Cease to have Facebook

I've deactivated my Facebook account as of 14.31

I've set myself a 'realistic' goal not to have fb until the new year arrives. I've attempted at this before, having no fb but failed miserably! lol. One time i didn't even last a day after agreeing to not have it for three months.
Initially i wanted to do this as a new years resolution but feel that by starting now, i'll know for myself that i can do this.

As i pondered today about what i did before having facebook, i learnt that i had bebo. Before bebo, i had myspace and previous to that i had Hi5 and msn haha.

Social media is addictive and the amount of time you spend on one page reading comments or replying to wall posts or seeing what others are up to is obsessive. The act has turned into a compulsive behaviour that you've diassociated yourself from the real world to live in a world of likes and pokes.
In doing this, i hope to change my habits and go from adding a friend to introducing myself in person ... writing on their wall to giving them a call ... keeping in touch on facebook to writing letters ... playing poker to playing the guitar. Soon enough instead of writing a blog ... i'll go back to writing a journal.

Sacrament meeting today was a wake up call for me because of how ignorant i've been to aspects of my life that are really important. I just want to make certain that i don't do harm to the authentic and meaningful relationships i have by obssessing over fake and artificial ones. 'I have work enough to do' (Don't i)

 

 

Manu Samoa

After our epic win over the Wallabies ... i felt the need to learn the Samoan anthem.

Samoa, tula'i ma sisi ia lau fu'a, lou pale lea!

Samoa, tula'i ma sisi ia lau fu'a, lou pale lea!

Vaai 'i na fetu o lo'ua agiagia ai:

Le faailoga lea o Iesu, na maliu ai mo Samoa.

Oi, Samoa e, uu mau lau pule ia faavavau.

'Aua e te fefe; o le Atua lo ta fa'avae, o lota sa'olotoga.

Samoa, tula'i: 'ua agiagia lau fu'a, lou pale lea!

Happy Birthday Donkey

I really am lost for words. Having trouble just writing this post. First time celebrating Donny's birthday without him. I love him and miss him to this very day.

If you weren't at Donny's memorial service the day before his funeral, i got the opportunity to share my thoughts of him. So i wanted to share just a bit of my talk that i wrote up and saved.

THE NIGHT CANDYMAN BECAME REAL ... FOR ME!

Out of the boys in our family, it's hard to pull a prank on me. I have really good awareness and i like to think i have pretty good instincts. Though this wasn't one of those nights.

I was staying over at the Epa household because of training and Vinny was living there. The three of us watched this horror movie called ‘Candy man.’ It was about a killer named Candy Man who is summoned by anyone who looks into a mirror and chants his name five times. After the boring movie, the three of us looked into the mirror and did the same thing. We said 'Candyman' five times and we started cracking up.

Anyways we went to bed and Vinnie was sleeping with Donny in his room and I was sleeping outside upstairs. So I am trying to go bed and the phone starts ringing. I answer it because it’s right there near me but no-one says anything on the other line. This happens occurs again three more times. The phone rings yet no-one on the other line. On the fifth phone call, you hear a voice on the other line whisper ‘Candy man ‘and then it hangs up. I had begun to panic.

Aunty Pauline is calling me from her room asking who is calling and I confidently tell her it’s just the wrong number. In reality I am startled and anxious so I grab my blanket and pillow and go into Donny’s room and notice that Donny and Vinnie were sleeping. As I finally lay down on the mattress on the floor, Donny and Vinnie burst out laughing so hard they fall off their beds and I realize to myself it was them that were pulling a prank on me. I probably swore at them, but definitely remember walking out of the room shaking my head in shame. I was glad that i got to sleep peacefully that night though.

I miss you Donny. Happy birthday brother!!

A Love Song Dedication ....

To my best friend :)

Line of the Day

On a positive note heard this from a guy pleading to his case to his girlfriend ...

"Ill be able to provide for you because they can't fire me, I'm the minority"

Lol ... love it!!

X still marks the spot

Spoke to Quinney last night on the phone. First time in a long time. I tried getting rid of her but somehow she still comes back into my life. This time i'll let her in and hope and pray things will be for the better.

For now, it's ok between us. It's going to be a while to repair this friendship. I can't say we're still friends yet but we're speaking to each other. I wonder whether it's all worth it. Only time will tell ....

I keep thinking about what our Stake Goals for this year to 'give a helping hand and reach out'. Quinney always comes to mind ... i'm still trying to figure out why ...

The church is real ... and very true

Hello Everyone,

I will go on record and say that i will bore you out with my blog. I don't say much nor do i like writing out my thoughts on ... yer stuff! I am pretty shy and nervous about doing this but in preparing myself for this i do feel that 'Facebook' has prepared me for this ... (hrmm not really). So i am slightly looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you all ... I hope you do read it and that you enjoy what i have to offer (a lot haha)

I was so excited creating this blog. I love the background. I'm so proud of it. It's my favourite season.

It took me forever to think up of a title until i came across a general conference talk given by Vaughn J. Featherstone in October 1999 titled ... 'One Link Still Holds' (its a great talk)

'As the world moves deeper and deeper into sin, this wonderful Church stands like a giant granite boulder'

 

I am proud to say that i am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is the centrepiece in my life that i can't live without. It is that one link that holds everything together for me. I said in the beginning that i don't talk much at all but i do speak confidently and with assurance of the testimony i have of this gospel.

 

I will share my testimony with you, that i love this church so much. I love our Heavenly Father and the plan that he set for us to return to him. I love our Saviour Jesus Christ and that he made the ultimate sacrifice for us in dying for our sins because of his love for us all and our Heavenly Father. I'm trully grateful for the scriptures, both the Book of Mormon and The Holy Bible. Each time i read the scriptures, i feel strengthened and happy, knowing that what i read is true. I am grateful for the blessings of prayer, that i can go down on my knees both in times need and in times of gratitude and know that our Heavenly Father is listening to me. That i can feel his presence through the Holy Ghost as i pray and be that shining light in what is a very dark world.

I love and appreciate my family very much and the many sacrifices they make for me so i can live a peaceful and joyful life. I also have a deep love and appreciation for my extended family and friends for loving me for who i am and for making my time here all the more pleasant.

 

A scripture i like to share with you in Moses 1:39 (the first scripture mastery i memorised)

 

'For behold, this is my work and my glory; to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man'

 

I am not perfect, but this plan that Heavenly Father so kindly prepared for us ... is perfect.

This is my testimony, the one link that still holds strong to this very day. This plan, the one link that still holds for us all so that we can return as families and live with God again. I love you all.

 

These words i leave with you in the name of our beloved Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

 

 

My favourite picture of Jesus Christ!