Happy Dad's Day in Heaven!

Dumb humor + stupid jokes = Uncle Phil!! He would have loved this t-shirt. Without a doubt, this would have been today's perfect gift.

Today is the first holiday without my dad to cook for, wrap presents for, or plan a special day around......

Sigh.

Weepy. Aching.

BUT, as the day moves on I'm filled with warmth and love remembering his laugh and smile. Our typical father's day would go something like this: I'd plan something special such as a drive up to lunch in Santa Barbara. Dad would complain the entire drive how far it was, why did he we need to go out all the way up there, etc...yet once we'd arrive at our destination he'd be smiling ear to ear. By the end of the day on the ride back, he'd be sharing lots of stories and jokes, and would repeat over and over how he couldn't wait to go back!

My Dad is undoubtedly eating his favorite carne asada, sipping a fine tequila, and listening to his favorite local 88.1 jazz & blues station.....all the while laughing up a storm throughout the hills and valleys of Heaven. He's watching over me and my mom daily and gently guiding us to learn to live without him.

I miss you terribly, dad. I feel your protection and love around me even still. What a blessed life I've had to be given your love for 44 years, and now your guidance from the gates of Heaven.

Indiana Memorial

Phillip E. Delgado

Indiana Memorial

Catholic Funeral Communion Mass:

Sunday, October 25, 2009

***NEW TIME 1:30PM

St Maria Goretti Church

500 Northgate Dr

Dyer, IN 46311-1199

(219) 865-8956

St Maria Goretti Link

Reception:

......Following Mass.....

3pm - 6:30pm

Aurelios Pizza

1412 W Lincoln Hwy
Schererville, IN 46375-1561

219.322.2590

Rt 30/Schererville

Private Party

Open invite to all of OUR family/friends!

Gardening Man

Gardening Man

A Tribute to a FullPhiling Life

Written by Nancy Johnson, neighbor to my parents

September 29, 2009

{This beautiful, beautiful gift was presented to my mom the day before the memorial}

The house on the corner welcomes me home.

this is not my house;

but a home that adorns the street where I live.

A neighborhood "welcome mat".

The tended garden.

The comforting landscape-

lovingly planned by the "gardening man."

Sweet roses and posies on Rose Avenue.

The "green man" statuary on the chimney,

significant of abundance.

Mother Nature keeping watch.

Phil, the living "green man"-

planting, pruning, raking, harvesting, enjoying.

Always cleaning, washing, building -

consistently celebrating his plot of land -

his corner of creation and lovely intention.

Always restoring in beauty, friendship, humility and affection.

Gardening Man - a true blessing for us.

Gardening Angel - a true blessing for all.

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam;

the house on the corner still welcomes me home.

And God Named him FATHER

Phillip Everett Delgado, October 26, 1942 - September 22, 2009

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."

~Clarence Budington Kelland

Today the beautiful man I have had the privilege of knowing as FATHER, DAD, DADDY, POP, PA, was welcomed into the loving arms of God, our Father Almighty. He left this earth into the gates of heaven at 7:17pm PST. Our grief is overwhelming at times, and other times we laugh or smile and remember the wonderful, wonderful man who touched the lives of so many.

His failing liver and kidneys finally gave out and his heart pumped its last beats. My mom and I were blessed to be in the hospital room with him when he passed. We were also blessed to have time with him and say the Rosary by his bedside. The nurses at Los Alamitos Urgent Care who took care of him in his final hours, as well as during his many hospital visits, were beyond remarkably caring~~what a blessing! A special outpour of love to Nurse Sharon, who held us tight when the end came.

We appreciate and FEEL all of your love and prayers! Memorials will be planned for California, Utah and Indiana, where some of his ashes will be scattered in the three places he loved so. The majority will remain with my mom in their home. Details will be provided here on this blog when we are able to focus, however we are thinking:

CA MEMORIAL: Saturday, October 3 1pm-1:45pm; Pacific Ocean Memorial where he spent his favorite days with the dogs on the sand. On Naples Peninsula at 72nd street and Ocean; Oceanside (not bayside). Where I used to live, at end of the Peninsula.

Reception immediately following at my home:

UT MEMORIAL: TBD, perhaps early November

INDIANA MEMORIAL & CHURCH SERVICE: Around his birthday, October 26. Details to follow....

Everyone who knew my father is undoubtedly better in some way for knowing his love and caring. A giver amongst givers. An angel amongst angels. I know the life he gave me and my mom is the best gift anyone could be given by God. God sent him to us and has now called him home, where he is no doubt picking out the perfect paint color, Christmas decoration ideas, and ideal landscaping to enhance Heaven. God is smiling, the angels are dancing, and we still feel his love.

September Blessings

Dad was taken to ER today and admitted to the hospital earlier this evening. Many tests being conducted to tackle where the source of the latest problems are stemming. He hasn't been able to keep food or liquids down for several days, thus he's hooked up to an IV to counteract the dehydration. His blood pressure is extremely low and he is having a difficult time getting warm, but soon he'll have more blankets piled on.

His ammonia levels are very high due to the iron that's being removed from his blood through the portable pump (the pump is administered by my mom every other day for 12 hour periods). This amounts to a host of other issues, but his spirits are decent.

We've been blessed in that he hasn't been in really pain this entire time. Unfortunately today is different so we're anxious for the test results to return so they can properly treat the pain (they are unable to do so until they know what is what).

My mom has been at the ER with him for a good nine hours and it's nice for him to see her when he wakes up from naps. I know he appreciates this, and Lord knows I feel blessed she is such an incredibly strong caregiver.

Extra special prayers tonight and this week are appreciated. We are counting our September blessings. Love to all....

Special Friends

A dear friend, Tina, blessed me with the most special gift during a recent visit out from Arizona.

Tina and I met about 20 years ago when she managed a gift shop/photo processing in the building I worked. Back in the day when photographs were developed by sending in your rolls and waiting 7 days, Tina became intrigued with my Chicago/Indiana photos after visits home. We developed an immediate close friendship having spent hours laughing over my being from the "can I go with" Midwest and she being a "totally" CA native! Tina is one of those people who laughs at laughing. She's radiates humor and heart.

When my parents still lived in Dyer, Tina's family opened up their hearts and homes and included me in every holiday and family gathering when I couldn't get back home. My parents soon became close with her parents. She now has a unbelievably wonderful husband, Bill, and precious daughter, Emori and laugh and live in the Phoenix areai.

My parents and I are touched over this truly special gift!

Thank you for Keeping our Country Free!

{Mom/Dad with my two girls, Coco and Biscuit}

July 4th was chock-full of laughter, smiles and amazing grubb!

Cooking is one of my favorite pastimes and this event did not disappoint. We had a smorgasbord of GOOD EATS...but the blessings came when Dad, along with everyone else, gobbled it all up. His chair dancing wasn't too bad either!

God Bless our Service Men and Service Women, many of whom are in our own family. We love you. We appreciate you. We are proud of you!

{...with Jon....and with me and my "DERBY" hat! No sun on my face please! Gotta keep the wrinkles at bay!}