Little League

When my oldest boy, Simi was 8 years old our neighbors the Ebelings kept telling us to sign him up for Brighton Little League Football.  We didn't know much about it and decided against it that year. The next year he was 9 and our youngest Jeremy was 8. We caved in and signed them up to play.

Boy! Was I in for a shock!  Brighton's Little League program was a very well oiled machine with lots of politics.  They had tryouts for these little kids and were told the "A" team was the team to be on.  Our oldest boy was a whole year stronger, bigger and faster than the younger one.  They selected him for the "A" team and put Jer on as a consolation because Simon offered to help coach. Didn't realize at the time that Simon would love coaching his boys so much that it would be years before I had his full attention during football season!
After football came Junior Jazz basketball.  Again Simon was coaching.  Spring Lacross tryouts were encouraged by some friends and we sadly found out Brighton didn't have a team.  So we headed out south and tried out for Alta's Lacross team.  The coach for Alta was amazing with Simi.  We made so many friends and played out there for 2 years until Brighton finally organized some teams.

By now Simon was coaching year round.  I was sadly last on the priority list.  Our boys were on Super League basketball teams during the winter, playing Brighton Lacross and Mecury Track during the spring and Brighton Football in the Fall. Murray Rugby replaced Lacross a few years later.  I quickly learned how fun sports were when you were cheering on your own kids!

When Simi was in 5th grade rumors started spreading during the football season that we were not in the boundaries for Brighton.  At the end of the season our neighbors down the street were kicked out of the program because of boundary issues.  We kept our head low and prayed that it would all get worked out.

That spring we were forced to play for either a boundary school or a private school.  The boys and Simon were heartbroken.  We contemplated pulling the boys out of sports until they could play with their friends.  We fought with the district almost winning a boundary dispute.  In the end we chose Juan Diego.  That Lacross season was one of new friends, new coaches and the wearing of Blue and White instead of Orange and Blue.

That year our new friends invited us to the annual Festival of Roses at Juan Diego.  What a awesome celebration and fundraising event for the Catholic School.  The Fehoko's were welcomed with open arms into this tight knit community and we felt loved.  Thankful we didn't give up sports!

Football season was approaching fast and the Fehoko's were excited to be a part of such a great athletic program.  The football program didn't know much about our boys except what they had heard from the coaches and friends from Lacross.  Simon interviewed and was chosen to be the assistant coach to Coach Hoffman and Coach Jesse.  The Fehokos aren't afraid to work  hard and they immediately started earning their keep.  Simi and Jeremy proved that they would be an important part of their teams and slowly earned the respect of teammates and coaches. This was a great year for Simi's team who hadn't won a game in 5 years.  The Fehoko's were commonly known as the Mormon boys who didn't swear.  This team said prayers at practice along with scripture thoughts given by selected boys but they all swore like sailors. lol  When it came to game time every player knelt in a circle and prayers and Hail Mary's were offered.  The first time Simi was asked to give a scripture and prayer he was so nervous but recited a Book of Mormon scripture to his Catholic teammates and then closed with a traditional LDS prayer.  What a significant learning experience for my young boy!

Under the direction of a great staff these boys played fantastic!  They ended up in the play off game against Tooele.  The head coach was out of town and Coach Simon and Coach Jesse lead these boys to a championship win!  I've never seen such gratitude, humility and joy in the faces of these boys!  Tears were shed from players and parents alike!  After five straight years of loosing  they finally went all the way to be the Champions in their division!  In my eyes there wasn't a young man there that didn't deserve it!  Simi lead the team in the traditional Haka after the game and Jer was the designated water boy (and handsome one at that!) since his team didn't make it to the playoffs. :)  A momentous day, for sure!

Our boys have been blessed beyond measure when it comes to significant individuals in their lives.  The friends they have made at all the different schools in the valley make it so fun to play any sport. There usually isn't a game that they don't have a friend on the opposing team. 

This year, both our boys are back at Brighton, where our boys like to call "home".  They again have to work hard for their place on the team.  These boys are blessed to have Coaches from all over the valley calling and giving them encouragement and platitudes this year.  Coach Hoffman even came to watch and support one of Simi's games this season.  What great influences and amazing friends we have made through sports.  Thank you to every single individual who have helped raise our boys into young men.  You have taught them ethics, hard work, team work, humbleness, tolerance, sportsmanship and above all to never give up!   Thank you for the Fakapale- Coaches and Friends!

Brown Skinned Boy

When I was a little girl my dad took me to a Bees game.  I don't think it was very entertaining because I don't remember much.  What I do remember is telling my dad that I thought the Black guy out on the field was super HOT!  I think I have such a vivid memory of this game because of the reaction I got from my father.  He was born in the 50's, raised in Tooele and a big country boy.  I never thought my dad was racist, just super opinionated when it came to people from origins other than America.  I always heard racial slurs, jokes and opinions about immigration in my home. Imagine his dismay when his cute little daughter thought black boys were good looking?  I'm pretty sure his reaction planted a seed somewhere in my subconscious.

I wasn't necessarily surround by ethnic kids growing up.   During high school I can only remember one kid that was black, and he was adopted for heck's sake!  For the record, I wasn't attracted to him.  He was a nerdy boy, super smart and wore really big glasses (pretty popular for the day).  I don't even remember if he played sports.  I think he was in the Drama Club?

I went away to Dixie College when I was 19.  I had worked a year out of high school and saved enough money to pay for my first semester of college by myself.  My dad said if I wanted to stay after the first semester he would pay for the remainder of college.  I moved into student housing across from campus.  Our complex was three stories, double sided.  I was on the middle floor on the right side, sharing our apartment with 6 girls.  Boys lived on the left side of the complex.  The bottom left side was inhabited by 5 brown skinned football players and one random white guy.  That apartment was always partying.  I didn't pay much attention to them until early December of that year.

Those boys only had one car between them and it was a gold, rusted out, two door Honda hatchback.  Those boys would pile up in that car.  I never could figure out how they all fit.  It was like a clown car at the circus.  I drove a pretty sporty Suzuki Samurai, white pin stripped, with my name hand painted on the driver's door.  Yes, I was spoiled!  In December, the brown skinned owner of that gold Honda  started asking me every time he saw me,  "When are you taking me out?"  With a huff of disgust I would reply, "When are YOU taking ME out?"  I had never been asked such a question.  And to imagine, Me taking out a boy?  I thought, "In his DREAMS!"  Well, he never stopped asking and it became a running joke.  My initial reaction turned to infatuation with his determination.  When ever he was with his friends he would ask the same question, my reply however, turned to, "Sure do LIKE YA!"  His friends would laugh, poke or slap him, and just tease him unrelentingly at my response.  

Returning from Christmas break, I was surprised to find this brown skinned boy sitting on the back row of my Vocabulary class.  After the first week of class he approached me with a proposition.  "The loser on the next vocab test takes the winner out to lunch."  I love a good bet, especially the ones I'm guaranteed to win.  I knew I was smarter and vowed to study my butt off.  The next day of class the scan trons were passed out.  The tests were taken and returned and I only missed one!  I was elated!  I turned around from the front row, looked over my shoulder to the boy in the back row and he held up his scan tron with 100% in big red marker and a huge smile on his face!

I regrettably took him to lunch and was immediately enamored! I called my dad and asked, "What would you think if I started dating a Tongan?"  With hesitation in his voice he said, "What's a Tongan?"  I giggled, knowing that seed planted long ago had just sprouted.

As parents we must protect our children but most of all teach tolerance and acceptance for the many cultures surrounding us.  Our world is fascinating just outside our front door and the amazing people, their diverse cultures and heritage can enhance your families lives and give them a Fakapale that will be a gift you will treasure your whole lives.

P.S. Simon cheated on the Vocab TEST!

Aunty

"Aunty"

When I was a little girl I would tell my mom that I was going to have 8 kids.  She only laughed at me. She must have had some psychic ability that knew I couldn't do it!  I yearned for a big family with lots of brothers and sisters.  My elementary friend had 7 kids and her mom just kept having babies.  It was so chaotic at their house, but it was also so much fun to be around all those kids.  I always wanted to play at her house.  It was dirty, loud, and crazy! 

Since my mother had Huntington's Disease this put a big damper on baby making in my family.  I was pregnant when I got married so I figured I better just keep having kids until I reached the age of thirty.  This wasn't an arbitrary age.  This was the age that I thought would be practical, because if I was tested positive then my youngest would be almost 10 years old before I became symptomatic.  I realize now this was super irresponsible.  What mother knowingly puts their children at risk for a deadly disease?  I'm blessed beyond measure that I don't have it.

My brother waited until after he was tested for Huntington's to start having children.  His results were also negative, so let the baby making begin, right?  Wrong, nothing happened.  Months turned into years and I remember telling my dad that I just didn't think they would ever have babies.  My dad was super sad and I was heart broken.  When my little nephew was born I cried.  Cried because it took so very long for him to get to this earth.  I was a 40 year old Aunty!  At that moment, life was complete.  As I held that little boy in my arms I felt an overwhelming feeling of complete joy!  I could see myself, and my mom in him.  Weird as that seems- There is something crazy special in that little boy! 

This summer I went to visit Jaden in Hawaii and was gone for 10 days.  You wouldn't believe it, but I started getting text messages every morning at 5:30 am and they didn't stop until he went to bed.  One day I counted and he messaged me 175 times!  I would get texts with hearts and smiley faces, videos claiming he loved me and pictures of what he was doing without me.  No one else,  not even my husband sent me texts like that!  I felt soo loved and missed, I couldn't wait to get back to him!  

It has almost been 4 years since that little guy has come into my life.  He and I have an unbreakable bond that would melt anyone's heart!  When we get together everything else in the world just fades away.  We belong together and that's just a matter of fact.  He recently told his mom, "Aunt Tiffany is my FAVORITE! more favorite than you!"  lol  I know he really doesn't love me more than his mom, but are you serious?  How can I not feel special!

What a reward/Fakapale he is in my life!