Family Loss…

Most of us wish to live long lives. In our 20s, we want to live long enough to meet our significant other.  Years later, we would want only to live long enough to meet our unborn children.  As we pass that rite of passage, we  then hope to live long enough to meet our unborn grand children.  We live hopeful, because life bring many unexpected events.  Many people have had the privilege of reaching those marvelous milestones and have even surpassed them by getting to meet great-grandchildren.  As awesome as that is, it also seems like the longer you live, the more loss or pain you experience.

My Abuela will be turning 81 this coming September.  She has seen so many births and she has also experienced many deaths.  A few days ago we lost my uncle Jose (one of my Abuela’s sons),  the one many of you were praying for.  Being that we are a close family, we all took a big hit, especially his wife, children and Abuela herself.  She loved him so much and we all knew that.  She worked so hard these past few months, during the peak moments of his illness, to make sure he had all he needed.  Recently, my uncle Jose craved all sorts of foods and Abuela was so faithful to make sure that anything he craved, she would cook for him.  And with his passing, a piece of her heart as a mother…has also left.

I’m so grateful that my aunts suggested we gather at his house this past 4th of July. Our annual 4th of July Celebration usually consists of hanging out at my “Abuela’s” house.  We all would gather at her house around sunset; each family would bring their own stash of fireworks and we would all sit around to watch everyone light up the sky with all the colors of the rainbow.  We would sit around talk and laugh, as we munched on chips, papas con pollo (made by my Tio Manuel) and all sorts of junk food.  But this year, the “Aunts” of the family decided that we should all gather at my uncle Jose’s house and so we did.  Somehow we all felt that it might be my uncles last 4th of July.  But we never would have guessed that it was going to be his last full day of life.  This 4th of July, we had a great time with my uncle, laughing, eating, lighting up the sky and just talking.

July 5th at around 11:00pm, my Uncle Jose Contreras slipped away very gently with his wife, 3 kids, Abuela and some family by his bed side.

As heart broken as Abuela is, she was thinking about all of you today.  She wanted me let you all know why we will not be uploading videos for an undetermined amount of time.  We would like to thank you for your on-going support and encouragement.  If you are able, please keep Abuela and our family in your prayers.

Sincerely,

Silvia and Abuela
Abuela’s Kitchen
22421 Barton Road #308
Grand Terrace, CA 92313

To help the family with memorial costs, click on either of the links below.
http://josecontreras.mydagsite.com/

Pronto en Español.