mother, i love you!

mother's day extravaganza was an eventful weekend in which i had the honor of celebrating with my immediate family, my sister & her four wonderful kids drove from tulare county as well as new and old friends to embark on my older son, Shai-Styles, baptism into the LDS church. both my son & his cousin, Tyreece, accepted the gospel and was baptized & confirmed by their Papa Patane, who traveled from pago pago, american samoa to administer in the baptism proceedings.

the baptism commencement was very intimate, personable, & awe-inspiring mainly because of my former Father's-in-law confirmation blessing onto my son, and my sister, June's, engaging & heartfelt talk about 'the holy ghost'. i guarantee you that the room left no dried eye untouch, i was ballin, like a lil' baby. once the program was over, i made sure i thanked bro. hill for conducting and i gathered enough courage and humility to offer my gratitude to my estranged former father-in-law. the holy spirit definitely moved me enough to let my walls down for just that moment so that i can let him know that him performing the ordinances for shai-styles especially, really meant the world to me.

soonafter, all that were in attendance enjoyed light refreshments in the kitchen hall prepared by shai's father & uncle. it was there that i made sure i reacquainted myself to members of tyreece's family & shai's father just so that there wasn't any ill-will feelings on my end since my heart was still soothed by the spirit. i even had offer to extend an invitation to them to the lunch special at kris' home, but of course they graciously decline due to prior commitments.

following the baptism, i extended an invite to the rest of those in attendance to join myself & my inner circle on a lunch special feast in honorary of the joyous day. i recall planning my menu entrees days prior early in the week w/ myself and three of samoa's finest ladies (mia, kris, & neeka) and we prepared the following: ginger chicken, kalua pig in the oven, chop suey w/ beef, potato salad, fried rice and for dessert: puligi, chocolate cake w/ vanilla ice-cream. YUM! plenty of leftover since i wasn't anticipating a small crowd 2 show, nonetheless, there was plenty of ono grub and good 2 honest natured individuals that shared in the monumental milestone for Shai-Styles and what a proud moment it was indeed...shai baby, mommy loves you too!