Girls Night Out

Saphire called me to ask me to spend one on one time with her.  We have all been so busy it's hard for me to spend time alone with any of my kids.  It worked out where my mom could watch the little girls so we planned for Monday night.  The plans were a surprise to me.  All I knew was that it was just me and Saphire.  As the time drew near, I found out Ashley was coming and that Josh would be picking me up on his way home from work since he works by our house.

He came to the door in his uniform.  Since we have never seen him in this uniform we had to take pictures!!!

We had a nice drive to their house and had a nice talk on the way about where he'll be stationed for 15 + months at the end of August.

Josh and Ashley switched off.  We said goodbye to Josh and we were on our way to meet Saphire at the mall.  Ashley kind of slipped up and mentioned something about our appointments.  I had a feeling pedicures were going to be a part of our surprise plans so I remembered to shave.  =)

When we got to the mall Ashley got me her new favorite drink.

Black tea, sweetened, with strawberry, and thai walls.  It didn't come out right at this Starbucks so I was not impressed.  She did bring over one tonight and it was YUMMY!!  Wherever she went made it right.  =)  Then she stopped to get us some pretzel bites with Parmesan cheese at Pretzel Maker for snack while we did our nails.

Next stop, L'mour Pearlridge where Saphire works.  I always have a hard time choosing my color.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Well in all my life, this is only the 2nd pedicure I have had.  The first one was 2 or 3 years ago for mother's day with these lovely daughters of mine.  I love having them done but we just don't have the money so it's a treat that comes from my daughters.  =)

  

This blue was not what I was going for but I loved it in the salon.  At home, not so much but still pretty.  I was going for the midnight blue that looks almost black.  I guess they ran out because she couldn't find 

it.

Next stop, surprise walk down the other end of the mall to California Pizza Kitchen.  Yummy appetizers and pretty decorated sodas and waters but our food was terrible.  All 3 of us sent ours back and when it came back my pasta was cooked wrong but still tasted good.  Our waitress was lovely and gracious.

Next stop, Dip n Dots Ice cream.  The girls got rainbow as you can see by their dip n dot lips down below.  I had a cookies & cream and coffee mix, it was so good!

   

We had a great night together just the 3 of us.  It's so nice to be treated by my girls to a great night out.  Thanks to my mom watching the little girls I was able to have a "girls night out" with my older girls and have a great bonding time with them.  They are also like best friend's to me, not just my daughters.  We have so much fun together.  =)

We ended our night going to visit my son Kapono who was in the hospital across the parking lot with pneumonia.  We had a few laughs before we needed to go home, it was so late by then.  It was nice for us 4 to be together again.  It has been a long time.  I remember when it was just me, a single mom and my first 3 kids when they were below the ages of 10 before I married Rudy.  The brief moment we spent in the hospital room together, just the 4 of us was precious to me.

I love my kids.

A Little Piece of Me

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Something to Celebrate...

When my oldest daughter Ashley was 18 years old, she married Joshua.

Today, they are celebrating their 8th anniversary.

Their marriage is one of inspiration.

Through every challenge, they remain faithful and strong in one another and united with God.

I am so proud of them in what they have overcome and for their example for others 

Ashley & Josh,

I love you both very much.  In a time where couples are quick to give up and be concerned with only their individual needs, you both continue to be a light to others.  You both give hope to those who want to fight for a happy, faithful, meaningful relationship with their spouse.  I admire you and are encouraged by your love for each other.  I wish you the best day celebrating your marriage and a future full of the desires of your heart.

All my love,

Mommy

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Twenty Six Years Ago Today...

(please be patient with me, this post is all over the place.  It took me over 6 hours to write it and it is now after 4am, I gotta pee and my hormones are out of whack!  xoxo)

I gave birth to a daughter, and named her Ashley.

If you remember the post titled "Thoughts on Motherhood", you may recall me talking about being a mother of a drama queen, a movie star, and a bride.  Well, Ashley is the one I was talking about.

She has always loved to perform and she has a natural talent that draws people to her.  Dancing, performing, acting, and directing has been a part of her life since she was little.
You would say, okay, that takes care of the "drama" queen part.  And she's married, so that takes care of the "bride" part.
Well... 
Have you heard of Tyler Perry?What about the movie, Tyler Perry's: Madea's Big Happy Family.
If you have not seen it yet - it is HILARIOUS!!!  It's a must see as is ALL of Tyler Perry's creations.

http://www.madeasbighappyfamilymovie.com/index.html

Ashley was a featured extra in the movie.  Meaning that she was asked to go down, was not only chosen out of many and the only one to be picked out of the 15 left standing but she was paid - good.  Not only did they like her immediately but they did not need to change anything about her.  They loved her look, hair and makeup and her wardrobe that she showed up in and had on after a long drive and all day wait.
She was in the same room as Tyler Perry himself.  She is in the scene at the fast food place and she's wearing a bright fuchsia top.
Movie star!!!
Yeah, not literally, but she was in the movie and she's a star.  Her middle name "Hokulani" means Heavenly Star.  Hoku = star, Lani = heavenly. I know, she was born to be a star.  Aww!!  I told her that and she wasn't too impressed.
Yes, I know this has nothing to do with her birthday but we were pretty excited about it.  So much so that when we went to preview the movie with her and a group of friends, my other daughter, Saphire and I had her autograph our tickets and our bodies.  I know, crazy right?  But that's just the way we are.
She's been in a couple of other things too recently but I can't recall what the names were.  I know, bad mommy right?
Ashley loves to be in the arena of performing arts and that is her calling and where her passion lies.  Her strong, bubbly personality fits so well in this area.
If you were to meet her, you would LOVE her.  She is fun, energetic, full of life, passionate, expressive, emotional, sensitive, BOLD, and ALWAYS the life of any party.
Know what?  We are total opposites.  I admire her that she will go after what she wants, not care what people think, put her whole heart and soul into something and will push through no matter what.
We have had our share of challenges when she was growing up.  Especially with me being a single mom and she being the oldest of 3 when she was little.  Times got so challenging that at one point she went to live with her paternal grandmother.  Things got worse and we grew apart for a long time.
The best thing that has happened to her?  Her husband Josh.

Two total opposites that just fit.  Ashley got married when she was 18 years old.  Her marriage to Josh has been one of inspiration.  They blend so well together and work together.
Right now they are in their second year of being a part of the drama department for their church.  Ashley is going on her second year of directing their major holiday productions.  The current one "All Scrogged Up".
Anyway, This is getting long and I have no idea where I'm going with this.  It is now 3:40am and I've been working on this for 6 hours, yikes!
Ok, enough with the intro... here we go....  =)

Ashley, I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.  I know I have told you this before but I am telling you again... I was 15 years old when I got pregnant with you and barely 16 years old when I gave birth to you.  Looking back, I truly believe that God used you to save me.  If it was not for you coming into my life, I had everything available to me to go down the road of destruction spiraling out of control.  If I did not have you to care for and love, I would most likely have taken that road.

Although your life was not easy with me as your mom and we have had many huge challenges between us, I love you so much.  I am grateful for you.  Not only that  you were entrusted to me by God but because of the person you are.  You challenge me and push till you know you can't push anymore.  I know I can trust you to be that powerful force in my life that at times I need but may not want.  I love that you don't care what people think and will do the right thing no matter what.  You will protect those you love in any way, shape, or form and ask questions later.

I hope you know how much I love you.  I know we don't get to spend much time together or have the ideal mother-daughter relationship.  I mean, who forgets their daughter is theirs even for a split moment?  =)  It's not because you are not on my heart as a daughter but because I was such a young mom, you have become my friend and the relationship we have is much more than just mother-daughter.

I love you so much Ashley, more than you could ever imagine and more than you will ever know in your lifetime.  There are no words to express and no way of showing it.
I wish for you the best birthday!
Wait, there's more...  scroll down for a special message...

A special birthday message from Josh...

What can I say about Ashley White?.... Well, she is the love of my life! In the beginning we had many ups and downs, but over time with the help of God, we have had a tremendous turn around. If I had to have one word to describe Ashley, it would be "passionate." No matter what or who she cares about it, she does so with extreme passion. A lot of people don't understand this about her. For some people, this is hard to be around. For others, it's a delight. Either way, it is who she is. She is not faking. That is who she is. Our relationship suffered early on because we are so different. But, at the same time, that is why God brought us together. Because in a relationship, both parties must bring the other to a completely different level. She brings me up to a completely new level of caring for others. We are opposites because that is exactly what each of us need. I love her for that. And I love her for her! Happy Birthday honey!

We all love you Ashley!!  Have a wonderful day!!

Love,Mommy

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Photo Shoot Featuring My Three Oldest Daughters

You guys are going to LOVE this!  

Some very lovely things that I have won being modeled by my daughters.  They loved it so much that they begged and pleaded to take these lovelies home with them.  =)

My 3 oldest girls.  Saphire (22), Ashley (26), and Aleshanee (6)
Headbands: Enticing Treats

Ashley
Necklace: Rellas Bellas

Aleshanee
Headband: Magpies and Fireflies

Saphire
Headband: Enticing Treats
Necklace: Miss Mommy

Ashley
Headband: Magpies and Fireflies
Saphire
Headband: Enticing Treats
Necklace: Miss Mommy

Saphire

Headband: Enticing Treats

Necklace: Miss Mommy

Saphire

Headband: Enticing Treats

Necklace: Miss Mommy

Behind the Scenes Blooper Shots
(they wanted these included)

You all should have been here, yes, it was as fun and hilarious as it looks.

Necklace: A Little Piece of Me
The first fabric flower necklace I ever made last year for my niece.  She wore it to a party on Sunday.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as we did making this for you all to see!!!

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Share Your Joy:: Coming back to us

I'm having a kind of a bad day today.  Not feeling like doing much.

Then I came across this linky party over at high heels 2 flip flops and I wanted to play along.

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This is one of my favorite photos which was taken recently.  It shows my 3 year old Dakota with her older brother, Kapono.  I was so happy I captured this moment.  This is the day that her older siblings came to play with her after her near drowning at a community pool.  

{Dakota and Kapono having fun at the playground}

It was the first time she opened up and started to show that she was ok emotionally and was willing to interact with others, especially big sister Ashley who was the one who found her and saved her life.

{This is the moment Dakota finally opened up to
Ashley and hugged and smiled at her}

It was a scary time for all of us and we are so grateful she is fine.  In fact, while she was recovering in the hospital she seemed to have blossomed and become an even smarter little lady.

{having fun with toys from the hospital playroom}

{heading home with new friends given to her by hospital staff }

She will be 4 years old this year on Thanksgiving Day.  We will be celebrating her life with a lot more gratitude because God allowed us to keep our little girl.  

All my heart,

Salena

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