Festival 2018

The boys performed today at UNLV. Every year all the schools in Clark County prep to perform in front of judges at UNLV. We have been lucky to watch Mote perform each year with Tarkanian and this year we got to watch the 2 little boys. I requested the day off from work but wasn't too optimistic about my request getting approved. Miraculously I got it off! Nic asked me yesterday if I was able to get the day off and he was so excited when he found out that my day off was approved. Ti had to leave back to work today, but was able to catch their performance before he left.
There was a little bit of a fiasco this morning trying to get out of the house on time. Siope couldn't find his black slacks and almost had to wear a pair of my skinnies hahaha. He is so lucky that he finally found them in the nick of time.
I thought their performance was awesome. I was so proud to watch them play. Every time that I've seen them perform I get overwhelmed with a sense of pride and joy. I know how much they enjoy playing and how hard they work. I'm so glad Ti Tonga got to see them perform. It means the world to them to have their dad's support.

Found a Pumpkin

Mote came home from school one day and sang this song for us. They had only spent 1 day on it so he struggled with the words a little, but I thought it was the cutest thing! A couple weeks had passed since his first attempt at the song when I seen a paper pumpkin in his backpack that he had made. He was so proud to show it to me and as soon as I seen it, I was reminded of his little pumpkin song. I asked him to sing it for me again and I was thrilled that he had completely mastered it... well the first verse at least. To my surprise there were 3 more verses. So I drove home grinning as he sang his little heart out. I had him sing it for Ti Tonga, for his brothers, and about a million more times so that I could record him.
Here is Timote singing "Found a Pumpkin"

"Mom can you take a picture of my pumpkin? Here I'll hold it up for you."
"Not me mom, just my pumpkin. Don't take a picture of me. Just get my pumpkin"

The Power of Music

Today in church our speakers talked about the influence of music. Ti Tonga had talked to me after the Priesthood session this past conference about my music choice and letting that type of material in our home. I decided that yes I need to choose a better selection of music to listen to. It's definitely not something that I should be playing in the car while the kids are in there. I've always known that music is my weakness. I usually do pretty good in other areas of my religion, but I admit that I have never been able to give up my music. I thought that as long as I purchased the edited versions that I was dodging sin. I have been in denial and it took Ti Tonga to remind me that edited or not, the music I was listening to was not uplifting. Our speakers today did not send anybody on a guilt trip. They didn't focus on degrading music, but instead highlighted how the right kind of music can allow the Spirit to testify to us. They spoke on how music most often times can invite the Spirit to bear witness to us more so than any other avenue. I sat in the back thinking "yeah I guess they're right." Then all the sudden we did something that I've never seen happen in sacrament. The other ward members didn't seemed surprised at all. I guess they've all experienced this before, but this was the first time me and Ti Tonga have been included in something like this. It was sort of like a musical testimony meeting. The bishopric turned the time over to the congregation to share their favorite hymns followed by a verse that we would all sing of that particular selection. One by one ward members approached the pulpit with their green hymn books in hand, telling of special experiences they've had with these sacred hymns and how their testimonies have been strengthened as a result of them. Some of their stories were funny, but all of them wonderfully uplifting. One sister told of a time when she was in high school and her mother was undergoing surgery. They were not sure if she had cancer and it was a very scary time for them. The day the surgery was to take place, she attended her early morning seminary and the opening hymn they sang that day was "I Need Thee Every Hour" It gave her courage and hope and she still looks to that hymn today in times of need. Another brethren shared his favorite, "Israel, Israel, God is Calling", and immediately I thought of our Tongan ward back in Kearns. This is one of my favorite hymns to hear in Tongan. I started to get teary eyed as we sang the lyrics. The memory of our old ward members came to mind and it was comforting to know that no matter where I was, no matter what language was being spoken, the same Spirit was there. As the next sister got up and announced her favorite hymn and the piano started to play, I just lost it. Love at Home. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. We sing this song at every Fangupo family event. No matter where we gather, this song is always sung. We sing it in Tongan and even the family that are not members sing along too. I actually am lucky to have a tiny clip of us singing this song at Tea's birthday celebration. I know that when we sing praises and listen to enlightening music we give the Spirit the opportunity to touch our hearts. Of this I have a testimony.

Songs Say It Best

Seen this on Rina's blog, so I decided to give it a try and I'm expecting all my friends to complete this too... so TAG, YOU'RE IT!

1. Put your itunes/media player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3.Write the name of the song. (and laugh at how funny your answers are!)


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
What about the baby?- Wyclef ft Mary J. Blige [haha that's funny]

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Purple Kisses- The-Dream

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Killing Me Softly- Fugees

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Lover's Rock- Sade

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Buzzin'- Shwayze

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Who Let Em In? Phyzikal ft Jazze Pha [hahahaha]

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Worthy- J. Boog [Thats whassup! lol]

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY?
We Belong Together- Mariah Carey

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
A Bay Bay- Hurricane Chris

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Need U Bad- Jazmine Sullivan

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LOVE?
I Love You Too- Aaradhna

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Overnight Celebrity- Twista [bwahahaha]

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Fly- Rastafella

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LOVE?
The Way I Am- Ingrid Michaelson

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
There's Your Trouble- Dixie Chicks [lmbo]

WHAT DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Pretty Little African Prize- Gyptian [OH HECK NO! lmbo who the heck put this song on my iPod!?!?]

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Do It- Nelly Furtado [wth?!]

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Down Time- Aaradhna

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
You- Lloyd ft Lil Wayne

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
I'm Gonna Getcha Good- Shania Twain [watch out now ;]