Reid Family Crest and Motto...

I looked it up and found this:

Then I looked up the motto and found this:


Then I looked up the words and found this:

1. Fortitude

noun

1. courage in pain or adversity.

   "she endured her illness with great fortitude"

   synonymn

   courage, bravery, endurance, resilience, mettle, moral fiber, strength of mind, strength of character, strong-mindedness, backbone, spirit, grit, true grit, doughtiness, steadfastness; informalguts Labor: verb 1. work hard; make great effort. "they labored from dawn to dusk in two shifts" synonyms: work, work hard, toil, slave (away), grind away, struggle, strive, exert oneself, work one's fingers to the bone, work like a dog, work like a Trojan; More

2. 
   

My Aunt for A Lifetime

This past couple of weeks, I have been saying my farewells and preparing for the earthly departure of a special woman in my life, my Aunty Ke-o.
About 30 years ago, I made friends with Ke-o's daughter, Nalia.We agreed back then, with all the wisdom that we possessed at 14/15 years old, that church was a waste of time. She had the task of babysitting her young nephew Ali'i, and I decided that I would have the task of watching her do it. We only saw each other at church, since she was a year younger, and went to a different high school than I did. But we caught up on our lives every Sunday while feeding and burping her nephew, away from the ever watchful eyes of my mother.
Well, life leads to life and a couple of years later, I had my own baby to watch at church. Nalia would come to pick me and Beenie up at my house, and the four of us would ride around in Aunty Ke-o's Orange Banger (so named for the color of the paint), smoking cigarettes and drinking cokes and analyzing life, as we knew it, at 16/17 years old. (The smoking of cigarettes and drinking of cokes were only done by Nalia and me, so don't call CPS folks.)
The car, the money for gas, the snacks and cokes, even the money for cigarettes, were all provided from this Aunt of mine. Granted, she didn't give us money for the express purpose of buying cigarettes, but she did let us use the car for hours and hours every day without complaint. The cigarettes were us being resourceful. LOL.
Flash forward to me and Beenie a few years after that. I had had a particularly nasty run in with my own mother, which ended with something like "Get you and your daughter's stuff and GTF out of my house!" To which I gladly said "I'm out." So, actually, that is a "verbatim" convo, not a paraphrase. Anyhow, I took my daughter, and with nothing but the shirts on our backs and not even money for bus fare, we walked the 2 miles to Aunty Ke-o's house. I was infuriated, shocked, hurt and so many other emotions. Aunty and Lehua-Nalia's oldest sister-were not home. So we just waited out in the garage until they returned. I was a hot mess, and Beenie was tired and hungry. I was trying to contemplate what I could possibly do to survive the next few months. Would I even have a place to live? Food for my kid? Where would we sleep?  Money to get to school? Money for Beenie's school? Where were going to sleep tonight?
About an hour later, I had almost given up hope and decided I needed to start walking back home before darkness hit. Thank goodness Aunty Ke-o and Lehua came home. Aunty took one look at me sitting outside and said "Why are you sitting outside? You know how to get in the house, don't you?" And with that, there was nothing else I needed to worry about. It was simple to her. Even though she could tell I had probably gotten into a fight with my mother, she wasn't going to let her nieces sleep in the park like some homeless family.
In that moment, the acceptance that I was given, was a refuge to my physical self and a balm to my broken soul. After years of living with my own mother, who constantly made me feel that I needed to redeem myself and repent of my SIN and that I wasn't as good as my siblings or worth anything, I was now living with someone who loved me as I was, and showed me in her actions the parental phenomenon known simply as "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE". 
The 2 months that I lived with them was the best thing that I didn't even know I was dying for.  I was fed, housed, clothed, transported and supported in all that I needed. And that was a critical time in my life. I had only 8 more weeks to go until my community college graduation. Aunty made sure I had bus fare, food for me and Beenie, and any other material thing I would need. Uncle was always asking if we needed rides, or washing done. And Lehua and Baby Lono took over the drives that I used to take with Nalia and Ali'i. In fact, the whole family even came to my college art show, with refreshments
I think about all the words of wisdom that Aunty Ke-o has shared with me over this 30 year span, and I'm overwhelmed with how intuitive she was from Day 1. She was able to help me because she knew just how to help me in a way that would be impactful and sustained. She knew the true person I was. She didn't have to guess . And I knew that she loved me. I never had to guess.
Aunty, I love you so much and I will miss seeing you. I will miss talking for hours and hours and hours. I will miss our little gossip girl time. I will miss laughing at things with you. I will miss your wise counsel to me about life, and love, and children and grandchildren, and choices. I will miss your fun personality. I will miss how cute you are with modern technology. I will miss your dedication to your family history. I will miss how spirited you always are to people. I will miss your sassy comments when you were irritated with people, and then us laughing about it right after. I will miss knowing you are here on this physical plane at the same time as me.
I love you and Thank You for loving me back.
Rest now. Rest your weary body. Soon you will be with your loved ones.
Please visit me in my dreams if you have a chance. And give me some gossip about everyone up there. LOL
Aloha Oe & Manuia lou Malaga.

Time After Time

So...these are some highlights of what has happened since V-Day 2010...

• 2011-Windward Skies 
  

1. Moved home to Hawaii and lived in Kahuku with The Man's good friend and their family.
2. Got a job at Bobby Benson Center-a residential facility for youths with co-occuring substance addiction and mental health issues. LOVED IT!
3. The Kid got married. Existential Crisis: The Beginning.

• 2012-Hail Kahuku Hail 
  

1. Got a job at Kahuku High & Intermediate School- a day program for youths with co-occuring religious and cultural conflicts interspersed with addiction, mental health issues, tom foolery, hooliganism, horse play (from real horses I tell you!) self-created drama, and an award winning sports programs. HATED IT!
2. Moved to Punaluu-a residential half way house that housed many many recovering addicts, RSOs, and weed smoking people (the good kind) who raised the most polite kids I've met in the North Shore.
3. The first of many hospitalizations for my declining health.

• 2013-#FAF and #TLE and #LOTR 

1. Mr. Wonderful Man and I finally "Sealed the Deal" at the Laie Hawaii Temple. He's mine! FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!
2. After 3 surgeries, resigned my tenured position at KHIS due to my health issues-specifically compromised vision in my right and then left eye. I am now legally blind in The Left Eye. 
3. Spent many a dark day listening to movies and gaining a greater appreciation for well composed scores. I now have a genre of movies that I call "Good Listening" for the ability of the movie to still convey the plot and emotional arc with more than just the visuals. The absolute winner is #LOTR. Every. Single. One.

• 2014-Trumpet Behavioral Health, Moves and Baby Pala
  
                                                                                                       

1. In January, on a whim, I answered a Craig's List ad looking to hire a SpEd teacher in a special school in Liliha. I had seen the same company advertise for a teacher for their Kunia location, but I wasn't willing to travel that far. I went, I interviewed, and I didn't get the job. The Principal said I didn't have enough experience. (Even though I have been teaching since 1997 WTF???) BUT...they asked me if I wanted to be the designated sub for their Kunia location as their newly hired teacher was about to go on maternity leave in a few months. Until then, I would learn how to be a behavior technician using Applied Behavior Analysis at both Liliha and Kunia. Okay. Why not. And so my journey with Trumpet Behavioral Health began. LOVED and still LOVING IT!
2. The Kid announced that she was gravid. And that they were moving. To Utah. 
3. Interviewed for a teacher position, again, at Trumpet in May. You see, the teacher who was hired for the position, the 25-year-old-just-moved-to-Hawaii-still-wet-behind-her-ears-but-still-had-more EXPERIENCE-than-me, yeah, that one, well, she was resigning. 5 months after she got the job. So I went. Again. And I interviewed. Again. And I ...didn't get the job. Again. But I loved the work and loved the variety that going between both locations gave me. So, I kept going back and learning and loving the job.
4. In August, the teacher at Trumpet Kunia, the one who I covered for while she was on maternity leave, was seriously contemplating leaving. I didn't want to go through the process of interview/rejection for a third time, so I didn't make a move.
5. In September, I happened to be in the Kunia building when a potential candidate for the teacher position came in. She was young. She was friends with the former teacher at Liliha. She was relatively new to the island. And, she was currently the teacher at...Bobby Benson Center. Well well well. Something in me clicked and I told the Principal that I would take the job if she wanted me to. Suddenly, 9 months later, after waking up every day at 4am and catching 3 buses to get to work (before the teacher arrived) and then catching 2 buses home and arriving at 6pm if I was lucky-suddenly it all paid off. That Principal who had rejected me two times, hired me as the new teacher. And after 9 months of her low-balling me on the pay scale, I walked away with more money than I had ever made in my life. #blessed
6. October 23 I attended the birth of my first grandchild. The Kid was a beast. She powered through that entire process. I powered through holding her leg up during contractions-on a side note, I really think that hospital staff made that move up to occupy visitors in the birth room cause of all the movies I have watched, people give birth without assistance in elevating their legs. And I have actually caught a baby being pushed out of the birth canal and there was no "leg-elevation holding technique" being employed there. Just Saying. Anyway, I was physically tired and I had too many intense emotions-Existential Crisis: My Progeny- and had to sit out the last part of it on the side. But the results were exceptional.

• 2015 Days of Our Lives

1. Life at Trumpet included Resignation after Resignation after Resignation after Resignation. And so on etcetera etcetera etcetera. And just like that, DOE decided to Resign us from working for them. The contract was NOT going to be renewed when it ended June 30, 2016. 
2. The Kid and her family "Sealed the Deal". That was the moment that I really knew that my job as a parent had narrowed in scope to its full circle conclusion. Thus ends my watch, my parental patrol and the final installment of Existential Crisis: An Eternal Family is in place.

The Year Came and Went...Welcome 2KX!

I'm gonna have to work real hard to beat my 2KIX post score of 36.

Real. Hard.

No Freebie Anymore...

Have to find a new way to connect. My piggyback days are over.

What music means to me...

I love music. There was a time when it was all I ever wanted. Then I heard my singing voice, and I lost some confidence points. I'm not fishing for compliments here. I know I can carry a tune, and I'm okay with that. But when I hear a truly inspiring voice, like Fatai's, I wish I had more ability to express my emotions via song.

My sister Margaret can sing like that. She puts her all in any song she sings. And her voice is really beautiful.

Jun says I can sing like that too, I'm just too shame. He thinks it is a lack of confidence and practice. My fear is that it really is a lack of talent. But I can dream that the sounds that come out of my mouth match the sounds that I hear in my brain.

Maybe a little more practice wouldn't hurt either.

I Support Poly Music Makers...

Here is my new fave gospel voice: Fatai Tovo singing her original composition. Also, her voice singing The Shepherd of My Soul at a church function, hence the shot of the ceiling.

Her gift of music is shared publicly and freely.

From the mouths of babes...

No, I am not talking about cute guys here.

When entrusted with the raising and training of a child, one must be aware that one's actions affect said child. Whether direct or indirect, that child observes and often times imitates behaviors and attitudes modeled by the parent.

So a word of caution, be very aware that what you say and do in front of those little eyes and ears are being replayed to the general public.

At any given time, with or without prompt, your child says things that reveals what you have said in the privacy of your home. Your child repeats your opinions or statements or prejudices.

Whether of not they are the most brilliant child you have ever seen, they will do this unknowingly. Or worse, very knowingly. Can a child be sneaky and cunning? Be assured that they are very capable of using words as weapons. Especially if their parents use those weapons indiscriminately around them.

Food and the Palagi Ward

Since moving to Charlotte, I have had to adjust my mindset when it comes to refreshments at a ward event.

When I first got here in 2007, my cousin invited us to her annual ward luau. We were warned by Rachel that the palagis don't do food like we do in Hawaii. Store bought cookies and some tap water in a pitcher was what was usually on the menu.

We went to the luau, but stopped off at Panera Bread first to grab some sandwiches so our growling stomachs wouldn't give us away. Surprise, surprise. There was actually plenty of food. So much, there was food to take home. The next day, we went to the fireside/thank you dinner. I came hungry expecting the same abundance of food. Surprise, surprise. There was only enough for firsts.

My ward had yet to impress me with an abundance of food. Even the Relief Society activities here, usually an oasis of homemade goodies in Hawaii, are more often than not populated by plastic containers stuffed with store bought baked goods. Um, yuck.

So last night, I downed two sandwiches in expectation of a meager spread, and the ward surprised me. We had lots of food. A simple menu, but lots of it. The ham was tasty, the greenbean casserole creamy and good, the fruit salad delicious, the rolls tender and moist, the sweet potatoes crunchy and sweet. All in all, I had two servings and some to take home.
This ward has stepped up it's game. Right on.

Thursday is for TV.

I have always been a TV bug.

I used to wake up, or at least try to force my peepers open at 6 am every Saturday so I could maximize my TV watching time. Imagine, I would literally use my fingers to pry open my eyes while my sibs all slept. Did I even enjoy TV in that tortured state? Duh. Yes.

So no surprise that as I have grown older, I still enjoy my TV moments. But to be fair, this past few years I have dwindled my time down. Partly due to the fact that we don't have cable-and it hasn't been as bad as I would have thought. Also, in large part to my LOVE of the Internet.

Anyways, Thursdays this Fall 2009 has been dedicated to the following shows: Fringe, Survivor Samoa, Grey's, and Private Practice.

Fringe is an X-filesish show that has creepy quirky plot lines, but we watch because one the main characters-Walter Bishop - is flippin' hilarious. One of his more memorable lines: "I ate that hot pepper once. The flatulence was terrible."

Survivor Samoa has one main reason we watch: Russell H. That little pygmy makes me laugh with how much scheming and conniving he does. He could almost be a real Hamo.

Grey's and PP are my so-so shows. I mean, if I get a chance to catch them, I'm cool. If not, I'm cool.

Finally, just as an afterthought...Wednesday is also for TV. I am a GLEEK! If you don't know what that means, go ahead and Google it. I always cry when I watch Glee. Always!!

And as another afterthought, I haven't watched as much TV cause I like to get on the Internet. But guess what I do when I get on the Internet?

Watch the TV shows I missed on the network websites of HULU.

Like I said. I have always been a TV bug.

Mini-Me Mabeleen

I got a call at 8:30 am, NC time. It was from Beenie and I was immediately worried. Even with daylight savings in effect, she was calling me at 3:30 am, HI time.
I knew when I said hello that something was bothering her. She asked me if I was okay, and I say to her, I'm okay, are you okay? She had a bad dream about me and wanted to know if I was really alright. She was choked up and still in the grips of the nightmare that put the suggestion in her head.

I have had those kinds of dreams and wake up crying, or many times, need to be woken up because I am either whimpering or bawling hard out in my sleep. Maybe that's why I always give such startled reactions when someone wakes me up. Jun says that he knows I am fake sleeping when he has to call out to me more than two times. In fact, it is actually Ms. Beenie who gets a kick out of waking me up when I am sleeping and waiting for the ensuing shocked voice/face action that follows.

It reminded me of me, except I get to be the comforter now, instead of the comforted.

A Commitment to Comment. Consistently.

The tsunami that hit my island on September 29 left me without words. Not merely speechless, but absolutely wordless. My mind could not begin to understand how so much destruction could happen so quickly. Mom was safe, and true to her nature, got busy helping out where she could. We lost our Aunty Michelle, who had been a major part of our Samoa life. We were lucky, not too many reasons to cry personally. But a sadness for the general loss was unshakable.

What followed for the next 3 weeks was my constant adding of links to my Facebook page. It included people's video and image shares from Samoa. I added over 50 links in that time. No words came from me, just the links. I wanted only to focus on what had happened in Tutuila. The images from Upolu were not as readily forthcoming. I had walked those streets, I had traveled to those some of those villages daily. My mind battled with the new landscape that was forced into being by the wild blue sea. I wanted to go home, I wanted to make it safe and restore it back to my mind's remembering. Does that sound delusional? I think I may have lost it a bit, because that was my homeland.

Many people I know were galvanized by that tragedy to send help in any way they could. I applaud their efforts and their abilities. Others were able to speak and move and do. They organized donation stations, shipping dates and concerts. T-shirt sales and graphics to use on the internet to show that Samoa was on the most important "to-do" list ever popped up overnight. I observed. That is what I did. Observe and pray. My default in detached crises is to observe. I know I can do when I need to. (I delivered a baby in my truck in 2005, so I know I can do when I need to.) But this was not in my proximity, and that helplessness was what caused me to only observe. But many many thoughts were and are swirling in my mind since September 29, and I want to get them out and about. I need to convert those thoughts into words.

That being said, I commit to comment consistently for the remainder of this year. On New Year's Day, I will revisit that commitment and see if I succeeded or not.

This is Day 1 of my Commitment to Comment Consistently.

Summer is officially OVER.

Yesterday, summer ended for me. It was a long one. Began on June 21st, as usual. I have spent the last quarter of a year moving and going and doing and losing and gaining and sleeping and napping and all-nitering and then and then and then...

Mom came for a week. She did baby duty, including baby doody, which is really unusual. She also made mussel oka, which was OKA OKA! There are some things that Mom will always make best,and that was one of them. She's back in Samoa now and we miss her.

Margaret-o and Tetsuya were here on a whirlwind visit to Charlotte. They came. They saw. They conquered. It was too fun and as always, too short. Mecha Sugoi! and Mecha Sayakuya! all in one.

Ti'a "Asomaletonu" returned to DC after a month long visit as well. I laughed my abs into one big lump while soiling my own pants multiple times laughing at his antics. I know, TMI, but that's why you are reading my blog, isn't it?

Amiri and Malachi are back to the school schedule and fighting it, like boys will. I mean, what magic happens at 8:30 that requires them to be in bed? (Their thoughts that I have picked up via telepathy)

Elijah is a big fat WORM that weighs 9+ lbs! I couldn't be more proud of his progress if I were a sumo stable master. OH yeah, and he is officially born, since his due date of 9/21 came and went. And he is now two months old as of 9/22.

Jun and I are enjoying our schedule with the Nephs, and looking forward to Christmas. Jun likes the colder weather, and I like the music and food. Okay, he likes the food too.

This year came and went so fast. Where did it all go?

A few more days and my baby make 21. Can't wait.

And how could I forget the most famous character? Ti'a aka Smokey (duh)

The Cast of Friday...Durty South Edition

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Amiri aka Craig. He is throwing down the deuces for Monkey Joe's.

Here's Malachi aka Deebo...Quick, hide your stuff, he's coming!

Here's Elijah aka BIG WORM! Don't mess with the faux-hawk.

Count von Jefferson of Buckleigh Street...Aah aah aah aah aah...

HOLY COW! Malachi knows how to count from 1 to 10 all by himself.

I'm not sure when this happened.

Maybe his teachers at Little Hedgepeth Academy, Miss Stacey and Miss Jessica, actually have a curriculum and daily lessons.

Maybe he has heard AJ counting and he always copies AJ.

Maybe he learned it from all the hours of hide and go seek.

Maybe because we are always telling him to do a feau while we count how long it takes.

Maybe because I used to do that to his mother when she was a young child and so he is genetically predisposed to counting.

What ever the reason, we salute you Count von Jefferson...the Original Pimp from Buckleigh Street!

Aah aah aah aah aah!

Texting Whoas and Hos by Ti'a and Mabel

Scene: Rachel's kitchen table and living room.

Time: 9 pm-ish

Characters: Ti'a and Mabel-why am I not surprised?

Background: Jun is upstairs with Amiri and Malachi, Ti'a is watching the US Open, but wants to watch "Changeling" on DVD with someone, and Mabel is busy farming online in the kitchen. It's been a long Labor Day. Mabel has just announced to Ti'a that she finally got a txt msg plan, since Rachel and Ti'a looovvvve to text to her instead of calling. Ti'a relays the information that he discovered that he texts over 100 times a day. It has been about 2 weeks since Rachel shared some of her ringtones from her blackberry via bluetooth with Ti'a. Mabel's phone was unable to receive the shared ringtones.

Mabel is also obsessed with online farming on FB.

SPOKEN approx 9:05

Ti'a: Mabel, I want to watch "Changeling", hurry up!

Mabel: Just a minute, I'm almost done planting my new crops.

Ti'a: Okay, I'm gonna smoke a cigarette and then we're gonna watch Angelina!

Mabel: Okay, okay. I've gotta use the bathroom then I'll be there.

Ring ring ding a ring ding a ring (generic phone tone to indicate a text msg has been received on Mabel's phone.)

Ti'a to Mabel 9:14p->Computer ho!

Mabel to Ti'a 9:16->U would know ole hoe

Ti'a to Mabel 9:17p->Changeling ho!

Mabel to Ti'al 9:17p->Change your diaper ho

MABEL FARMS AND GOES TO THE POTTY...

Ti'a to Mabel 9:44p->Changel!

Mabel to Ti'a 9:49p->Tennis ball ho

Ti'a to Mabel 9:49p->Lmao toilet ho!

Mabel to Ti'a9:51p->100 Per day Texting ho

Ti'a to Mabel 9:52p->Late txt msg plan having ho!

Mabel to Ti'a 9:54p->Pay as you go cricket phone ho

CRAZY TI'A LAUGHTER ENSUES FOR TWO MINUTES...Plus, Ti'a has to give Mabel a high five for a good comeback

Ti'a to Mabel 9:56p->scared to death to get a text cuz of overage charges ass ho lol

Mabel to Ti'a 9:59p->Can't get a contract cause me and all my sisters owe the phone company ass ho

Ti'a to Mabel 9:59p->No ringtone default tmobile ring ho lol

Mabel to Ti'a 10:00p->Blue tooth is the only way i can get ring tones ho

Ti'a to Mabel 10:02p->Fake blackberry strawberry ass ho

Gotta love that lil ho...

Tuesday Night Tickles...

*Jun is back in school, after a wonderful summer break. Ready to hit the turf! My OG is literally the OG when it comes to classes. BTW, my man is a 4.0 student. I've never dated such a smart nerd. Let's whip that math prep this semester!

*After a long break , Beenie is back in school. What do you get when you add FULL OVERLOAD COURSES+FULL TIME JOB? Answer: Tired girl who stays home on the weekends to finish up homewok and get ahead. Good choice Beenie, I'm here if you need me.

*Amiri is a 2nd grader at Morehead (good for your forehead) with homework on the very first day. Which he finished over half while riding in the car to pick up Elijah-Roo. That deserved a double scoop of Rainbow Sherbet.

*Mally does the bootydoo dance ANYWHERE...including the exit door from Senior Nursery when all the parents are awaiting their three year-old toddlers. BTW, he is the best dancer and singer in his class of 12 toddlers. I'm not being biased. The other kids never even heard of the "Stanky Legg".

*Elijah Roo gained 11 oz and he is officially 1month old (as of last week). He is a great little fighter, and he loves to do "Kangaroo Care" with Auntie Mabel. Actually, what baby wouldn't?

Band of Brothers or Why I LOVE My Sister's Maternity Capris.

Rachel HolyBoat cleans out her closet that is more than a walk in -(I call it a run-in)-at least quarterly. Many a time, many an outfit that I currently wear are the fruits of her labors to empty out her shelter for fashion. My latest run-in with her walk-in yeilded some tops that I thought would be nice and flowy on me, I loved the colors and I loved the price i.e. free. Then she told me to try on the ensembles including a few maternity capris.

"Um, no thanks," I said with a sarcastic tone. "I don't want to wear your Band of Brothers pants".

"Eh, shut up. Just try em, if you don't like them, just give them back." she said while making her big eyes even bigger.

I put them on, one leg at a time. I pulled them over my full-grown calves(aka cows) and thunderous thighs and hula hips and belly-licious rolls and they still kept going.

Past the saddle bags. Past the love handles. Past the point of no return for most of my bottoms.

But something was different. These pants fit. They really fit!

And then the 4 inch stretch waist band that is in place to support big ol' preggytummy women settled right where it was meant to. AHHHHH. Comfort and support like I've never known.

NO more slowly suffocating via my tight waisted-metal buttoned jeans.

No more showing of the TOE. You know what I'm talking about-Camelitis Toe Showitis.

Multi-tasking of the following are now possible: Eating, Breathing and Walking

I have found HEAVEN and it's name is elastic.
Or, Band of Brothers.

Fill-ups on Our life...

*Funny new curse word: Crepe. Yes, as in the flat pancake. Try it in place of it's more profane cousin. Ex. "Your so full of crepe." "That's a load of crepe." "Holy Crepe!"

*Baby Elijah update: He's home and doing well. Spent the night with us, and he was easy as pie. Elijah Pie. FYI-He was born 9 weeks early, and weighed in at 4lbs6oz, but he is a SURVIVOR and he is a fighter. Love you Elijah!

*Brother Ti'a: Visiting us for a few weeks here in the Durty. Glad to see him and as always, the laughs are never contained.

*Cultivating Friendships @ Relief Society: Gave a presentation at Enrichment night this week. Rocked their worlds with "Talofa Tips" which included these gems:

T-Take the lead.

A-Advertise your interests.

L-Learn to listen.

O-Offer service often.

F-Find new things to try.

A-Alofa means "LOVE".