Your 1st Christmas in heaven

We missed you very much, Joe. Rest in Peace*

*****December 21st- It's my birthday****

****December 19th 2008 Snow Storm***

It's Saturday morning. The day before my birthday and we just had a snow storm. ( I just had to add the birthday thing in-LOL)

The above photo was taken from my upstairs bathroom window. It is Grandma Vicki shoveling the driveway and de-icing her car. And she lives with 3 men! What's wrong with this picture? LOL- ( She going to kill me that I posted this)

This photo was taken from my front porch this morning.

Well, I can't help but to think of Joe all last night and this morning. He LOVED the snow ( unlike me). He would immediately get in his truck and drive around playing music. 

The following story relates......

Yesterday I was at a funeral ( seems like that is all I did in the year 2008) for the father of one of my closest friends and I really enjoyed listening to the priest. He told us how his dad past away on Christmas Eve and then 7 years later his Mom died on Christmas Day night.

He explained how he believes that heaven is not this far away place, but heaven is all around us, and the ones we love that pass on are right here with us. He said that they are our guardian angels and they are by our sides all the time.

He even said that every Christmas he sets his Christmas table with two empty chairs. One for his Mom and one for his Dad. He said some of his friends said that he was crazy. So he asked a psychiatrist friend of his, " Do you think I am crazy because I believe my parents are here with me all the time"? And his psychiatrist friend said, " Do you see them?" He replied, "No". Then he asked, " Do you hear voices"? And the priest replied, "No". Then he said.... " Well, then you are NOT crazy to believe they are here with you"!

I also believe that they are here with us. When I left the church to come home, the snow storm started and I could smell Joe's cologne in the truck. (I was driving in Joe's truck). I knew if Joe was here now he would be smiling, singing and driving around in this snow storm.

So, I looked over at the empty passenger seat next to me, and I said.... " You are here with now, Joe. Aren't you"? I could feel his presents. So, I smiled, turned on his CD's and said..... " Ok, I'll cruise around in the storm for you".

I don't have any great photos of Joe to post up right now because Joe was a 35mm photographer. He never made the transition over to digital so I have to scan all his photos to get them online.

But I will share these great photos form last night. My brother Paul went outside to build a snowman with his daughter Amanda and he sent me the photos. These photos reminded me of how much Joe used to love to play in the snow with his kids, while I stayed in, waving from the window, making hot chocolate. LOL

May I add......... My brother Paul is a great dad!!!! xoxo And Miss Amanda is gorgeous!

I have some more great photos from the next day. People asked me, Where's lil Paullie was during this snowman building evening? He was asleep, and I am not sure what dad told him the next morning. Maybe he thinks the snowman angel came and built him a snowman., because if you know lil Paullie I am sure he was ticked off. LOL- But anyway, he was very happy when he saw the snowman, as you can see below.

Christmas is almost here!!

I know everyone has been waiting to here about my meeting with the psychic. I think I am still in shock from it but I promise when the time is right I will post my experience.

One thing I will say about it is this.. "Yes, Joe was there and he spoke to me". It was wild!! It was beyond anything I could have imagined. My heart was pumping out of my chest when she first started to say stuff. The "reading".. I think that's what they call it..... began with Joe saying some really personal stuff that no one but Joe & I knew. So with that said.... I was like, OMG!! I think I am going to pass out. LOL

One thing Joe said was that he loved that we started a blog about him but he doesn't want us to write anymore sad stuff. So I promise not too.

Joe loved Christmas and here's a photo of him and our son Joey, Jr. from Christmas a long time ago. The photo was taken at The Pierce's house. For those of you who don't know who they are.... Sandy is my best budlinka. LOL

Joe, Will you be with me on Thursday?

I am about to do something I have never done in my life. I am going to see Josephine Ghiringhelli.

For those of you who have never heard of her, she has been given a God-gifted ability to talk with people who have passed on.

She is also friends with John Edwards. Most people know who he is. Btw, he's at Westbury this December.

I have NEVER in my life been to a fortune teller, card reader, nor a psychic medium. Joe & I never believed in them. I don't know if it's because he was so religious and the Roman Catholics aren't supposed to try and communicate with the dead or we just never wanted to hear anything about our future.

But almost every night when I close my eyes I have been dreaming about Joe. He has been talking to me through my dreams. Sometimes it is comforting and other times I wake up with tears rolling down my face.

I feel like Joe is not at peace yet and he needs to say something to us. My last dream, little Joey was in it and he kept saying, "Mom just listen to what dad has to say".

This is the first time in my life I have ever felt the need to talk to someone who has passed away. I feel there are too many things that were not said and needed to be said to one another. I feel Joe wasn't supposed to die. He was supposed to be here driving me crazy until we were 90.

So, Josephine was recommended to me by someone who went to her, and knows others who have went to her. The people who went to see Josephine said she has talked to them through others who have passed on, and she has made a big difference in their lives. 

Truthfully, I am scared because this is so new to me, and I am trying to figure this all out. The dreams, not having closure, not feeling as I can move on, not accepting it, etc. I need to talk to my best friend and he's not here anymore. Maybe something will be said that will help me. I dunno. I just know that something is making me feel the need to talk to Joe one more time.

The other strange thing about this is that I was told it takes a very long time before you can get an appointment with her. I called and left a message and her office called back last night to say that they just had a cancellation, and that a family from Staten island had a death in the family and she now has an opening this Thursday. Wow! Two days away. It doesn't give me much time to think about all this.

Now my cousin says to me..... "That cancellation happened for a reason, Gina. You are supposed to be there".

I wanted to take Kiara with me but I was told that if Joe comes through he might not say everything he needs to say because his daughter is sitting there. So I am going alone.

Wish me luck* I will share the experience with you.

Here's a quick story about Joe I will share.....

I remember walking in the Roosevelt Field Mall with Joe around Christmas time, and a psychic walked over to us and asked to read our palms. Joe just looked at her and said.... "If you were a real psychic you would know I am telling you to get lost right now". We both just started laughing and walked away.

Graduation Photos, Kiara & Family

 Kiara and her dad on Graduation day.

Kiara, Aunt Jen, ( yup that is my baby step-sister, who now has 3 boys, she's all grown up and gorgeous), Uncle Tal, and the littlest of her boys, Joshua.

Kiara and Grandma Vicki and Grandpa John. Grandpa ALWAYS makes funny faces in photos. He kinda looks like a deer in headlights. Don't ya think? LOL

I'm driving in your car, I turn on the radio

....... every time we hear your music we begin to cry.

You sang Billy Joel's "Lullabye- Good Night My Angel" to Kiara all the time.

The song has a new meaning to us.........

"You promised You'd Never Leave Me". ~ Kiwi :-(

I want to start a college scholarship in Joe's name

Does anyone know where to begin?

The kids and I would like to start a college scholarship fund at the Kings Park High School.

It would be nice if money could be awarded to a graduating student each year with the highest bowling average in memory of Joe.

Oh But Wait!!! The Kings Park High School doesn't have a bowling team.

Why?

Because they couldn't fit a lousy 4k in the budget.

When my taxes are through the roof to live in this town.

And our Middle School has money for double teams.

Anyway, a few year back I used to grant write for money for educational films. I guess if pull out my old contacts I'll find something.

Do I need to open a non-profit organization first?

If there are any readers out there that have the answers I am all ears.

I will post step by step of the process I will go through to make this happen and maybe it will help others and we can learn together.

" When Can We Put Away The Waterproof Mascara"?

That's the question I asked my daughter 7 days after her dad's funeral.

"When can we put away the waterproof mascara"?

Their whole lives I tried to protect them from pain and sadness and something so unexpected, something you never thought would happen, happens. 

• I can't take away their pain. 
• I don't have just the right words to say anymore.
  
• My hugs, and my kisses don't stop the tears anymore.

I've been reading tons of books and articles on Grieving The Loss of a Parent and trying to figure out how I can help them.

Psychologist suggests keeping his memory alive is the best way to help the children.

How about a scrapbook or a blog?

So, I decided to dedicate a blog to their dad. 

This is my first blog so be gentle on me. I am just learning this type of publishing.

With this blog we are hoping to reach out to other families who feel the pain.

We are hoping that others can share their stories and help us.

And finally....

We are hoping our story can help others.

His name is Joseph W Orlando, Sr. Born February 15, 1962 born to Maria Tortorice and Salvatore Orlando

He died suddenly of a massive heart attack while sleeping.

Just a few days before his son's 16th birthday.

His children:

Kiara

Joseph Jr.

Eventually my children want to set up a scholarship in his memory, and each year it will be awarded to the bowler with the highest average at the High School Joe graduated from.

He was a great bowler and he taught his son to be even a better bowler. (Sorry Joe ;-) But your highest game was a 299.

I am so happy you were there on 8/25/2008 to see your son bowl his 1st 300.

You always knew he would do it!

 We will use this blog as a diary to reach out. 

We invite friends and family and others out there, to join us. 

Those of you who knew Joe, we ask you to please share your stories about him. He had a great sense of humor and always made people laugh.

Let's make the kids laugh again.

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