A little bit of 2014 is already a lot

I think in some ways we have finally left behind the elation of the holiday season - just barely though because there are still lingering effects of the holiday spirit and the noxious feeling of tedium and melancholy when reality rabidly returns with a fever. But such is life and we have to work hard before we can play hard, right?

Kenyon, Quinn and their Mama - Sam Boyd Stadium

The highlight of the Christmas season was being able to speak to and hear Elder Matua’s voice. So much has changed and yet so much remains the same. We heard the slight hint of Hawaiian inflection and the subtle nuance of pidgin but the most notable and the most memorable is the maturity and the obvious love for the work in which he is actively engaged.

We got a visit from Grandma Karen who got to speak to Elder Matua briefly and from several friends and family throughout the long break. We are so excited for 2014 and already we have been humbled and blessed with new and exciting challenges.

Chase (2nd from R bottom row) and his
United Rugby team

Chase is wrapping up the final stretch of his life as a high school student. He plans to submit his mission papers in April and will work to save up some cash before he gets his call. In the meantime he is enjoying time with his friends and ready to play his final season of rugby with his United Rugby Club. We are hoping that they can repeat their national championship success this year.

Mica is slowly (but I doubt ever completely) coming out of his shell. We find our occasional splashes of conversation with him invigorating, promising and mostly entertaining. He has learned some valuable life lessons in the past four months (long story) but there is no mistaking Mica’s independence and his work ethic. He and his friends are once again the anchor and soul of our Freshman-Sophomore rugby team and we’re excited for the season already.

Mica (2nd from L bottom row) and his
United Rugby Sevens team

Kenyon is one of those kids who is a friend to everyone. The other day Jen went to school to have lunch with him and every single kid seemed to know him. That could be a good thing or a bad thing but Kenyon has more good in him than I’ve ever seen in any one person. He is so much fun and such a great helper to his parents. A great student and an even better human being.

Quinn’s growing too fast and is already aching for more independence. We love that he enjoys being with his friends but shouldn't that happen when they are teenagers? We are sad that he’s not our tiny little boy anymore but we’re ecstatic that he’s doing so well in school and having fun with great friends. Now if we could just get him to tidy up his room ….

We just returned from a nice quick vacation to Las Vegas where Chase and Mica competed in the Las Vegas Rugby Invitational against teams from all over the nation and the world. We didn't get the result we were hoping for but it gave the boys time to bond and get back into rugby mode after the long off-season. We also got a chance to see some of our favorite teams (Samoa, New Zealand and South Africa) play in the professional competition.

Jen and Seti - USA Sevens, Sam Boyd Stadium

We have so much planned for 2014 and God-willing, we are confident that it's going to be a great year. Yes, there will always be hardships and trials but we know that we are blessed as well. We continue to enjoy our church callings, our jobs are steady, our house is warm and we are obviously well fed. We hope that you, our dear friends and family are feeling our Father in Heaven's love and that you feel blessed as well as we begin another new year.

Alofa tele ma ia manuia
(All our love and be blessed)

Seti, Jen and the boys

A final football note, camping and serving faithfully

Football is over!

Chase and his some of his Lehi H.S. football buddies

All four boys ended the football season last week and we finally breathed a sigh of relief. Chase lost his final game on Senior Night last Thursday against Lone Peak. As sad as it was to bid farewell to his teammates on the Lehi H.S. football team, Chase was happy to be playing against his friends from United Rugby on the Lone Peak H.S. team, whom he will be joining soon for the upcoming 2013-14 rugby season.

Mica and Quinn both lost their final games but Kenyon's team pulled out a narrow win in their final game of the season. He had the opportunity to play quarterback and hopes that it is something that he can work towards for next season.

We are proud of the hard work and determination they showed throughout this football season and look forward to watching Mica, Kenyon and Quinn play again next season.

Camping
The weather was perfect, the setting was beautiful and just about everything seemed ideal for a great time with the Scouts in our local troop. Seti has been having monthly overnight camp-out's with his troop since we moved into the Lehi 41st Ward a few years back. It's hard, frustrating, time-consuming work but it does have its blessings and rewards.

Troop 1241 - Lehi 41st Ward

It has been great being involved in the Young Men program over the years, especially as our own boys began moving through the program. It has been tough trying to mentor, coach and teach these boys because there are unique challenges with every youth. But we have to maintain and believe that what we do is for the greater good and that we are doing it to help build men.

Seti has been involved with each of our sons in the Young Men program and is now with Kenyon in the Deacon's quorum for a little bit longer. Quinn (who went camping with Seti on Friday to earn his Webelos badge) will be a Deacon a year from next March. Are we old? Only on paper :-)

Enduring to the end
Teaching young people on Sunday's is no easy task. We teach our 14-18 year-old's in Sunday School and then Seti teaches the Deacon's Quorum during the third block of our meetings. These callings have been taxing but it has taught us humility and it has given us a deeper love for our sons, a greater appreciation for the youth of the Church and a greater, more urgent desire to serve.

This past Sunday we had a rare unruly class. The Come Follow Me program is divinely inspired. Even though we have so many youths in our classroom all wanting to be heard at the same time - it is the Spirit that has calmed them and given them strength to be good young men and young women in the gospel. It is hard but it is so worth it! Especially when you see them develop and share their own testimonies.

A baptism
Elder Matua sent us an email today to inform us that he and his companion had their first baptism last week. He's enjoying the work so much but was very sad that he didn't receive any letters from us or from his friends last week. So, we are going to write him a bunch of letters tonight for Family Home Evening and send them off in the morning.

You can read more about Elder Matua's week and see some of his recent photo's on his blog.

Congrats uncle Adam

Jen, uncle Adam and the boys

We have been so blessed to witness the success of members of our extended family. On Sunday we were present to witness the passing of the guard from the outgoing leadership in Adam's battalion to their new leader Major Adam J. Kolowich. The military has been a big part of our life because of the service of Jen's brothers Adam (here in Utah) and Nick (who resides in Texas).

We want to once again congratulate Adam on this remarkable accomplishment and wish him the absolute best as he takes on greater responsibilities with his battalion. He's a great example to our sons!

It's been another eventful week with just a few quick updates.

Another Eagle Scout

Chase - Rippy Literacy Center
Before the Eagle Project was started

We nag. We prod. We kick, punch and poke - Okay we don't really do the latter but you get the idea.
One of the primary goals that we set out as a family was for each of the boys to earn their Eagle Scout rank before they leave on their missions. We prefer that they get it done before they turn 16 but obviously each boy has their own way of doing things and both Kingston and Chase decided that they would get it done when they are 17. Regardless, Chase has finally done it! He did his Eagle Project in December 2012 (a new coat of paint for the Rippy Literacy Center) and had his final Eagle Board of Review last Thursday.

Chase w/Nancy (Rippy Literacy Center Manager)
after his Eagle Project was completed

We are so proud of Chase's hard work in fulfilling all of the requirements to earn his Eagle rank. We are working on getting Eagle projects selected and approved for Mica and Kenyon and hope to have one big Eagle Court of Honor for the boys. We will keep you posted.

Family Time
In keeping with our theme to spend as many precious moments with our boys before they leave our home on missions, for school and to experience the world on their own, we took a drive up American Fork Canyon with some of our Kolowich family to experience the fall colors. We stopped at Tibble Fork Reservoir to let the kids run around and enjoy the fresh clean air and wonders of nature.

As we stood by and watched our boys interact with their younger cousins we reminisced briefly on our blessings and watched with admiration, the interactions between each set of parents and their own children. Our children grow up so fast - it may not seem that way when they are clinging to us as little toddlers but when they are off on they are off on their own you wonder more and more where all the time has gone. We are so grateful for every moment that we have to spend with our boys.

Can you suggest other family activities that we can take part in this Fall/Winter?

A Technology Challenge
In our Sunday School class we talked about using questions to effectively teach others about Christ. One portion of the discussion was dedicated to having meaningful conversations to strengthen relationships with those whom we interact with. As part of the lesson we talked about the benefits and setbacks of technology and showed the video "Things as they really are". The video highlights the remarks of Elder David A. Bednar and the gospel's stance on technology and how it can be used for good.

So much of our time is taken up by technology, particularly social media and gaming that we lose sight of what matters most. We even had a classic example of that on Sunday as each one of us had our head buried in technology rather than taking the time to have meaningful, heartfelt, relationship-building face-to-face conversations. We have taken up a challenge to be more conscious of these things by limiting our time on technology and focusing more on actual conversations. It has become a lost art that we hope as a family to reestablish and work on together.

What are your thoughts on technology?

A Missionary Challenge
Elder Kingston Matua (we clarify this point so as not to confuse with his cousin Elder Wilson Matua) is really enjoying the work in Kona, HI. He and his companion have made significant headway with part-member and non-member families in the area where he is serving and will have their first baptism today! Read more about it on his blog.

In this week's update Kingston shared once again his love for the work but one thing impressed us enough to share with you here - he wanted us as a family to have a missionary plan/goal to push the work forward here in our own community and Ward. President and Sister Warner challenged the members in the Kona area to have a mission plan to bring the gospel to others. We were reminded of this same missionary game plan by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen in the last General Conference in his talk "Hastening the Lord's Game Plan."

We aren't quite sure what we will do as a family to rise to the challenge but we know that we have a responsibility to do what we can to assist the work.

What can we do to help move the missionary effort forward?

We are loved
We are truly blessed to have friends and family who love and support us. We express our sincere love and appreciation for your kindness, your service and love. Our Heavenly Father has given us so much and we pray daily to find ways that we can repay your love and His through service.

We look forward to another productive, eventful and fun filled week! May you all be safe and blessed by His love. Soifua ma ia manuia lenei vaiaso!

Lehi Beats American Fork
On a rain soaked field, the Lehi High School football team did what they have failed to do for the past ten years - beat American Fork High School. Mica's team absolutely destroyed the home team last Tuesday night and on Wednesday in front of a stunned crowd, Chase's varsity team repeated the feat.

When the Cavemen jumped out to an early 14 point lead in the first five minutes of the game, the Pioneer faithful hunkered down for another long night of what everyone expected to be a blow out. But after that initial assault of points, the Pioneers found their defensive legs and held the Cavemen scoreless for the rest of the half to go into the locker room with 14-3 lead.

From the very beginning of the second half it appeared that Lehi was a team possessed. The Pioneers ran in 28 unanswered points and denied the Cavemen from scoring again until late in the fourth quarter for a final score of 31-21.

Both Chase and Mica did very well in their respective games and look forward to another big test this week against a Herriman team that sits alone at the top of Region 4. If Lehi can secure another win and Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove fall to their region opponents this week, Lehi may eek through into the playoff's for the first time since 2004.

Wish us luck this week!

Birthday Girl
Jen celebrated her birthday this year in an unorthodox way but it was exactly what she wanted to do - we started painting our bedroom and bathroom after Quinn and Kenyon made her breakfast. Since moving into our home here in Lehi we haven't done much to change the look and feel of our home but its time to brighten things up a bit and upgrade a few things to give it a newer, fresher look.

As an added treat, she spent the day with her sisters in Tooele visiting a dear family friend, Nanette Abarca who was recently diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. We are all saddened by the news of her diagnosis and prognosis but they were all uplifted by Nanette's positive attitude and outlook, vowing to fight the disease with the help and support of her loved ones and friends. We wish her the absolute best and ask that you keep her in your prayers.

We rounded off the birthday celebration's with the Saratov Approach (highly recommended for too many reasons to list here). Jen cried through most of the movie because of what those missionaries had to endure but also because she's always thinking about her own missionary in Hawaii. We had a nice visit from Grandma Karen who always show's us so much love. We are grateful for her kindness, love and enduring support!

But the biggest surprise for Jen was receiving a care package from her missionary son in Kona, HI. What an excellent gift. It absolutely made her day.

Update from Elder Matua
Speaking of our missionary, we got our latest update and some photo's from Elder Matua that have been posted on his blog. He sounds so positive and upbeat after conference and transfers that its hard not to feel happy along with him. With the news of the tragic loss of two more missionaries this past week alone, we have been praying earnestly that Kingston and all of the missionaries around the world are safe as they preach the gospel. We are truly grateful for your prayers on Kingston's behalf.

Fall Break
The boys are headed back to school tomorrow after spending most of the time lounging about, hanging out with friends, complaining about doing their chores, asking to spend more time with their friends, complaining about doing homework and giving us headaches. But we still love them (somehow) because without them life would be boring, right? We have another busy week ahead as Chase completes his Eagle Scout paperwork, Mica and Kenyon work on their own Eagle Scout paperwork and potential projects, work, work and more work. Life is never dull in the Matua household.

Enjoy your week family and friends. Please email, Facebook, call or text to let us know how you're doing.

Bishop's Storehouse and another General Conference weekend

Monthly Service Project

For nearly three years now we have been attending the Lehi 41st Tongan Ward and as part of our ongoing commitment to serving others our ward participates in a monthly service project stocking shelves at the Bishop's Storehouse in Lindon. The project was started by our former Bishop, Stan Raass and has carried over with our current bishopric. We have made it a point as a family to attend every month unless there is another obligation that cannot be rescheduled. Even when only two or three of us can go, we would rather have some representation there than none at all.

It has been an absolute blessing for our family to understand the great support and assistance that the LDS Church provides those in need through the Bishop's Storehouse. So many lives are blessed through this incredible service but those of us who serve there also feel the blessings when we give our time and energy in an uplifting way to build the kingdom of God. We highly recommend that you, our family and friends, find service opportunities in your communities and in your local churches to serve others.

General Conference Thoughts

After General Priesthood Session
l-r Seti, Kenyon, Chase, Darius, Mica, Julius and Dillon

Holidays are a special time for all of us because of the traditions and the spirit that we feel, particularly during Thanksgiving and Christmas which are fast approaching. But General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints plays an equally significant and special role in our lives as family and as individuals. 

Every six months we have an opportunity to listen to living prophets, draw closer to our Father in Heaven and bare witness that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. As we listen to the talks given on Saturday and Sunday each April and October, it is remarkable that each message holds something of value and importance in our lives and in the lives of the people we love. Some of the common themes were of course family, the atonement, missionary work, serving others and being faithful in our duties as men and women in the gospel.

There were of course controversies that were addressed but I'm impressed by the fact that even when these issues and concerns are addressed, the leaders of the church do so with kindness and love without malice. We have noticed throughout the years (and perhaps this has something to do with the urgency that our church leaders are feeling in these difficult times), that the talks are very direct. There is also a feeling that members of the church must be more bold in proclaiming the gospel and increasing our efforts as missionaries in our local wards. 

We have so much to do and we recognize immediately that our duty as parents in our home is to solidify our purpose as members, teach and encourage our sons to study and live the gospel and to be better examples in every aspect of our lives. General Conference was as usual inspiring, humbling and informative.

Elder Matua Update

We have posted the latest email from Elder Matua on the blog and hope that you will take a moment to read it. We are impressed by the mature tone of his recent personal letters and can feel the intense desire that he has to learn more, study with purpose and to work harder every moment he is teaching the gospel. We recently sent him a package with a stack of the recent issue of "The Friend" because he has been working with a lot of children in part-member and less-active families. He says that kids are drawn to him which really does not surprise us because of his relationship with his youngest brother Quinn and his 'kid at heart' nature. We miss him dearly and request your prayers on his behalf and for all of the missionaries serving throughout the world.

Tidbits

Chase lost in a real shoot-out (final score was 71-50) against Riverton last Friday. It felt more like a basketball game on ice than it did a football game. Let's hope they find some defense to compliment the offense tomorrow against American Fork, a tough region rival. Thanks to grandma Karen, grandpa Matt, uncle Kevin and his boys, auntie Alisha, uncle Adam and everyone else who have come out to support and cheer our football players.

Mica is painting a mural in his room. We have pictures of his progress but he's too embarrassed to share them with the world and promises a meltdown of nuclear proportions if we share with others. So the pictures will be coming soon because ... we love meltdown's. HA!

Kenyon will someday be a world leader of some sort. We are always amazed at the number of friends that kid has and how he seems to be surrounded by kids who are twice, sometimes three times his size. If he is not some kind of politician than he's probably going to be a news anchor or sports analyst because he has a lot of insight on just about anything. We would not mind having an ESPN analyst in the family.

Quinn? Well let's just say we're trying to stunt his growth and skip his birthdays because we can't stand the thought of him ever leaving us. But Quinn has plans of his own plan's of his own. His teacher tells us that he is quite a leader among his peers. We don't like that one bit - he's supposed to follow us around forever!

Until next time family and friends - be good, be of good cheer and cheer for all that is good in the world.

Heroes, Mascots and Missionaries

With Chase before Homecoming Dance

"We're making memories!"

That has been our family theme since last year when we realized that we have such a short time left with our sons before they leave for missions, college and .... other stuff :) We tried desperately to make sure that every 'first' for Kingston (drivers license, prom, graduation, temple, etc) was a major milestone and we're doing the same with Chase this year as he prepares himself for the next phase in life - the life beyond high school. It is such a bittersweet time for us but we are so proud of our boys and the examples that they are setting for their young brothers.

Heroes and the Mascot Bowl
Jen had the incredible opportunity to spend the day with the wife of a firefighter who lost his life, along with 18 of his fellow Arizona Granite Mountain Hot Shots colleagues in July. Juliann Ashcraft's husband Andrew perished in the fire but his memory lives on in the way that Juliann and her children are living their lives and through the inspirational story of the "Be Better" wristbands that were inspired by Andrew in one of their final family home evenings together. In the short time that Jen spent with Juliann (she and her husband were honored at the Lehi High School Mascot Bowl), they were able to form a bond through their love of family and the gospel.

(L-R) Kelcey, Jen, Cosmo and Juliann

As part of his Sports Marketing class at Lehi High School, Chase took part in the organization and fulfillment of the 10th Annual Mascot Bowl which has become a highlight for many here in Lehi and surrounding communities. Chase said it was exhausting but it was well worth it because of what the the Mascot Bowl represents and what it does for the community. Since we moved here to Lehi, Kingston, Chase and Mica have been privileged to play in the bowl game and Kenyon had his chance last night. This has been such a great thing for Lehi and for our family.

Hot Chocolate and football
Chase got his first interception of the season in their homecoming game against Spanish Fork on Friday. After the heart-breaking loss against Pleasant Grove two weeks ago, the victory against SF helped to ease the pain and it was a good way for the team to enjoy their homecoming weekend.

Mica's team earned another victory on a cold and blustery Thursday. They did so well against the Spanish Fork sophomore team that their coaches were able to give their entire team some playing time. Mica has really enjoyed playing this season but he is very happy that he is learning and working hard to put more muscle on his frame.

Quinn's team had a bye this week but they used the time off to work on their fundraiser. If any of you are interested in buying a case of apples for $20, please let Quinn know.

Finally, Kenyon's team fought hard but eventually fell to a very disciplined American Fork team. Kenyon plays hard on offense, defense and special teams but he's always looking for more ways that he can contribute to the team.

More aloha from the Big Island
Every Monday we look forward to an email from Elder Matua in Hawaii. You can read his latest update on the blog. They are getting shorter but we hope that this is due to the fact that he's too busy doing the Lord's work :) We have also received some heartfelt letters from him in the mail and are encouraged by the growth that he has experienced already in the short time that he has been in the field.

He sends his love to all and says that he prays for all of us at home. He is having such a wonderful time and he is making his own memories as he serves the people of Hawaii.

Temples and missions

The week and weekend were challenging for different reasons but I feel like we were blessed tremendously in spiritual things that allowed us to refocus and concentrate on the things that matter most - our faith and our family.

The challenges are trivial - All of our football teams lost. Chase's Lehi varsity football team lost a 37-34 heart-breaker at home to Pleasant Grove. Chase and teammates did so well and surprised us all. Despite the loss we feel like there are some great things that can happen if this team continues to work hard. Mica did well too but his team really fell apart in a way that we have never seen before. We are hoping that this week works out better for them. Kenyon and Quinn had a tough time too and to top it all off we had to sit through another terrible BYU-Utah game. But football games, even with the many life lessons that sports teaches us, they are still games. We win some, we lose some.

What gives us the greatest joy is seeing the joy that emanates from the people we love most and this weekend we saw that light magnified as we participated in some very memorable and emotional events.

First, we spent Saturday morning with Seti's sister Annette at the Jordan River temple where she was able to grow closer to our Father in Heaven. It was such an amazing experience to be there to support Annette in one of the most important milestones in her life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Second. we had the opportunity to listen to our nephew Elder Wilson Matua bear his personal witness of the gospel Jesus Christ as he prepares to leave this week on his mission to Auckland, New Zealand where he will speak the language of his forefathers - Samoan. There were moments when we felt so close to our own son while listening to Wilson speak. We miss Kingston dearly but seeing the smile on Wilson's face really confirmed for us again that Kingston is in the right place and time in his life. We are so blessed to have these young men whom we love so much out there serving the Lord in such a critical time of their young lives. It is a blessing and such a wonderful example for us.

Being with our immediate and extended family always brings us closer to each other and to our Father in Heaven. As our boys continue to grow and as they begin to leave our home, these moments become more and more special and important. We look forward to more opportunities like this in the future and pray that we will always be an eternal, loving family.

Most of our Matua clan at Wilson's Mission Farewell

Eagle honors and more

A Returned Missionary Visit

Seti, Dillon and the boys

Last week we had the awesome opportunity to spend time with our nephew Dillon Filiaga who recently returned home from his mission to Kobe, Japan. He is slowly adjusting to 'post-mission life' and is considering attending either BYU or Utah State but is in the application process at this time. We have been so humbled by his faith and listening to him map out his future has been a real treat. Having him with us this week has filled a void for us in Elder Matua's absence. Dillon has been such a great example to our sons as well as all of Seti's nephews in the Matua clan. We wish Dillon all the best and we will continue to support him in his future endeavors.

Another Eagle Scout

Seti, Eddie and the boys

Dillon, Elder Baker Pritchard, Elder Ean Filiaga and Elder Kingston Matua have been joined in the fraternity of Eagle Scouts by their cousin Wilson Matua this evening. It was a tearful and special occasion for us to join our cousins in West Jordan to honor Wilson as he earned his Eagle Scout rank. In another week, Wilson will also join another very special fraternity when he pins his mission badge to his lapel and enters the Provo Missionary Training Center as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will be the sixth missionary from the Matua family to serve a mission joining the aforementioned and their oldest cousin Iona Pritchard who started the mission legacy for their grandparents Lauina and Mautoatasi Matua.

So far, all of the Matua grandsons have, are currently or will be serving in the Pacific. Dillon in Japan, Baker and Kingston in Hawaii, Ean in Samoa and Wilson in Auckland, New Zealand. What an incredible blessing for all of us.

More football news

Chase and Mica scored victories last week as Lehi beat Westlake in the Sophomore, JV and Varsity levels. Kenyon had a bye this week but Quinn scored his first touchdown of the season and his team had their first victory after two disappointing losses in previous weeks. Our football adventures continue this week at home against powerhouse Pleasant Grove. Special thanks to our cheering section this week - grandma Karen, grandpa Matt and our die-hard cheerleader auntie Alisha.

20 Years and counting

We hit another great milestone in our marriage - 20 years of wonderful wedded bliss. We can't believe that we have survived all of the ups and downs, twists and turns but our Heavenly Father has given us the strength, lifted us up when we were down and blessed us with the fortitude to face 20 more years and eternity together. Thank you all for your love and support. We could not have done it without you all and thank you to our sons for putting up with our insanity over the years. Here's to 20 more!

Here comes the rain

As a family we are still learning to adapt to being 'one man down' in our house. It is amazing how one person can make such an impact on your life and as parents, being without one child leaves such a gap in the natural order of our household that we can't help but ask absentmindedly from time to time, "Where's Kingston?"

We look forward to Monday's now because we know it's Elder Matua's P-Day in Hawaii and the only day that he can send us an email. This presents problems when you're sitting in front of your computer at six a.m. hoping to see an email from him but knowing full well that he probably won't get to a computer until ten a.m. - Hawaii Time! Patience is not a virtue in our house. As of the posting of this update we have not received an email from him but we are hoping that we will receive word from him by days end.

We did however, receive a letter from President Warner telling us about Elder Matua's arrival in Hawaii. It's a blessing to know that he is serving under a humble man who loves our son.

Friday Night Lights
Last Friday Chase and his Lehi HS football team played a great game against Pineview HS from St. George. In their previous game against Dixie HS (also in St. George) they were sluggish and looked absolutely terrible. So we are of course a little skeptical as we took our seats Friday night. At first it looked a bit ominous but Lehi fought hard and came from behind to win. We are very proud of Chase and how he has really committed himself to being positive about his experience and doing everything within his control to be a better player as well as being a better teammate. He is rising to the occasion.

Sunday Lessons
The theme for Sunday's services were consistent throughout all three meetings - Attitude and being positive. We heard exceptional talks from the Rogers family about how our attitude affects not just the way we live our lives but how our attitude also affects those around us. It was another great reminder of what we have read in this month's Ensign as well. There has been an emphasis on these exact principles in our home because we have noticed over the years the affect that our speech, language, tone and a negative attitude has adversely affected our home and our relationships. We're trying to be and do better.

In our Sunday School class, the theme this month for Come Follow Me is 'The Commandments'. Yesterday we asked the youth how they would respond if their peers asked them about gospel standards and how they would answer if they were asked about the gospel. It was a very insightful lesson about how perception and reality about the church is so different for today's youth compared to what we faced when we were young. The world has changed! In our Deacon's quorum the same lesson was expanded to help our young men treat all men with dignity and that by doing so, an invitation for others to come unto Christ would be better accepted if we exemplify Christ-like attitudes and attributes.

It's a new week with new challenges - we hope to face them head on with a spring in our step, a light heart and a big smile. Have a wonderful week and be safe!

Back at it

Its been nearly three years since we updated the blog and obviously so much has happened during that time. We realized after looking through Matua Mania that the lack of posts directly corresponds with the time that Seti started his personal blog. It has definitely been a roller coaster ride for us and the light at the end of the tunnel seems elusive but that's okay because that's the way we do things in the Matua household - on the run.

To wrap up what has happened since our last post on Matua Mania (January 2011) - Jen went back to work at Skywest as a Flight Attendant after stints in Portland, Minneapolis and LAX she is now based in Salt Lake City (whew!). 

After a lay-off and a great time at Ancestry.com as an Assistant Manager for their Technical Support crew, Seti is back at OptumInsight (formerly Ingenix) as a Business Analyst. He works from home most of the time which helps when Jen is out of town and the boys are in need of a little 'encouragement' to fulfill their responsibilities. 

Elder Kingston Matua is now serving in the Hawaii-Honolulu mission. You can read weekly updates from his mission experience on another blog dedicated to the first of many Elders to come from our family. Before leaving on his mission Kingston graduated from Seminary and High School earlier this year, won a national championship in rugby and was accepted to BYU.

Chase was also a member of that national championship rugby team playing alongside his older brother. He has been working hard to earn cash for his own mission and has renewed his love for football. Chase is a senior this year and will graduate next spring and hopes to follow Kingston into the mission field within a year. Chase continues to excel in his academics and spent his Summer break with a group of his friends in Hawaii.

Mica has surprised us with his artistic abilities, his hard work ethic and his athleticism. On the other hand, his sense of humor and the quiet way that he goes about life remains the same. Mica is now a Sophomore in high school and is on the Sophomore football team at Lehi HS. He has grown ... a lot!

Kenyon and Quinn are still Jen's babies although Kenyon has been acting like an old soul since he was born. Both are playing football at the moment but can't wait until the rugby season resumes. Quinn is our lone elementary student where he is a favorite with his teachers and Kenyon is in the 8th Grade and is still a natural leader.

A lot has happened; a lot more will happen and we hope to update you consistently on our progress. The holiday season is just around the corner so there will be more to do and more to report in the coming months. Our family prays for all you, our wonderful family and friends. Thank you so much for your love and support over the years. We are truly blessed.

Pranks, Procrastination and Piety

Some people NEVER grow up! Toilet-papering (or any other form of vandalism) your neighbors house, door-bell-ditching or the flaming bag of poop. Take your pick. It was funny, then annoying and now its just downright juvenile which means I'm old. I'll cut teenagers some slack because I was once a teenager and I got a lot of kicks out of the tricks and I don't want to rob my sons of making memories that don't include an overnight stay with law enforcement. But someone has been playing a REALLY bad joke on us.

Chase and Jen kept getting random private calls on their cell phones. The person on the other end, never spoke or responded to their repeated "hello's" or requests to stop the behavior. That is, until Jen finally threatened to bring in the police. Then as sudden as it started, the calls stopped completely. We're still tracking the calls so if you're reading this blog and you think you're ready to spend some extended time with law enforcement, please give it another shot so we can send you there faster!

How do you get your son to move a little faster? I mean, has anyone else had to BEG your kid to get a drivers license so that they can drive the car you bought them? The one that's been sitting outside gathering dust, bird poop and rust? Seems strange to me because when I was a 16-year-old, all I ever wanted was to get behind the wheel of a car. Until he can finally get that drivers test done (he's got until the end of today), the car will stay parked on the curb and he will continue to walk to school. I'm still not sure if that's enough motivation.

Our work with the young men in the Lehi 41st Ward is progressing towards several rank advancements including Mica's to Life Scout. We're very proud of the Scouts we've been working with. They have made a lot of sacrifices and they have been working hard. Jen and I are so excited for our Blue & Gold Banquet (Jen's in charge) and our first Court of Honor since moving to the Ward. We'll have pictures and more from both events.

We've been trying to get our boys up to speed on the new Duty to God program and that's been a struggle. Does anyone else feel like there's never enough time in the day to get things done? Between school, work, church and all of the sports we participate it, its hard to feel like we've accomplished anything during the week. Oh well, on to February. We're gonna give it our best shot.

New and Newsworthy to Us

One of my (Seti) many New Year's resolutions in 2011 has been to make sure that I do everything in my limited power as a living, breathing, working, husband and father, is to make the people in my life happy. If you're a spouse and a parent you know firsthand that making your household happy is much harder than trying to lose weight, chase chickens or herd cats.

So far I think I'm making good on my promise and part of that resolution is to update this blog regularly. I started a new job (which is actually an old job that I'm going back to after five years). Yeah for new beginnings, boo for long commutes. Thanks to my friend Rob, I'm back at Ingenix as a Business Analyst. If you have a few hours and want to know what exactly it is that I do every day, let me know and we'll sit down over a cup of cocoa and try to figure it out together.

It was sad to leave my friends at Ancestry.com. They were VERY good to me and I've made some great friends there. I hope to stay in touch with them (they probably don't feel the same way).

Jen is still working as a Manager at Greenwood Assisted Living, moonlights as a Scout guru, football (fanatic) mom, rugby mom, mom to the world and the love of my life. She still moves through life at an incredible pace. She is amazing. I'd bottle up that kind of energy but its nuclear and harmful for a normal person's health.

Kingston got a haircut. No more Polamalu-like hair on the football field. His friends and family members are still trying to figure out who the 'new kid' is when we go places as a family. Its so nice to see his face again. He donated all of his hair to Locks of Love, a cause that is close to my heart after watching my mother lose her beautiful hair to cancer. The hair actually goes to children, but its still a great and worthy cause.

All of the boys, Kingston, Chase, Mica, Kenyon and Quinn are currently playing basketball but can't wait until they can get back on the rugby pitch. Practices start up next month. Aside from that, we're enjoying school and our time in our new ward. We're now attending the Lehi 41st (Tongan) Ward with Abby and Sam Havea and their kids. Its been a blessing for us to serve in multiple callings there and we're making a lot of wonderful new friends while strengthening old bonds.

Here's are some recent photos of our family (thanks Alisha!) from earlier this month. God bless you all and we hope you're having a very wonderful 2011 so far.

Another Matua Christmas

There will NEVER be a substitute for the time we spend together as family. Over the years we have watched our sons grow older physically and spiritually with their cousins on both sides of the family and each Christmas season the focus has become less and less about the gifts we give and receive and more about the true meaning of the season, the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ.

This year as has been the case since I was a child myself, my family gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve by enjoying good food, reminisce about the past and contemplate the future. We were sad that Eddie, Darius and Theresa and their respective families could not join us this time, but we thought of them often throughout the night.

On Christmas day, Jen's family joined us for brunch. It was a relatively quiet day and it was evident even with the Kolowich's that everyone is growing older and soon, the numbers in our family gatherings will soon decrease as our children move on to college and missions. So, we cherish these next few years together as major changes loom on the horizon.

We are so grateful for our families. We love them dearly. As we prepare for yet another new year, we pray that it brings us opportunities to serve others, develop and nurture current and new relationships and do what we can to encourage success in our individual and family goals.

We hope that there are fewer heartaches as we remember the death of our beloved uncle Kepi, less accidents as Seti continues to recover from his broken leg and that we can do everything we possibly can to bring happiness and warmth to others and members of our extended family.

Happy New Year from the Matua's!

VISITORS, HIKING, CAMPING and a RODEO IN JUNE

We had so much fun during the month of June that we hardly had two minutes to sit down and chronicle all the fun. We had a wonderful visit from Carrie (Brennan) Whilhite and her kids. They were traveling from Southern California to a wedding in Boise and decided to stop in a for a few days before and after their trip to spend some time with us.

We took them on a tour of the Oquirrh Temple, a visit to the Kennecot Copper mines and a hike up to the Timpanogos caves; all in one day! By the end of that day we were all beat. Grandpa John, Ricky and the Holindrakes joined us in all the fun.

Our first official visit to the Lehi Round Up. I never thought I'd be visiting a rodeo in this lifetime but I can guarantee you that it won't be my last after my first trip. The boys have been before but I think Jen and I are hooked on calf roping, barrel riding, bull riding and rodeo queens....okay, maybe I'm the only one hooked on rodeo queens.

Aside from the hike up Timpanogos, Kingston and I hiked and camped up Alpine canyon in an area known as Hamangogs. We've been going full speed in scouting since Kingston was twelve but now that Jen is part of the Scout Committee, our involvement in scouting is something bordering on fanaticism. Chase, Mica and Kenyon are all very involved in their respective activities, meetings and camps. Kingston is working on approval for his Eagle Scout project.

July is already turning out to be a busy month for all of us. I've started a new job at a company in Provo called Ancestry.com and Jen has completely embraced her role as a Manager at an assisted living company here in Lehi. The boys have all started football and are looking forward to the new season. Next week, some friends and I will host our very first entertainment event. Island Groove will feature a comedy act and two musical acts at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. It should be lots of fun...after all the headaches it had better be!

Looking forward to more updates from our friends and family. Have an incredible July and God bless you all!

What Happens in Pocatello...Something Happened in Pocatello?

The graduation season is underway and already we've had our fill of pomp and circumstance! Last weekend we traveled to the mysterious, exotic locale of Pocatello, Idaho to witness and congratulate our niece (also known as our Starter Daughter) Emma Filiaga, who graduated from Highland High School.

Emma is the second of many who will graduate from the Matua clan, following in the footsteps of her sister Amanda who graduated last year and is now attending the College of Southern Idaho on a volleyball scholarship. Emma has accepted a scholarship of her own from Dodge City Community College and will enroll in the Fall.

We had an absolute wonderful time while in Pocatello with family and friends. At a luau in Emma's honor (along with two fellow graduates Hailey Hanohano and Cassie Valai), Kingston, Chase, Mica and Kenyon all joined their cousins in a special dance to show their respect and love for Emma.

We're so grateful for examples like Amanda, Emma and all the young people in our lives who have committed themselves to their education, family, friends and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A side note: This is the second year in a row that Seti has celebrated his birthday in Idaho (haha!) What does it feel like to be 40? According to the "Great and Wise One" (that would be Seti), "I've waited my whole life to feel this sexy!" Only time will tell how much longer the body and the mind remain intact but the soul is truly ecstatic for the next 40 years!

Heath Wedding
We pulled off the Heath wedding in our backyard and by all accounts it was a huge success. Karen and her helpers did a wonderful job to get everything done in time and the result was a gorgeous backyard that we will enjoy for the rest of the year. Congratulations again to the newlyweds.

Abarca's
Jose, Kassie and their two little ones are now settled into a new rhythm here in Lehi. Jose is working in Salt Lake and it appears that he is enjoying his new learning environment while Kassie and the little ones get reacquainted with siblings and cousins. We have enjoyed having them around and look forward to a Summer filled with fun.

Japan
Ah the life of a stand-by passenger is never aligned with the universe! Our last post indicated that we would be off to visit the Holy Land. Unfortunately for us, hundreds of other people wanted to be there the same time the Pope visited...Go figure! So it was a quick change of plans and suddenly we were in the land of the Rising Sun. What a total surprise and a memorable adventure. We have a new found respect and admiration for Japan, its people and culture. We totally missed out on Israel, but we really enjoyed our stay in Tokyo!

Back On Track

Yes, its been a long time but we have recommitted to getting our blog back in shape. We've reached several milestones in the Matua household, one of which is NOT employment for Seti. Despite what our new President insists is an end to the recession, the unemployment rate continues to climb and the job market becomes more and more competitive. Thank goodness for small miracles. Seti has been picking up contract work to help with mounting expenses and the entire family has made sacrifices to ensure that we survive the economic hardships. We are so grateful for your prayers and for the support from our family and friends. We are given these trials as a test of our faith and we're doing our best to pass the test.

On a much lighter note, Kenyon celebrated his ninth birthday a week ago. He continues to be a wonderful student and has made so many friends here in Lehi. He's looking forward to starting another season of football and has become known in the area for his bright smile.

Mica recently turned 11-years-old and was awarded his Arrow of Light in our last Pack Meeting and is now a Scout working on his first advancement to Tenderfoot. Mica is finally breaking out of his shell (can you believe it?) and his inquisitive mind and athletic abilities make him a neighborhood favorite amongst children and adults.

Chase has really flourished in school this year. He has made a number of great new friends who share his passion for music, art and sports. He says he's going to give football another shot this season. Chase is becoming a VERY good cook and often prepares wonderful meals for our family.

There are so many things that Kingston wants to accomplish this Summer but he's most excited about making money. He wants to referee flag football but for the time being is happy to mow lawns in the area. In our Scout Court of Honor this past Sunday, Kingston was awarded his Life rank and is now working on finishing final requirements to become an Eagle Scout.

Finally, Quinn still rules the roost. He is a great helper but an even better comedian. Quinn has a way of boosting our spirits, even when he's not trying. Its always nice to have a bit of comic relief to get us through the day and Quinn has been a vital part of ensuring that there are always light hearts and warm spirits in our home.

As a family, we earned the Heart of Scouting pin, a religious award that is given to Scouts and families who fulfill the requirements outlined by the BSA. We're so happy that we accomplished a goal that we set as individuals and as a family.

Finally, we are so proud of Jen who has taken a voluntary lay-off from the airlines to pursue an opportunity closer to home. She is the new Customer Care Manager for an assisted living center here in Lehi and we're so grateful that she can use her unique talents and abilities to grow in a new challenge. We listen each night as she recounts stories from the lives of these wonderful, ripe spirits and the funny things they say and do. We'll miss our jet-setting (for sure), but we're so happy to have her closer, where she is the centerpiece of our home.

Once again, we thank all of you, our friends and family, for all of your support. Next on the Matua Agenda:

• A Trip to the Holy Land
  
• A Heath Wedding
  
• Bonding With the Abarca's

CELEBRATING LIFE

Birthdays: A constant reminder that our kids are growing older and we're just....OLD! Yesterday we celebrated Mica's 11th birthday. Today, our youngest son Quinn, turned six.

It is hard to fathom that our sons are no longer the baby's they were just a short time ago, especially as we watch Jen's siblings welcome more new babies into the Kolowich family. Diapers are an abnormality within the walls of our home and screaming is contained within the confines of our television.

We have to admit though that when there are tiny babies visiting our home, cooing and wobbling around on unsure, delicate feet we have glimpses of yesteryear when we were new parents. But those memories are fleeting and we are enjoying the stage they are in now, wondering what tomorrow will bring as our ‘Tweeners’ become true teens.

Happy Birthday Mica! Happy Birthday Quinn! God bless and bring you with many more to come!