A Year Already

A Tribute to My Dad

It's hard to believe that it has already been a year (tomorrow Oct 15) since my dad passed away.  As we all know, a year can feel so short or so long depending on our circumstances.  For me this year has flown by and it still seems unreal that my dad is gone.  I guess that's what "they" mean when it's said our loved ones live on in our hearts.
We miss you daddy!

In Loving Memory of my dad, Eduardo Mendoza

He's My Daddy


His name is Eduardo Carlos Mendoza. He was born in the summer of 1941 in Mexico. My dad came to the United States when he was in his mid 20's, leaving 3 sisters, his mom and his dad to start a new life for himself. He had ambition and was brave enough to chase that dream. I admire that.

For as far back as I can remember, my dad has always been brave, strong, and determined...especially now, battling stage 4 Colon cancer. My dad is sick, very sick. As I write this it still doesn't seem real. When I was a little girl my dad always seemed larger than life...indestructible. I didn't think anything or anyone could hurt him. But reality casts a black cloud over a little girls' innocence. I've watched as his strength has diminished, his color fade, and his eyes grow dim. His pain overtakes him causing him to lose his zest and laughter.

I feel torn with emotions I've never experienced before and I don't know how to sort them. I'm criticized by some for not wanting to watch him die, rather choosing to keep my distance, make my peace and speak my heart not letting anything go unsaid and hoping to miss his final breath. Is that wrong? I don't know.

The thing I do know is this... I love and adore my daddy. I'm thankful that God gave us this many years together even though I wish it were so much longer. I learned so much from my dad and in many ways I'm like him. We may not have always seen eye to eye, we've had our fights and painful times but all in all when it's all said and done I wouldn't trade him for nothing in the world.

Mendoza Girls in Full Force

It isn't often that the four of us sisters are together. Kristy, Martha and I see each other frequently, but Dawn is always missed beings how she lives out in Texas. Luckily, Dawn and her kiddos were able to come and spend their spring break with us here in Idaho. Dawn has 2 kids, Kelsey-Rae 18 and Alex 13. Big daddy, Joe...Dawn's hubby wasn't able to make it because he wasn't on his spring break. Anyway, Dawn and kids arrived on March 13th. Our dad was on cloud nine having all his girls together under the same roof, not to mention all four of his grandchildren. Being that Dawn arrived early evening and tired we didn't go out and do anything, we all just sat around and gabbed. Saturday we we did a little running around, went to the mall, and in the evening Martha suggested we go to a little spot downtown that had Salsa dancing. We girls went and enjoyed the quaint little place. Martha and Dawn were the only ones who danced...Jessica, Kelsey and I just watched. The rest of the few days they were here we just did little stops here and there, shopping, coffee and playing Mad Libs. Boy how we laughed at the silly stories we created with that Mad Libs. For only costing me $3.99 for two booklets, it sure made for some belly-aching laughter. Needless to say cameras were snapping non-stop during the five days of Mendoza madness. There is truly nothing more wonderful than time spent with family and friends.