Hello Sweeties,

I miss you so much. Today has been a sad day for me... missing you SO much and wondering if you have forgotten me. I was so hoping to hear from your mom on Mother's Day, but I didn't. I prayed that maybe she would contact me and let me know how you girls are doing. Not one day goes by that I don't think of you, and miss you and cry for you. In fact, I dream about you most nights!

It's really looking like years will go by before we get to see you! I may have to wait till you are old enough to seek me out. Please don't forget me. We were special to each other, remember? We spent SO many nights together, telling stories, singing, and looking at the glow in the dark stars and planets I put on your room ceiling. They're still there, along with the Blues Clues bathtub stickers! We did so many wonderful things, like make books together, set up the ant farm, paint, play in the back yard, go to Luke AFB, see the salt mountain, and cook together. Remember the crab dishes? They are still in the cupboard. Luna used them when she visited. Because of my arthritis, I now use your Strawberry Shortcake and Princess spoons and forks! They have nice fat and soft handles!

Everywhere I go I see things that remind me of you girls - Strega Nona books, horses, playgrounds, Sweet Tomatoes, Juicy Juice, pink camouflage clothes, those Bratz dolls that I disliked, but you loved! Even my toothbrush, as I bought you girls one like mine!

We are still in Colorado, and planning to leave in a day or two. We've been having so much fun with Luna. We got her a 'jumpoline' with a net and we've been working in Tia's yard. Luna is adorable and still talks about you-of course Tia has many pictures of you girls around-but you must be so much bigger now! Luna is a sweetie too, and loves Scoobie Doo! She likes many things you girls like and does a lot of things you girls did! She loves to sleep and shower in our RV! She loves to play with Pancho and she adores puzzles. She is really good at tic-tac-toe and dominoes! Luna also loves to sing!




Tia went to Venezuela and saw your aunt and uncles and cousins! She did not get to see all the Centeno's, but many of them! I sent your pictures with Tia so everyone could see my sweethearts that I miss.


<--- Tia with Tia Oria and Tio Dick in Caracas.

Tia with Tio Piti Centeno






Take care my sweeties! I love you and miss you terribly!

Remember Pop Pop and I love you more than chicken!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

Colorado

Hi sweeties,

Well, we are back in Colorado! Tomorrow morning Tia leaves on her trip to Venezuela! Pop Pop and I are taking care of Luna. Tia is not taking Luna as she is taking several of her students, to learn about the government. She will, however be seeing your numerous aunts, uncles and cousins while there!

I printed out many photos of you girls and Luna, and a few of Micah that I had. I want everyone there to see how much you have grown and how beautiful you both are! Tia is trying to talk me into going with her in late summer. I would love to go, but we'll see.

We're having a good time with Luna. Can you believe she can read now? Just short sentences for now, but it's a start! And, guess what books she likes Tia to read to her? Just guess! Remember when I read Judy Moody books to you, Savannah? Well, Tia started getting them from the library to read to Luna and she loves them! Mari, Luna also loves Strega Nona, one of your favorites that I used to read to you!

Luna is having her first ballet recital next week, while we are here! It reminds me when you, Savannah took ballet! You were SO cute in your little leotard. You were a bit younger than Luna when you started.

Tomorrow Pop Pop is putting together Luna's swing set... JUST like the one we got for YOU girls! Luna really likes to be outdoors, and she has a fenced in backyard-I know she will be playing on that swing set a lot!

Keep praying, girls, that we will see each other before too long. I'm still waiting for your mom to call me. I'm hoping she will call me on Mother's Day to tell me we can all be a family again!

Remember we love you all more than chicken!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Love, Mom Mom and Pop Pop

Oh, you can see some of the scrapbook pages I have made, of you girls and Luna!
http://www.3scrapateers.com/gallerypp/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/12666


Bye for now!

Phone Call

Hello sweeties, A few weeks ago I decided to call your mom. I've been nervously getting the courage to do so. I finally decided the other day to call Sunday morning. Today. I awoke with butterflies in my tummy! But I called! Your mom answered, and I could hear Luca crying! I told her who I was and that I missed her and you girls so much! I asked if I could speak to you, but she said no. I did ask her if we could get together and talk about things, and make a new start. She said she would think about it, and sounded a little less hostile! Maybe she will consider it, and maybe we can see you again before too long. I sure would like to see and know your little brothers!

Today I am posting one of my favorite pictures of you , Savannah, and Tia. You two had so much fun that day, in the sun room! Remember how you used to go spend the night on weekends at Tia's house, and then go out for breakfast? Tia LOVED that, and so did you, Savannah!

Someone sent me this in an email yesterday: Maybe . . . Happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

I miss you so much, I really do ache to see you and hug you! I tell you this, not to make you sad, but to reassure you that I love you and always will. You two girls are my happiness!

Here's another picture, from happier times, of your mom, Tia and Mari. We had a great time that day, all of us, laughing and goofing off. Do you remember how we all stuck bottle nipples on our faces and heads? I do and I will remember it always!

I'm praying that your mom considers talking to me again, and gives us a chance to see you again!

We love you more than chicken!
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0
Love, Mom Mom and Pop Pop

Cherished Teddies

Image from Flicker http://flickr.com/photos/digitalpretzel/156120635/

Hello girls,

I don't want you to forget all the Cherished Teddies I still have in your room! From time to time, I have added to your collection, and I wanted you to know! Your room is still the same, and the shelf of Teddies is still there! Recently I found some Wizard of Oz Cherished Teddies to add to your collection! I don't have the one above though!

I also decided to post this scrap page I made of your mother when she was a little girl! If you ever get to see this blog, I thought you might like to see this!

Easter Trip

Hello my girls! it has been week ssince I have posted. Again, you were always on my mind. Pop Pop and I went to Virginia Beach for Easter, and we took Luna with us. She asked for you often, and looked at your pictures often, as did I.

One of the highlights of the trip, apart from seeing family again, was taking Luna to the Wizard of Oz Museum. I'm still hoping to take you one day too! Luna was a great traveler, and we went in our RV. We folded down the table, laying the bench cushions on top, and made Luna a little nest. There, at night, she would watch DVD movies on Pop Pop's laptop!

Here are some pictures of Luna on our trip! Hasn't she grown since you've seen her last? She adores Pancho!
Luna got to meet Aunt Barbara, and our Virginia cousins! We had a lovely time. Luna loved playing with Teresa's little girl, Elizabeth. But, the highlight of Luna's trip was meeting her 10 year old cousin, Brandon! She fell in love with him, and chased him all over the house!


We dyed Easter eggs, and I remembered how many times you and I did that. I sure hope you had a great Easter with your mom and dad and brothers. Did you look for Easter eggs? Mary Ann hid eggs for Luna to find, and she had so much fun! Luna and I went to church with Barbara and we had a HUGE meal! Mary Ann cooked most of the meal, and even made an Easter centerpiece with a bunny and colored eggs. It was very nice for me to see everyone again! I think it's been more than 11 years since I went back!

Luna got to play with Toto, the little dog that lives at the museum, but goes home with his owner at night!

Well, girls, I will post again soon. I never stop praying that things will work out for your mom and me, and that she will let us see you, and HUG you again soon! I miss you like crazy, and think of you a gazillion times a day (and night!).

Remember, Pop Pop and I love you more than chicken!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Sadness

Hello my sweeties,

It's been a while. I've been SO sad. I want so much to hug you and see you. Remember NONE of this is your fault. If you ever get to see this, please pray often that we can see each other soon. This is really hard on me and Pop Pop. I hope you are keeping busy and are happy. I pray every day that you are well and are happy, along with your little brothers. I sure miss your mom too, and hope she is doing well. I long for the days when we can be a family again. Every time I go by your street, I hope for a glimpse of you.

When we go to Target or the grocery store, I look for your mom's van, hoping to get a glimpse of you.

We are getting ready to go to Virginia, to visit family, and we're taking Luna. What a great trip it would be if you girls could go too! We're going in our RV and I like to imagine how much fun you girls and Luna would have in our RV! I'm sure one day we can be together again! I just love you so much, my heart actually hurts from not seeing you!

I'm still working on a wonderful scrapbook, so you girls can see how I thought of you every day!

We love you more than chicken!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Love and hugs, Mom Mom and Pop Pop

Virginia Beach

Hello Sweeties! It's been a while, as I have been busy and sad over missing you. I think of you all the time!

Remember how we could not find angels for your brothers for my van dashboard? Well... I found angel snowmen! Yup! I bought one for October and one for March! They ride next to your angels!

We're getting ready to go pick up your cousin and head to Virginia Beach to see relatives we have not seen in a long time. We SO wish we could take you. We're taking a gazillion pictures of you girls to show your cousins how gorgeous you are!

We have been very busy. We got a new sofa recently-a sectional kind, that wraps around the corner. It is So comfy and all of you will fit on it! I'm trying to decide what color to pain the living room. Your room is staying the same-not to worry!

I'm tutoring a woman from church in reading. I'm sharing your favorite books with her and always tell her "I read this book to my granddaughters". She seems pleased with that!

Computer repairs and interpreting also fill my time. Pop Pop spends a lot of time in his shop and looking after Pancho. Pancho has Cushing's disease and needs quite a bit of medication each day.

Pancho still sits everyday, looking at the front door. We think he is waiting for you girls to come on in!

We love you more than chicken!
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0

Savannah is almost 9

Hello sweeties,

I haven't written much lately as I am so down. I miss you so much I can hardly stand it. I want to hug you so much! We won't be able to share your birthday again this year. Thanks to Judge Rea, we won't even be able to see you at all.

I certainly hope you have a great day and have a wonderful party. At 9, I'll bet you tall enough to break open your piñata yourself! Please have lot's of fun with your friends and brothers and sister!

Here's a picture of your mom and Savannah on your third birthday!

We love you so much and miss you so much. I would trade all I own for a day with you girls! Don't forget to pray that things will be right soon - we do many times a day!

We love you more than chicken!
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
Mom Mom + Pop Pop

After Valentine's Day

Hi girls,

I hope you and your brothers are doing well. I am also hoping you received lots of Valentines. My Valentine to you will have to wait for a day when we can see you. Did you have a nice party at school? Don't think we didn't think of you! Every time we went into Target or a store that sold valentines, we felt a shot of sadness through our hearts at not being able to get you a cuddly animal or some chocolates!

I think of you everyday and pray everyday that your mom's heart will soften, and she will know how important you are to us, and also that we are important to you! Don;t forget to pray! Every time I hear "Shout to the Lord" at church, I remember us singing it together in the car!

You are in my thoughts the last thing at night, and the first thing in the morning. I am working on the site savannahstafford.com
which is not up yet. I'm hoping you will be able to find us and read about how much we miss you and constantly think of you! You are forever our granddaughters and we are your grandparents!

We love you more than chicken! Mom Mom and Pop Pop
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hello sweeties,

I've been making a lot of scrapbook pictures of you and Luna to see one day! I have really gotten addicted to digital scrapbooking - wait till you see them!

Here is a picture of you two wearing the shirts you picked out at Target. You rushed to put them on in the van!

I'm wearing the charm bracelet you picked out for me that day, too! Remember the coffee cup charm Mari picked out, and the heart charm Savannah picked out?

Valentine's Day is coming up. I'm hoping you both have a great party at school! Mari, I sure would like to see you in pre-school! I used to take and pick up Savannah every day, and she was so excited showing me her paintings and crafts. I so enjoyed watching her play on the school playground after school.

Here are some photos of Savannah at Pre-school. Isn't she cute?















Danniele Centeno


I love you more than chicken! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Night Time

At night, when the TV is off, and Pop Pop has gone to bed, I think of you girls even more. I miss you so much it hurts. I'm hoping one day your mom will realize that she is hurting all of us... Tia, Luna, you girls and your little brothers.


Tia spoke to your aunts and uncles in Venezuela, who said they had heard nothing from your Abuelo, and that he kept telling them Tia and Luna were fine! Abuelo is living in Philadelphia now and has not spoken to Tia in over 3 years! I have a feeling Abuelo will hear from them soon.

Tia is going to Venezuela in the spring, and she will tell them all the details of what has happened to our family. Such a shame.

Again, I love you so so so much. I pray for the day to come when I can see you again!

Love, Mom Mom

Luna Baloona

Hi girls,

I wanted to post pictures of Luna too! She misses you and wishes she could see you. She started ballet lessons, and is learning chess! She LOVES the computer and her favorite TV show is Wow Wow Wubsy, and her favorite movie is Charlotte's Web!

We went to the Children's Museum in Pueblo with Luna. She had a great time! We wished you could have been there with us. Just know that you are always in our thoughts, and we miss seeing you and watching you grow. I hope your two little brothers, Micah and Luca are doing well too. Gosh, we've never even seen Luca, and only seen Micah a few times.






Luna and I made brownies, and Luna wore her chef's hat and apron. (A Christmas gift from Erica)

Hello girls

Wow, I have not posted in weeks! But not a day went by that I didn't think of you, or cry at night over missing you terribly.

Luna is getting SO big, and still talks about her cousins, Savannah and Mari. She and Tia also miss you very much!

We have been on the road for 6 weeks! For the first three, we used our van, and Roy, from church enclosed Pop Pop's trailer.



Then, we got a used RV and took Pancho with us. You both would have had fun with us! We spent Christmas with Tia, and while there we learned that Grandpa, my dad, died. We came home long enough to repack, and drove to Michigan for a beautiful Life Celebration service. You would have loved to have been there. It was just beautiful, and Tia and Luna went for a few days too. We ended up staying about a week.


There was lots of snow! We spent slow, mellow days with Jeanette, and enjoying her company, eating well, and reminiscing about Grandpa.


We took our time driving home, and stopped at Tia's house again. On the way to Tia's we visited the Wizard of Oz museum. Mari, I felt vicariously excited for you, and enjoyed every minute. We also saw lots of wildlife along the way, horses, donkeys, deer, rabbits, and even some strange ducks!


We sure miss you girls, and we bought you some Wizard of Oz souvenirs at the museum. Lord only knows when I can give them to you, but I am confident that one day they will be yours. The same day we get to hug and kiss you again, and see your shining smiles and beautiful faces.



I'll post again soon! I love you both more than chicken. We miss you SO SO SO much.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Mom Mom and Pop Pop

It's been several days since I wrote... certainly not because you're not in my thoughts always... just that we made the trip to Colorado. We hit a lot of snow and ice, and stopped for the night in Albuquerque. The trailer had a flat tire and Pop Pop had to change it on the snow, at night, just one week after his back surgery! We finally got to Tia's house safe and sound! Luna asks for you often. She still has your picture book and looks at your pictures often. She misses you too.

Can you beleive Pancho likes the snow? It comes past his chest, and he does not want to go out in the cold sometimes, but when he does, he plays in the snow! He and Botas are getting along fine.

Tomorrow we are going to Pueblo to do some shopping, and hope we don't meet with MORE snow! I'll bet you and Mari are getting excited about Christmas. Remember how last year we drove around and looked at lights with Tia? Remember how we opened the van door on one street and you girls and Luna shouted "Merry Christmas"? We sure laughed and had such fun that evening! I'll never forget it.

I was so sad not to have been able to see you last week-end or to be able to call you. I sure miss you and I will always love you. I am always your grandmother.

I love you both more than chicken!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

13 days

Its been 13 days since we have had any contact. Seems like a year. The Christmas presents we ordered you before we knew Judge Rea would not enforce our previous visitation order, have arrived. Each visit from FedEx or UPS makes me sadder.

We'll try to get someone to bring your presents, but I don't know if your parents will allow you to keep them.

If not, one day we will see you and hug and kiss your sweet faces again, and I'll tell you and show you your things.

We wish we could write a letter to Judge Rea, Superior Court, Maricopa County, Arizona, telling him of th epain he has caused us, and you and Mari too. If he knew how much you loved US and wanted to visit us. It is so cruel that he is keeping us apart. If we were mean , or alcoholics, or drug addicts, or theives, but we are not. We are good, honest, churchgoing people. I'm sure Judge Rea would not want HIS grandchildren taken away.

Here's a picture of our last day together.

Remember we LOVE you more than chicken!
Kisses, Mom Mom and Pop Pop.

Savannah and Mari Gumbari

Hi girls! Here's a picture I made for you a few weeks ago. I have missed calling you and it sure feels strange not to call you on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When the phone rings, I am hoping it is one of you calling from a friend's house, like you did in the past. Every girl I see when we're in the store, I think might be you. Today, each aisle I turned int he grocery store, I hoped I would run into you.

I hope school is going well for you both, and would love to see you both in your uniforms.

Remember, I'm still your grandmother, and Pop Pop is still your grandpa, and we always will be.

We love you Savannah and Mari... and always will!

We miss you more than chicken!!!
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Missing you so badly

Hello girls,

Mom Mom and Pop Pop are missing your sweet voices so much. We would have been looking forward to seeing you Saturday if Judge Rea had not decided to deny us any visitation at all. I can't do anything about it now, but I think Judge Rea must be having a hard time sleeping at night. Then again, he must be completely heartless to take away the previous order that allowed us to see you twice a month for 3 1/2 hours. How we all looked forward to those visits - your sweet hugs and kissses.

We are very sad, and hope you are not too sad. Every time I see a 5 year old, or an 8 year old, I look twice to see if it might be you.

Pop Pop is recuperating well from his spinal surgery. We will be going to Colorado to visit your cousin Luna for Christmas. How I wish we could all go. I'm hoping your folks will allow you to accept the Christmas gifts we had ordered before we knew we would not be seeing you. We sure want you to have them.

Mom Mom and Pop Pop are praying that your mom will soften and realize the pain she is causing to you and us. Never forget how much we love you. We pray for your well being each day.

I lov eyou more than chicken! XOXOXOXOXOX Mom Mom & Pop Pop

Dec. 8, 2006

Hello My Sweeties,

It's been 6 days since we've seen you, but it feels like 6 years. Hardly a minute goes by that I don't think of you and miss you. There really is such a thing as a heartache. I've felt it many times.

Pop Pop had surgery on his back yesterday, and it lasted 5 hours! We were remembering how interested you both were in the stitches and wound when he had his knees operated on - How the nurse let Savannah help remove the dressing! He would sure have felt better with some drawings and a visit from you here.

Pop Pop will come home tomorrow, and Pancho will be very happy! He misses Pop Pop so much, and lies on his "blankie" by the door watching and waiting for him to come home. He does that a lot when Pop Pop is home too, and we can only think he is wishing you two were coming through the door.

I wear the bracelet that Mari got me, with the heart charm Savannah picked out, and the green coffee cup Mari picked out.

Pop Pop and I are both praying every day that your parents change their minds and decide to let us see you. We miss you terribly.

Here's a funny picture for you - Pop Pop's lunch today, in the hospital! He loved his lunch of crabcakes, Philly Cheesesteak, and cheesecake!

Love you more than chicken! Mom Mom and Pop Pop

No more visits with my granddaughters

Last week we went back to family court to attempt enforcement of a previous grandchildren visitation order. Instead of enforcing the prior order, Judge Rea, Superior Family Court, Phoenix, AZ, ruled that spending time with grandma was a disturbance to my granddaughter's daily activities! He ruled that my daughter had the right to determine whether or not I could see the girls. My daughter made it clear she would not allow me to visit with the girls, so I won't be able to see them for the next 9 years. The oldest girl, Savannah, will be 18 then and I know she will seek me out.

I don't know about you, but I consider grandparents a valuable asset to a child's life. I adored MY grandmother, who became my role model for being a great grandma.

My daughter decided two years ago to punish me for an argument we had, by not allowing me to see my granddaughters. My granddaughters lived with me on and off, and it was I who quit my job to care for Savannah when she was born. I adored her... I loved her before she was born... from the minute my daughter told me she was expecting.

My daughter came home to live then, back in 1997, because her boyfriend did not want the baby. She was distraught, but I told her she had a home with us and we would help her.

Help her we did. She eventually got back with the boyfriend and went on to have a second daughter, Mari. I loved caring for them during the day. I loved them so much. As they grew, we baked and cooked together, took walks and trips to the park, read lots of books, painted. We even set up an ant farm together. We had wonderful times.

Savannah asked me many times over the uears would I promise to always be near her. I promised, and always meant it.

Now that I am unable to call or visit, it is likely they will move far away, with no contact. No one knows what the internet will be like in 9 years, but I'm hoping I can express my feelings here, and maybe one day she will find her Mom Mom online!

I am SO broken hearted. Worse is the fact that my daughter and her husband (yes, they married a year ago... more on that in a later post) called two times when they received their copy of the judge's ruling. We had not gotten our copy till Wednesday. My daughter and her husband got theirs on Monday or Tuesday. We received two calls from them gloating over how they had won, and we lost everything.

My grandchildren's parents think they won, and we lost. While they did win, the biggest losers were my sweet grandchildren, who love us and want to see us.

My daughter broke my heart, with what felt like a sledgehammer. She did not have to hurt the kids too. She does not realize what she has done to the entire family, as she will not allow her children to see or speak to her own sister or niece! My daughter is taking delight in having ripped out my heart.

Since I received Judge Rea's ruling today, my life will never be the same. I have already suffered major depression the past two years, and this is a major setback. Blue Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006. I miss my sweethearts already and am in total mourning.

I'm not a prolific writer, but will attempt to write often. From here on out, my posts will be addressed to Savannah and Mari, my beloved granddaughters, for whom I would give my life.
I used to laugh at grandparents like me, till I too became a doting grandparent.

I love them more than chicken.