My Grandma's 90th Birthday

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.

On This Father's Day...

Well, I finally made it back home to Barstow, California. Everyone always wanted me to come back for a visit. Well, here I am. I spent yesterday with my nephew Jake at his Grandpa and Grandma's house. He was so much fun to hang with yesterday. I arrived at Barstow and knew, but didn't really expected the hot heat of this small desert town. But here is mi familia. I went to visit Jake at my old home.

Here in Barstow, I came and went to dinner with my family to celebrate Larry's birthday. My Brother in Law, Daddy to Jake and husband to my sister, Christina. Such a happy family and so much in the store for Jake as he quickly grows up. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him -- bubbly personality and walking around already. Also, he loves to eat! (Reminds me of me when I was a little toddler myself)

Anyway, in this Vlog I put down today I mentioned the fact, I didn't make it at the Disney Audition -- they already had the maximum amount of people that meets the height requirement. Yes, I was disappointed, but oh well.. there are other opportunties out there. I will try to find another position at Disneyland I hope. If not, I am just going to make the best of my summer and enjoy the beaches and so forth. I will have to try to study hard for my CSETs and pass them to continue my education at UCI. Nevertheless, I am not disappointed as much, but enjoyed the experience of auditioning and trying to get in. As I continue this Vlog, I mentioned spending time with my Father on Father's Day. We worked on my car this morning and washed it and waxed it. Quality time with my Father is always a pleasure.

As I go on in this Vlog and write in this Blog about missing my one and only love, Candice, she is already settled at East coast and she will send me pics and she will be able to talk to me on Video or IM when she gets a chance. Of course, she'll have those busy days. I love her so much and miss her, but I am sure she is having a great time. I will count the days when she gets back.

Anyway here is my Vlog for today: Happy Father's Day to all the Dads. Especially mine who I love so much. Thank you for all the things you do for us. Even when we don't ask, or don't need it, you provide all the words of wisdom and give us assistance when you feel we need it. Thank you for you for being you! You are one of the greatest Dad and I am honored to be your son. God Bless you always, Your Son, Gilberto.

Continue for today's Vlog:

My Nephew Jake

On January 29, 2007 Jake Michael Franks was born. One year later on January 29, 2008 he celebrated his 1st Birthday. When a baby is born in the world, we are all fascinated by the miracle of life that one can hold in our arms and be amazed by how fast time flies and before one knows it the baby is big and is able to walk, and babble. I am proud that my sister Christina Franks and my brother in law, Larry Franks had Jake and amazingly enough they are a small but Big-time loving family. When Christina and Larry got married, I was happy and I know that Jake will make our lives happy throughout his life. I am sure will grow up to be a wonderful young man. I hope he keeps his zeal and smiles, and bubbly personality forever when he grows up.

I am Jake's Uncle and I am sure he knows it and since I am here and they are over there, I am sure he knows it. I wanted to post something about my nephew because when he grows up he can be able to see this and now that his Uncle was always thinking about him. This is Jake on the right side playing the piano. Perhaps someday he will be a musician. Perhaps he will be a baseball player and love sports like his Dad. (Or me for that matter -- a fan of sports, but don't really play all that much.) So, maybe he'll be a musician like Christina and I were in band. Her playing the clarinet in elementary school band and I, playing the drums, perhaps a musician? Who know what young Jake will be interested in when he grows up.

All I know is that Jake's life will be filled with love and happiness as we can see him playing the keyboard on this film. His Grandpa Garcia loves to film Jake and you can see the joy in his filming of Jake, his Grandson. This makes me feel blessed for our little family in our lives. With every day that Jake grows an inch or two more, he will be young man on a journey of life as much as we all are on right now. The only difference is that his is just starting. And that idea only makes me smile even more.

Much love to my nephew Jake and the parents raising him. Also much love to my parents as they see how their first grandchild make them smile even the more everyday.

For Christina and Larry, Jake's Parents, wish you luck in being part of a young child's life and to be able to anticipate the many challenges that will come - especially with education and the choices this young man might make in the future. I love you and your family, and may Jake's journey be similar to all of us that has gone through so much in our lives. May Jake have his chronicles and experiences.


Wherever you are, whatever you do: I Love you Jake, my nephew.