Visiting Loved Ones at the Cemetery During #MothersDay

After attending mass at the church, we ate    dinner at Theo Yianni's, and then  we  proceeded to  the Chapel Hill Cemetery to visit   loved ones ( my husband's parents and two brothers.)  We usually visit my FIL  on special occasions when he was still around and this was the first time that we celebrated without him so we went to the cemetery to visit them.  

 I had to take my shoes off because it was   slushy and muddy due to the rain from previous days.

 I wish that I could have met my MIL but I wasn't able to come  before she passed.  I did talk to her on the phone when I was still in my country and she seemed really nice.

 It's sad to think that  my FIL won't be around anymore for my children's graduations and other occasion but  I hope that he would be looking down still.

 

I am thankful for the gift of  life, for my children, for my husband and for the good life we live here on earth.  I pray that I would still be around to witness  my  children's  different   stages in life and hope to see grandchildren in the future.  My prayer for Mother's Day is that, may the good Lord   blessed my children good health and may they  grow up to be good people and be successful in life.  

President's Day Visit to my FIL at Gables Care Center

Our  children and my husband were all  off  on President's day so we all went  to Gables Care Center where my father-in-law is being taken care of.  The old folks have just got done  eating lunch when we got there so  we were  glad to  see  my FIL awake, however, he was already dozing off.  I think he was given   his medicine  after he ate so  he was falling asleep as we were talking to him.  He didn't talk very much, we let him take  a nap.

 We noticed that Dad lost some weight since our last visit.   I feel bad  for my father-in-law.  I know that he is well taken care of in that facility but it's hard that we  only get to see him once in a while. I don't know why but I feel  this overwhelming  feeling of depression whenever we are  at a seniors' facility.  Looking at  the old people  that seem miserable makes me depressed.  I can't help but think of  a future  scenario for me and my husband.  I hope that when it is time for us to go,  we can go peacefully so  we won't be a burden to anybody.  

Before we left, my daughter played some songs  at the piano for  some of the old people in the lobby.  One of the nurses there gave us a picture of Dad  and his valentine date on Valentine's day.  Another nurse approached me and asked if I am a Filipino.  She wanted to know because  she is half Filipino  and she said that she seldom see Filipino at that facility.  She  talked to us for a little while and she told us that she knows  my  FIL.  They all call him Pap.  

It was a short visit with Dad but glad to see him again.   We didn't get to talk to him a lot  but  just to see him is enough.  We  will have to go back there again  when we get a chance.  I just wish he is near  us so we can visit often.

UPDATE:
That was the last time we visited him at Gables.  He was rushed to the hospital on March 1st.  The doctor said that  he  had a flu then it became a sepsis.  He was treated at Trinity for it and he got better.  He was supposed to go back to Gables last week but  the doctor found out that his  internal organs were shutting down.  We all went at the hospital   last Friday because the doctor said that he won't last  very long.  He got transferred to the hospice that night and then he died  last Saturday.  I know that we have anticipated it is going to happen but it is  a tough situation.  Losing someone who touched so many lives is hard.  We will forever cherished all the great memories we had with him.  Rest in peace now Dad.

Easter 2015

The students of Madonna High School has once again sponsored  an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids on April 4th at the Rectory  backyard.  We came ion 3 minutes late  from the  scheduled start so they were not able to participate.  Some of the Moms and kids gave them some candies though. 

 We did not  stay very long there so we  visited my  father-in-law.  I did  some cleaning  while my kids bond with Dad.  He told us that his younger sister is coming from Ohio so  I straightened his  house a little bit.  My sister in law does  most of the  house keeping at Dad ever since he got some sort of dementia.

 Then we came home and  colored some eggs.  The kids always look forward to this activity at home during Easter.  If you want to save more for Easter  projects and other upcoming holidays, you can get some coupons to use online. It is always good to find coupons before going on a shopping trip because it an really save you big bucks.

 The "Easter Bunny" left each of them an Easter  basket filled with goodies on Sunday.

 After I fried the lumpia we went and  celebrated with the whole family.

 My brother-in-law Rick, and sister-in-law Crystal watching the kids  look for eggs in the yard. 

 Here's Aunt Peg, they came down from Ohio to celebrate Easter with us.

 Gracie showing her prize to be claimed.  My SIL and NIL prepared so many eggs  with candies, prizes, and money.

 Aunt Peg, Uncle Wes, and Dad.

 The kids had a lot of fun mingling and playing with the other kids.

 I can tell that Dad was very happy having all the people he love gathered together on this  special occasion.

 I thank God for giving us the opportunity to be with the whole family.  It is always nice to catch with what everybody  is up to.  Because of busy schedules, we rarely see each other even though we live close.  Dad is our main magnet to be together.  Even though Dad think it would be his last for every occasion, I feel like  God continues to  bless him more time with us because he is doing  a purpose for all of us.  I will be looking forward for the  next coming Easters with Dad still with us.  

Ninety Years of Happiness

We celebrated my father-in-law's 90th  birthday  this past Saturday at my BIL's residence in Chester.  Ninety years is quite an accomplishment isn't it?   wish I could live that long.   We invited two of her sisters but  only Aunt Peg came.  Dad was so happy to see his sister once again.

Here are some of the photos I took. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The eye doctor advised  Dad not to drive anymore  because of his eye condition so I think, this is the last month that he drives.  May God bless my FIL more years to spend with us.

Jewels

I am really blessed to join a family who are very kind, loving, jolly, and down to earth.  They also love to joke  which makes life easier. They're the most precious jewels that I have ever found and thanks to the big J almighty  up above for showing me the way. Here's my family's J.. My father-in-law, Jennings, my husband, John, and our two lovely jewels Jillian and EJ.