FAILED GOALS!!!

Goals for 2011


EPIC FAIL!!!  I did a whopping 40% this year... sheesh... I mean really half of these are just because I am lazy or uber busy with work... but really? UGH I FAIL!! Time to make a new list... I'm already almost done with January. HOpefully I will get at least to like 70% next year. I will be making a few repeats bc I didn't get to do them this past year... so we'll see.

1. Take a picture of my nephew EVERYDAY.

2. Read a novel each month (any novel by any author).

3. ELEVATED at least 4 times this year.

4. Attend Rugby 7s w/ the girls!

5. Find a Dentist & make an appointment

6. Celebrate as many holidays with my nephew as possible (if not ALL of them)

7. Another tattoo (preferably a cultural one)

8. Start up at 24 again... slowly get into a routine!

9. Keep the room tidy

10. Purchase new work out shoes (coaching shoes)

11. Pay off 50% of my major credit card

12. Visit my grand parents more often then usual.

13. Make time to visit the loved ones at rest...

14. Make a trip to Texas

15. Make a trip to the eastcoast

16. Start planning Family Reunion (TAUANUU side) (contact family members)

17. Shop for NEEDS rather then WANTS

18. Go to Hawaii in JULY & NOVEMBER

19. Keep in contact with my family across the big ol' Pacific Ocean (email/FB/Call)

20. Purchase a new laptop

21. Attend Delaney's baptism

22. Lose atleast 30 lbs this year.

23. Visit Missouri

24. Plan Nephews 1st Bday party.

25. Go to a 49er game! GO COUSIN MIKE!!

26. Get cable in my room.

27. Keep up w/ pedi & mani's

28. Throw brother's 30th bday party!

29. Start Family Tree from my paternal & maternal sides.

30. Establish a relationship... with a potential lifetime partne

Farewell Gramps

Alalagafa "Jack" Fauolo Tauanu'u... the only grandfather I really got to know growing up. He was special... he was a very stern man with a great foundation on how he lived his life and how his family lived. Although some may debate his loyalty and fairness in monetary or materialistic values... his love he had for each and everyone of his children were all equal.

My gpa fought a battle for about a year and some months. He fought his battle against lung cancer which rapidly spread over the year. He was strong... never wanting to give up. He tried with the treatments... he tried with a long trip to New Zealand to try a natural source of trying to cure his cancer or just slow it down to give him more time... He made an admiral attempt on living...

On December 7th at 2:56 in the morning I lost my grandfather who I have known for 27 years. This was only my second time actually witnessing someone take their last breath. He wanted to take his last breath in his home... not in a hospital with wires connected to him, with strangers in the next room. He wanted to have his final living moments in the comfort of his own home... with in the last few hours of his life our family came together to say our farewells to him... sing to him to talk to him. He left us peacefully during those last few moments. I will never forget my last hour with him... I said my prayers to our Almighty to ease his pain and to let his heart rest. It wasn't even minutes after i said my prayer that the nurse in the room told me that he was on his way "home"... I felt a huge wave of panic over whelm my body and I just stared at him... his breathing became very quiet and shorter with every breath... he inhaled slowly and one by one each family member was woken up in the house. He was surrounded by his family... his wife, children, grand-children, and siblings. As he took his last breath I felt a void... and the tears came... and it felt like his pain left him and transfered to all of us in the room. He was gone... 2:56 in the morning and there was nothing but tears and cries of agony in the room. I will never forget that moment when my grandfather finally left us.

I didn't get my chance to give my testimony in front of the church, friends, and other family memebers. I don't have that public speaking ability. I wish I did. I wish I could have gained the strength to walk up to the stage and just talk about him. So I'm using my blog to do it...

Grandpa... He was the only grandfather I got to share my life with. From preschool to college, he was there to help celebrate those moments. He watched me grow from a little girl who would throw tantrums when she didn't get what she wanted to a young woman with a strong head on her shoulders that was ready to take over her own destiny in life.  I will always remember our family gatherings... all the vacations I would stay with my grandparents. The routines we had when I stayed in their home... Wake up... eat breakfast and out the door tackling hours of tasks just for him to come home and rest for another graveyard shift for ARCO gas company. Watching him work for Agape, doing his weekly duties for our heavenly Father and I would go with him to the bank where he promised after we were done we would go eat somewhere, usually McDonalds! I was always bribed with food and it worked for a while.  I will miss him around the house. Sitting at the table with stacks of papers ... sitting with him while he watched Pi'iga (wrestling), football, and other sports. He would always watch and get so excited to see The Rock and he would really get into the WWF program, I wanted to tell him it was all fake, but he loved it so much I couldn't do it.  We would always debate about which was the better team... San Diego Chargers or the Denver Broncos.... he would win because Denver was so much better then the Chargers growing up!  I will definitely miss Christmas.  The time where Gpa Santa would come out and hand out presents... you see if he wasn't working that day it was a great treat for us to get to spend with him. It was rare that he would be able to spend the entire day with us, and when he was there it was always a great joy. I was always the little elf that helped. I mean I have never really been LITTLE, but he would always say "ok little elf... or santa's little helper".  I will definitely miss these holidays with him. He was the voice of our family. He definitely holds a special place in my heart and is a constant reminder about how much my family means to me... I do not have a grandfather to share any more of my life time achievements with... he won't be there to say "Young lady... good job"... I will miss his smile and his laugh... he will forever live in our hearts... but if I could rewind a little I would tell him how much he was someone I looked up to and hopefully one day my children will know how much of a great man he was.

I do miss him... even as its been a month since we have laid him to rest... it is still fresh.

I miss you grandpa!!!

September 29, 1939 - December 7, 2011. Rest in heavenly peace grandpa!