Everett "Kamalani" Bradford Janeway

This past Sunday was a very special day for Everett. We didn't expect it to be, but it was.

Auntie Shellie Nangayan is an Auntie in the ward that is very special to us. She adores the children and her and Uncle Clint have always just been really good to our family. She used to be Everett's primary teacher and she has a very special place in her heart for him. Everett likes to tell people that he is Hawaiian, and Auntie thinks that is the cutest thing ever that this little orange-head just knows he is Hawaiian! 

So on Sunday, during Sacrament Meeting, Auntie Shellie felt prompted to gift Everett a Hawaiian name. She thought of several different names and none of them felt right. Then she thought of "Kamalani" and Heavenly Father confirmed to her that that was the right name to give him.  After Sacrament Meeting, Auntie came up to Sean and me (this was Sean's first Sunday back after being in Arkansas for six weeks so he came to church with us!) and told us the full story. Then she asked our permission for her to give him this name. Of course, we said yes! 

After church, Auntie found Everett and she sat him down. She explained to him that in Hawaiian culture and tradition, a grandmother or auntie can give a child a Hawaiian name, but they can't just create one and give it to themselves.  She explained to him how she felt prompted to give him one, and how she prayed about it. She told Everett that "Kama" means child and "lani" means Heavenly. But lani is also used for royalty so it is also a name used for kings and queens. Therefore, Kamalani means "Heavenly Child" or "Royal Child." 

She explained that this name is not a boy name or a girl name, but that it is just a name with powerful meaning. She explained that no one can take this name from him. It is his to hold sacred as his own for the rest of his life. She explained to him that he could gift this to his own child if he wants and that as he grows up, and especially after he goes to the temple, this name will be of more and more significance to him. 

She explained that his name is now Everett Kamalani Bradford Janeway (the two middle names can be switched) and that he should own and use this name with pride. 

Everett listened earnestly and was so happy to have this moment with her. He practiced saying it and gave her a giant hug at the end. He said "Thank you" and Auntie Shellie said "No, say 'Mahalo.'" with a little giggle. It was really cute. 

I am so grateful for the love that we feel in this ward. For the ohana that we have that have loved and supported us through this journey here. I am grateful for the village here that has made this whole journey not only possible but extremely enjoyable. I am really going to miss this place and the people here!

Elder Acosta of the Quorum of the Seventy Visited

On February 23, we had the incredible privilege of having Elder Ruben Acosta of the Quorum of the Seventy in our home.

The day prior, President Erbe emailed me asking me if the boys and I would be home “tomorrow” as he and Elder Acosta of the Seventy would like to come visit us in our home. I of course said yes!

They were here for about an hour and fifteen minutes and it was absolutely incredible. I felt loved, cared for, peace, and that Heavenly Father knows me individually. The boys had made lei the night before and put them on them and it was so cool to watch that exchange. They were truly so grateful!

Elder Acosta said “We don’t really know why we are here. We just know that the Lord wants us here.” He asked about my upbringing and Sean’s. He asked about the kids and how things were going raising the kids in the Gospel with an inactive father in the home. He had some stories to share and insight that just was so comfortable and felt like he was a long-time friend.

Then the boys asked questions. Everett asked “How does it feel and how do you know when Jesus or Heavenly Father are giving you an answer to prayer?” Elder Acosta responded saying that was an excellent question. He told Everett how, when we pray, we are to study things out in our minds first. We are to come up with what we think is the best solution. Then we can come to him with that answer in our hearts and confirm with peace or deny with confusion if our decision is right or not.

Then it was Brayden’s turn. He asked what the minimum age to receive your Patriarchal blessing is. Elder Acosta looked at him and said “You know? President Hinckley got his patriarchal blessing when he was 11 years old. If the Lord is preparing the youth at an earlier age to be able to receive the priesthood, go to the temple, and attend youth activities, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he was preparing them earlier to receive their patriarchal blessings. If you feel a prompting and a desire to get your patriarchal blessing, I would strongly encourage you to go meet with your bishop and have an interview.” Brayden looked at me with huge eyes and said “See, Mom! I can go get it now!” I asked him if he wanted to do it before we left Hawaii or once we got back to the mainland and he jubilantly responded saying he really wants to get it before going to the mainland. Guess I know what we are doing in our near future!

Asher then asked if Elder Acosta thought the second coming would come in his lifetime. Elder Acosta said that he doesn’t know the answer to that question, but that we are told that the second coming will happen in a time of many wars. We have many wars right now. It will come at a time with a lot of commotion (natural disasters). We personally have experienced lava, hurricanes, earthquakes, and that’s just this island! The whole world is in commotion. Elder Acosta went on to say that every single thing that has been prophesied has come to pass…except for two things: the gathering of Israel, which is happening, and the Second Coming. That was profound to me when he said that!

He also said that each prophet has an emphasis. President Hinckley’s was temples. President Monson’s was fellowshipping and bringing people into the fold. And how he believes that President Nelson’s is to prepare the earth for the Second Coming. Elder Acosta told us a quote from a General Conference talk in April 2018 (I think!) that said that from now until the Second Coming, Christ will perform his “mightiest miracles.” To be able to recognize and know the miracles that He performed during his life on the earth alone, to know that some of the mightiest miracles are yet to come is astounding. I want to be worthy to receive and witness and participate in those miracles.

He also told us that there are and will be miraculous indications that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ rule and reign over this church today.

President Erbe advised and contributed as well. He talked about how in order to continue to grow in our spiritual gifts, we need to stay in the light. He said we will notice and recognize when we are not in the light anymore, and when we do, course correct immediately and move back into the light. This light will not only guide us, but it will protect us from the adversary and the things that will try to knock us down and away.

They left our home with a prayer and a blessing, and Elder Acosta gave us some pretty cool promises in that prayer that I have journaled in my personal journal. We are so blessed and grateful to have had this opportunity. I am humbled that out of hundreds of families in the Hilo Stake, Heavenly Father inspired President Erbe to have Elder Acosta come into our home. The significance of all of it is not lost on me, and I am so grateful that we had this time with a General Authority, to be personally and individually guided and taught. I am grateful that my children were able to feel the spirit so strongly while he was here, and I hope this is something they remember for a lifetime! 

Brayden Received the Priesthood!

On December 14, 2018, the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced changes allowing my oldest son to receive the priesthood a mere three weeks later…instead of waiting until he turns 12 in May. I called my mom before I even finished reading the announcement and said “Does this really mean what I think it means??” and a couple hours later, my parents and inlaws had booked flights to be here for Brayden’s Priesthood Ordination.  This past week, Brayden received the Aaronic Priesthood by my father, surrounded by men that love him.  To be alive in this day-and-age is exciting and invigorating.  President Nelson said to the youth in his announcement on Instagram: “You are among the best the Lord has ever sent into this world. You have the capacity to be smarter and wiser and have more impact on the world than any previous generation! The Lord loves you and I love you.”

I am so proud of Brayden and his decision to receive the priesthood and I am so blessed to be raising, with my husband, four sons that are helping to prepare the earth for the coming of Christ.

Having the priesthood in my home is something that is so very sacred to me and the significance of this at this time is not lost on me. We had the opportunity to go to the temple together the day after Brayden's ordination and do baptisms for the dead. (Skipping school to go to the temple was an awesome decision!) What an incredible experience, and one that I will never forget. B was baptized for 59 souls, and I was able to do work for 20. He got a private little talk with the Temple President that really illustrated the magnitude, significance, and importance of the work he was doing in the temple. I am SO grateful that both sets of grandparents were able to be there for this incredible occasion. The church is true!!

We made the most of the weekend, and Hilo blessed us with beautiful weather. We got to eat out at delicious restaurants, adventure to Narnia (Mom and Lorraine went down the slide!), Volcanoes National Park, and the zoo, and spend really great time with the grandparents! We are so blessed to have so much family that supports us, and we feel the love of our family even across an ocean that separates us.

Kyle is Here and Cousin Lisa Came!

Kyle moved in with us for a few weeks and we went on a lot of adventures but didn't do a great job at taking pictures, unfortunately.

One of the days he was here, our cousin Lisa, her husband, and her in-laws were in port for the day on December 28th on a cruise. We got to spend the entire day with them and it was so amazing. We went to Rainbow Falls and the Banyan trees, Boiling Pots, Eagle's Nest lookout, the Farmer's Market, Hawaiian Style Cafe, and the zoo, where we got photobombed by the tiger! I think we decided it had been 10 years since we'd seen each other so it was pretty great that we got an entire day together!

We spent an afternoon at Volcanoes National park. It was a beautiful day to get some hiking in!

And I spent way too much money at the grocery store for some rhubarb. I was missing it! I whipped together this apple rhubarb crisp and it was amazing! Definitely hit the spot.

Asher has learned that when he wants something, his chances increase if he rubs my feet while he's asking :)

I love this view! This kid loves doing his homework and it makes me so happy!

Brayden will be 12 in May and is too tall for size 10 pants so we bought him some size 12 pants. They are massive on him. Ha. This picture just cracks me up.