Awesome Year

I've been waiting to make this post until I had internet access and my digital camera in the same place at the same time - but I've decided my luck is NOT that good!

I feel grateful for friends and family. I have had an awesome year of connecting and re-connecting with people I love. I have wanted to post pics of some of these reunions, but we'll have to try getting the photos up another time.

I have had 3 great friends (all at 30+ yrs. old) get married this year - and a 4th is not far behind. I love that! I love seeing timing and opportunities unfold in other people's lives.

I have seen several good friends from our old "Laie Playgroup" and it has been AWESOME! They are so much fun to get together with! They kids all play like it was yesterday that we were together in Laie and the moms are just as creative, smart and beautiful (and pregnant) as they were the last time I saw them. (Someone is always pregnant in that group).

I've seen relatives and adopted grandparents and taken the kids to fun, new places.
This week we're in St. George. We went to a small town (Gunlock) rodeo one night and then on the 4th we went to the play of High School Musical. Quite a contrast, rodeo one night - where the boys did a "Chicken Chase," and then a play the next - but it's fabulous! They are learning so much and being exposed to so much. The play was amazing - now I understand what all the hype is about.

Today is just about gratitude - for health, love, dreams and relationships. These are the best days of our life.

(Happy Birthday to Amber and Trevor - friends since childhood!)

The other day....I met a BEAR...A great big Bear...

Oh way out there!

I was running early in the morning, on a trail IN TOWN - right down a residential street, when I saw a fluffy "black dog." As my eyes became more focused, I realized it was a REAL BEAR! "Oh, so cute!" I thought. Then realized, "Wait a minute!!! This is NOT Hogle Zoo!" It looked right at me. I stopped running, so as not to encourage a chase. Then I grabbed for my cell phone to get a photo, but the bear turned and ran into the back yard of the home it was near. It was awesome!

Earlier in June, I was in Salt Lake City, running in West Jordan, and I saw 5 peacocks on the side walk. This week I was running near Snow Canyon in St. George and I saw 2 bunnies. I feel like a regular forrest ranger. I love animals in nature!

Update on the cleanse....

Unbelievable - I'm sorry I haven't been able to blog more regularly, but let me say, Sai and I have gotten more out of this then we even hoped for. It has been LIFE CHANGING not just physically, but emotionally, socially, mentally and spiritually.

Starting with me - I have lost 15 lbs of FAT! I weigh now what I did in middle school. I am sleeping so well, in REM, having dreams and getting rested. I have more energy --- I'm waking up at 5 a.m. to go running. And if I were not in marathon training, perhaps, I would not even realize what FUEL it is to my body. But because I am running hard, I have seen it spur my strength and endurance and even speed. I'm running at a rate that I hadn't even hoped for.

(I planned to train for a 10 minute mile marathon, and now I'm doing 9 minute miles.)

Plus - my baby is able to take sips of my shakes in the morning and night and he no longer needs the RX laxative that 3 pediatricians recommended. He is gaining weight, eating better, sleeping longer and having regular, healthy BM's.

Next, dear Sai .....

He has lost over 30 1bs! He is in shock and TOTALLY ELATED!!! He's exercising every day, loving it, and feeling his strength increase, great sleep, and a new mental clarity. He is TOTALLY CONVERTED!

We have learned so much about nutrition - my favorite is the difference (and benefit) of CLEANSING VS DIETING. Cleansing is a gift of gratitude and health for your body - whereas dieting is about food restriction and self inflict :)

I'll share more in coming days (including photos as soon as I see Sai again!)

Here's a glimpse of "before" photos taken the 1st week of June - Kudos to Natalie Norton (http://www.natalienortonphoto.com/ go there to see more photos of our family.)

Gaining Insight

(I hope to have some pics up soon - hang in there.)
Had an awesome visit from some good old Hawaii friends this past week. The Norton's came to Aspen - what a treat! They were inspiring....

Within that inspiration, I began to gain some insight, as I cleanse, into some of my PATTERNS of behaving and eating. Patterns are important to recognize, because if we don't change the patterns, we'll continue to get the same results. The hard part, sometimes, can be changing the patterns.
Here's mine:
Quite often in late afternoon - I get tired, sleepy. When I'm sleepy, I "transform" (one of Sikeli's favorite new words, always used in lieu of "change") into Grumpy Dwarf. At these times, I begin to feel overwhelmed,as if I can't get done everything I need to get done. I feel less and less hopeful until something happens to change this negative, downward spiral - which usually is to go to bed. Most often, by morning, I'm renewed and hopeful again. (Usually. Unless someone wet the bed and another had a night terror and another needed a snack during the night, etc:)

I have just learned that when I'm tired and feeling stressed, my BLOOD SUGAR DROPS! When blood sugar drops, I feel hungry. When I feel hungry and tired and stressed ALL AT ONCE, I eat - and I overeat - and I overeat things that are not rejuvenating. I eat things that take all my digestive energies and make the rest of me shutdown and want to sleep even more.

I fell off the cleanse wagon one night - and had Little Caesar's pizza. I paid dearly. I immediately felt sleepy, but it wasn't bed time yet. The rest of the night, that negativity returned that I hadn't felt since beginning the cleanse. I literally saw and felt the polar opposite in mood as it is impacted by nutrition. I was in awe. If nutrition can help me stabilize and maintain a positive outlook and optimistic view, I'm going to do all I can to keep learning about and LIVING nutrition.

Into the Cleanse

Sai and I started our 30-day c leanse on May 30...I just couldn't wait!
It is so awesome! We are both enjoying the great benefits and feeling the positive effects.
We are sleeping so well and feeling really rested. Which, in turn, allows us to get up early and exercise.
We started preparing for the cleanse 2 weeks before by eliminating any unnecessary foods and adding more nutrients/vitamins/minerals into our daily consumption. From those 2 1/2 weeks ago until now, - Sai has lost 20 lbs and co-workers were the first to notice (after me, of course.)
He was just in shock when he got on the scale!
The awesome part is we know it's not water, because we are increasing our muscle mass and our body fat % is decreasing. It's just all that fatty "food storage" we've been hauling around. When our church leaders encourage us to have a 2 year supply of food - we took them a little too seriously!!!
We want to recognize our "cleanse buddies" as well - Bridgette, who has lost over 20 lbs in 30 days and Jen who is currently doing a 9-day. To the friends beginning this week - WELCOME TO THE CULTURE OF FUN, FIT & FEELING FABULOUS!

Family Photos

Maika Ramon: cuddle bug, dog lover, dust-buster, wants to be in the middle of his older 2 brothers at all times! Aisea Omar: hard to photograph! Always, always on the go, STRONG-WILLED, loving, INDEPENDENT, curious, and very, very funny!
Sikeli Paul: wise beyond his years, articulate, intuitive, spiritually sensitive, a teaser!
The Naivalu Clan - Family Mission Statement: Learn, Work, Serve, Love

On Your Mark, Get Set...GO CLEANSE!

LIVE FROM ASPEN COLORADO! (We're back blogging already)

And this is my exciting news....

For the month of JUNE, I am going to embark on a 30 day cleanse!

It just so happens, I'll be turning 31 in June, and I fully expect to make my 30's the best decade of my life (in terms of health and happiness).

So far, we're on the right track. St. George marathon, Oct. 2008 - Here I come!

What is cleansing? See this awesome explanation - go to this page and click on "Cleansed for Life" Video. http://www.isagenix.com/us/en/tours.dhtml

(Also watch "Dr. Dr...." video for great nutritional info.)

Several years ago, I learned the benefits of cleansing. I returned from 3 months in Fiji with countless boils - ya, pretty thought, I know. I'd also had dengue fever (an island sickness) and who knows how much food poisoning. A result of this depleted immune system was a very depleted state of mental health as well. I cleansed and recovered immediately! (Much to the astonishment of my therapist at the time :) From then on, I have LOVED CLEANSING!

I have tried various types of cleanses, such as the Lemon Colon Cleanse (from the Master Cleanser) and I try to make cleansing an annual part of my life.

This year, I am so excited, because (I'm not pregnant or nursing) and can do a full 30 day cleanse!

These are some (but not all) of the benefits:

• INCREASED ENERGY (hip-hip hurray!)


• INCREASED MENTAL CLARITY (i.e. ideas, creativity, ambition & inspiration flooding the brain)


• MOOD ELEVATION


• FAT LOSS


• A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD - NEW, HEALTHIER HABITS (like not using food for emotional comfort)


• A FLUSHED, EFFICIENT INTERNAL SYSTEM (= less susceptibility for sickness).

If any of these sound appealing to you, I invite you to JOIN me for the month of JUNE. I want a CLEANSING TEAM to share in this life enhancing experience!!!

If you are bold enough and disciplined enough to commit - email me for more info at:

first name last name (then the number) 17 @yahoo.com

I would LOVE for you to share in this!

Moving to Colorado

Here are my cute boys. Growing, so amazing, and such a privilege to parent.

We're taking a blogging break - We're on our way to Colorado for the off-season.

No internet for a while - hope you all can survive w/out us :)

SALT LAKE 1/2 MARATHON

All I can say is, "I finished." It wasn't pretty (my running, that is,) and it wasn't a record, but I finished.
Here is the highlight. I was at the starting point, really disappointed to be alone in a strange place, on an unfamiliar course, without anyone I knew to cheer me on by my side. Then, someone shouted, "Angel Mathews!!!" (maiden name). And there in my face was an old St. George friend of mine and her husband - in a crowd of 12,000 people. How kind is our Heavenly Father. And we were at the same pace (well, for about 1/2 of it. Then they left me in their dust.)

There were times I wanted to quit, but I had some pressure to finish, though. Sai had to be at the airport by 10:30 a.m. to catch a flight to a wedding in San Fran. That, and Johnny Cash singing, "Orange Blossom Special" on my ipod shuffle kept me shuffling!!!
I just learned of a new site that looks fun - marathonmommies.blogspot.com. Check it out if you like to run.
I'm looking forward to the St. George FULL marathon this Oct.
Thanks to my pals for your comments.

What is this all about, anyway?

Obviously, I lost the blogging fire.
Sorry, Nat, for being the "worst blogger ever!"
I just don't get it? I just don't get it. Blogging?
I haven't been writing, but I've been doing ALOT of observation and introspection in regards to blogging.
Right now, I'm blogging, for the reason, I suspect, creates the addiction for people like me - I'm avoiding and escaping reality!
I need to pack the car so my boys and I can do on a trip tomorrow. I'm stressed. What a great time to blog!!! (Procrastination!)

Here's an update -
My husband and I have been geographically separated since October 2007 (that's going on 7 months). Just for the record - that's "geographically" because of work transitions.
In Jan. he started working in Aspen, Colorado. Nice job. Too cold for me, and no available (affordable) family housing in the winter. We're hoping to reunite within the next couple of weeks as the snow melts. He's been great to drive the 7 hours every week he can make it to see us on his days off.
THIS SATURDAY - APRIL 19 -I'm running the SLC 1/2 marathon.
Overall, we are doing well - much to be grateful for!

Hi friends,
read this: about baby einstein.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1650352,00.html
I thought this was important info for parents. We all mean so well! Goes to show that you don't have to spend $ to have well-developed children. Good reminder for all of us.

Also, this article alludes to the correlation between tv watching by babies and toddlers (and all kids) and having ADHD. From my perspective (clinical social worker by education) I think it is an obvious correlation there, with additional negative ramifications in the area of attachment, language development, etc.
being a parent is tough - an often we need to do other things than read to our kids . in lieu of TV watching - lets share some new ideas. I get in a rut sometimes and it's nice to have tips from others.
My sister gave me this one - tin foil sculpting. Crazy!?! but cheap and fun. tear off a sheet of tin foil about the size of a cake pan, for each child and sculpt whatever you can. in time, the creations get more advanced. it is pretty entertaining.

What else do you have for me?

It's official: I'm raising Curious George

January 20, 2008

It was a busy Sunday. Sai had been home in St. George with us for 1 week between finishing his work at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu and heading to Aspen, Colorado to start a new job at The Gant resort. After sending him off that morning, we attended church. Later in the evening, I was just getting ready to attend an enrichment meeting. I went to the bathroom, and as all mothers should know – that is when the chaos struck!

I came from the bathroom into the kitchen to discover 2 ½ year old Aisea on the counter, with the cupboard open, Aunt Lisa’s pill tray out and colored powder on his lips. It took a couple of seconds to sink in, then I started shouting for my mom, whom I was so grateful was still in town!!!

She came running and filled in as my brain for the next 24 hours.

My sister, Michelle got on the phone to Poison Control. Between mom and Michelle, they were able to tell the Poison Control that he had taken just 1 pill and what kind it was - a blood pressure medication. Luckily for us, the pills were laid out in a daily dose container and so it was easy to see which one he had eaten – lots better than if he’d been in a bottle of pills.

Meanwhile, I had Aisea at the sink and he was acting weird, sticking his tongue out and trying to wipe it with his fingers. I guess the powder and taste of the pill was not appetizing (THANK HEAVENS!!!) He was kind of crying, more like whining, like he was frustrated or irritated. He said it was burning. He kept asking for water. Mom told me to gag him. I tried twice, but nothing happened. Then, in a calm moment. Aisea just leaned over the sink, stuck 3 fingers WAY down his throat, and threw up. There was half of the pill. I had to look away and spray it all down the sink to avoid throwing up myself. Watching others vomit without dry heaving myself is not exactly my strength.
I felt more at ease, but was still a little concerned that he may have consumed more than we thought.
Aunt Shell was still on the phone and soon the Poison Control operator directed us to take him to the ER.
At the hospital, my dad and our home teacher, Greg Abbott, gave Aisea a blessing. He was acting normal by this point, just tired. He was interested in the toys in the waiting room.

Trying to convince Aisea that the heart monitor cords were like Spiderman webs went over fairly well. As long as I kept making up stories and keeping his eyes and mind occupied, he let the medical personnel manhandle him. They decided to keep him overnight and transferred him (1st ambulance ride) to the pediatrics campus.

Everything turned out well in the end, absolutely no effects were apparent. My mom came to the hospital whenever Maika woke up and needed to be fed. She would stay with Aisea while I ran home to do the feeding. (Handy that we live just 1 block away!)

The following day, after we were home and all of the adults’ nerves were returning to normal, my mom tells me, “Last night when I was with Aisea, trying to get him to sleep, I was rubbing his arm and noticed a tourniquet still on his upper arm, underneath his shirt sleeve. His arm was considerably darker than the rest of his skin.” She said she ran out to the nurses desk to alert them and they were in the room before she knew it. And they removed it.

This made my heart sink! The poor little boy, goes to the hospital to HAVE something happen to him!?! The nurse at the ER had put the tourniquet on to find a vein to insert the IV and left it there. It was maybe 2 hours that he was wearing it. I’m so grateful for my mom! I may not have noticed it!!!!!

In the end, all was well.

SAY-GO-BE-DO

What is a, “SAY-GO-BE-DO?”
It is just ONE of the life-changing principles that is impacting my family this year.

Here’s the story:
My friend, Tiffany, was in church, singing the hymn, “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go.” Feeling inspired, she began to jot down key words while she sang. When she looked at her paper, she saw the words, “SAY-GO-BE-DO.”

Tiffany and others have developed this word chain into a phrase that is changing lives! It is the theme for an annual youth conference called, “Youth For America.”

Here’s what it means:
Whenever you SAY (with your mind, heart, or mouth), that you should do something, want to do something, could or ought to do something, then you STOP AND TAKE NOTICE!
Next, you GO! You ACT on that thought.
Then you BEcome who you were prompted to become, and
You DO what it was you were supposed to do.

You may have heard similar thoughts, such as, “Listen to the still, small voice. “ Or “Follow the promptings of the Spirit.” BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE DO THAT?

How many times in a day do you think, “I should call that person?” “I should take my kids there.” “I should tell my spouse how much I love him.” And on and on….
How often do you have “good ideas” that would benefit your ward, family, or community? But the ideas fly out of your mind as quickly as they seemed to enter.

If we “SAY-GO-BE-DO,” then these thoughts will continue to come with greater intensity and purpose.

Just one moment this week when I put this into practice.
I was running around my neighborhood in the evening and contemplating the profound concept of “SAY-GO-BE-DO.” When I looked up and noticed I was passing a house, just across the street from my own, where I’d recently learned that a non-LDS family had moved into (in the years since I’ve lived at home.) I had been SAYING – “I should go introduce myself to them,” for several weeks. I had even thought, “I’ll take them a cheese ball for Christmas.” BUT I did NOT “SAY-GO-BE-DO.” It just died right after the SAY part.

So there I was, sweaty, stinky, and on-the-spot. Unfortunately, “SAY-GO-BE-DO” does not have a “sweaty, stinky” exemption clause.
I said a quick prayer and approached the door.
I spoke with the woman of the house for a little while. We had a great conversation, she was very amiable. But of all the miracles – come to find out, she has just taken up running!
I can’t help but wonder, if I hadn’t done my “SAY-GO-BE-DO,” at that moment, would running ever have come up in our conversation? Would I have been able to begin a relationship of trust built on a common denominator?
What matters is that I did follow that prompting and I felt so GRATEFUL that I did.

D&C 30: 5, 11
5 Behold, I say unto you, …for the time has come that it is expedient in me that you shall open your mouth to declare my gospel; therefore, fear not, but give heed unto the words and advice of your brother, which he shall give you.
• • •
11 And your whole labor shall be in Zion, with all your soul, from henceforth; yea, you shall ever open your mouth in my cause, not fearing what man can do, for I am with you. Amen.

It's like LIGHTENING!

I am super excited about a few new things in life - I don't know which strand to address first, but I am so ENERGIZED by them, I just have to share. It's like LIGHTENING to my SOUL and BODY!

First, a BIG FAT THANKS to Kami Mitchell - On New Year's Eve she introduced me to the practice of gratitude.

It is SO different from the simple prayer statements of, "Thank you for ...."

This is WAKING UP and saying, "I AM GRATEFUL FOR ________" and then continuing with at leat 5 things, each time saying the complete phrase, ""I AM GRATEFUL FOR ________."

And then, getting into your "Gratitude Journal" and writing down what you're grateful for TODAY, then writing what you want to have come into your life and already feeling grateful for.

I was in a total FUNK (definition: A trendy word for "Depression.") for a while over the holidays. While I was having some great times, I felt a decrease in energy and motivation (hmmm, lots of extra sugar, no exercise, lots of gatherings with germy relatives, I wonder what was behind the fatigue?)

But on New Year's Eve, thanks to Kami's mentoring, I was able to RENEW my desire to RUN again. And so....

On New Year's Day at 5:00 a.m. when I thought I wanted to stay in bed, I said, "I'm grateful to be breathing." As I got dressed and headed out into the cold, dark air, I could honestly say, "I'm grateful that my legs work. I'm grateful that there is NO SNOW in St. George..." and on from there.

SURPRISINGLY - Can I just say - I felt a physical release - a loosness in my body, especially my shoulders and chest after saying these gratitude statements aloud and literally envisioning them coming right out of my heart! woa! And I ran 3 miles.

Suddenly - I was transformed out of my FUNK and into my CHI. (Definition: trendy term for being in tune with your mind/body/spirit connection). I have been running since Jan 1 and will run 10 miles tomorrow! NO JOKE! I have more energy during the days and feel recognizably more optimistic, patient, loving and GRATEFUL all day long.

Go Ahead - try it - And then tell me about YOUR EXPERIENCE!

(At night I've been telling my boys, "I'm grateful that you spent time with me today." "I'm grateful that you helped me make dinner." Etc. It's revolutionary!)

WHY RUN A MARATHON?

HAVE YOU EVER RUN A MARATHON?
HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO RUN A MARATHON?
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT, "NEVER, NO WAY, IT'S NOT FOR ME." ?
WATCH THIS VIDEO - THIS IS MY FAVORITE ADDICTION!
SLC MARATHON APRIL 19, 2008 ---- HERE I COME BABY!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-8XSit8XyeM

ADDICTION

I have heard and ignored whisperings of the spirit for sometime now.

It's at the end of the day, when I lay down to sleep, that my mind starts to unwind and I think of things other than who is hungry, who needs to be changed, when I'm going to get the shopping done, what we're going to eat for each meal (etc....you all know the routine). Time and time again during these "unlaxing" moments I have had subtle thoughts come to me about the urgency of delving deeper into consistent scripture study. I respond to these promptings with, "Scriptures! Who has time for scriptures? Let alone my Sunday lesson manuals, good grief! I'm too tired at night to even see straight, the mornings are too hectic, and I'm running all day from child to child answering never ending summons!"

And then, during one particular "justification session," a humbling realization hit me.

I have an ADDICTION.

Then the following questions entered my mind like a courthouse interrogation:

"Do you have time to answer the cell phone during the day?"

"Do you have time to read and compose emails?"

The answers to each were an obvious, "Yes."

A final question came, "How is it you have plenty of TIME to communicate with so many other people and you have no time for the Lord?"

From this humbling call to repentence, I began to evaluate how and when I use the internet. While I thought I was not obsessed or addicted, because I so honestly log on only "when kids are sleeping or spending quality time with someone else", (uh, huh) I came to realize that it is my preferred form of escape and entertainment, all disguised by the cloak of "I'm just keeping in touch with friends and family."

I decided to challenge myself -

I WILL NOT LOG ON TO EMAIL OR ANSWER A CELL PHONE UNTIL I HAVE READ MY SCRIPTURES EACH DAY.

Some interesting things have occurred - I was surprised at my own addictive behaviors and responses.

While immersed in the scriptures, guess what I've discovered? They're screaming with prophecies and warnings that apply to our time!

I've had to ask myself, "Great and Spacious Building or Iron Rod....Where do I stand?"

This will be a fabulous new year!

Inspired by Elder Ballard

I have been wondering what purpose blogging could have in my life, if any, other than a medium on which to spread Christmas wishes. Then my husband told me of the comments made by Elder Ballard at the December graduation ceremony at BYU-Hawaii.

"May I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet…to share the gospel and explain in simple, clear terms the message of the Restoration," he said.

http://newsroom.byuh.edu/?q=node/1514

A tremendous idea! With all the spam and smut on the internet, why not provide experiences of faith?

And never has there been a better time, with so many Americans searching for reasons whether or NOT to vote for Mitt Romney, "The Mormon," why not stand up take the opportunity to be heard?

As a side note, I asked myself one day, "Will I vote for Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon?" After a short time pondering that question, I then realized the answer is, "NO!......I will vote for Mitt Romney because he is a GOOD Mormon." (There is an important difference there.)

So thanks to Elder Ballard's invitation, Sai and I have decided to blog our "scripture journal" conversations here. We will be discussing and sharing thoughts from our personal study with eachother, and anyone else who stops to read.

Christmas Greetings

Aloha! This is new for us! We just wanted to find a way to reach friends and family from Fiji, to Hawaii, to the Mainland to send our love and well wishes this holiday season. Most of all, we want to say Mahalo ("Thank You") to all of the people who have made us RICH through their lessons of love and friendship.

Christmas Greetings