Happy Birthday B U N SO

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIKA NYDIA MCKUSICK. ALL OF US HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

July Celebrations

One of the biggest celebrations in July was the much awaited birth of my "Texan" grandson.
His name is JACOB WESTIN GOLZ. He was born just yesterday, Thursday, July 9, 2009 @ 2:10 p.m. (Texas time). He weighed 6 lbs-5 oz, and length was 19.5 inches long. My husband and I are on our way to Grapevine to see and hold a yet another grandson.

Another celebration in July is the birthday of my youngest daughter Jennika Nydia, aka "bunso". 26 years ago she delighted my husband and me with her lovely entrance in the middle of the Arizona summer heat. Ever since, she has been bringing beautiful surprises along the way. Right now, she is busy with a full time job at a law firm in the valley and going to law school. She is my precious "doughto"(her own cutie language, called Jeekanese) and a great auntie for Alexa, Abby, Grady and Jacob. I love you so much Jennika Nydia McKusick and I thank God that you showed up in my life. The world is a much happier place with you in it!

Happy Father's Day

Here is another poem I wrote for you Daddy on Father's Day:



I thought I would see you again

I prayed to God to make it happen

It hurts that it wasn't the case

You left to see God face to face.



I wrote several poems just for you

To tell you that I love and miss you

I'll hang on the memories, by time not erased

In my mind and heart they will be placed.



My sorrows will not be overgrown

For I know you're not alone

You're now with God and mommy

Living in joy for eternity.



You left us the eighteenth of May

That was the saddest time for me

For I can no longer say

"Happy Father's Day" today.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

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To the best father of my children:

Brian Dennis Mckusick

H a p p y F a t h e r' s D a y with love from ME!

Happy Father's Day to my father in law,

Paul McKusick, my son, Josh. My son-in-law, Matt.

Happy Birthday in heaven, Daddy (June 9)

Heaven is celebrating your birthday today, Daddy. I Love you forever!

Here is a poem I wrote for you, on June 9, 2001, 22 days after you passed away.

I wish I were there, to tell you how much I care
I wish I'd seen your face one last time in earthly space.

I keep thinking you are still there, sitting in your wheelchair
Waiting for my call only to realize you'll not answer at all.

For you have gone to a place, where there is beauty and peace
Where you have no more tears and sorrows, no more fears of tomorrows.

Say hello to mommy for me, I'm sure she's now very happy
Together you will walk side by side, up there with God to abide.

Goodnight, enjoy God's light, rest awhile if you might
I will dream of you tonight.

Memorial Day-May 18th

In Memory of Samson Guran (June 9, 1925-May 18, 2001)



Last night I learned my daddy has passed away

To be with his Lord and Savior and see my mommy

Even though I knew his end would come this way

It hurts to think he will now be so far away.



I know my daddy is relieved and very happy

To be completely healed from his ailing body

He will be surely missed day by day

Starting today, the eighteenth of May.



I love you mommy and daddy

I will forever cherish your sweet memory

Goodbye for now my beloved mommy and daddy

Until we meet again in heaven's glory.



A TRIBUTE TO MOM AND DAD is a poem I wrote when my dad passed away on May 18, 2001. This day was also my baby sister's 46th birthday. Happy Birthday today Eian.

A Wild Spring Break (Partying With Abby)

It was a trip that I have long wanted to do. I was looking forward to seeing one of my granddaughters, Abby. This was also a different trip from all the other trips I have done as far as Abby is concerned. When I first saw her in Pittsburgh, she was just over 2 months old. All I did was just cuddle her, take pictures, and take videos. This visit gave me an opportunity to be around her. Those were precious memories with her!!

Abby, now 14 months old was so much fun. She babbled, talked, smiled, and walked. I got to do a lot of things that I have never done before with her: go for a walk with her, put her down to nap, watch her eat, and I even changed her diapers. Doing this and other things gave me so much pleasure. I know that by the time that I come back to Grapevine in late July, her routine will have changed. She will be much bigger, doing more, and interacting more with people around her. I am looking forward to doing this again as a full time babysitting service when the next baby comes in August.

Overall, it was a wonderful visit and trip (got to celebrate uplifting Easter service with the Baptists). I have to hand it to my husband ( my super-duper safe driver). I couldn't have done this without him doing all the driving (driving the 80 mph speed limit in Texas would have scared me to death). It was fun driving with my Briney!

Milestones

My Mother (Adela Lota Guran)
Today, April 6 is my mom’s birthday. If she had lived to this day, she would have been 80 years old. I miss my mom so much. There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t think of her. I could still hear her laughing and crying at the same time. When I called her, she would always ask, “When can I see my grandbabies?”

When I became a citizen, I filed a petition to allow my parents to come to the U.S. They were thrilled to know that they would finally get to be with their grandchildren. There were more visits following the very first one. There were more memories made of them and us.

Then, the unexpected happened! Just months after they returned to the Philippines from the U.S., my dad suffered a debilitating stroke. This hindered them from traveling any further. Then, the family decided that it was our turn to visit the Philippines. During the summer of 1994, we arrived in Manila. Before the trip, this place was just a blurry picture in the minds of my husband and my children. Now, the Philippines was a real place to them. We had many great memories. For the first time, my family met cousins and other relatives. It was overwhelming, to come back after 14 years. This trip coincided with my parents’ 49th wedding anniversary. More memories were made. Oh, how sweet they were!

This would be our last chance to see and visit with my mom. She died the following year (June 4, 1995) at age 66.
Happy birthday today Mommy! I love you!

My Dad (Samson Moralde Guran)
Life had to go on for Daddy after Mommy died. He missed her a great deal. He missed the companionship that she had given him for most of his life. She had taken good care of him.

Yet, despite the loneliness of not having my mom by his side, he still managed to have a good outlook on life. From his seat in a wheelchair, he would visit with friends, sing, and tell jokes as part of his everyday life. I remember one joke that he told us. He told us that even though his body was not good; his mind was still very good. The punch-line was that he could still remember everyone who owed him money. He could recite the complete Gettysburg Address. What a smart dad I had!

My dad lived 9 years after the death of my mother. On May 18, 2001, he closed his eyes for the last time and opened them in heaven to see Jesus and Mommy waiting. My dad was 76 years old.