12 Days of a Samoan Christmas

I experienced one Christmas while I was living and working in American Samoa. During that time, I wrote and recorded the song, "The 12 Days of a Samoan Christmas." It was played on the local radio station, KHJ, as well as performed live at several Christmas programs. Here are the 12 days.

1. An Umu from Tisa' Bar & Grill.



2. Two Taro



3. Three Breadfruit



4. Four Coconuts




5. Five Cans of Pisupo

6. Six Turkey Tail


7. Seven Large Valima



8. Eight Lava

9. Nine Aloha Shirts


10. Ten Tapa Cloths


11. Eleven Kava Bowls


12. Twelve Fine Mats

First Christmas Card

This is a copy of our first Christmas card together. It's not much...but it's something. Sorry to all those who didn't get a hard copy of it--we'd be glad to send you one if you'd really like it. Just make sure we have your address.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Thank you to all who sent us Christmas cards and letters. I'll show you our collection in a few days. Christmas cards make me all happy and excited! I love all of you!

I tried to make it similar to our wedding announcements with the same fonts, as close to the same colors as I could get, and our monogram. Sorry the quality isn't that great here on the blog. It's a Word document, converted to a pdf, converted to a jpg. I think if you click on it you can read it better though.

I Love Neil Diamond

I love Mark too, but I love Neil Diamond. Ok, here is the story.


On December 10, we had our work Christmas lunch. I happened to sit at the table with the new commissioner (Bill), my great friend (Marisa), my boss (Lucille), and another awesome lady (Peggy). The Commish asked all of us to tell him what to say for his little talk he had to give. We ended up giving him some great ideas: like balance a plant on his head (Marisa), sing his talk (Marisa), and give a quote by Mark Twain (me—definitely not as funny as the other ideas).

After lunch was over and the Commish had delivered his plant-less, singing-less speech, he came back to our table and chatted with us a bit more. He asked us how we felt about Neil Diamond.

I told him the truth: I LOVE NEIL DIAMOND! Marisa said something similar, but I was listening more intently to what the Commish had to say than to Marisa’s answer. He also asked how our husbands felt about Mr. Diamond. I told him my husband was a fan. Marisa said hers, sadly, was not. Turned out, the Commish had purchased TEN (10) tickets to the Neil Diamond concert (December 19th). He was looking for people to take with him.

I immediately volunteered myself. Marisa did the same. The Commish said he would get back to us.

Well, that set Marisa and me on a campaign trail. We started by publicizing our love for Neil Diamond with pictures plastered on our cubicles. Next, Peggy and her husband helped us by making us buttons to wear. We wore our buttons even on the days the Commish wasn’t in the office. We didn’t want him to think we’re just fair-weather friends. Because we’re not. We love Neil Diamond.

On Tuesday, the Commish gave Marisa and me a Neil Diamond DVD. Marisa gave it to me, after she watched it. It’s one of my favorite Christmas presents already.

Wednesday, December 17th, Bill announced to Marisa and me that he would indeed invite us to be his guests at the concert. He also informed us that he didn’t have enough tickets for our husbands. Marisa was not sad, I was only a little sad. Just a little—I was too excited I was going! Woohooooooo!!!!

Mark said he would find something to keep him busy Friday night while I was out seeing the one and only Mr. Neil Diamond!

Friday, December 19th, as I was getting ready to go home from work, the Commissioner happened to see me. He asked if my husband would still be interested in going to the concert. I said, “Yes.” He told me to hang around for a bit because one of his other guests might not be able to attend. He said the phone call was forthcoming and to just hold on a bit.

So, I did. About a half hour later, the call came.

GLAD TIDINGS! For me, anyway. Mark could go!

Yes, Bill gave me TWO tickets to the Neil Diamond concert. Mark had to change his plans, but I think he had fun. I know I had fun. I had so much fun I could hardly contain myself.


Our seats were great. They weren’t too far back, they weren’t too far up, and they weren’t in a weird location. They were GREAT seats.


The Commish got a kick out of me singing and dancing, but that’s what a silly girl like me does when she goes to one of her favorites’ concerts.


Mr. Diamond was fantastic. I loved every minute. I also loved how the average age of the attendees was approximately 95. Okay, maybe that is a exaggerating a little. Maybe. I also really liked his simple stage. It changed colors and moved a bit. It wasn't too flashy and it added the right aura to the whole performance.


Marisa and I both wore our beautiful buttons. There was a certain bond with Mr. Diamond by wearing them.


I waited, and waited, and waited, for “Coming to America.” He finally sang it as one of his three encore numbers. It was beautiful. Just fantastic.

Christmas Decorations

We don't have a lot of Christmas decorations. But, I really like what we do have. We don't have a lot because (1) there isn't anywhere to store a lot and (2) there isn't anywhere to display a lot.

Merry Christmas!

I came into the marriage with most of this stuff.

* We picked out our stockings together a couple weeks ago. I like 'em a lot!
* I bought the tree when I lived in Virginia, with most of the decorations.
* We did buy "our" first Christmas ornament on our honeymoon.
* I bought the Indian nativity in Albuquerque when I was in graduate school.
* My aunt gave me the nesting snowmen a long time ago, she didn't want them.
* My parents gave me the white nativity when I was a freshman at BYU. I've loved it ever since, even if I have had roommates repeatedly break the ears off the animals.

Marriage advise from a friend

I was chatting with one of my friends about what he learned from his marriage and divorce and this is what he said:

"Marriage taught me that you can be complete and one and whole, if you choose...and divorce taught me that you can give up and give in on the most amazing event of your life because of selfishness and pride."

I think it sums it up quite well.

Not Ashamed

This year, I've typed up a little Christmas note to send with Christmas cards. "Christmas" being the key word.

I made more notes than I have Christmas cards, because I plan on passing them out here at work. But then I started thinking...maybe I'll offend someone. I mean, I'm not sure of everyone's religious views here at work. I know for sure there is one lady who is Jewish and there are a couple people that I don't know at all if they even are religious. Should I make them special cards that say, "Happy Holidays"?

So, that was my thought.... I haven't passed them out yet. But, I've been thinking about that for a little while. (Yes, I really was thinking this. So much thought over something so many of you probably have never considered.) My conclusion is.........

I'm not ashamed. (I am, however, ashamed that it took me so long to ponder over this.)

I am going to pass my little Christmas notes out, as originally intended--because I am not ashamed of my belief in my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want people to know that I honor Him this month. I want people to know that I love Him. I want people to know that I think about Him.

I'm not ashamed of my beliefs. And, I have been thinking about the "offensive" thing too. The way I see it, I actually won't be offending someone because I'm not telling them what to believe. I'm not telling them they have to agree with me. I'm just telling them that I honor my Savior. In fact, I respect their religious beliefs (or lack of religion), if that's how they choose to live. I respect them, they respect me.

I am not ashamed of my Savior, Jesus Christ. And to you I say, "Merry Christmas!"

Socialism Explained

Japan Binocular Football

Milo, the Puppy

As I have received a few questions regarding Milo, I will give a brief explanation.

Mark and I want a dog. We haven't sought one out, though, because of our current situation (that of living in a condo on the second of four floors and both of us working full-time).

But, Mark's boss's daughter has bred their labrador with their (full-size) poodle. So, she had these labradoodles she was trying to find a home for. She asked Mark if we'd like to "test drive" Milo.

We didn't do well with him. He cried the whole time we were gone on our date (which was about three hours). And then he didn't let us sleep either. At first we put him in the bathroom. He cried. Mark gave in and let him come in our room--but not on the bed. He cried. Then Mark let him sleep on the bed--until he started chewing on us and the bed spread. So, Mark got up about 4:30 and took him out into the living room so I could sleep and so we wouldn't bother the neighbors.

That's why I'm telling you we're not ready for that kind of commitment. :-D

We took him back on Saturday. We didn't last 24 hours with him. Besides, we couldn't have kept him any way, our HOA won't allow dogs over a certain height, and he would definitely be too big as a grown dog.

A Handful of Recent Events

(1) Friday night, Mark brought a puppy home. Apparently, Mark and I are not ready for a puppy. We had a date already planned--and the puppy cried the whole time we were gone. Also, the puppy would not let us sleep. Us--parents (puppy or otherwise)? Ha! Oh dear........ What a sad realization.

(2) Saturday afternoon we went to the National Junior College Football Championship game at the Rio Tinto Stadium. It was great. Somehow, I got hooked up with access to FIVE suites. They were STOCKED with food: sandwiches, hot dogs, buffalo chicken wings, potato chips, chips and salsa.... Too bad Snow College lost. It was a weird way to end the game. But, it was exciting nonetheless.

(3) Sunday night was the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. We're so lucky to be living in a time of prophets and apostles. And, we're so lucky to know about our Savior, Jesus Christ.

(4) Monday morning, I took four hours off work to go do Christmas shopping without Mark. Let me just tell you that 8:00 shopping on a Monday morning at Wal-Mart is actually quite delightful. I highly recommend it. And, I got all my Christmas shopping done. Check! I even had time to wrap most of it before I went to work. All the wrapping paper under the tree is lovely!

(5) Monday night, while I was cooking dinner, and just after Mark had got home, we got a knock on the door and then we heard running. I opened the door and found a can of orange tulips with a note, "To Andrea. From Your Secret Admirer." I wouldn't let Mark have a peak to see who it was that brought me the flowers. I would hate to have my surprise ruined. I feel so loved though! :-D They are sooooooo pretty!

Merry Christmas to You!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Jingle your Bells

So, on Wednesday we went to the exclusive Stake Leadership Christmas Social for all those with Stake Callings and in Bishoprics.

The dinner was ... well.... odd. The food was normal, just cold. We ate ham (cold), green beans (cold), and rolls. The salad was supposed to be there, but never arrived.

For our entertainment pleasure, a "Bell Ringing" group came and performed several Christmas songs. For one song they asked for audience participation, so of course I volunteered. They passed out some bells (I got b flat) with a corresponding book. The song was "Oh Come all Ye Faithful" and about 90% of the words were circled, which was the clue to ring your bell, so I was the star of the show... just the way I like it!

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