Recipes coming soon...

To all my american friends!

I have been gathering and collecting recipes of polynesian dishes that I am putting together to share with you all. They will be coming soon! Watch out for them and give them a try! :)

Catch up....

I know it has been a while since I have written in this blog. But I will help you all with the catch up.....

We are now living in Utah where John is working and I am attending school online at Weber State University. I am studying Business and John is an electrician. We have two boys, Litani who is 3 years old and Isope is who over a year old. We have made at least one trip back to Tonga and that was back in 2013. We are planning on another trip this up coming summer and super excited to see family and friends.

I have gotten good at cooking Tongan food. I am still learning how to make Tongan pies and that isn't going so well. I may need to ask my husband's aunt for some help on that one. I can't wait to share more with you all about my adventures living in a polynesian life.

I know I have been terrible about blogging but this time I am making a difference.

Same Place New Adventures!

Hey Everyone!
Sorry for the delay in writing on the blog. I have been so busy with my mother-in-law gone and me taking care of my niece and 3 boys. It is a job I will tell you that. But as far as things go we are doing great. John has a calling in the LDS Church as 1st Con. in the Bishopbric. And he still has his calling at Ward Clerk. So, I never get to see him. But we go to all the church functions together and participate. The funny thing is we have fun!
Out holidays were great! John killed a pig for Christmas dinner. We had the missionaries over for Christmas dinner. We lit small firecrackers for New Years. We saw family and friends from all over the island.
Went to my first funeral gathering. We brought blankets and just sat around and talked. It was fun.
I am in the process of learning how to dance. Way excited about that. I hope that I don't fall on my face.
Weddings have been going on left and right. We have been crazy going to those.
Went swimming the other day and I must say that I for sure don't like salt water. <laugh>
School is starting soon and John will be back to work feeding students at Liahona High School. He enjoys going to the high school seeing old teachers and friends that work there.
Starting up classes again with SUU by taking online classes. I am really excited about that. I will be starting in May. I hope that I get the chance to go the University here and take some courses too. I hope to also find a job soon. I don't know how that will go. But I trust that God will bless me.
I hope that the adventures continue to be this fun.

Fun times!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in getting back to everyone about the wonderful adventures my husband Sione (John) and I are having. And yes we have had many.
I am making new friends here which is a shock to me but I am happy that I am. Wonderful people I got to meet in the course of the month. I can't believe that a whole month has passed by already.
We are loving the marriage life. Yes, we have had our ups and downs but we knew it would happen sooner or later. The most important thing is that we get pass those downs. I have learned something about marriage though. It doesn't matter how long you have known a person it is still trial and error. The most important part is getting past the error.
Another thing I have learned is how REALLY important it is to say "I love you" at the end of the day. Even when Sione and I were not on good terms I felt weird not saying those 3 simple words. Even though I was mad or frustrated at him I still said it. After saying it I found everything to be better. What 3 powerful words right there.

As far everything else. I have my residency for the island. It is 5 years of which I am surprised. They only give out residency for 2 years but I found myself blessed. I applied to teach at the high school Liahona. I did not get the job like I thought. But my husband and I are looking into other options right now. TBA on that.

We are getting excited about Christmas and for the next week all I am going to hear about is "cake and brownies" from my husband. YES, HE IS A CHOCOLATE FAN!!!! Milk Chocolate to be exact. :)

There are a few things that I miss about the states but I am learning to get use to it over here. The only weird thing that I have gotten use to is calling hot chocolate "Tea". They like calling it tea for some reason.

My tongan is getting a little better each day. I am learning slowly but my husband has no problem fixing that.

I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas.

Much love!

Happy Holidays!

Ofa Lahi Atu!

Married!

Hey Everyone!!!!

I am now Mrs. Elisabeth 'Akau'ola! It feels so weird thinking that. But the wedding and reception and dance went great. Some rough spots but we got through them. The food was AMAZING!!!! John's sister did a great job with taking care of that. She really knows her stuff. John's Mom was amazing too with everything she did. She did above and beyond what we wanted but she pulled it off. 

John and I spent a couple days at local hotel with a beach view. Nothing fancy but it was great getting out of a house of noisy kids and adults. 

We had our 'First Sunday' on Nov 21. We had a dress up yet again for that. Blah!!! We were tired of being pulled and jerked around. That day was when we decided to leave and go to the hotel. 

Can't wait to put up pictures so everyone can see.

I still struggle with the language. I have a few ideas of how to take care of that but still I wonder... will I ever learn the language?

Hello Friends! Well, what I can say. Being in Tonga is interesting. I feel more like a tourist but I know that feeling will die down in time. The wedding is on Thursday and everything is pretty much done. Spent more of the time at the immigration center to get all legalized. Typically it takes two weeks but somehow they pushed me to the top of the list. I was grateful. Got to meet Pres. Nau, the stake president, for a little talk. He was happy to see me again. I also got the meet the sealer that will seal John and I in the temple. He was a nice guy.
Got to take some real Tongan food. It is good if you eat right. I also got to have the experience of going to the fish market. Not good for. I felt sick the whole time I was there I saw sea animals that I didn't even know you could eat. But the clams I had were HUGE!!!! They were sure good though.
Nothing else going on. After the wedding there will be more detail!!!

MORE TO COME FOLKS!!!!

Made it to Tonga!

Hello Friends! It is Elisabeth!!! :) Just so you know, I made it to Tonga. I am safe and sound. Things have been crazy with getting everything legal but it is all coming together. I had to pay about $300 in Tongan money to the airport because I didn't have a letter from immigration saying that I can be here. That is weird. No one told me that. But I am sure glad that I had the money!
I am staying with the mother-in-law and John is staying with his friends. We won't get into any trouble this way. But the day does get closer and we are both excited.
John's sister is coming into town on Thursday, which tomorrow. We are going to have such fun. I am really excited.

That is all for now! More updates to come and pictures too!