Forever and Always.

This post is a hard one for me to write....

I've been trying to put words together all week

but there are few that seem to suffice

Being away from Home and family when tragedy strikes

is something that will forever change you

something that has forever changed me.

My Dearest Auntie Vena

was called back to her Heavenly Home

Sunday November 27th

This wonderful woman

has forever changed the course of my life

and I simply cannot imagine where I would be

without her wonderful family

I remember the first time our families came together.....

We were living in San Diego at the time

and her boys were playing in a golf tournament there

They came to stay with us for a few days

and those few days would forever change our family.

It was then that my two younger brothers and I

decided to play Golf

It was then that we first met our cousins

Tony and Gipper and our Uncle Kelepi.

A few months later

my Uncle and Gipper flew back down

to help move our family to Utah.

My Mom had just had a baby

and moving a family of our size was never an easy task

My uncle drove the U-Haul

my Dad drove our family van full of kids

and we made our trek to Utah.

Upon arrival we came to find

that the home we had originally planned to live in

was no longer an option

here we are Dad, us 7 kids at the time

a brand new baby, and mother who was still recuperating

all our belongings packed into a u-haul

but no place to go for the time being........

But at that moment

an Angel

with a husband and 6 children of her own

took in an extra family of 9

She took care of my own mother

and insisted we all stay until we could arrange for a home.

This act of love and charity

truly exemplified the woman my Auntie Vena was throughout her entire life

Never were you left hungry, thirsty, or unloved in the presence of this woman

her smile and laughter could light up a household

and each of her children are testimonies of that.

Since that time this woman and her family

have become my own.

Her sons are my brothers

and her daughters my sisters

their love and example on the golf course and in life

are something that cannot be given a price tag

something I thank my Heavenly Father for everyday

Because of them

I have the game of golf.

I have a father who has come to understand me as his daughter

I have brothers who are by best friends

and a sister who looks to me in her every action

I have traveled to world

meeting people whom I will never forget

experienced things that have forever changed me

and accomplished fetes that will never leave me.

Because of them

I have been given scholarships, opportunities, and experiences

that I never could have imagined.

Because of them I am who I am today.

The sorrow and pain I feel for this family

is beyond explainable

as Death always is

and throughout this week I have often asked myself

Why?

Why them? Why now? Why this way?

Why ever?

and although I do not know and understand ALL things.....

This I do know

I know that my Auntie Vena lives on

that her family will be together again someday

and that they will forever be one.

I know that as heartbreaking and painstaking this experience has been,

the wonderful memories of love and laughter

will forever out weight this ache and pain.

How grateful I am for this wonderful woman

for the opportunity I had to call her Auntie

in the time she spent her on Earth.

How grateful I am for the wonderful children she raised

and the impact each of them have had on my life

their strength and testimonies are a beacon to all who know them

and I will forever love them with all my heart.

I love you Auntie Vena,

I promise to watch over your boys

as you always did.

I will love them as my own brothers

and remind them of your eternal love for them.

Say hello to my Grandma Eva and Grandpa Jack,

give them my love and take care of them for me.

Until we meet again,

Forever and Always

your niece Selu

xoxo