Christmas time

Christmas time is the most beautiful early memories of my life and I have been doing my best to give my child the same beautiful memories. It is to believe in santa.

Joseph with Santa

Joseph is 10 years old now. He stills believes in Santa and Elf.  I remember when Joe was very young and not yes, how to write a letter to Santa, he used to draws the pictures of what he wanted to get and always tries to catch Santa. Even though time has passed, he still tries to catch Santa on Christmas night.

On December 1, Elf comes into our house until Santa comes and then Elf goes with him. There are 25 days that I have to move Elf and write back Joseph all the letter he writes to Elf. I have to make sure that he sleeps before I move Elf. Sometimes it takes a long time to for Joseph to fall asleep because he tries to catch Elf moving around the house. It is really fun and I enjoy that beautiful innocent part of him.

This year my job became more difficult because some of Joseph's classmates told him that Elf does not exist; that it is your parents who move Elf .

When Joseph came home, he asked me just like this, "Mom tell me the truth. Tell me the truth. Do Santa and Elf really exist?". I was not expecting this question.  So I asked him back, "Why are you asking me that question? You know that mom believes in Santa and Elf. And mom also believes in Jesus and God! There are some people who do not believe in anything.  Do you believe in Jesus?  Do you believe in God? Do you believe mom or in your friend who told you that Santa does not exist? You know that your dad doesn't believe that Jesus is God's son?"

Joseph said, "Yes mom, I believe in Jesus, God, Santa, Elf, and you mom."

That was my luck, because he knows that his dad's religion does not believe in many things that we believe. Just like the little boy in his class does not believe in Santa and Elf like we do.

But since then, Joseph has been trying to catch Santa and Elf. He started comparing my hand writing with the Elf's. Now I have to ask some one else to write the letter instead of me but I still have a lot of fun. Sometimes it will take him a long time to find Elf and he asks me to help him look.

One time Joseph asked me why he's never seen God, how can he know that God exists. Why has he never caught Santa or Elf, he asked. I told him to pick a cup with water and put some sugar in. After,  I asked Joseph if he could see the sugar in the water. Joseph said that he did not see the sugar in the water. I asked if he believed that there is sugar there. He said, "Yes, I am the one who put the sugar there." So I said, "God is here with us, but we can't see him just like we can't see the sugar that you put in the water. God give a Santa and Elf some of the power at Christmas so the children can have beautiful magic moments.

I don't know how much longer he will believe in Santa. I know that he is growing up and soon he will know the truth. But the memories we've made will stay with him for the rest of his life. And hopefully, he will continue our tradition with his children many years from now.

 Joseph was getting his first bible

Love You Joseph

My dad and I

I always love you dad!

My dad was a hardworking man who had lived his life in the simplest way. I always remember him as an older man with his white hair and sweet smiles, because that was the only way I had ever seen him. I miss my dad so much. My dad wasn't educated man, but he was one of the most clever men I have ever know. His ability of solve poblems, his command and love over us, my sisters, my brothers, and me. His words were more valuable than a man's signature. I will never forgot the way he used to deal with us. He was a wonderful father to all 18 of us. 

Me

My dad

My dad was 34 years older than my mom. I never saw him as a young man, so I keep in mind the      way I had always seen my lovely father. His attitude, his mood, his nature. My dad was a man of great character. He never gave up on anything he wanted. He used to get up very early in the morning, work all day, talking with all his friends, and enjoying his life with all of us.

My dad was the only one who could tell the difference between my sister Lirane and me over the phone. Lirane and I have the same type of voice, and if we talk on the phone with someone, the person can never tell which of us is calling. But my Father knew his children.

My father's health began to deteriorate with many diseases. He was diagnosed with diabetes, a heart problem, and a kidney problem. I remember one time, my dad stayed at hospital in intensive care for 21 days, after he had a heart surgery. I was young, but I remember how afraid we were of losing him. He surprised us by recovering and came back home. After this, his diabetes and kidneys got worse, it was necessary to remove one of his kidneys, and the one he was left with, only had 5% function.  My dad was in hemodialysis 3 days a week. His blood was removed, then filtered and returned to his body. My dad's courage was the most beautiful quality he had.

My dad!

My dad is no longer alive, his passed away at the age of 86, after battling for his life for a long time. 

One of the thins that made my dad so sad was having to be in the big city near the hospital after living his life on a small farm.  His dialysis was performed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So every Friday afternoon,  he was discharged from the hospital, he traveled three hours back to our small town where he stayed until Sunday afternoon.  He spend this time with his friends and family.

 That was my father. a man with determination. He was honest, faithful, and devoted. I will always remember my dad's last smiles, our last hung, and our last conversation on the phone. I didn't get to say goodbye (adieu) to my father, because I was in the U.S.A. and at the time I was not legal in the country so I couldn't leave the U.S.A. because I was afraid of being banned when I flew back. It was very painful for me. I was crying, I just wanted had the opportunity to said goodbye ( adeus ) to my dad,  I wanted to kiss him, I wanted to cry on his body. I could not. Three years later, I was able to go into my native country and finally said ADEUS to my dad.

dad, you will be in my heart forever. I love you my father.

love you forever

Joseph