Joseph's Journal

We Will Remember You Forever

Waleed J. Iskandar
(1967-2001)

"Wherever he was, that became the best place in the world to be"

"Bereavement is an integral part of the love of the lost one"

Angel

A Broken Heart

A Broken Heart

~ Brother Lawrence ~

Ranya Nasrallah gave me a book called "The Practice of the Presence of God". I read it with enthusiasm. It is about a seventeenth century French monk called Lawrence. I enjoyed reading it tremendously.
Click here to read some of his Spiritual Maxims

(November 21, 2004)

~ Why God gave us Friends ~

My friend Gina Burke sent me a poem written by "Barbara Burrow". It is named "Why God gave us friends".
I, for one, do understand why He gave us Friends. It is because of friends that I am where I am now!!!
Please read the poem here.

(November 29, 2004)

~ 9/11/2004 ~

Our friends David and Beverly sent us the photo of Blackhouse Park taken by their friend Fran on September 11 Memorial Service.
Click on the small photo to enlarge it.
Thank you Fran for your thoughtfulness.

(December 7, 2004)

~ A Surprise Visit ~

Our dear friends Tony and Muriel Alphonso from Kuwait surprised us with their visit to Northridge. Muriel could not stop relating to us the nice memories and anecdotes about you, which she carries dearly in her heart from the time that you used to live there.
She promised to put all these stories on paper and send them to me.
We enjoyed their two day visit very much.

(December 10, 2004)

~ Last Support Group Meeting ~

December 11 2004 was the date of our Final Statewide Group meeting. During this meeting we had an extraordinary speaker, Mr. Azim Khamisa. He is the father of Tariq Khamisa, 20 year old victim of gang murder. He forgave the killer of his son and made an alliance against violence with the grandfather of the killer of his son . He founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation", dedicated to the elimination of youth violence in our communities. He is the author of "From Murder to Forgiveness", a father's journey.
I find much resemblance between what he preaches and what I believe.

(December 11, 2004)

~ A poem for you on this Holiday Season 2004 ~

For this Christmas and New year, Edmond sent me the following poem.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
from all the ISKANDARS

(December 25, 2004)

~ A New Year 2005 ~

Another year have passed without your presence amongst us. Your uncles Maroun, Pierre and Paola came to spend the Holiday Season with us. We drove to Las Vegas for the first time since you departed from this world. You were with me all the time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR
from all the ISKANDARS

(January 1, 2005)

~ Waleed Iskandar Charity Foundation and

~

Benny Iskandar suggested that "Waleed Iskandar Charity Foundation" should start

( National Injury Prevention Foundation ) in the Lebanon. He approached Samia Bakhos and Sandra Abillama with the idea. They instantly approved launching and promoting the Lebanese chapter.
Now that the formation of the Foundation is complete, they will start educating the Lebanese children how to "think first" before attempting a new act or action.
Thank you Benny!
Thank you Samia!
Thank you Sandra!

(January 7, 2005)

~ A Niche in San Fernando Mission Mortuary ~

For the first time, we had the niche that we got for you in San Fernando Mission Mortuary, opened for us. George and Eileen, Randy and May, your Dad and Mom were there. We placed inside the niche a copy of your memorial card, a rosary, a cross, the reading that Eileen read for you, a piece of metal recovered from Ground Zero, the four credit cards that were found at Ground Zero and were sent to us and your framed picture.
Eileen placed a white rose in the vase placed on the marble cover.
We will be visiting you every year on November second, Feast of all Souls.
This is the photo of the niche.

(February 2, 2005)

~ Good Friday 2005 ~

Today is Friday March 25 2005. It is Good Friday. The day that Jesus the Lord was crucified. We visited the Catholic Mortuaries where you have a niche. Mom had with her a beautiful red rose. She left it in the vase.

It is the fourth year that we celebrate the Holy Easter Week without you. A friend sent me a song named "Via Dolorosa". It is performed by: "Sandi Patty" and written by "Billy Sprague and Niles Borop".

Click here to listen to Viadolorosa.

(March 25, 2005)

~ Holy Easter 2005 ~

Sunday March 27 2005 is Easter Sunday, the day that Jesus the Lord is risen.

This is the fourth year we celebrate the resurection of the Lord in your absence.

You are celebrating it with the Holy family in Heaven.

Pray for us, those on Earth.

(March 27, 2005)

~ Self Realization Fellowship ~

We visited Lake Shrine in the "Self-Realization Fellowship" which was started by "Paramahansa Yogananda".
I was so impressed by his teaching. I want to include here his website and encourage visiting it at:

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/index.html

(May 5, 2005)

~ Timeline of September 11, 2001 Events ~

(click for bigger image)

A historic 36 foot timeline exhibition that depicts the tragic and heroic events that occurred at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 designed by the museum and developed with the assistance of family members who lost loved ones that day is now installed at ground zero.
The timeline, which was installed on the World Trade Center viewing wall on Church Street near the temporary World Trade Center PATH Station, presents a chronological portrayal of events that occurred between 6:30 a.m. and 11:29 p.m. on September 11.
The timeline, consists of three 12 foot wide panels and is based on the museum's WTC, 9/11 First 24 Hours timeline.

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/wtc_timeline/

(June 7, 2005)

~ How do we feel now? ~

I read a poem that describes our feeling very well:

Remembering you is easy.
We do it every day.
Missing you is heartache
That never goes away.
When the ties of life are broken
And loved ones have to part.
It leaves a wound that never heals
And also a Broken Heart.

(June 15, 2005)

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