to know our grandchildren as well as my children and their cousins know my parents. So that when it comes time for them to meet us in the next world, it will be the sweetest reunion and not a ‘nice to meet you.’  Not ready for Strike Three yet. Amen.

P.S. Don’t worry I’m not doing a visual diary or anything. Whew! Hahaha.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

It's All About Me (Yuss!)

My first journey into the kingdom of blogging has come about from being inspired at Time out for Women in Sydney, but lets start at the beginning shall we….

I am a wife, mother of three angels/demons (depending on the day), a daughter, sister, aunty.. and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the LDS church) aka the Mormons.

So yes, I do believe in God and that He is perfect. I also believe that He has an incredible sense of humour and it is one of the traits I have been blessed with. I know this because of my ability to continuously laugh at my self, and others. Okay, mostly others.

Numbers 1 - 3
I am the mother of three full on children. I know they are full on because when I get home from work, my husband tells me all about it. Yes – I am a Mormon mum who has a full time job and my husband does the real hard yards and stays home with the children. I affectionately call him ‘the wife’ and for the record he is the best wife in the universe. Better than I ever was or will be.  This is how the Family Proclamation: A Proclamation To The World works for us. He is also INCREDIBLY shy, so this blog will be written with no names. He is hubby (or wife) and the kids are like what they are called at home – Numbers 1-3.



My parents are from Samoa and moved to New Zealand for the better life, where I was born and raised. We have kept the ball rolling and are now residing in Queensland, Australia. So, I am a NZ born Samoan living in Australia. Noice one Sheila.

I work for a Global Financial Services Provider (referred to as ‘the bank’) which will also remain anonymous because I am 100% sure that I will write something about ‘the bank’ which will result in a tap on the shoulder from my Manager.. and it’s not cool when he goes bright red and shakes his head because I know that I am in trouble. Again. Brutal honesty and the bank sometimes don’t go well together.


I am a passionate rugby supporter and LOVE LOVE LOVE my All Blacks. I’m looking forward to watching the World Cup later on this year. I have already warned my colleagues that if something goes horribly wrong (like we get food poisoning eating snails) and we do not win, I will need some time off to come to grips with this. Unfortunately, I am serious – lol.


I discovered an old poetry book of originals from a lifetime ago. That and TOFW has reignited a desire to write more often. 

So, that’s me. Hope that I will provide moments of contemplation, inspiration and plenty of laughs.  I can’t promise I will write daily, but I will definitely write at least once a week.

Feel free to comment – I can take it.