My Dad

Today is a bitter sweet day. A year ago today, I brought home my beautiful son, and on this day, 69 years ago, my father was born. My father was a great man. A man of many stories, laughs and talents. For those that were lucky enough to know him well, they would tell you stories about my dad; stories that were always filled with adventure, danger and lots of laughs at the end. My dad for the better sense of the word was a scoundrel, a street rat, he ruled his barrio in the Philippines, circa 1950's to 60's, and if you needed someone to stick up and fight for you, that was my dad; always prepared to have his friends back in times of need. No matter what..Even if that friend was sick and dying, he literally took off his most expensive jewelry, told the family to sell it and use the money to pay for whatever medical expenses his friend needed. My dad would never leave someone out in the rain, even if it was a stranger. He said it was because he knew what it was like to be hungry, cold and uncertain about tomorrow.

He came to America in 1974, with only $5 in his pocket, the information his contacts gave him was false, so when he got here, he was lost, confused and hungry with no place to go. Luckily for him, he had God on his side that touched the hearts of a couple that lived in L.A and when he told them his story, they took him home and helped him get started on his new life in America.

Now, aside from having many talents, my dad of course was a very good looking man and from a young age, he found he had a talent for charming women. He got a job at Pic N Save and would tell us the stories about all the women that would have crushes on him, but none of the stories mattered as much as the story of when he met and fell in love with my mother. She was barely entering her twenties as he was starting to exit his, but as soon as she saw him, she knew she found the one the Lord made just for her. She just got hired at Pic N Save as well and my dad said she was too skinny at the time for his taste. But that didn't stop my mom from pursuing and charming him and in a few short years they were married and starting our family. Together they raised 9 beautiful children and though raising such a large family had its toll here and there, there was never a doubt of how much love there was for one another. My dad worked hard to provide for his family, always making sure we had enough to survive. When times got really tough, he would turn to his many talents of selling woodcrafts, tailoring clothes, catering his delicious Filipino cooking. Yes, there were hard times, but even in those hard times, we still had each other and that was something my dad always made sure of.

He was so proud of each of his kids as they grew up and started their own lives. He loved his grandchildren to the moon and back and would light up everytime one of them would visit him. Christmas time was my dad's favorite holiday..He said each of our families had the whole year, but Christmas was his holiday. He would stay up all night and early morning cooking all of his kids favorite dishes of sweet rice, Calderata, Adobo, lumpia...you name it, he cooked it and would take extra delight seeing each of his kids enjoying his cooking. This past Christmas he was so weak and sick, but he still stood up all night cooking, just so he could see his kids faces.

He was a strong man, but also a stubborn man, he refused to allow sickness to get the better of him. Even when his kidneys were failing and he was so weak, he would say what can a doctor do that I can't? I can take care of myself!

Of course he would go to the doctor, but towards the end, we think he knew his time was running out and though he didn't tell us, we think he just wanted to live the remainder of his days surrounded by the people he loved and those that loved him most. On January 26, 2018, at 3:58 in the morning, the world briefly stopped turning, the sky became darker and our family changed forever.

Though we are temporarily sad, our hearts are rejoicing knowing we will get to see him again. Knowing he is no longer sick or in pain. Knowing, he is with our Father in heaven who loves him more than we ever could on earth.

His viewing was a celebration more than a mourning. People were not only comforted, but encouraged and given hope through his life and legacy. His viewing and funeral had over 200 attendees and there was such an outpouring of love that the funeral home came to my mother afterwards and said they never experienced anything like it and were so amazed by our family. I know my dad would be smiling at such a party!

But getting to why this is such a bitter sweet day. Today is my father's birthday. Though it's been emotionally tough getting through the last couple of months, today is especially tough, because he is not here to celebrate it. When I get up, I won' be able to go to his house and wish him a happy birthday. I won' be able to bake his favorite pineapple upside down cake that I promised I would make for him or see his smiling face as we sing happy birthday to him. I won' be able to hear his laugh as he tells us one of his silly jokes or stories, or watch him be so proud and play with my son. These are the things I have to accept for today. But one thing I won't accept is forgetting my dad and that he lived. So to honor him on his special day today, I am sharing him with the world. Happy Birthday Rustico Yparraguirre, for as long as I live, my daddy you'll be.

Hurt people, hurt people

Hello my beloved, how are you all doing this September month? The season is finally changing and I'm so glad because I don't think I can take anymore of the heat! These past few weeks I've been really dehydrated and having dizzy spells which is why I haven't been on here that much lately. But I'm back now and that's the past, so lets move forward on today's topic of interest: why do people hurt people?

I don't know if it's the heat wave or what, but this whole summer or better yet, this whole past year, I've been pushed down, mowed over, stabbed in the back, crushed, mutilated and the worst one of all.....hurt. For awhile I reflected on myself and what I've done wrong to cause these certain individuals to attack me so hateful and spitefully? I prayed, I meditated, I asked the age old question of why? And after it all, I've come to the conclusion that it's not my fault, heck it might not even be their fault?

For my situation, I looked back long and hard to try to find where I could of done these individuals wrong, but the truth is, all I ever did was try to be there for them, love them, give them loving advice and support, but they took it as me "trying to control them, take over their lives, get involved in their business, when it's none of mine?!" To that, I reply, then why did you come to me with your problems if you didn't want my help? It's not like I was forcing them to conform or change...the fact of the matter is, as you know I am Christian and all I tried to do was give them Godly advice and spiritual guidance in a loving and encouraging way, but my mistake was that these individuals are NOT the spiritual type so any advice other than "do what you want," is considered " judgemental and critical" which makes me un Christian because supposedly I'm suppose to just accept them as they are. Well yes, that is true, I do accept you as you are, but I don't accept your sin. The problem with unbelievers is that they choose to pick and choose parts of the bible that rule in their favor, but the problem with that is, they don't read the entire context of the word before they start accusing and throwing judgements. Instead, they want to continue hurting and in return hurt you more, thinking that would make them feel better. 

For that, I'm sorry but you can try to break me, hurt me and say whatever you want, but I'm not going to compromise my faith or beliefs and conform to your worldly ideals just to make you feel better. As a Christian it is my job to love you with the love of The Lord and out of Love, help guide you on the right path for your life which God wills for you. It's not my doing or your doing or any one's doing BUT Gods, the only thing is he gives you the free will to choose wether or not to accept it. So for all those who have been hurt or make it a point to hurt, just know the only way you will ever find true happiness in your life is through Christ Jesus as your Lord and savior and I promise you that your life might not get any easier as a Christian, but it will be more fulfilled and joyful. It's like I said in the beginning, I've been trampled on, dragged across the mud, have personally gone through hell and back. Honestly, I'm going through a couple of trials and tribulations as I write to you now, but beloved despite it all I have peace in my heart knowing God Rules it and joy in my life knowing God is in control and will take care of me and for those of you who want to hurt me for standing steadfast for The Lord, while then I will not say anything to you accept, Matt 5:44 "do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." Just know my beloved, God knows our hearts and our pains and it says in 2 Corinthians 1:5 "for just as the suffering of Christ flows over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows"..........Until next time my beloved

The joys of having children

Given I don't have children of my own...yet....I thought I'd share this silly story.

I was feeling pretty grumpy and inconvenienced earlier and really wasn't in the mood for anything, but we picked up our two year old nephew so he could spend the night at our house and we were on our way home, when he saw McDonalds. Like all American toddlers, he recognized the arches and got really excited, "DONALD'S!!!!!!! DONALD'S!!!!!!" Since we still needed to feed him dinner, we stopped, but went through the drive thru since it was late. 

He was so excited and we got to the first window and paid and started driving to the second window, when he became nervous and his eyes got really big and concerned and he started asking, " fries??!!!" Fries??!!!" 

So I had to explain to him that we paid in 

the first window and now we have to drive to the second window to get the food and he still seemed confused so he asked, "why?" So I told him, "because they don't want to mix the food with the money because that's just unsanitary," so again he asked, "why?!" So I told him, "because it's easier that way" and he asked, "why?" By now I figured he was just messing with me so I told him, it's so traffic can flow faster and the cars can just drive through and yet again he asked, "why?" So by now I had no more answers to give and I just said, " because!" At which he replied, "why?" So again I said , "because" at which he replied, "why?" And we went on like this for about a minute, until he got confused as to who was saying why and who was saying cause? Hahaha, the whole time my husband was laughing at us from the front seat and telling me, he never thought he would ever hear that conversation?! We all laughed and in that instant, my whole mood changed to nothing but joy. It's crazy how a child changes everything.....until next time


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