Daddy

This is me and my Daddy it is the only photo I have of
him and me alone. I won't repeat what I have already said
about my Daddy how he loved my Mom but I wanted to express
my memories and feelings about him.

Roberto

in his younger years he was a very handsome man
with piercing blue eyes and gorgeous red hair
( his ancestors decenseded from Spain.)

when I was born My father was in his 60's when I was
16 he passed at the age of 82! I said it before those
baby blues of his would get a smile out of anyone.
he was a family man through and through with mainly
daughters he did have three son's with my mother and
a son with his first wife whom he never got to know.

I think that is why he was such a family man
he was strict and when angry he meant business
but( he knew when my mom meant business too!)
he was also full of love. he did not speak
a whole lot of English he understood and spoke enough
with me to get by but stuck
with Spanish. to bad for me that somehow I
did not become fluent in speaking spanish
I can understand but can not think fast enough
to converse.

as stated before he enjoyed all his grandchildren
and would spoil them rotten. that was his job
speaking of jobs he worked for many years as a
coal miner and then in a plant nursery.

he had a very good "green thumb" and his vegetable
and rose garden would thrive with beautiful colors.

I remember he used to have this little dance
he would do kind of a jig of sorts and laugh/twinkle in his
eyes as he would dance those little steps ( looking back
kinda reminded me of a leperchaun jig!)

anyway, I miss my Daddy, he was there for
my siblings when important events occurred.
upon his passing he would never see me graduate
from high school, walk me down the isle, get to know
my children. but I learned at a very young age
that he his with me, always by thinking about him
remincising about my memories with him, and
I feel his presence when I think of those times
and some may think I am Loco as daddy would say
but I sometimes find myself talking out loud to him
as if he is listening and hearing me. ( maybe he his)
funny, because after I do talk out loud I somehow feel
a sense of contentment in my heart.

Whining

This past three days at work this is all I have been
hearing from parents and teachers calling in at work
with "whining complaints" and when I came home
I decided that I would take a photo of this old sign
I have hanging in my computer room.

I sat there staring at it thinking people
whine about something on a daily basis
I must admit I am guilty of it as well
then I imagined what if this were true
what if you were charged $5.oo dollars
for whining?

Jessica's family

This is my Niece Jessica and her husband Eric and
their sons Vincent and Evan.

Jessica is Angela's sister
and again we were the 3 musketeers well their aunt Kim
made the 4th musketeer when we were young gals growing up.
as stated in my last blog when the girls parents divorced
it was hard for me. over the years I have managed to have
a great relationship with Jessica. both girls have so much of
their father my brother Peter in them ( must be a Garcia ) thing!
anyway, Jessica has a bit of Bohemian free spirit like her aunt Jeanne
and classic artsy spirit like her aunt Eva. she has a sense of fashion
that is all her own and a passion that is like no
other and I learn a great deal from her every time we talk on the phone.

I hope to develop a closer relationship to her family as well and get to know
her two adorable little boys. we talked last Saturday and bless Jessica's heart
she is trying to help me find a way we can make a tamale at Christmas time
that our Mary can have ( with less/no fat) we will see what we can come up with !!

again, I am blessed these gals are in my life and that I am related to them
but also that I am their friend and I hope that they will feel the same way
about me.

So to my lovely Jessica if you are reading this
I send great love to you
always

Angela's family

My niece Angela, her husband Charlie and their children
Rob and Diandra

This is the only family photo I have of my niece Angela
and her family this was taken at Diandra's high school
graduation.
As kids we were friends/not just Aunt and Nieces.
Angela, her sister Jessica and I we were close then we grew apart
because of circumstances beyond our control and even
though we seen each other from time to time I felt like it was different
like we knew each other just cause we were family.

I was saddened by it for a very long time,
it was not anyone's fault that is just something that happens when
a divorce takes place. but to me it always felt like when her parents got divorced
it was like divorcing the family too in a strange way. though that was not the case at all.

I would have loved to have been in her life more and
had a closer relationship to her and her family. I was lucky to
be able to develop that a bit with her son Rob,when he graduated
and I love him so that we talk by emails and I am so proud of him
today is his birthday and I hope somehow he has a happy one as best as he
can being in Kuwait serving his country.
I know he will feel the love of wishes and prayers
for a blessed birthday and his safe return home. blessings
do happen and Lately Angela and I have begun to rekindle our relationship
and I am also getting to develop a relationship with Diandra as well.

I hope this continues and grows. I know the bond will remain in my heart
forever.I love her and her family and look forward to having
a closer relationship with them and maybe visiting
or spending more time together. I hope she knows that I am always
here for her and her family.

she and her family will always be apart of my life and I thank
the Lord for that blessing.
so to my dear niece if your reading this I say
with heartfelt joy
I Love YOU

Kisses and Hugs
always

Brothers

My brothers I have so many different memories
of them I am the youngest and so they being so much
older I did not have a typical brother & sister relationship
that my children have I wish I could have but I am thankful
for knowing them and having the relationship that I did have
with them.
My oldest brother is Jose aka (Joe) named after my grandfather
Joe has long passed,he being the oldest had
the sense of Family first as my parents raised us to be,
he had a persona of being ruff and tough but had a heart of gold.
my fondest memory is of
Joe coming to visit and we would watch westerns from
Gunsmoke, to Big Valley,to Bonanza with my father.
Joe never married, and I miss him.

My middle brother is Robert aka (Peter) named after our father
we lost him a few years ago as stated in an earlier blog
he was my knight in shinning armor
he to was a family first person, and a very strong sense
of straight shoot from the hip no holds bar speak the truth
even if the other person does not like it! when I took
my husband to meet him for the first time he asked
him if he wanted a shot of whiskey my husband being polite said
"no thanks" my brother in his famous self told my husband
"Then eat Sh__!" I was mortified but my husband being the
sport that he was drank the shot and won my brother's approval
when I had my son and daughter my relationship with him got
closer he was quite fond of my kids and I count my blessing for it.
and I know he is happy that I have reconnected with his
daughter's and their family.

My youngest and surviving brother is Anthony aka( Louis)
when I was a young girl I remember him full of life and laughter
he went to Vietnam and came back a different person, quite, kind
of a recluse but when we need him he is there to lend a helping
hand. he being the only living brother sometimes takes it's toll
though because we girls check in on him and he feels henpecked
he lives in my brother Joe's home. he has a son named after him
and two grandchildren.

I think of my brother's often I look back at old photos
and memories and I have to admit I have dreams and
here them talking to me. they are always in my heart

perfect poet

"God is the Perfect Poet
who in his person acts his
own creations"
Robert browning

Slient Movie Night

Yesterday while window shopping at an old Salvage
antique shop Jeff found a old 8mm projector in mint condition
and so he bought it and last night the four of us had the
pleasure of watching Jeff's grandparents old 8mm
silent family movies!.

It was really awesome for us to see family
at young ages and to see family members
we did not have the privildge of knowing
like Jeff's great grandparents and his grandparents
on his father's side. and of course Jeff's Grandpa
(Daddo) rodeoing.

it was a thrill for me to see Jeff excited about showing
these movies I know it brought up a lot of memories
for him and he was glad the kids showed a interest in
watching them ( usually the kids have their own plans
on Saturday's) It meant a great deal to Jeff.

we were not able to get through them all last-night
so we decided to have another ol silent movie night
on another weekend.

I can't wait.

Angels

This Beautiful angel wind-chime was a special surprise
gift sent to me by my dear friend Shanna, with a note saying
that even though we don't get to spend a lot of time together
she thinks of me. I think of her quite often as well
and I thought it to beautiful to put outside.

I have been blessed to have ANGELS in my life
from family members to special close friends
I count the blessings they have given to me
and I hope they consider me an angel of some sort to them.

WHO ARE THE ANGELS IN YOUR LIFE?

U.S. Coast Guard

This coming year will mark 10 years that Jeff has
been retired from the U.S. Coast Guard he served
20 years and I was with him for all but a few.
I am proud of the work my husband did while
serving he helped save a great many lives while
risking his own (like any one in the service it is part
of the job) he had many facets in the Coast Guard he
was the Hazardous Materials specialist and won numerous
awards for implementing many programs, he received many
medals for rescues. he was a electrician and a navigator and
the crew member who does the hoisting of the basket while
on rescues.

Most folks do not know or understand what the Coast Guard
does, It used to fall under the department of Transportation
during Peace time and Under the Navy at War time, However
now it is under the Home Land Security. they do search and rescues
they take law enforcement from sheriffs to drug enforcement and
protect our waters.

one thing I can say in our many stations is that where ever
we were stationed we were always treated well. The Coast Guard
really takes care of their service members and their families.
we had great stations we started out in San Diego, then Hawaii,
to Los Angeles, Oregon, then finished our tour of duty in San Francisco.

I asked Jeff if he missed it he said at times because civilian life is different
than military in many ways. since his retirement of the Coast Guard he
works for AT&T.

brother and sister best friends

"A real friend is hard to find
difficult to leave and impossible
to forget."

Kiel and Kaitlyn are more to each other than
just brother and sister they are best friends
and they are always there for each other
even when they don't see eye to eye on
things. Jeff and I are glad that we
raised them to be this with each other
because when we are gone truly all they
will have is each other. and coming from
a family who lost their parents that statement
is true to me. they love to have long conversations
with each other that is sacred between them
(we can't know unless they feel we need to know)


Kiel started his senior year of high school yesterday
and it means a lot of things to all of us. his school year
seems to start earlier and earlier and finishes just as fast.

He is beginning to start production meetings for his fall
school play. and he is his Senior class School Board Rep
among his other activities. he plans on going away to college so
he and Kaitlyn have been making all kinds of plans
of things they want to do and places they want to
go, ( Jeff and I are included in some of them)

they are so much alike yet so different
which has been very interesting, they are
each other's protector and as Kiel has put it
if a guy breaks her heart he will have to break
his face!( Kiel is a black-belt in Aikido)

she says the same thing she does not want any girl
breaking his heart as well.

where ever the path leads them in their lifetime
I am glad that they are friends but incredibly proud
that they are brother and sister.

Magnum P.I. A.K.A. Tom Selleck

On August 22, 1987 I had the sweet pleasure of Having
my picture taken with actor Tom Selleck! it was my last
day of living in Hawaii. so it made it even more special

we lived in Hawaii for 3 1/2 years it was Jeff's overseas
duty while he was in the U.S. Coast Guard anyway I had a job
as a reservationist in downtown Honolulu and I would
always see them filming the popular T.V. show Magnum P.I.
I watched that old t.v. show faithfully still even in reruns today.

The company I worked for gave awesome Christmas presents
to their staff and I got a three day all expense hotel stay at
the resort that was used in Magnum P.I. known in the show
as the Kamehameha Club it is really known as the Colony Surf.

The room was beautiful the kind of room only celebrities would stay
in with a panoramic view overlooking the volleyball quarts and
beach which is when Jeff noticed MR. Selleck getting ready to
go into the beach we ran down and when Tom got out of the Ocean
Jeff explained it was our last day there and that I was a big fan
and He agreed to take the photo it was one of many
high lights in my career as a military wife.

He was the first celebrity that I met and taken a photo with
the second was last month with country singer Taylor Swift.
we did not have any children when we lived in Hawaii
we had great memories and I loved the Hawaiian people
I learned so much, like how to make flower lei's and
to appreciate Hawaiian food. most of the locals as they are called
thought I was of Hawaiian descent. I have a friend who is pure
Hawaiian and still resides there and taught me some hula.
we keep in touch every year around Christmas time.

we are planning a trip to Hawaii after Kiel graduates
(funny note when Kiel was 2 years old he came across the
photo and thought Tom Selleck was a photo of daddy!
kids gotta love em!)

LOVE

The only love you keep is the
one you give away.

Kaitlyn and Me

This is me and my beautiful daughter Kaitlyn.
I feel very blessed to be this teenagers
mother (yes, she can drive me crazy but that is
her job at her age!) but it is a crazy I would not
trade for anything. Kaitlyn was a blessing
because we were told Kiel would be our only child
and then surprise we were blessed with this lovely gal.

she has come from a baby born with low muscle tone
she had to have physical therapy to build it up ( which you
would never know now) to being bit in the face twice by two
different dogs (she still loves dogs) and last year had to have
knee surgery. she is a strong, passionate young lady,
I admire her so, she is strong in her faith and fights for
what she believes in, she is shy but once she feels comfortable
comes out of her shell like gangbusters! I see so much of my
sisters and brothers traits in her.( I also see a lot of me that
i wish I would of become when I was her age)


people say we sound a like on the phone she does not
think so! we always do fun things together weather it
be take a walk , go shopping/or window shopping or
just going to see a "chick flick" or convincing me that
I need to take her and her best friend to a concert or
be the volunteer parent to drive them places!!

she is very close to her brother Kiel which makes me
very happy they are two years apart they are best friends
like my sister Helen and brother Peter were. she is also
close with her God Parents my sis Jeanne and her husband
Shoji.

she has such a big heart and has high aspirations for
herself and I know she will achieve them, because she
knows that God always has her back and that the family
unit is there for her as well.

"The bond between a mother and daughter is LOVE"

Remember When

Do you remember when mom & pop diners would only
serve meals at those times, or when French Fries were really
only 25 cents! and of course getting ice cream for the above
prices was at THRIFTY DRUG STORE

I remember!!

Eve

My sister Eve is such a wonderful person
she is a 2nd grade teacher well she has been
teaching at the same school she student taught
in over 30 years ago and this is her final year
of teaching at the school because she is retiring
this year.
there are many quotes about teachers
but one saying I like that makes me think
of my sis is
"Teachers change the world one child at a time"

I remember my sister bringing home papers to
grade and staying up late she still does this
she now has some of her past students children
and I think that is pretty cool because it is a full
circle thing.

one of her past students was accepted into Harvard
and told her that she inspired him I thought that to be
awesome for her. when she told me that she was retiring
this year I had to stop and think just how many lives she
impacted in her teaching career I know she has helped advise
me and mine when we needed it. she never married and
all the nieces and nephews kind of in some ways became
her kids as well. she used to travel a great deal I hope
she returns to that when she retires. She and Mary
share my parents home.

Eve is quiet, she has a love for plays, (she and kiel just
came back from the Oregon where they attended
a week of plays and she and I share a passion for old movies
and hiking. she has a big heart and will do anything for our
family.

I am glad that she and Kiel have things in common
it's nice that they enjoy this and Kiel plans on taking
her to Oregon again in the future.

another quote that makes me think of my sis is"
"To Teach is to Touch a life forever"

in my youth my sister has touched my life forever
by teaching me and by being my sister.

soul2soul

My husband Jeff and I go on dates and Last night
my husband surprised me by taking me to
see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and their soul 2 soul
tour. we had such a great time and I was so thrilled to
take these photos.the concert was surprisingly
very long it started at 8:15pm
and was still going on when we left at 11:45!
I love all kinds of music but country music has
been one of my love's! Faith Hill was good
but of course I have to give props to Tim McGraw
my heart melted when he sang "live like you were dying"
because it reminded me a lot of one of my brothers
and then he melted my heart strings with his new song
"if your reading this" because I was thinking about
friends and my nephew being over seas
and my favorite part of the night was the
last song they sang together "I need You"
anyway if you ever get the chance to see them
in concert take a chance and do it!!!

communion

Linda, me. mama

This is me the dayI was going to make my First Holy Communion.
growing up in a Hispanic Catholic Family there were certain standards
that had to be met, it was very important to my Mother that we believed
in the Lord and that we followed the Catholic Sacraments at least while
we were young and living in her house. My Mother was a devout Catholic
I still remember all the prayers taught ( even though I am not a practicing
Catholic)

My Husband was raised Baptist ( his family not a practicing baptist)
but do believe as well. when we got married being in the military
the Chaplin and non denominational churches became what we
attended.and it worked for us. that being when my children were
born I did have them baptized in a Celtic Catholic church ( difference
from Roman catholic is their Priests are allowed to be married.

I do carry the Lord with me as my Mother taught me.
In the past two years I have been experiencing
many different things about faith in the religious aspect.
a year and a half ago my daughter decided to be baptized
a Seventh Day Adventist ( I am
very proud that she found the Lord and is becoming
a good Christian and is strong in her faith and convictions
especially being only 15) when most teenagers her age
are in trouble with drugs, etc.

it amazes me though how there are so many faiths
and yet we all pray to one God, these faiths have so many
rituals that are common yet completely different.

My mother once told me she did not care
what faith I believed in just( meaning no cult like faiths)
so long as I believed and so I have taken that advice and used it with my
children( no cult like faiths) I don't care what faith they choose just as
long as they believe and I know that they do!

Man in the middle

A few years ago we attended our cousin Jo's Wedding
My Uncle Joe is the father of the bride.

My Uncle Joe is my mother's half brother and the youngest
of the boys in the family. lately since Mary had her bypass
he has kind of placed himself has protector of us. He has
been calling me regularly for updates on myself and sisters.
I have always loved my uncle Joe's smile, for it is contagious
my cousins have bestowed the title of "Family Flirt" to him because
he loves to flirt with the ladies in the family.
he is truly a family man and loves his wife, our Aunt Mary
very much.

I know my mother would be pleased that our uncle Joe
checks up on us

Lin

This photo was taken at my sister Lin's second wedding
two years ago. Lin and I are 10 years apart and
we are close in some ways yet very different in others
(not to be hurtful but to me in my mind Lin is the Drama Queen
in our family as far back in my youth as I can remember.)
as stated in my sister blog she does have a great smile that
reminds me of a sunflower.

her true name was to be Rosalinda but when mom told the
nurse her name the nurse just heard Lin so that is how it
came to be.

Lin was married right out of high school and her marriage
like most that young did not last, but out of that relationship
she had two girls her daughters Jennifer and Lesley.
my sister Lin is very caring of her family she is now
raising her oldest grandson Jake. she has another
grandson named Jordy and a granddaughter named Cass

Her new husband is Roger and I can tell he loves Lin very much.
they both have been through a lot and it is great that
they were able to find love a second time. (Personally me
I dont think I would want to!)

funny thing about my sis Lin and my brother Louis(in the photo)
they both share the same birthday but are many years apart don't
know how my mom managed that!

anyway I know that if I ever needed her she would be
there for me as I would be for her.

The love of GOD is like the ocean , you can see it's
beginnings but not it's end

Good Friends

Nathan, Michael, Kaitlyn, Kiel
not pictured is Taylor



Chris, Hannah, Shanna

"Good Friends are like stars you don't always
see them but always know they're there"

These dear folks became our friends over 13 years ago
when I met Shanna I had a feeling that she and her family
would become apart of my family and I was right.

The Schriner Family are very dear friends of ours
she and I would trade babysitting and so our kids became
good friends as well and Kaitlyn and Michael talk a great deal
on the computer, Michael is considered to be another older brother
to her. Shanna and I and Chris and Jeff have a great deal in common.

Shanna and I have a passion for country music, once we all saw
Garth Brooks in concert and Shanna could not hear for a few days
it was a scary thing! I admire her for so many talents she has
but mostly for her honesty, I have never had many girl friends
I don't open myself up to have a great deal of friends because of
an incident in my youth, but with Shanna I felt comfortable
she is a rare beauty with her honesty and I felt the connection
with her right away. Jeff felt the same when he met her and her
hubby Chris.

We don't always get to Hang out with Shanna and Chris
because we live a few hrs away and because everyone
is busy but when we do get together we have such a
relaxing and fun time it's like we have never been
apart!

They always know we are there for them and vice versa
Shanna and I do try to get together for lunch and shopping
dates when we can , thank goodness for computers, texting
and emails!!!! those gadgets keep us in touch.

like the saying above goes, you don't always see
them but you know they are always there and I am
glad to know and love them and call them friends.