2009 Inventory

Aloha friends, it is time for an inventory of 2009:

It was pretty good!

This past year I lived with a friend of mine and her family. They were so kind to take me in and allow me to live with them for about 15 months! Being with them has definitely been a blessing in my life. I learned about peace and Charity and how to be more selfless, all very important qualities of a happy home!

This year I was fortunate enough to work as a babysitter for my niece and nephew. It was fun, I got to watch them grow up and in the summer I started working at Farrell's Restaurant as a cook and then a server later in the year.

Now, I'm moving to Moloka'i, moving in with my grandparents and hopefully things will work out for all of us. I am looking to continue my education and to help around with my grandpa's farm. I keep telling people that I'm going to play FarmTown for real over there. I'm ready for a change in my life and this is where it's going for now.

This year was a year of Genealogy for me. I have accomplished many things with the help of strangers and family members alike. There are so many kind people who are willing to share information, people that I wouldn't have met had I not been looking for ancestors who have passed several generations ago. It has been interesting and a lot of fun seeing the scripture in Malachi come true, the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. Gotta love prophecy!

On Moloka'i I hope to further my investigation of my roots and current living relatives. I personally feel like I find treasure when I meet cousins who welcome me with open arms, even though we're meeting for the first time. The journey has been exciting and I have made contact with people in an effort to find dead relatives. Never had I thought that I could just call up a perfect stranger that I stalked because we shared a grandmother or great grandfather. One of the greatest discoveries was finding out that one of my best friends was actually my cousin! How rad is that? Honestly!

On a bittersweet note, my grandma Jean passed away this year. She was 86 and slowly deteriorating before our eyes. I can't speak for everyone but personally, I'm happy that she is at rest and in her right mind. I never knew her with the strength of her memory and personality in tact and can't wait to meet her again to learn that side of her. One day I'll be able to meet my grandpa as well who died before I was born.

Lots of things happened last year, good and sad. New friendships were formed, a friendship was strengthened, obsessions took flight and health got better. All in all, 2009 felt like a strange year in its birth last January and I can see why now but it wasn't bad, just strange.

Welcome to earth 2010! May this year not be so square and full of adventure :) May we all have the strength to become the people we want to be and to do it with patience and understanding for everything around us. Happy 2010!