Well, I think it has been a long time since I have written a blog post. Since it is the new year of, 2013 I thought I would be more active on my blog. 2012 was a very interesting year, lots of changes and hardships I can definitely say that. This past year, I have truly realized that family is so important in life. In the beginning of 2012, our family lost our Great uncle Adrian. He has been very missed, especially during the holiday seasons. My brother went off to college last August at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA. Since I only have one brother, it is hard to see your favorite brother leave the nest, but I am thankful to see him whenever we get together. As I mentioned in the beginning, I have realized how family is so important. When I say ''Family'' I mean, every single family member I have. Parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, and Grandparents. We all get together when we can, but since we all live in different places, it can be hard. As my grandparents are getting older, (not old!) it can be sometimes hard and difficult but I always appreciate the times we all have together with them. As for my mom's parents, my Poppop was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. For almost the past two years, it has been extremely difficult for me and all of my mom's side of the family. Seeing my grandpa forget people day by day, breaks my heart. Recently, I have been watching old videotapes of my Poppop when all us grandkids were younger and seeing his old self again made me happy, but would make me burst into tears wanting to have my Poppop back again. What I do know, is that I will always pray for him, (sometimes praying for a miracle) and never failing at loving him, because I know that he will always be my Poppop no matter what. But my message for everyone out there in the world, is to not take advantage of family and friends. With friends, it is very easy to take advantage of them. But family is different, you may not get along with them or disagree on politics but it is so important to always have love for family. They are your flesh and blood in some way or other, but when you are all together having a great time around the dinner table, be thankful for having people in your life that you can call...family.

Uncle A

Hello everyone! I know, it's been a long time since i have written a blog post. But recently I lost a Family member, who was really close to my whole family and myself. He was my Great Uncle. We used to call him ''Gruncle A'' A, (short for Adrian) Last summer, we almost lost him in his home town Santa Cruz, California. But he came back to us and was doing great! We had a miracle. Our whole family was so blessed and thankful for have him back for the last 7 Months. We moved him into a Retirement home called ''Merrill Gardens'' in Vallejo, California. He fell in love with everyone there (Our Family did too!) My dad, was his personal assistant for all those Months and did a fantastic job. He made sure, he had the best of what he wanted. But anyway, it was his time to go. His heart might have been weak but the love in his Heart was so strong for his Family and friends.

Here is a video I made for Uncle A. Enjoy

http://youtu.be/3Q10yd2oop4

Photography 2011

Pictures from this year (2011) Most of these pictures are from Washington DC and others are from other places. Flowers are from The Catholic University of America and from my Grandmother's garden. Picture of the baby is my cousin Jackie who just recently got Baptized.

Familia

For the past week, I have been in Washington DC for my Great Grandmother's funeral. She was buried in Arlington Cemetery, what an honor that is! I got to meet cousins, great aunts and uncles that I never met before. I'm so happy that I could spend time with them. I honestly think that my Great Grandma brought us all together to spend time with each other. There were great and bad times...defanatly a bittersweet trip. I would ask you all, if you can please say a prayer for my Grandma, who broke her hip during the trip and is in the Hospital in DC. I know my family would really appreciate it. But I got to see some great friends and got to see a lot of places where history was made. Got to stand where the Amazing Dr. Martin Luther King stood, when giving his speech ''I have a Dream''. But anyway, I think I finally realized that Life is always Bittersweet. ''When life is bitter, you pray. When life is sweet you give thanks''

Happy Birthday Jesus!

A couple of days ago I was shopping and getting everything done before Christmas and you all know I'm sure what it's like during the Holidays to shop. While I was shopping I saw a poor little girl who was looking at these Christmas shoes, admiring them. She asked her mother but her mother told her they cant afford them. I felt so bad having gifts for other people and just seeing her with a sad look on her face. I walked away but I came back and a manager was talking to them about the shoes and he gave them to her for half off. All these little things show a little act of kindness. The little girl had the happiest look on her face. That is what you should be like during the Christmas season, being kind and helpful to one another. It's also Jesus' birthday. I love celebrating his birthday because it's one of the best birthdays of all time! I just love Christmas. I think one of the hardest things around the holidays is if you lost a loved one..Just this last week I lost my great grandmother who was 93 years of age. She will be missed. So all of you who have lost a loved one recently or have for a long time I will pray that you have a wonderful Christmas with the family you have. This is a time to show really how you feel. And to tell your loved ones you love them. Jesus wouldn't want anything more then that.

So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! God Bless!

''Life is fast, enjoy it while it last''

Never forget. . . .

Yesterday 9/11 10 years ago something horrifying happened. I remember I was asleep when It was happening and my dad woke me up with tears in his eyes, and I ran over to the TV and saw the most frightning thing I have ever seen in my life...That was not a happy day. The one thing I remember was seeing a little something flying in the air, and I looked even closer to what that little something was and it was a man. Over 2 thousand people died that day. Yesterday I went to mass and I saw a women crying outside the church and she was telling her grandson about his Uncle and how he was killed in 9/11. Every single day for the past 10 years these families have been in pain. All of us will never ever will forget that day. I remember about a year before 9/11 happened I went to New York and I saw the twin towers before it collapsed. While the twin towers were colapsing, One of the Fireman was scared because his wife was working in the twin towers and he thought she might have been dead, but he didn't lose hope so he went back home to see if she went back to the house and she wasn't there. The fireman's heart just dropped but he got a phone call from his father and found out from him that she was at his firehouse. He ran over there without a car and found his wife in tears thinking she lost her husband. What a miracle! God gave them another chance at life. So please keep in your prayers for the families and hope that all the 2 thousand people went to the kingdom of heaven.

Mr. and Mrs. Crane.

For the past 9 years I have known Rita Kaehler (Now Rita Crane) when she was a teenager. Her family and my family have been going to the same parish for the past 9 years. I remember when all of our sisters would get together and have sleepovers and have so much fun! Then about 4 years later The Crane Family came into our parish, When I first met Mrs. Crane, she came up to me and introduced herself and gave me a huge hug.. Then I finally met all of her 5 children...Then in 2007 The Kaehler Family and The Crane went to the Ordinations in Nebraska for our pastor. One night while they were there they saw Spider Man 3. When they went into the movie theater, Rita saw an seat empty right next to Damien...My sister Shannon is a witness to this and she said that she saw them holding hands during the movie. So that's when it all started. For the past 3 years they have been courting...notice that I say Courting because not a lot of couples do that anymore. Then February 14th 2010 (Valentines day) Damien proposed to Rita. I knew from the beginning they were going to get married. So for the past 6 months they're has been lots of planning. Then the day finally came! On July 24th they received the sacrament of Marriage. I'm so blessed to know Rita and Damien because they have made such a great example of True love. They never kissed while they were courting or engaged. Their first kiss ever was on their wedding day.