Marisa, Michael, Bella & Isabel came over to go out to lunch with Juls & Angie & Violet. They went to Angie's place of work, an Italian restaurant on Laguna Beach. Everyone said the food was delicious, authentic Italian, the chef is straight from Italy!! Yumm! Then they went to the playground on the beach. Here's a photo of the guys and a few of Marsi & Princess Isabel--so cute!!

Italy '99
Angie & Kids Cakovec, Croatia Christmas '02
Angie, Bety & Dudley Obora, Czech R. '97

CLASSIC PHOTOS AND ANGIE'S BIRTHDAY COMING UP!

Here's a few more photos that our Czech friend Lubos sent me. Good reminders!

PLEASE DON'T CRY--Aimee & everyone says my poems make them cry! Sorry! Well, at least they evoke some sort of emotion--leaving you glad, sad or mad! Here's something that I hope isn't too sad, but more encouraging.

PRAYER FOR MY KIDS & GRANDKIDS

Please take them down their

path of life

Please hold their hands

And be their light

And let them know--

You're by their side.

Please sing to them

when they're tired

Please lift them up

when they fall

Please comfort them

when they don't know

how to go on

Please do for them

what I cannot do--

Please see them through.

Please help them to

help another somehow

Help them to look to You

even thru the clouds

Help them see your face

no matter what,

thru the fog

and day to day.

Help them to remember

Your sweet words

No matter what they hear.

May they feel encouragement,

see Your smile

Know Your love,

even if unclear while,

May they reach for You

in their darkest night

May You be their light--

May everything for them--

be alright.

I cannot stay now by their side

But I know that You will be

their guide

I know that You will be

their friend

You'll never leave them--

World without end.

6/26/01

(This one from last year)

ANGIE'S BIRTHDAY!!--Will be 22 Years Old on Oct. 4, '08

Just wanted to be ahead of the game this time. The plan is that I will be doing a regimen of chemos starting next week and I don't know how I'll be feeling when it's Ang's birthday. I'm hoping I'll be fine, but one never knows. So this is dedicated to Angie, I LOVE YOU!!!! Hope you have a great birthday & a wonderful year!!

Here's some poems I've written for you. I hope you like them.

THE COLOR OF THE SUNSET

The color of the sunset

The color of a rose

The color of your eyes--

These things are very close.

The wings of a bird

The singing of a brook

The beauty of your smile--

I only have to look.

The softness of the snow

The sparkle of the stars

The places I want to go--

I see them in your eyes.

The warmth of the sun

The coolness of the breeze

The gracefulness of a bird

Is in your touch, so sweet.

The whistle of the train

The whisper of the trees

The noise of the crickets--

Your voice is just like these.

Oct. 3, '05

A DROP IN THE BUCKET

A drop in the bucket

A bird in the sky

An opening flower

A tear in my eye.

A moment in Springtime

A child's tiny hand

These are things I still understand.

How fleeting the days

That you were still near

How like the sunset

They'll soon disappear.

And yet for these moments

I want you to know

My heart is breaking

With love--

as you go.

09/07/06

IN AUTUMN

In Autumn

don't you know

That everthing is dying?

The brilliance

of the colors--

Death defying.

In Winter

snowy stillness

Everything is sleeping--

Life beneath is keeping,

waiting--

For the Spring.

In Spring

How did we know

That everything asleep

Would show--

That everything we thought

was dead

Would grow.

In Summer now

In sun and heat

The fruits come forth

Like finest wheat.

The sun, the rain

The cold, the pain

The death,

Rebirth--

Are we not born again?

As in Heaven,

So on earth.

2006

OF DREAMS

Of dreams & things

we couldn't see

The forest, then the trees--

By letting go

I'll let you know

What realisation seems--

The distant drums

The piper calls

The sea beaconing you--

And yet you know

That thru it all

My heart is with

you still.

So go your way

And I will stay

Your distant,

loving friend.

I cannot keep you

by my side

I'm only at the

other end,

As roads will bend--

And so if you should

ever feel

You need a prayer,

A listening ear--

I'm there for you

As stars shine above

I'll be there for you--

With endless love.

5/13/07

Angie came home and brought me a beautiful rose & it inspired this poem:

HOW DID YOU KNOW?

How did you know

I needed that rose?

How did you know?

How did you know

my heart nearly froze

my tears want to flow--

How did you know?

My precious daughter,

You've always seemed

to know

How much I've needed

Your hugs, your smiles--

Your encouragement.

How did you know

I haven't been able

to go on

Without your love,

your roses?

6/10/08

MARISA IS VISITING NOW!!
Sweet Marisa and Micheal and their beautiful daughters Isabel and Chanel are visiting us now! They're staying with Sam & Stephie, but have come over & visited a few days. It's so great to see Marisa after so many years--it's been 6 yrs! We had some good talk times & cried & laughed together. Marisa is so easy to talk with & so understanding. She always says, "There's nothing like having a good cry to make you feel better". I think it does work. Such a sensitive soul!! Her daughters are gorgeous & the cutest things, & Michael is a great guy, I love his Kiwi accent. They've gone to the beach all together, had barbecues & picnics, Juls & Marsi went out for coffee together. That's so nice of Sam & Stephie to have them, & the guys so sweetly took all the kids one day so Stephie & Marisa could go out. Well, I hope we'll take some photos while they're here. I'm on oxygen now and am not so ambulent. But if no one else does, I hope to get some photos in while they're here!

Here's a poem I wrote for the grandkids:

FOR MY GRANDKIDS

Little angels of my life

You keep me going

You keep me right

Little angels of my life

Your smiles are like Heaven

Your eyes are so bright

How could I live

without you?

How could I go through

the night?

You are the little angels

Sent to me

When I needed

you most--

When I needed

such Peace.

4/15/08

SAM'S BIRTHDAY--23 YRS OLD!! (8/8/08)

The same day the Olympics opened in Bejing. I was in the hospital & couldn't be at his birthday, but Sam & Steph and boys came by to visit--how sweet. They brought me some beautiful flowers. I understand they had a barbecue at the park near our house with everyone--lots of fun!

Well, no one took any photos unfortunately, but there's a few from last year. Here's a few poems I wrote for Sam & gave them to him for his birthday.

FOR SAM

How sweetly flew

These hours, these days

Now it seems

They're all erased--

Only memories remain.

Each day, each thought

So lost in time

I cannot make the seasons

rhyme,

They seem blended

As notes of a chime.

And yet my heart beats

longingly

To hug you more,

to smile,

to see--

The good and possibilities.

What wastes of time

to dwell on error

To ponder on the lacks,

What's "fairer"

Oh give me back

Those simple days

When we were young

And so unphased.

Pushing forward

To noble heights

Helping others

in their plight.

May I remain

forever small

Toiling not for fame

or call

Being there, like you--

that's all.

May you remain

forever in my heart

As one who gave,

And didn't think you did

more than your part.

May you remain

my son, my love--

As one who stood by

in the dark

Til the end

So strong, so tall--

As one who always

gave his all.

I wish you well,

as my tears fall

I wish you well,

My dear, my son--

So strong, so tall.

3/5/08

A THOUSAND YESTERDAYS

A thousand yesterdays

have passed away

Yet still I think

of you today

So young, at play.

Where is the yesterday

that never returns

that slips thru my fingers

for which I yearn?

If I could spend

one hour, one moment

again--

It would be with you--

my son, my friend.

7/20/08

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA--26 YRS!!! (7/13/08)

The guys got Juls a treadmill so she can walk & run as much as she wants without having to go out. Everyone went to the park & had a yummy barbecue. The kids had a great time playing together. And Juls is just "in love" with darling Aidan!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET JUDAH--2 YRS.OLD!!!

Dad took me to the ocean on my birthday and I got this poem about it a little later.

LET'S GO ONCE MORE TO THE SEA, MY LOVE

Let's go once more

to the sea, my love

Let's walk upon the shore

Let's go once more

to the sea, my love--

Before there's time

no more.

Let's look at the beauty

of the sea spray,

my love

Let's look at the beauty

of the waves

That beat endlessly

as our hearts--

Where these moments

have been saved.

Let's walk once more by the sea,

my love

Let's let the breeze blow

tenderly

Let's look at the sunset

that lasts for moments--

Then fades into eternity.

Let's watch the birds

fly above, my love

Let's watch them as they fly

and hover above our heads,

my love

Then disappear into the night.

Let's gaze at the beautiful

moon, my love

Shining on the sea

Let's watch the water sparkle

so deep,

so magically.

Let's remember these moments

together, my love

And never let them go--

As the waves crash gently

upon the shore

And time will be no more.

7/08 For Jeff

MY BIRTHDAY!! (5/19/08) Had a great birthday. The kids got me an awsome MP3 player, a beautiful chain for the diamond cross Aimee sent me, & some watercolor paints & paper. Dad got me some angel fish and some fish for the fishtank, but unfortunately they died a month later. Oh well, lasted longer than a fish dinner! Had a wonderful time & enjoyed the children as well!

Here's a poem I wrote right before my birthday, for my kids & grandkids!

ALL THE MEMORIES COME BACK TO ME

All the memories

come back to me--

Your smiles

Your simplicity--

How simple

were those days--

Just to hold you,

Just to play--

Holding your hand

to pray.

Like dreams

they are now,

Like jewels from the past.

Like the setting sun,

I wished that they

would last.

But in my heart

Those days remain

When love was simple,

Love was plain.

Your smiles

Your hugs & kisses

Are written

In my heart,

In my mind

forever--

They will never fade.

5/16/08

Happy Birthday Violet--2 Years Old!

And...Here's a few poems I've written for Violet. I've been too sick to take care of her for awhile, which breaks my heart, but I love her from the bottom of my heart!!

HOW GENTLE YOU ARE

How gentle you are

In my arms--

Why couldn't this moment

last forever?

Will you remember me

as I do you?

Or will my heart be broken again

By your soft sweet eyes

Your tiny hands

Your little smile

I will hold you now,

A little while..

(or perhaps I was in Heaven then...)

7/22/06

FOR VIOLET

I'll stay with you

A little while--

I'll hold you colse,

I'll miss your smile.

Of birds & trees

Of flowers & leaves--

I'll think of these,

Sweet memories.

Just like the breeze--

Please stay with me,

Oh, Violet please.

(I think the trees

Are waving goodbye--

How do they know?

It makes me cry.)

2/26/07

Catching up!

I was in the hospital for over a month. But wanted to reveiw some events from the last few months. I'm home now & can work on the computer. My brother Kevin, 3 years my junior, & his wife Kathy and son Asher came for a visit. It's been years since we saw each other but was a very sweet reunion, seemed like yesterday. He said "even tho I don't write you doesn't mean I don't love you very much". How sweet! He's a professional artist and his wife runs a gift shop at a mall. Asher is going to study graphic arts, following in his dad's footsteps. They live in Seattle.