Our Jounal Entry - March 5, 2006

Here was our jounal entry on March 5th - 2 days before our wedding:

Shonda:

Today was a spiritual awakening. We began our morning with a trip into the Nandi village to attend the Methodist church service. The people were incredibly welcoming and warm. The choir was unlike anything we had ever heard. The whole church only held about 125 people, but you would have thought 500 were singing because of the volume and harmony. It was an unbelievable expereince. I even recognized "Bringing in the Sheaves" and was able to sing along in English as they sung in Fijian.

The village chief welcomed the Namale guests, and the service continued in Fijian. We were fortunate to be there on a special day (the first Sunday in March) which was there service designed for giving - The Feast of the Tabernacle. It was truly amazing to see these people, who have so little, give with big smiles on their faces.

After church, we were invited by the minister to his home. We sat on a mat, handwoven by the ladies of the village, in an open almost empty room in the front od his home and particpated in a Kava ceremony.

We were amazed at how little he and all of the people of the villiage had and yet even more amazed at the hospitality, and his wife invited us all to stay for lunch. This was especially special as we had all just talked about how the Fijian minister's family lives by faith receiveing to live on only that given by the village to the church.

As we left the village we were shown a tent up on a hill and when we asked about it, were told that it was a place where the people of the village went to pray - what a testimony to worship!

Ken:

After Church the group headed back to the Kava Bowl to talk and relax. Then to lunch and then to the Dive Shop. This afternoon was our first expereince with Diving. After watching a short video we grabbed some gear and headed to the pool. I will never forget how silly we looked with our fins and how I started coughing when I got water in my snokel. We both passed the quiz given by the instuctor which was a series of underwater tasks at the bottom of the pool. This was a fun first experience for us both. I have no doubts that diving is in our future and Shonda is going to dive tomorrow with her new friend friend Caroline.

After changing for dinner we made our way down to the Blowhole Deck. the Sun had just sat and the sky was dark but beautiful. The Deck has an amazing panoramic view of the ocean. It also has a special treat of a Blowhole which shoot water up into the air about 15 to 20 feet. This has become a top option for where our wedding could be held.

After a short time hanging out with the other guests we had our dinner. After dinner we went to the Hot Tub and Pool with Omar and Caroline. The Hot Tub overlooks the ocean. We talked for a couple of hours and they invited us to their home in LA. sometime in the future.

Shonda:

We are now back in our bure, reminising about the awe and wonder of our first full day in Fiji and how pleased we are with our choice for our special day. In fact we've already said it will be hard to leave.

Our Journal Entry the Days Before Our Wedding

Here is our journal entry from March 2/4 2006...

Shonda:

Our trip began on Thursday morning March 2nd with a wonderful chauffered trip to the airport with Ray. This was such a small but significant way to begin our journey.

We arrived in Los Angeles, took the shuttle over to the Sheraton Gateway, where Albert arranged to have us specially taken by ourselves to meet the four company. Our tour of LA consisted of a stop in Santa Monica where we were able to walk along the boardwalk and take in the beauty of the Pacific Ocean - which was a first for us both.

Next, we traveled through Beverly Hills stopping to peruse Rodeo Drive and see the famous "Pretty Woman" hotel and do window shopping in the stores such a Versace. From here we proceeded to Loehman's Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where we saw various handprints of the stars including Marylin Monroe and even were fortunate enough to see the preparations for the Oscars (Academy Awards) which were scheduled for MArch 5, 2006. We concluded our tour at the Farmer's Market which we were very impressed by and took a few beautiful pictures as we shopped and ate.

The tour was perfectly times between our flight into LA and our flight to Fiji. The most memorable part of our flight into Fiji was the surprise of our inter-island seaplane flight! Wow - how spectacular. The views were magnificent!

Kenneth:

Then off to Namale. Upon arrival all we could say was "wow"! As we drove into the resort our ears were filled with music from the Namle Band. Wearing fresh flower lies we had received from McCoy Travel at the Nadi Airport, we were given moist towels and drinks while Simon preceeded to tell us about the Resort. We ate breakfast overlooking the Pacific ocean. After breakfast we were given a guided tour of the resort.

We were then taken to our room, the Loloma - a honeymoon bure. The cabin was right on the beach and we felt right at home. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach, enjoyed a pinic lunch and explored some fo the colorful sea life by the swimming hole together. This was a very romantic expereince.

Our evening culminated by particpating in a traditional kava ceremony with the other guests and staff, while the band serenanded us. The night concluded by sharing a candlelight dinner outside on a deck overlooking the ocean and returning to our room which had been prepared for us. We are now falling asleep together and listening to soft music and the gentle quiet rain outside. :) What a great first day!

An Anniversary Song for You

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I know one the things that we loved at Namale was the Namale Band Boys. Here a song to remind you of the songs that they sung to us each night at Dinner.

Get the Message!

This was a shirt that you gave me as a wedding present. Even after 4 years it is still true. I LOVE SHONDA!

Happy 4th Anniversary Video

This video so reminded me of so many things we got to do in Fiji. This year as we head into our 4th anniversary I want to remember about the week leading up to our wedding and then of course our wedding day. Watch the video and remember our trip together. I love you, baby!

Our 4th Anniversary Weekend Getaway

Dear Bride -

We just celebrated our 4th year wedding anniversary with a quick overnight getaway to the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michael's MD. I think this weekend was a nice start to the celebration of our anniversary. I throughly enjoyed our night at the Inn as we watched our wedding video, wrote in our anniversary book about our very busy year, read our vows to each other, and enjoyed our dinner in the 4 star resturant.

Our lazy Saturday was fun as well. Looking at the small shops in St. Michael's reminded me of the little shops that we visited in Kuranda and in Port Douglas. I so love exploring with you. Then going to the outlets reminded me of the day that we spent in Williamsburg shopping when we first got together. All we needed was an Outback (That night is still so vidid in my mind.

Lastly, I enjoyed listing to the "our songs" cd you made for me and the cd with our first dance songs while we drove in the card. I also enjoyed you reading the cards and notes you gave me the day and the week that we got married.

For such a short trip we sure packed it full of meaningful experiences that put me back to the day that we took our vows and began out life together. I look forward to spending the next 46 years together.

Your Adoring Husband!

Remembering Namale...

Dear Fijian Princess -

As we get close to celebrating our 4th Anniversary I find myself remembering back to our wedding week. As you know, one of the things that I enjoyed the most was the beach outside of our bure. I loved being able to hear the waves of the ocean splashing outside of our window. This was the perfect place to take my perfect soulmate. I can't believe that it has already been 4 years. To me it seems like it was just yesterday. We always said that with us life would fly by and it truly has. I love you so much and I am so glad that I married you! I love that have so many special memories and that we are always creating more.

Bula!

8 GREATS 2010 Version #1

#1 - Our Wedding Day

This was the absolute best day of my life and our relationship. You took my breath away when you first appeared behind the fijian warriors. I was then and still am completely and madly in love with you. This day was perfect from the beginning (praying on the mountain) to the very end (when we became man and wife :)) I remember so vididly your vows to me and how special they were. I also remember our first song and dance and also getting to celebrate our wedding with our new friends and the fijians from the villiage. I love you so much and I am so glad that you became my wife.

8 Greats 2010 Version #2

#2 - The Day Kaiden was Born

Sweetheart, I can't even begin to tell you how much this meant to me and how close I felt to you in the hospital. You are the best mom any of my children could hope for. You are so sweet and so loving and kaiden is so lucky to have you as his mom. I am really glad that we decided to do this and I know that Kaiden will always be our special little boy. You were so brave in the hopsital and I was so proud of you. All I cared about was letting you know how much you meant to me and how you just did an excellent job growing and nurturing our baby. I can't wait to see what Kaiden does in his life but I know that we will always cherish the time we were in the hospital and the day that Kaiden was born.

8 Greats 2010 Version #3

#3 - My Birthday Trip to Philadelphia.

This was such a surprise and it was literally the best gift I think I have ever been given. To get to see my team (Arizona Cardinals) play on Thanksgiving Night was just absolute amazing. To get to go to the game with the most beautiful woman on our baby's first Thanksgiving was PRICELESS. I enjoyed our conversation up to Philly and I enjoyed our time after the game. You are so complex and I enjoy all the parts of SHONDALAND. This is a Thanksgiving that I will never forget and you made it all possible. Thank you for being my super sexy football wife.

8 Greats 2010 Version #4

#4 - Our First Family Vacation (2007)

DISNEY WORLD - Baby, this was truly a memorable experience. You planned every detail out for us and we had the most full week ever. We ate, we rode, we laughed, and we enjoyed ourselves to the fullest. I will never forget the look on your face as you watched the Spectomagic parade - you were like a precious little princess. I also will always remember the ice cream cookies that we found at the main street bakery. (This so reminded me of the cookies that we shared at Nigara Falls). I enjoyed staying at the Old Key West Resort and hanging out enjoying all that Disney had to offer me. :) Also, I remember our talks after a long day at the resort and the laughter we shared at the waterpark - (BTW - you looked so HOT is your swinsuit.) This also reminded me of one of our first dates at the waterpark in Williamsburg. I love going on vacation with you and I look forward to all the GREAT things we will get to see over the next 50 years!

8 Greats 2010 Version #5

#5 - Our First Kiss

Obviously we don't have a picture of that first kiss but the picture I have will have to do. :) I so love kissing you and I knew that our first kiss would change our lives forever and it did and I am so grateful. You have amazing lips that I could kiss forever. I was just so connected to you and I wanted us to share that moment together. It has been a defining moment in our lives. All the other kisses after (the kiss in times square on new years; the kiss at our wedding; the kiss on top of the mountain in Fiji; the kiss at the lighthouses in North Carolina; the Kisses in our new home and on the day Kaiden was born all follow this first kiss. There is nothing like a first kiss and our first kiss was AMAZING, just like you!

8 Greats 2010 Version #6

#6 - Our Weekend at Virgina Beach

Our unexpected trip to trade houses turned out to be a fanastic weekend and a great that I will always remember. We had so much fun as we just enjoyed our old stomping grounds for a few days. I really felt young and felt like we had a lot of fun eating at reasurants, walking along the beach, and trying to start having our baby. You were so beautiful that weekend and I remember us talking about creating our story. We have been to the beach many times but this weekend was truly a weekend to remember.

8 Greats 2010 Version #7

#7 - Our Anniversary Trip in Atlantic City

I have always enjoyed our anniversary trips and this year was no different. We have gone to:

1st - Las Vegas

2nd - Mertle Beach SC

3rd - Atlantic City NJ

This week was not what we expected but we really made the best of it and had some great times including our "Date Night" when we got to go out. You are a wonderful wife and I enjoy out special moments and one of the most special is remembering our wedding day and the vows that we shared with each other. It is hard to beleive that we are already approaching 4 years of marriage but it has all been GREAT. I love you sweetheat and I simply love being married to you! (One month and counting to our 4th anniversary)

8 Greats 2010 Version #8

#8 - New Years in Times Square -

This was one special memory. One Thing I have always loved about us is the fact our beleif and HOPE in a new beginning. I love celebrating the beginning of 2003 in New York together. I loved seeing Times Square, Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, Rockfeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall all for the first time with you by my side. I love you so much and I truly love our 8 Greats!

My Valentine

Dear Sweetheart,

As we approach Valentine's Day this year I want to tell you about the 2010 Version of our 8 Greats. I will speak about one each day and talk about our "best great" on Valentine's Day. I love you so much and I so glad that you are my Valentine!

Christmas in january

Dear christmas surprise

we just celebrated our christmas in January with the kids. I think this will be a new nice tradition. The thing I liked the most was recording our memories in our book. I love Christmas with you no matter when it is.

Our Special Little Christmas

Dear Christmas Present -



I really enjoyed our Christmas this year. I enjoyed watching Kaiden open his presents and I also enjoyed our special christmas a few days later. I will also remember our trip to ICE.

Chrsitmas Pictures

My Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary

Dear Party Planner -

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you and appreciate all you did to plan my parents 50th wedding anniversary. They were so surprised and you really cemented a special place in my heart. I appreciate all your work, like:

1. Creating the Invitations

2. Finding addresses for people and preparing the invitations to be mailed.

3. Finding the decorations for the party

4. Working to get the cake - even at the last minute

5. Decorating the church

6. Getting the DJ

7. Buying special stuff for the party and then having it sent to Kevin's.

8. Shopping with Teresa for the food

9. Writing the order of the program

10. Just being your beautiful self and being the star on my lapel.

Sweetheart - you are the best wife I could ever ask for. I love you with all my heart and now my family does too.

Your Adoring Husband