Family is all that matters in life!!

Family is what keep me going and make me who I am today. I am so determined to make sure my family knows how important they are to me I always wonder. When I created this layout these were my thoughts. The journaling reads like this Family has always been important to me. I do not have many memories of my Mom and Dad being a family. They divorced when I was too young and in my lifetime they have never lived together. What I do know is that when I see these pictures I know that they loved each other and that they were a very young couple trying to have a family. I have a wonderful relationship with both my parents I have worked hard at making sure I understood why they could not be a couple. I am older and wiser and now I understand, I wished I had known what it was like to see them together as one. In my dreams as a little girl I always pictured them together. Those were the dreams of a little girl who really did not know how adults think. I am glad for the memories these pictures bring. I am jealous because my brother is the only person that is a part of the family unit. I think that is a normal emotion to feel. Now I cherish each and very one of the pictures I find were both of them are together because we are family not because we live together but because of the love that binds us. Elizabeth, Adalberto, Adalberto jr. 1958 Now as my family gets older and I wonder do they realize the importance of family. Sometimes it is hard because I think my kids feel all we have is each other in many ways they are right because we live so far from our immediate family what we have is each other to lean on and that is about it. Some days that gets hard and I am grateful for friends that care for me and listen to me when I need an ear. I was thinking of the tributes I have done to those I love. Here is one I made to my grandmother How do I pay tribute to a woman that raised me when my mother was not around. Who taught me how to cook and who taught me to always believe in myself even when those around me did not have a clue. I think the best tribute I can do is to make sure I tell the story of the wedding ring. My grandmother Evangelista Rodriguez, died on July 25, 1981. It was a very sad time in our family she had been battling with cancer for over four years. She was an amazing woman and to this day I feel the void she has left in my heart. There are truly no words to explain all the lessons learned at her knee when I was just a little girl. One of those stories involved her wedding ring. My grandmother had a beautiful wedding ring and when I was growing up I would make her put it on my finger so I could wear it. I would swirl around in circles and sing songs of how I was going to get married and this was the ring I was going to wear. My grandmother would laugh and I would have to give the ring back. I was not very a happy camper when the ring had to go back to it's rightful owner. Well the years passed and I got married in 1980. My husband and I were young and in love and not much money. He gave me a beautiful ring that I cherish with all my heart. Then in May of 1981 on mother's day my grandmother invited me over for dinner and to spend time with her. When I got to the house she told me to go to her room and get her jewelry box. When I get to her room there was a note on the box that said open the box. When I opened the box inside was my grandmother's wedding ring with a note from her to put it on. She had stopped wearing her ring because of all the weight she had lost due to her chemotherapy. I was so surprised I did not know what to say. When I go to the living room my husband and grandmother are talking to each other and she puts our hands together and says to us "with this ring I thee wed" She told my husband from now on you will make sure she doesn't take this ring off. All I could do was cry. My dream had come true. My grandmother wanted to make sure I had the ring before she died. During the last two months of her life I don't remember leaving her side much. I took care of her and nursed her until she closed her eyes and went to rest in the hands of her savior. I was heartbroken but I know that now she lives in no pain. When I got the ring it was already forty five years old. I have been married 23 years so the ring is 68 years old. The ring is just an object but the link of love from my grandmother to me is indescribable. I am honored to be able to pass on this and many other stories of this woman who loved me so much. This is just one small tribute so my children will always remember the story of the ring. So here I am making sure these are the memories I cherish and leave for my children so they never forget that the bottom line is that family is what connects of to this earth and that family is not only about blood is about heart. Here is the tribute I did for Hubby layouts will be posted later.

All elements are Denise Docherty, she is such an awesome artist I can't say enough about her elements.

There has never been a time in my life when I havenÂ’t loved you. We have been together for so long and yet to this day I feel the same way towards you like the first day I knew I loved you. Our lives have not been easy but you have always provided me with the support that makes dreams happen. You have believed in me you have comforted me and you have yelled at me. Through all our times good or bad not once have I doubted the love you have for me. Sometimes itÂ’s the only thing that gets me going when my dreams seem out of reach. The true nature of people always surfaces when crisis happen you have always been the one to hold me tight when I have fallen you have also been the one standing next to me when I achieve something, but it has been my arms around you when you have needed me to support you and you have never been ashamed to share your tears with me. You are an amazing man no words can really describe all that you are to me and your family. I am so honored to be the woman who gets to share a life with you. I love you sweet man. Your wife Wanda

Another tribute I did for my hubby, the journaling reads like this: The many layers of the man I love. I can not think of a time in my life when I have not loved or admired you. Ours is a love born out of what people call impossible dreams. We were too young and we would never work out. People use to say you were not good enough for me. What did they know. You proved them all wrong by allowing me to be me and become the woman I am today. Ours was not a fairy tale wedding we already had a child and we had no money for any big party. It didn't matter we were in love and we were determined to be together no matter what. You were my anchor when I could not get pregnant and when I was pregnant with our second child, and she was born you were so proud of your baby girl. Four kids in five years people thought we were crazy I think to some extent we were. Our life was all about pampers and doctors appointments. Through it all you were with me and never complained about all the things involved in raising five kids. One day we talked and decided that we wanted something better for our kids and we took our family and moved to the mainland. You never complained about not speaking English or missing your family. We were your family and this is were your heart was. You became a stay at home dad while I went to the university to finish my degree. The day I received my diploma from the University you wore my gown and hat because the degree was for both of us. You then decided to work a second shift job to be at home with the kids because you felt it was important to be at home when they were there. You have sacrificed so much for us and sometimes I feel that people do not understand what makes you the person you are. I love the many layers of you. The soft guy that is always worried about me and the kids. The serious guy who the kids know not to mess with. The gentle you that guy that takes care of our grandson even with very little sleep that guy who will melt with just a look from Jimmy. The distant guy that does not really trust anyone. The son the one that always worries about his mother and tries to help her even when things are tight in our house. The passionate you the guy that always makes me feel loved and does not care how I look. The guy who is always willing to sacrifice himself for me. The son in law the one that loves my mother and is always willing to help her when she needs it. You are a man of many layers and I love all of them. You have always been my true love. The greatest love of my life. After thirty one years of being together my heart still feels like the first day I saw you. I have no idea what my life would of been without you in it. You the man of many layers my true love. The person I admire most because through you I learned that too sacrifice for love is no sacrifice at all. When a person gives of themselves like you do there will always be a light at the end of any tunnel. I do not think words can really express to you the love and admiration I have for you. I am glad they will be a part of this book that will be for our children when we pass away.

So you see Cyber friends I think I am leaving a legacy behind I just want to make sure it's something that my children will always value because family and friends are never to be taken for granted. Everyword we say has to count making sure we let them know how we feel will make all the relationships we have healthier.

Hugs Cyber Friends Wanda