January 22, 2010 - My Grandmother, Rose Torrez, turned 90 years old. Everyone showed up at her house on Vernon Drive for a surprise party after the enthronement of the house. Our Catholic Priest came to bless our house after being remodeled after a fire that happened last year. Everyone was luckily out of the house, everyone was safe, but the house was damaged. Our Uncles of the family went ahead and remodeled the house and once again, the house is back in order and our priest came to bless it. What my Grandma didn't know was that we all got together not only for the enthronement and blessing of the house, but to celebrate the wonderful 90 years in her life!
The picture above shows my Grandmother's children -- my Mother, my aunts, and uncles. (Except for one that was not feeling so well.) Sitting next to my Grandma a family friend, Jim Ramsey. Top from left, Uncle William, my Mom, Annabelle; Jim Ramsey; My Grandma, Uncle Roberto, Aunt Alice, Aunt Sandra. Below on the bottom: Uncle Michael, Aunt Rose, Uncle Joe holding my Grandma's dog. We all gathered for many photo opportunities and it was a well planned day with great family, food, and a great time with all of us together in this wonderful house. We, did indeed, feel so blessed to have all the family together. My Grandma was very happy to see all of us and some old friends and lots of cousins of ours came down. It was nice to see all this. This is a picture of my cousins, and thus this is not all of my Grandma's grandkids, but here is myself and my other cousins in this photo.
There was my sister Christina, holding her son, my nephew, Jake M. Franks, and my Mom and Dad's grandson. There I am sitting next to my Grandma. There sitting next to our Grandma was my cousin Robert Daniel (R.D.) Rivera and the oldest Granddaughter Regina Torrez, my Uncle Roberto's daughter. On the floor is Michaele Kanczel - my Aunt Rose's daughter, and there is my cousin Ruben holding Rylie who is Ruben's niece and Sandra Rivera's granddaughter, and RD's daughter.
We all had a great time and it was filled with love, laughter, and memories. This opportunity to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday will be a memory for the ages.
Happy Birthday Grandma! Love you so much!
On this day I gave my Grandma a poem in a frame as a gift, here is the poem for you all to enjoy:
Grandma, with a heart of gold that glitters in the golden sunlight of the desert;
A heart that is as immaculate and wonderful as anyone’s I have known in my life.
Each tiny rock that the golden sand across the Barstow desert shows
All things good;
And that makes things content and just right.
Grandma, with this beating heart has long endured the gifts of life and keeps on smiling
For her Family is all here today to celebrate a great milestone, and with this we are willing
To celebrate a special gift in our lives: You, Grandma, with your heart of gold –
The person you were yesterday, the person you are tomorrow, and the person you are today;
May it be a symbol of our family, may it be our sense of love always.
Your beauty so strong, your great dedication of all things young and old
Has proven that you are indeed a special woman, and it is told
By how many people surround you, in this beautiful house
The home that has long endured the growing pains of family, friends and love ones;
The Passing of a great one
And the new generation that will continue to live on in our lives, the family keeps growing.
May we all celebrate Your Life, Your Home, and with all this we keep on knowing
It’s the strength of your character that is our foundation of who we all are.
It’s all because of my Grandma and her Golden Heart.
