Angels took his hand

It's taken me 3 days to actually figure out how I was going to start this post. A post that would truly portray how my dad lived his life.

My dad, our foundation, the man who made our life it is

today, the man who wasn't afraid to risk so much to give everything.  A man that would make sure his family never went without and would always help others when they needed it. My dad raised us with values & to respect others.  He raised us to enjoy sports & the outdoors.

I kept hope that my dad was strong enough to pull through but his body was tired.

Dad thank you, you will be so missed 😢 💔    

Feb. 24, 1938 - Dec. 18, 2022

Both my sons had their own special bonds with their grandpa. Dillon did not want to leave grandpa's side at the

hospital, Honestly that was the hardest for me & when I first seriously tried not to lose it and needed to step out.  Now as for my son Jacob, my Angel, I know he was waiting to take his grandpa's hand and give a huge hug when he was ready to cross over. 

My dad is getting cremated, a service and a celebration of life will be in Bullhead City AZ, date has not been set yet.

Florentino Ogaz Obituary:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-mohave-az/florentino-ogaz-11084578

I love you Daddy

Your princess Melisa❤

POWER OF PRAYER

I really hate these posts that start with "PRAYERS NEEDED"👐
I never really know how to start these posts, but definitely not my first rodeo 😒

I just wish there was never a reason why I needed to ask, wouldn't that just be so great!

My dad was admitted into the hospital and then he was taken to ICU.  He was DX with Covid, double lung Pneumonia & blood infection. He has a fight ahead of him 

Please I need my prayer warriors!! My family needs your prayers!!

💗Melisa

THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER
WHEN MEN WORK, THEY WORK
WHEN MEN PRAY, GOD WORKS

Life with Jingle the Elf & Jangle

 OK so let me just set this straight!😂

I have never been the one to get into Elf on the Shelf, but somehow somewhere Dillon saw and or heard of it and told me he hoped that he had an Elf that would come🙄😩😆you know report to Santa and all.  SOOOOO I had to step it up and get past my own thoughts on the "Elf". So at age 3 D got got his 1st visit from his Elf.

QUICK RUN DOWN........................ 😁
-AGE 3 after 3 visits I stopped the Elf, terrified D along with nightmares
-AGE 4 skipped the Elf all together
-AGE 5, D asked if I thought the Elf was coming, that he wasn't scared anymore. So The Elf was on once again, did 15 days of the Elf and he brought his sidekick reindeer, D loved it! He even named them both. Jingle the Elf & Jangle the Reindeer 😜

-AGE 6, 7 & 8  D enjoyed 25 days of Elf Jingle & Jangle shenanigans

-AGE 9 moved 1 week before Christmas, AND YES A PROUD MOMMY MOMENT!! I left Jingle & Jangle in the hallway closet in a bag to grab at the last minute....AND FORGOT....UGH

Yes that week before Christmas D did ask and the good mommy I am I made up a really good excuse why they could not visit  😕

-AGE 10 just  last night D ask me if I knew when Jingle & Jangle were coming, me thinking crap I guess I have to hope Target has the Elf on the Shelf and his reindeer, if they don't I don't want to think about that excuse.. (some kind of reindeer accident at the North Pole)😝

Tonight I will be Elf and Reindeer wrangling...................wish me luck!!

💗Melisa

MOVING THROUGH CHANGES

The time just flies by, it has almost been a year since I posted.

Their has been a lot going on with the family. 

Last year was a busy year,  I lead the Gold Together team with the American Cancer Society of Chino.  For those who don't know the Gold Together supports Childhood Cancer.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to lead that team for our Kiddo's fighting cancer and the families.  I will always continue to fight in memory of our son Jacob and all the other kids fighting and the ones that have lost their battle.

The end of 2021 was just a bit CRAZY!!  The final decision was made that we were moving out of California to Arizona.  A lot of road trips back and forth, lots of packing and bought a house in August and made our final move 1 week before Christmas 2021....exhausting just thinking about it. ;0)

Starting this year 2022 in our now new place we call home...Arizona!  The transition was pretty smooth I felt right at home in my new house and loving the winter weather.  Just missing all my CA peeps.

Dillon had little struggles with starting at a new school middle of his 4th grade school season and also got bullied by another kid, it broke my mommy heart  :0(   Then he finally got accepted transferred to the school he was on the waiting list for the start of his 5th grade year. The school has been a smoother transition for him.

As the summer started Dillon turned 11, with a blink of an eye he will be graduating. The AZ summers quickly reminded me how hot and dry it gets....UGH, I am not one for the heat, glad I am a morning person  :o)

Switching into Fall, always my favorite season and the temps start to fall...YAY

This year, Oct. 2022 Jacob would have been 20 years old...WOW... I could only imagine what a young man he would have been, every so often he tells me he wishes Jacob was alive  :0(  We all miss you so much!

Looking at Dillon wishing he had a BIG brother to grow up with but instead he given so many memories

With Jacob's Birthday in October and then the Holidays still are the hardest for all us, we still cant help to think how unfair life was. It took so much from us, just a huge chain reaction which I had no control of.

BUT I am thankful and blessed where we are now, we have over come so much and came through the darkest of times.  

Watching Dillon grow and experiencing so much with him is my biggest blessing!

As we the see the end of 2022 come to an end, we look forward with hope and bring on new life experiences while moving forward.

Melisa 💗

MY JACOB, MY WHY

As we ended last year and started this year with so much uncertainty, there was one thing I knew I was going to be doing, that was continuing to be a voice and fighting for the kiddo's that have lost their battles and the ones still fighting cancer.

As most parents you don't live in fear wondering if or when your child will get cancer, that’s just not how we’re supposed to live.

But the reality our kiddo's get cancer too.  I never thought about cancer with my family especially with my first-born son Jacob.

In 2006 after a month of mis diagnoses we got the worst news we could have gotten, Jacob was DX with Leukemia at the age of 3.

Our world as we knew it will change more than I could ever imagine, I couldn’t have even imagined how much our lives were about to change.  When I was told Jacob had cancer, cancer was not even something that had crossed my mind and why would I.  When I heard that word, your child has cancer I was alone trying not to lose it, staying strong in front of Jacob. The fear I felt went to the core of my soul, I could not even describe the fear, pain and uncertainty I was going through. That first so many weeks was a blur, we were just going with the flow and learning everything that comes with finding out your child has cancer. Jacob’s battle was just beginning but he always wore a smile no matter how hard the treatments were on him. That little smile is what kept me going most days and helped with the fear and anxiety.  Jacob’s battle was 3 ½ years with many scary side effects and some infections that the Dr’s did not think he would recover from, but he always showed us how strong he was.  On February 1^st 2010 the Leukemia took over his little body, as a parent you fight and do everything you can to beat the cancer that is invading your child’s body. I never did give up the fight or give up hope but that day we were in the hospital I remember the look on the Dr’s face, you just knew it was not good. I knew at that point it would not be fair to Jacob for me to hold on. I knew I had to except that it was time to say good bye. That day was the most heart wrenching pain I have ever felt!

I always trying to stay strong, never ever giving up hope while holding the family together.  I would never have chosen this journey for our family, we had to except it and had to continue to fight.

Our journey has made me who I am today, my life is my story. I will continue to be the voice for my Jacob. Also, for the kids that are fighting their battle and for the ones that have lost their battle with cancer.

Hug you children tight!

Melisa

SENDING PRAYERS

 

     I wanted to take a moment and ask for prayers for everyone having hard times right now, so many are having financial or emotional hardships during these times.  Please pray for all the people working the frontlines, also all the families sick with Covid and the ones that have lost loved ones.  Also the ones with other health issues, pray that they can also get needed appt's and treatments.

I pray for everyone's health and safety ~ Lord hear our prayers~

Happy Thursday!!

Melisa

Self satisfaction and healing

      As I sit here and think what to post, I think to my self, this year has been scary crazy, uncertain, a blur.   I have not taken much time to sit and just journal, for me when I journal it has always been a release.

From day 1 when I started fundraising for Childhood Cancer I never wanted nor expected anything in return. I have always helped in any way I could because it gave me gratification, and when Jacob lost his battle to cancer helping other kids gave me an anchor, helped with the healing process, "healed my soul".

2019 when I had the honor to take part in Leukemia & Lymphoma

Society's Man and Woman of the Year campaign, a huge honor for me to even be nominated to run. Then the end of last year 2020 I was asked to be a captain for the #goldtogether Relay for Life Chino, it's their one and only Childhood Cancer team, its all me for Chino, what another honor. I can do this, I have to remember it's for the kids and their families that are fighting cancer.  I know the journey they are on, its the same journey I traveled. There are moments of lows and moments of highs. I remember all the dark times and praying for that light at the end of that long dark sad tunnel, to exit at the other end just to be sucked back in as if the devil him self was not done with you. There was lots of praying, pleading and crying, just to see your child get through that moment and by some miracle to be heeled.

JACOB IS MY WHY, THE KIDS ARE ALSO ANOTHER BIG REASON WHY I CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THEM, I AM THE VOICE OF THE KIDS THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD!

We are at the beginning of 2021, I have so many ideas for the year but the unknown with this pandemic is frustrating. Not knowing what will be aloud, how events will happen, just seeing what we will be aloud to move forward with. All any of us can do is take it one day at a time and pray that we can start to move forward.

Love the support and love,

XOXOXO

Melisa