Keahi's Daddy Garry

Happy Father's Day to my husband! :)

Garry is not always vocal in expressing his feelings and emotions, but everything  he does means something deep. I have always been very impressed with Garry as a dad. I knew how hard he struggled at the beginning, thinking about how he does not know much about babies. I am very proud and thankful for the courage that he had put through in learning things about fatherhood: from taking care of a pregnant wife to a seemingly-never-tired-and-naughty-when-tired child. He is indeed a very strict dad. I don't know where is that coming from because his dad (even his mom) seems to be way less strict than him. He always tells me that it might be from his grandma ( I don't know because I never got the chance to meet her, but, yeah, he loves and admires his grandma a lot). Despite his strictness, Garry never failed to show Keahi how much he is loved. In fact, Keahi is such a Daddy's boy. He teaches the best principles a dad can teach a child to his son. It is always about discipline, respect, courage and cleanliness. I don't know if I should feel bad for myself, but Garry is the one who taught Keahi most of the good things that he does today, which I am really glad he learned. That includes putting things to where they belong, fixing his toys after playing, crossing his arms while praying, and many more. I love my husband, and I feel really blessed to have him as the father of my child (and future children :) ). Happy Father's Day to you once again.

 

 

3 years

I never got a chance to express my gratitude to BYUH. Lately, I had been realizing what a great opportunity this university had given me. I only spent three years of my life there, but those years seemed to be the longest chapter of my life. It was not easy as I thought it would be, but I also never thought what great experiences where there waiting for me. Every single year of my life spent in BYUH had at least one highlight event. It started on April of 2010.

2010 Highlight: The beginning

I arrived at BYUH on April 10, 2010. It was the beginning of the long 3 years. The first week was awesome. Classes did not start until the 19th. I had more than a week to holo holo. I started meeting people, going to places. I can say adjustment was not that difficult. Until school started (and work). At first, it was kind of hard to deal with the diversity of the students. I don't know how Americans would react differently from my Chinese classmates, and things like that. Teachers are also diverse, not only in regards to races but as well as the age, and many other aspects. Work was very difficult! I was a food service worker at the Gateway Buffet in PCC. It was crazy. It took me a while to finally get adjusted to so many tasks for a part time job. There's also a good side (meeting Garry). Garry and I did not believe in love at first sight. We, in fact, hated each other at work, but it was not too long until we started dating.


2011 Highlight: The Wedding

We started year 2011 really good. Garry proposed to me at 9pm on 01/01/2011. If you want to know more about our engagement story, here you go: http://shereenemaeandgarry.ourwedding.com/view/8071302356201917/23584696
Anyway, going back to the wedding. We got married on April 14 of that same year. People always say the same thing, but it is really the best day of my life.



2012 Highlight: The Baby

Our 1st child was born on February 18, 2012. Still in Hawaii. Keahi is the best thing that happened to both me and my husband. He was born healthy and perfect. I still can't forget the feeling that I felt when our eyes first met. Keahi means everything to us. It was overwhelming to be a mother at the beginning, but with my husband's help, things got smoother. We are both learning a lot of things from this precious little child. Our marriage also became stronger and more meaningful when Keahi came. Another highlight event was Garry's graduation at the end of that year.



2013: The Graduation

My graduation is a very special day for me. After all that we've been through, I finally was able to fulfill another milestone of my life. It feels good to know that after years of labor, the fruit is finally reaped, and it tastes so sweet. Being a college student (with 2 majors), and a mother, and a wife, a part time employee, all at the same time is not that easy, but these experiences made my graduation diploma become more meaningful. My diploma contains all the diligence, courage, and hard work that I have put in to schooling. My last semester was crazy but fun. I was:

• taking full credits
• preparing for future job applications after graduation
• an Executive Director for BYUH Student Association
• an Assistant Project Manager of Akin Clothing
• member of Enactus, SCOPE, and Hookipa
• promoted as a Lead Secretary for the Retail Department of PCC
• one of the dancers for the Tahitian club during the Culture night
• all alone in a logistics project for Jaseboards

But all of these are my choices. I really wanted to make the most of what I can have for my last semester. I enjoyed it. I am thankful that Garry supported me on all of these all the way through. I could have not survived that semester without him.

All of these great events happened while I was a student in Brigham Young University - Hawaii. Hawaii will always be a special place to me and to my family. I am very thankful for all that the school taught me. Most RM would say that their mission is the best 2 years of their life. Well I'd have that too even if I'm not an RM. BYUH gave me the best 3 years of my life :) It's not as smooth as it sounds like. I struggled a lot, and, I admit, I also had so many complains about school policies, but in general, I am very happy. Mahalo nui loa to my Alma Mater for shaping me to become a better person.

ALOHA OE.