Pictures from Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission 1989-92 Reunion

https://grandmabloggers.com/2019/09/11/pictures-from-the-2019-tonga-mission-reunion/

Tongatapu Portion of Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission Reunion 2019 with President Kongaika

https://grandmabloggers.com/2019/08/19/tongatapu-haapai-and-vavau-mission-reunion-trip-2019-with-the-kongaikas/

Kongaika Tonga Reunion Trip

https://grandmabloggers.com/2019/08/17/kongaika-tonga-reunion-trip/

Wow, What a Reunion!

Family Reunion at Willard Bay

Camping Out

I had never really heard of Willard Bay, so I did not have any expectations when told it was the locale for our Kongaika Family Reunion. Not being a fan of camping out, my husband had arranged for us to stay in a Motel 6 nearby. Actually, sleeping in a tent might have been better.

The next generation (our children) had planned the reunion this year. Things were a bit late, but overall it was a success. We enjoyed spending time together with our cousins and learning more about our family history. The mountains nearby were breathtaking and although it was a bit hot, and the mosquitoes joined in, we made the best of it.

The campsite was pretty compact and included picnic tables, BBQ pits, restrooms and some water hookups. Each family took their turn preparing meals. We tried to eat the kind of meals that our ancestors had eaten in Tonga. The youngest generation aren’t that used to it, but we had plenty of snacks to fill in the gaps.

We were supposed to have a Family Home Evening, but because of the lateness and darkness, we decided to have a Family Home Morning the next day. We played a game of trying to see who could memorize the name of some of our chosen ancestors and what they were known for. The teenagers were really into it and did very well.

Afterward, we headed for the reservoir which is located twelve miles northwest of Ogden, Utah. It is part of the flood plains of the Great Salt Lake. There is a man made dike with a natural shoreline. Actually the dike is named after a former U.S. Senator from Utah, Arthur V. Watkins. The reservoir is fed by the Weber and Ogden rivers. 

Near the water was a pavilion, perfect for making our dinner and hanging out. The children ran down to the water and mud (not quite sand). They were not shy, and the mothers were busy counting heads. There are two marinas near the campgrounds. Our daring children had rented a boat, water crafts and some blow up floatees

As one of the grandmothers, I tried to let the parents look after their kids, but got a bit worried when a few of the young ones thought they could float over to a small island in the middle of the reservoir (one floatee and five children)! They actually made it, without my watching.

The food was great and the weather very cooperative until right after the boat left with a mother and a bunch of kids. A big wind kicked up and became so strong all of a sudden. There was thunder and lightening and as I went to take a bite of my food, my paper plate and dinner flew out of my hand together with several other family members.

I became very worried about the boat with some of my grandchildren in it. Quite some time later, they made it back with quite a story to tell. 

Thank you to all who planned and prepared for this reunion. I am getting to be one of the older ones, so I pretty much sit and watch and wait to be fed (sorry). If you are looking for a fine place for a family reunion, look up the Willard Bay State Park in Utah.

http://hubpages.com/holidays/Family-Reunion-at-Willard-Bay 

A Graduation Celebration to Remember

They say, when you graduate from high school, you should never look back. Oops, I did!

Recently I returned to the town where I graduated from High School - Orem, Utah. Yes, I was an Orem High Tiger seems like a century ago, but not quite that long.

I thought I would drive past where I had hung out after school, and was surprised to see they were tearing down the old school, whose halls I walked down on a daily basis. Wow, did that make me feel old.

They are building a newer, better facility for the students. It did bring back memories of my glory days as an Orem Tigerette. We were the ones who cheered on the football team and did our half-time marches to the cheers of our classmates.

My Graduation Story

Not everyone has the police and their dogs chasing them on graduation night, but I did. What started out as a very innocent evening of fun turned into a nightmare. We had a large graduating class in 1969. We barely had a second in the ceremony to stand and have our name read before receiving our diplomas and singing our school song.

After attending the crowded graduation ball, a bunch of us graduates decided to hike to the big “Y” on the mountain. Having a lack of energy to complete that feat, we ended up at Canyon Elementary School where we relived our childhood climbing on the monkey bars, reeling on the merry-go-round and really enjoying our freedom from High School.

Neighbors in the vicinity were not as gleeful as we were, and they reported us for disturbing the peace! Soon sirens and a canine van drove up. Police with weapons and their dogs appeared out of their cars, and we decided to surrender rather than run and be tackled by Rover. It was about 3:00 a.m., and thus my criminal record started. Pretty much, that is the extent of it.

Our ten year reunion was held in Provo at the Elk’s Club. It was fun to see old friends and classmates. Our class president had unfortunately met an untimely death from a motorcycle accident. Seven of our classmates were reported to have died. It was interesting to watch the same old groups form. Even more apparent was the degradation that had taken place to several members of my peer group. Although the greater percentage of my classmates were Latter-Day Saints, a bar was set up and by the end of the evening; about half of them were in a drunken stupor.

Some alumnus were disgracefully dancing with their partners and sharing their horrendous life experiences without any shame. Many were divorced and looking, and others were divorced and swearing never to marry again. I felt quite fortunate to have escaped many of the calamities the others had experienced.

It was evident that although most of us had been brought up in supposedly good homes, something was definitely lacking. I believe too much stress on the material aspects of life and popularity (at whatever expense) had overshadowed the more important issues.

Nevertheless, I do have some fond memories of High School, and I am very grateful for teachers and friends I had at Orem High School.

http://hubpages.com/education/A-Graduation-Celebration-to-Remember 

Staying Young and Getting Older

Realization

Four Generation Picture of us - Copyright REK

There comes a moment in time when you realize that you are going to die. For some it comes early, for others later. You can commit to exercising, eating organic healthy food, and thinking positively, but they do not stop you from the inevitable.

My father once told me, "I don't jog because the extra time I live will be spent jogging". We can all reveal our wish for the way in which we will die, but there is no guarantee as accidents, illness, or disease can change all that.

Retirement

If you are lucky, you live long enough to retire. Our latest high school reunion revealed so many of our classmates that have not been that fortunate. After several health issues, including shingles, liver fibrosis, fatigue, and hormone issues, I applied for early retirement and disability. The process itself is very stressful and took over a year. Friends say I look too young to retire, but my body tells me otherwise. A few of my friends and I got together for lunch and we reminisced over our fun times together. One group actually took a weekend to spend together out of town, but I unfortunately couldn't make it.

Reconciliation

You finally realize that you cannot play with your grandchildren as much as you would like. Clothes start to fit better in some places than others. Unless you are blessed with terrific genes, you look for styles of clothes which cover up more than less. Rather than fighting age, you reconcile the inevitable and try to just be graceful. This becomes more difficult as little surprises including vertigo and unsteadiness creep in.

I went to an ENT specialist because of a constant ringing ear and a few bouts of vertigo. The doctor did some maneuvers that gradually helped the room stop spinning. He told me that some little crystals must have got in the wrong chambers of the ear and he had to help them get back to where they belonged (sounded like voodoo).

He also told me that I should sleep with several pillows to elevate my head so it wouldn't happen again. I showed him some ear drops I had purchased online to alleviate the ringing in my ear, and he told me they don't work. Also, someone suggested using Helichrysum essential oil, applying it on the outside of the ear, not inside. I had used both so-called remedies for some time, with no relief.
Because the ringing was only on one side, The ENT suggested a MRI - cat scan of my brain to be sure there was nothing serious causing it. I went into the machine, which is very noisy, I felt somewhat claustrophobic and it took longer than I thought. The MRI was normal. My ear still rings constantly. Some things in life you just have to accept and carry on.

Regrets I Have None

My Dad was recently asked to sing this song "Old Bones" at a talent show. He is 89 years young and although he seems to keep getting shorter, always keeps his sense of humor. His mind is still sharp, and he drives a red Mustang. He is amazing and never lets little things get to him. He still leads the music in church and rides his bike. He misses Mom terribly and can cry just from a reminder of her.

 I have had an adventurous life. I've followed my husband to the beautiful South Pacific and learned about new cultures and traditions. We were able to travel to Scotland (land of my forefathers) and Egypt, and look forward to our next trip. I love my twelve grandchildren, and believe that Grandmas should be a bit chubby to be hugable.

I remember giving one of my grandmothers Oil of Olay for her birthday. She gratefully accepted it. Although there are those who tout miracle products that can reverse aging, I have yet to find it, but I will keep looking.

Family Reunion at Willard Bay

Camping Out

I had never really heard of Willard Bay, so I did not have any expectations when told it was the locale for our Kongaika Family Reunion. Not being a fan of camping out, my husband had arranged for us to stay in a Motel 6 nearby. Actually, sleeping in a tent might have been better.

The next generation (our children) had planned the reunion this year. Things were a bit late, but overall it was a success. We enjoyed spending time together with our cousins and learning more about our family history. The mountains nearby were breathtaking and although it was a bit hot, and the mosquitoes joined in, we made the best of it.

The campsite was pretty compact and included picnic tables, BBQ pits, restrooms and some water hookups. Each family took their turn preparing meals. We tried to eat the kind of meals that our ancestors had eaten in Tonga. The youngest generation aren’t that used to it, but we had plenty of snacks to fill in the gaps.

We were supposed to have a Family Home Evening, but because of the lateness and darkness, we decided to have a Family Home Morning the next day. We played a game of trying to see who could memorize the name of some of our chosen ancestors and what they were known for. The teenagers were really into it and did very well.

Afterward, we headed for the reservoir which is located twelve miles northwest of Ogden, Utah. It is part of the flood plains of the Great Salt Lake. There is a man made dike with a natural shoreline. Actually the dike is named after a former U.S. Senator from Utah, Arthur V. Watkins. The reservoir is fed by the Weber and Ogden rivers. 

Near the water was a pavilion, perfect for making our dinner and hanging out. The children ran down to the water and mud (not quite sand). They were not shy, and the mothers were busy counting heads. There are two marinas near the campgrounds. Our daring children had rented a boat, water crafts and some blow up floatees

As one of the grandmothers, I tried to let the parents look after their kids, but got a bit worried when a few of the young ones thought they could float over to a small island in the middle of the reservoir (one floatee and five children)! They actually made it, without my watching.

The food was great and the weather very cooperative until right after the boat left with a mother and a bunch of kids. A big wind kicked up and became so strong all of a sudden. There was thunder and lightening and as I went to take a bite of my food, my paper plate and dinner flew out of my hand together with several other family members.

I became very worried about the boat with some of my grandchildren in it. Quite some time later, they made it back with quite a story to tell.