Happy Monday Happy Mom!
     Did you do anything special yesterday? My husband always says, "everyday is Father's Day!" He always insists on not having anything special and the kids not purchasing a card. This holds true for his birthday, Valentine's Day, our anniversary, and any other special day. I really hit the jackpot when I found him. My business and life motto, "Happy Mom Happy Family" is truly the core of our marriage. He has told the kids since they were young- if mom is happy, we are all happy. So how could I just let the day go by and not celebrate this special Dad?
     On Saturday I bought all the ingredients for sushi bake and four different kinds of poke (raw fish). Kiera made two cards, one for us all to sign and one from just her. We started our Sunday on a Zoom meeting with Kyle's family from Maui, Idaho, and Utah. We played a scavenger hunt and shared memories of his dad and his uncle. I made his favorite breakfast, french toast. My daughter gave her dad a pedicure (his first ever). We had home church, then did a "Percy Jackson" marathon. We relaxed in the yard for a bit. Then I baked sushi rice. We had a nice time watching Justin Bieber dance videos after dinner. My whole family is really into those, including Kyle. He's almost obsessed. In all, yesterday was very relaxing and enjoyable. Due to covid19, we've had many days like that and I am thankful. 
     We all really missed my dad yesterday. We sat around the dining table and shared some memories of both of my children's grandpas. Unfortunately, my 3 younger children didn't know my father-in-law in his healthy days. Towards the latter part of his life, Alzheimer's transformed him into a very different person. My two older daughters were the lights of his life though. And then there's my dad who my family cared for until he passed away in 2018. He was a man of few words, yet great action. (Actually, my father-in-law was the same). My dad picked up my kids from school on early-release days and from practice, took them to doctor's/dentist appointments, attended their games, and stealthily left food and treats on our porch while we were out. My mom and dad met when I was two-years-old and married when I was four. He's the only dad I've ever known and I've always been his daughter. I'm lucky to have had someone who loved me and took care of me even though we are not biologically related. Even after my parents divorced when I was in elementary school, he was still my dad. And he was the best "Papa" to my children. On days when we are honoring fathers, I cherish even more all the life lessons he taught me, all the laughter shared, good times, and unconditional love. I still miss my dad every single day. But I'm ever grateful to have had him in my life.
     With everything that is going on in the world right now, I can't help but to feel grateful. I feel so blessed to have the family that I have. My husband truly is the world's best husband and father. I have a great job that I love. I have a home that's pretty great to be in during the "stay-at-home" mandate. I have children that are doing the best they can in this weird time of distance learning, home church, and basically spending more time together than we've ever spent. Sure they get on each others nerves and maybe this morning my son was spitting paper balls out of a straw at his sister while they were both in online school, but I know that my kids will look back to this time period and be ever grateful for the moments shared as a family. Most of the success and happiness in my family is due to having such a great partner, a dad who puts our needs before his own. He is always looking for ways to make me happy, ways to make me happy with myself.
     I hope that you surround yourself with people who put your happiness first, people that make you happy. Remember your goals you made in January? Reassess them now. Take control during this time of forced calmness. Focus on the blessings, get rid of the baggage. Find your happy place. 
     Please share what you chose to do for YOU on the Happy Moms Facebook page. I hope you all have the best week ever. Put priority on yourself. Make time! Get Happy! You are worth it!!!

What's on the Menu this week?                                  
MONDAY: Leftover Sushi Rice and Poke
TUESDAY: Okonomiyaki
WEDNESDAY: Laulau, poi (didn't eat this last week, ended up eating out at Aiea Bowl)
THURSDAY: Baked Salmon filets, green beans
FRIDAY: Steak and Grilled veggies
SATURDAY: Shake 'n Bake Chicken, broccoli
SUNDAY: Japenese Curry over rice

What's happening at Happy Moms?
Check out my updated website at happymomhappyfamily.com

What's happening in my home?
Kason received his mission call on Tuesday and he opened it Live on Facebook and Instagram. He will serve a 2-year church mission in Taipei, Taiwan, speaking mandarin. We are preparing our two future missionaries by making our home a more calm, peaceful, and loving environment. The two youngins are in online summer school.

Have a Happy week! Please let me know if I can be of help in any way with making time for yourself. If you need a pep talk to realize your worth, feel free to email me at mahele@happymomhappyfamily.com and please post comments or suggestions on my Happy Moms Facebook page.

Happily Yours,
Mahele