Throw Back Thursday - The Perfect Dad for Me.

Must have been a good book.

I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who are celebrating their dads this week. And I'm sure that many of them are saying things like "I have the best dad in the whole wide world!" and "My dad is the greatest dad EVER!" Now I know I have been one to say some version of these things, but as I was looking at these pictures last night I realized that there is more to being a dad than being the best at it. When you include the word best you make fatherhood out to be a competition - and it isn't. All dads walk the path differently. There are so many wonderful and caring fathers out there, but at the end of the day, I'm so very glad to call Dick Pederson my dad.

What I've learned is that in 1984 God blessed me with a dad ...who is perfect for me.

And the older I get the more I realize why he is the perfect dad for me.

Dick P. is far from perfect.
In fact, I'd call him perfectly imperfect.

He is a wonderful combination of loving, compassionate, selfless, goofy, sometimes serious, and friendly.

He's taught me to constantly be exploring and appreciating the world in which we live.
He treats everyone with respect even if they think differently than he does.

I think he's special for many reasons - he's the ultimate encourager, he's a great hug giver (even when I don't want them), he's a man of great faith, and he can talk to anyone on Earth about anything. He's devoted to his family and is a wonderful husband to my mom. And he's not perfect, not even close, and that makes me love him all the more. My dad didn't try to be a super hero or the best dad while I was growing up but I know that he tried to give me the best upbringing he knew how. He never tried to hide his flaws and in doing so has taught me that it's okay to recognize and embrace my own.

When I was little Dad noticed the things that brought me joy, recognized my talents (and celebrated them!), and made me feel like anything I could put my mind to was possible. When I made the B-team in basketball he made it feel like I had been a first round draft pick in the NBA. When I gifted him the world's ugliest tie (covered with deer, trees and a turkey), he made it seem like it was more precious than gold. He made me feel special (and still does) and he does that for my brother and sister too.

I'm a really lucky girl and I don't tell him that enough.

Thanks for being you, Dad ... perfect for me.

Exploring the sweet awesomeness of autumn with Dick P.

A little eva pe [volume 1]

Eva pe means "just wandering around" in Tongan and, aside from sitting under the mango tree, is one of those things that I just love to do. I've been eva-ing much more frequently now that the weather is breezy and amazing.

I always begin by leaving the school gate alone and end up with at least 10 children happily walking with me. It's a great way to practice Tongan and it's so much fun to get outside and say "hello" to as many people as I can in the little village. It's also good to get in a little fakamalohisino (exercise) whenever I can.

Here's what went on during my eva today.

I started out my adventure by walking past Kalo's house. She ran down the street and threw herself into my arms and then got really shy. Here she is sporting an amazing Bart Simpson t-shirt and asking her mom if it is okay to walk with me.

 Very soon Kalo and I were joined by 'Emosi (Kalo's brother) and Ana.

 Kalo chatted with me all the way to the other side of the village where we met up with Mosese.

 Mosese had climbed an orange tree and was shaking it so that all the ripe little oranges would fall. Kalo sure thought he was funny. She ran around underneath the orange tree's branches giggling and picking up any orange that fell.

 Then Wayne met up with us. Wayne's one of those cool kids who doesn't even know he's cool (see the popped collar?).

Later Mosese jumped down to show us the stash of moli (oranges) he had collected. He shared one with each of us and they were very mahi (sour).

 And then we continued on down the road past Epenisa's house.

 And then a little puppy got attached to Kalo and started following us too.

 And right before we finished our eva we had to be careful to cross the street because Latu and his brother were demonstrating a common form of transportation in my village. And having so much fun while doing so - there was a lot of giggling!

I loved today.

I love to eva.

Wordless Wednesday.

Life According to... [Volume 4]

It's been a little (ok, a long) while since I've done a "Life According to..." post so I thought we'd explore the world through the eyes of Lionasi (pronounced: Lee-oh-nah-see). 

There are five kids in Lionasi's family - she is the oldest. No matter where I see her she yells my name even though I'd consider her to be quite shy. She always arrives to school with the most impeccable braids and she at recess she is most likely found playing moa (jacks) with the other girls in Class 4 and 5.

Here's a little bit of what I've learned from her over the last two years...

Sometimes if you don't know... it's okay to just smile. Whenever Lionasi doesn't understand something in English class, instead of copying off of her neighbors' papers like the majority of her peers (they have such a fear of being wrong!) she just sits and smiles at me and I know she needs help. I appreciate that she would rather wait for help then fakasiosio (peek).

Keep exploring. Lionasi is always exploring and wanting to learn more. She doesn't say much but you can tell that she continues to take in and question the world around her.

Play is important. The girl loves to jump and finds an excuse to play, jump or dance whenever she can.

Thanks for teaching me, Lionasi!

Check out what I learned from Gloria, Touna and Soni.

The magic we have been looking for in life usually begins when we see it in small things.

There is a tree next door that my students found last week that was full of these little guys, chrysalises, and butterflies. They were so excited and many of them took them home to share them with their families. What a neat lesson in science, too!

What's been happening...

Sorry for the radio silence recently. I've been spending lots of time outside with my students and doing things that are meaningful to me and my service here and I haven't had much time to sit down and write it all out.

I cannot believe that I'll be leaving this place in roughly 4 months. It's hard to imagine not being in Tonga anymore. I don't really want to think about it and I'm trying to just enjoy the little things now and trying not to over think things (Have I helped the people of Tonga? What will my legacy here be? Have I made this place better than when I found it?)

Here's what's been up recently...

practicing/ Tongan. I'm still trying to get better at the language but my motivation and strength in it seems to ebb and flow like the tides of the South Pacific. I haven't given up hope yet!

moving/ around more! My joints have been feeling so much better recently. Thank you, God!

learning/ what it's like to have a working computer and a working copy machine in school. It's been such a blessing to have one now. (The PTA raised enough money to purchase these two items and I've forgotten what it's like to teach or lesson plan with them!)

trying/ to get back into shape. Not sure if you saw that Tonga was in the news the other day (they take the crown for fattest nation in the world) and I don't want to be part of that statistic. 

playing/ games with my students. They love playing a version of jacks called Moa. Only they don't use jacks... they use rocks instead... because they are easier to find.

wearing/ long sleeves. The trade winds are back in full force and it's getting down to a chilly 69 degrees at night! Woo-hoo! This cold-weather-loving girl is very very happy.

cooking/ apple cinnamon rolls ... there are in the oven as we speak and oh my word do they smell great. 

working/ on preparing for the King's visit in a few weeks. I've been practicing ta fuka (literal translation: draw the flag) with the kids of the island. They wear red or white and create the flag based on how they stand and then we sing happy birthday to the king and then we will all take part in a fun aerobics/zumba routine.

adventuring/ around the island. Last night we were able to go out to a little Spanish tapas restaurant (special treat!) and next weekend we are traveling out to one of the prettiest beaches in all of Tonga.

Hope you are having a great week! 

Vava'u Library Fun Day

My first big task as chairperson for the Vava'u Library Committee was helping out with the Vava'u Library Fun Day. You may remember this post from last year.

It was a morning full of games...

...face painting...

...food...

...laughter... 

and fun! 

And the great news? 

We were able to raise twice what what did last year! About $1,000! Woo hoo!

The money that we raised will go to fix the windows and roof of the library and provide scholarships to local students. It was really meaningful to see how much the community is behind the library (which also happens to be one of the oldest organizations on the island!)