Oh Nadia, you should be the one writing this, not me.  You’ve always been the writer in our family, so creative and talented!!!  Me and my sister, Nad, have so many wonderful memories of watching movies and going on nature walks (at the park by our house or at our favorite spots in Claremont).  We both also LOVE reading so we have a lot in common.  Nadia is currently living in San Francisco as a writer and editor for Word Palace Press and is also engaged to her lovely fiancé, Joe.  Good luck wedding planning Nad, it’s a full time job :)

AKA My Twin:  It’s a big crazy how alike me and Jewel look.  I remember one time visiting her at her dorm at UC Santa Barbara and asking her, “Why do you have a picture of me as a little kid on your wall?”  She didn’t even know it was me…that’s how alike we look!!!  I just couldn’t stop laughing.  Jewel is my sister who is a ray of sunshine.  I know I am aging myself but I remember the day my sister was born.  She is the one who keeps our family positive.  She is someone who I can rely on to always be cheerful and have a smile on her face.  Jewel is currently working at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Claremont, CA (my alma mater) as a teacher’s assistant. 

Victoria is my dainty lovely sister in law.  Victoria’s relationship with Alex progressed quickly and before we knew it, she was part of our family.  Victoria knows our family inside and out (all that takes is going on vacation with a bunch of indecisive people).  Victoria met my brother in law school and graduated the year after my brother did.  Destiny also brought Victoria and my brother to Hawaii.  Victoria and my brother live in Oahu.  Victoria has always welcomed me and Eddie with open arms and when we go to Oahu (for my School Psychology conferences or for fun) Victoria has been so hospitable to us.  Victoria recently opened an Immigration Law Practice.  I am proud to call Victoria my sister-in-law.  She is a beautiful person on the inside and the outside!! 

I have known Sheena since good ol’ catholic school (6^th grade).  We have been friends for 20 years!!!!  Sheena is a person whom I can confide in and count on no matter what.  Sheena knows more about me that I’d like to admit.  We have had so much in common in our lives from working at various jobs together including Pretzel Time, Bebe and Nordstroms.  Also, we made a pact that we were going to go to the same college together.  We both turned in our SIR (Statement of Intent to Register) to University of California Riverside on the same day.  How crazy is that!!!  Our last year of college, we were also roommates sharing a two-bedroom apartment near UCR.  As if that weren’t enough we also got our Master’s Degrees from the same college too, University of La Verne.  I was blessed to be a bridesmaid in Sheena and Justin’s wedding this past July in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Sheena currently works as a Registered Nurse at Glendale Adventist Hospital on the Labor and Delivery Floor!!!! 

Me and Manar have been friends since high school.  Manar comes from a big family like mine and she is Middle Eastern too, so we have a lot in common.  She has two brothers and four sisters.  Manar’s family throws the most amazing parties…think Real Housewives style.  You can always count on her parties to be over the top!!!  Her family is very loving, kind and generous.  Manar planned her entire 500+ person wedding in less than 4 months.  I was blessed to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Me and Manar’s favorite restaurant is Eden Garden in Glendora, CA where we enjoy very delicious Middle Eastern food and hookah.  Our families have a similar circle of friends, as Manar’s family knows all of the Middle Eastern doctors in the area!!  Last year, Manar, her husband and in-laws came on vacation to Kona and we got to spend time with her here.  So much fun!  Manar is a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful boys!!

I’ve also known Lysandra since good ol’ catholic school.  We have been friends for the last 20 years.  Me and Lysandra always joke about how she can’t remember anything so she probably isn’t going to remember our memories that I’m about to share right now either.  I’m just joking, Lysandra.  Me and Lysandra have so many great memories together from road tripping up to Hanford, California during the summer to visit her sister to buying a Groupon for Hawaii and going to Oahu for a week.  Lysandra is a bit more of a daredevil than I am and convinced me to do the swimming with sharks thing.  (You get on a boat and then they put you in a cage that’s open on the top and you see sharks swimming all around you).  I was a little hesitant but decided I’d go for it.  When we got on the boat and they were instructing us on what was going to happen, they told us we’d be split up in three groups.  I told her don’t even think about volunteering us for the first group.  With my OCD and type A personality, I wanted to see someone do it first before I did it.  So, we were the second group to do it.  Needless to say, it was a really awesome experience.  I felt like I was on National Geographic or something.  That was a really fun trip.  I was blessed to be a bridesmaid in Lysandra and Anthony’s wedding in April 2013 at Villa De Amor in Temecula, CA.  Me and Lysandra relate in so many ways coming from a conservative upbringing to growing up in Rancho Cucamonga.  Lysandra currently works as a Registered Nurse at St. Bernardine’s Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  

Me and Dez became friends in a very unconventional way.  I have known Dez since I started dating her cousin.  My relationship with her cousin may not have lasted, but our friendship did.  We have been friends for the last 13 years.  Me and Dez have a lot in common including our Christian faith and going to USC football games.  At about the same time that I started going to church, Dez also started on her walk with God.  Dez along with my mom were the two people that were there to witness me getting baptized back in February 2013.  Dez even recorded it for me!!  Me and Dez have gone on countless vacations including Las Vegas, Washington, DC, San Francisco and camping trips to Lake Nacimiento in Paso Robles, CA.  Dez is a very loyal friend and someone whom I can count on.  Sometimes she will text me a bible verse and it’ll be just the encouragement I need to hear.  Dez currently works for her stepdad’s company, Lereta, in the IT department. 

I have known David since I was 12 years old in the six grade. He has been a good friend of mine throughout the years. I have many good memories with him from walking home on the dirt trail, working together at Old Navy or just doing devious mischief throughout the years. David is happily married and has 3 children.

Alex is Lyla's brother.  I have a lot of fun memories of spending weekends down in San Diego while he was in law school.  Alex and his wife moved to Hawaii around the same time as us but they're on the island of Oahu.  Alex showed us around the Marine Base in Oahu which has some pretty awesome beaches on it.  Alex is an attorney for the United States Marine Corps.  

Allen has been my closest cousin to me since we were little kids. I remember the time Allen picked me up in the Iroc Z28, we had to stop at least 48 times from Rancho Cucamonga to Chino for overheating. He blew the engine just so we could hang out. I know I can count on him if I ever need anything. Allen has 4 children and is happily married.

I met Eze working on the Railroad. I enjoy talking to Eze because he is a true Laker fan at heart. I still haven’t met anyone better that can give a fade in a locomotive until this day. I will enjoy future hang outs at King Taco!

Go Kobe!

I met Ramseen (Rambo) working at the railroad. We have become friends ever since then. Rambo is a really smart and funny guy with a raw appetite. We spent endless nights getting down on Marvel vs. Capcom while getting paid compliments of the railroad. This is what made it fun working there with him.

I truly hope Rambo gets the job he has truly been waiting for in the near future.

Mike was a fun bother growing up with. He always has a great sense of humor and is really easy going. Ive been drawn into may wild schemes with him such as on the railroad tracks. Nothing serious just good fun in the good ole days. 

Mike, I wish you and cindy the best of luck in your marriage and future days.