June 21, 2009...Happy Father's Day

Even though Amit is no longer physically with us, he is always in our hearts. Amit never had the chance to hold his beautiful angel in his arms, but from the moment he knew he was going to be a father, his heart must have swelled with pride and love, he was a father. He loved that child from the very first moment he existed. To be a father, a parent, is to begin your life anew, living not only for yourself, but for your child (or children). The struggles, the difficulties, are all worth it for the chance to love and shape a life and see them look back at you with love and joy in their hearts.

I want to take this moment to celebrate Father's Day for not only my own father, my uncles, my brother, and other father figures and all those other fathers everywhere, but for Deepika's father and Amit's father...and especially for Amit. We may not always remember the words of our fathers, but we do remember how they made us feel and how we feel about them and I am thankful for everyone in my life, those that are still here, and those that have moved on.

Amit is looking down on his darling child and smiling...Jevesh's personal guardian angel.

Take a moment today to love the ones you are with because you do not know what tomorrow has in store.

June 9, 2009...Happy 6 Month Birthday Jevesh!

I wanted to again take a moment to mark the birthday of Jevesh. Happy 6 months little angel...may your days be filled with increasing strength, good health, blessings, and love...You, Deepika, and your dad are always in my thoughts and prayers.

To celebrate Jevesh's birthday, I have a special treat :) I have a few videos I am going to post. Please forgive any background noise, including my bad singing ;)

June 6th, 2009...10 months...Remembering Amit

On this, the sixth of June, Deepika, Amit's family and friends, and the community of Chico remember the loss of a beautiful man, Amit Tandon. His heart was enormous; his generosity, overflowing; his smile, from ear to ear; his talent, unending; and his loss, felt by people the world over, deep, raw, angry, sad, heartwrenching....there are not enough words to describe such a tragedy, such a loss.

I look at Deepika and I am filled with love, deep respect, and a bit of heartache. Such a wonderful person with such a good heart that has endured such heartache and tragedy and yet she continues on with great strength, hope, and faith.

I see Jevesh and think of all the terrible things that child has had to endure in such a short time and I hope and pray that he beats all the odds to grow up to be a bright, strong, healthy individual with all the wonderful qualities of his mother and father. When I look at that child I see his parents and I have hope and warmth in my heart (and admittedly tears in my eyes occasionaly).

Please continue to offer your kind words, prayers, and thoughts as the struggles continue. Please remind those around you to never drink and drive and never let anyone around them drink and drive. No one should have to suffer such tragedy and heartache, we must all try to make a difference.

Here are a few recent pics of Jevesh (I will post more on the 9th...his 6 MONTH Birthday!).