in the beginning

in the beginning there was bert tarayao and jill harker. they were two cute, single people. one, jill, came from idaho falls, idaho while the other, bert, came from hilo, hawaii, two completely different places. one summer in 1963 (i think that was the year?), as chance would have it, they were both in southern california. bert had wanted to get away from the islands and jill was visiting her sister during the summer break from ricks college.

they met on an "m n and gleaners" (olden days young single adult) activity, on the boat to catalina island (how romantic). bert was drawn in by jill's beautiful red locks and tall, slender physique, and jill thought bert was a handsome island boy with a brilliant, gleaming smile! they spent much of the remaining summer together.

as with most summer romances, the summer came to an end much too soon. jill was whisked back to ricks college as her studies beckoned to her, while bert was left longing for jill back in sunny, southern california. bert was determined not to lose the lovely jill. so everyday he wrote a letter to her expressing his undying love, in the hopes that she would not forget the little island boy she loved that summer.

well, chance would have it that she did not forget her hawaiian hotty and his undying devotion paid off. on august 17th, 1965 the happy couple were sealed in the idaho falls temple and thus began the family of bert and jill tarayao.

aren't they cute!

over the past 42 years, their little family of 2 has grown to an ever increasing family of 14, four beautiful children ;-), 3 great looking children-in-law, and 5 perfectly wonderful grandchildren!

grandchildren: lala almost 4, kawena almost 1, katrina 12, nani 6, kele 7

tutu man and tutu lady we love you! thank you for your beautiful love story that brought us all together as an eternal family! may your love story continue for many decades more!

authors note: based on a true story. artistic license was used. all information is true to the best of the author's memory.

note to mom and dad: sorry it's a day late, we were in sequoia national park the day of your anniversary and they have no internet access up there, can you believe it!? hope you had a great anniversary! i also hope i didn't take too much artistic license. feel free to correct anything in the comments section, mom and dad. i love you two so much! i'm always sad to leave when we visit. we had a great visit, minus the sickness! thanks again! see you in october!