80th birthday- Papi

Papi turned 80 years old a few weeks ago. He spent his birthday the way he will want the rest of his days spent, with family around him to make him laugh. I was married into this family almost two years ago. In fact, it was Brian's family that made such a huge impact in my decision for marriage. I knew I wanted a good marriage example on my future husband's behalf. I wanted my future husband's parents to love each other and to still be together. If his grandparents were together, that would be a plus.

 I prayed for all these things. These prayers were important to me. And so it happened that two years ago I met all his family around this time of year.  Winter was about to start and I got to spend some of the Holidays with what back then, was my boyfriend's family. They have become my own. The present and loving father I never had, I found here. The grandparents whom I get to visit each weekend (because mine are far away in the lands of Guatemala), I have here to cherish and to hold. The grandmother who knows Piano and wants to teach me, I found here. The grandparents, parents, and in-laws who "get" that family is the most important thing, I found here. Papi (Brian's grandpa) knows this. He knows what he has. He knows that he wants to spend the rest of his life in his cozy home, cooking every sunday for all his family, spending every minute knowing he is not alone. Happy birthday to a great man.