Birthday!

Today is my birthday and it is so heartwarming to get a lot of birthday wishes from friends far and wide in the globe. And of course Facebook just brings the world closer when friends, old and new, near or far, post their birthday greetings on your wall. So to all those who spent a second or two posting birthday greetings on my wall, who sent me text and email messages and those who called, thank you all for the special remembrance on my natal day! I am blessed and grateful for this day that we can call our own special day....the day we were born. And so 54 years ago, Rita Marinela Muana-Murillo (Pinky) was born around 11 am. :)

The past 3 months have been the most challenging months in my family's life and it can still be a struggle daily. And even though today is a happy day for me as a birthday celebrant, it is still inevitable that I still feel incomplete since I will not be getting one special greeting anymore....and that would be the usual yearly heartfelt email greeting from Kibs. My brother always was so prompt and always remembered all my special days.

Aug 2009 Birthday Lunch with Kibs, Anton and Gonzales family 



And the last birthday I spent with him was in 2009 when he was here to help care for Mom. You never know what life has in store for you. I would never have even the inkliest thought in 2009 that it would be the last time I saw my brother. And so 3 years after, my 54th birthday is both a happy and sad day. I miss my brother so much everyday. And of course it makes me sad and teary (again!) but I also feel happy thinking he is now in heaven. And it is okay to be sad and missing our love ones who have passed on. Our love for them will never fade away and so that is why we will forever miss them!