Hope in the Hopoate Family

 I’m sitting here holding my beautiful newborn, Aranui. I was just overwhelmed with gratitude because this time last year, I didn’t know when she’d come. We’d been wanting to get pregnant for a while with no luck. Oh how badly I wanted her. In so grateful she’s here.  We went on a family walk and we started talking about this year and next year and I realized that because of a rough pregnancy, 2023 was one of my hardest years of my life. I was taking care of 3 children, ages 5, 4 and 2. And was battling morning sickness every single day. I also had sciatica pain and round ligament pain. It was so hard.  I had exclaimed how grateful I am to end this year and move ahead. Which I still am. But in this moment… just a few days after our Māori Nana Marara has gone to the other side of the veil… I thank my God for the rough year!! It brought us sweet Aranui Mere!  2024 will be hard and great as well. And I hope it is. Hard things bring growth and happiness.  Here’s to ...

 My sweet Tiana is about to turn 6! I can hardly believe it. She’s been a light in my life since the moment she was born. I prayed for her with all my energy and she’s more than I could ever imagine.  As her birthday approaches my heart aches. Not for the little baby or the toddler, but for the future. I want nothing more than to watch her continue to grow. I want to see it all. I am so grateful to be here for this amazing day. But the ache is real for the hope I have to watch her continue to grow. I know I am not guaranteed a single moment on this earth. I don’t know when God will call me home. I have a constant prayer in my heart that I’ll be able to watch all my kids grow up. I want to see them get married. I want so badly to be here to help them with their kids. But I have very little control over that. So today, while I contemplate the amazing privilege and blessing it’s been to be here for 6 years of Tiana’s life, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. To be a mother in gener...