In My Hands In My Heart
Join Cruz and his mom on a heartfelt picnic as they find ways to remember and cherish the memories of Cruz's father. Using the power of the five senses, the gift of memories and undying love, Cruz begins to understand how to feel his father in his heart any time he wants.
Cruz and his mom spread out a picnic blanket in the grassy meadow. They sat down with their picnic basket full of goodies. Cruz looked up at his mom with big, curious eyes and asked, Mama, do YOU feel him in your heart? His mom smiled gently and said, I Do my love. Do YOU?
I do not know how. I don't understand, Cruz expressed. Give me your hand, said Mama. Let's use our five senses to remember him. Cruz's mom held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. - We have five fingers, and we can use each one to think of a sense, she said. Cruz copied her and wiggled his fingers too. - Like look, listen, smell, touch, and taste? Cruz asked. - Exactly, his mom replied. - Let's start with look.
Cruz looked up at Mama, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. - When I look, said Mama, I see freckled fingers, dark brown eyes and his bright orange running shoes. What do you see? Cruz thought for a moment. - I remember seeing his big smile, his spikey red hair and our family bikes rides, Cruz said. His mom nodded. - Yes, and his smile and all of these memories are always in our hearts, she said.
Next, Cruz's mom touched a second finger and said ,number two, let's use our ears. - Now let's listen. What sounds remind you of Daddy? she asked. Cruz listened to the gentle breeze and the birds singing. He closed his eyes and thought, - I remember his deep loud voice, his big laugh and all the music he loved. - His laugh was the best, his mom agreed. I hear his loving laugh too, his voice calling for us 'sweet cheeks babycakes', and yes, him singing those songs!
Cruz's mom took a deep breath and closed her eyes. - Let's think about smells, she said. Cruz sniffed the air, smelling the fresh grass and flowers. - I smell his skin, his showers and his stinky gym clothes. Mama and Cruz laughed. - I smell the chili on the mango, chocolate chip cookies and steaks on the grill! Cruz added excitedly. Your daddy did love to eat, mama added.
Cruz reached out and touched a soft flower petal. Mama touch Cruz's fingers, how about number three? Close your eyes, what do you feel when you remember Daddy? Cruz thought for a moment. - I remember holding his hand when we walked together, he said. I feel love, his hugs and him popping my toes! - I can feel his kisses on my forehead before he left for work and his hand in mine too, Mama shared.
Finally, Cruz's mom took out a piece of sour candy from the picnic basket. - Let's think about taste, she said. Cruz took a bite and smiled. - I can taste those chocolate chip cookies Mama! I can taste our freshly made watermelon juice, and paletas! -Yes exactly, me too my love.
Cruz sighed and looked at his mom. - But sometimes I feel like I forget, he said. His mom hugged him tightly. - It's okay to feel that way, she said. - Memories are always in your heart, even when you can't remember every detail.
Cruz looked down at his hand. - So I can use my fingers to remember Daddy anytime? he asked. - Yes, his mom said. - Each finger can help you remember a sense and a special memory. Cruz smiled and wiggled his fingers again. - I'll always have Daddy right here with me, he said.
Cruz and his mom sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the peaceful meadow. - I'm glad we came here, Mom, Cruz said. His mom nodded. - Me too, she said. - It's a special place to remember Daddy. Cruz felt a warm glow in his heart. I think I understand now Mama. I can feel him in my heart anytime I choose...
Cruz picked up a small rock and examined it. - Dad would have liked this rock, he said. - He always loved finding little treasures, his mom said. - Just like you, Cruz. Cruz put the rock in his pocket. - I'll keep this as a memory of Dad, he said.
Cruz's mom looked at her watch. - It's almost time to go, she said. Cruz sighed but nodded. - Can we come back here again? he asked. - Of course, his mom said. - This meadow will always be our special place to remember Dad.
As they packed up their picnic, Cruz felt a mix of emotions. - I'm sad but also happy, he said. - That's okay, his mom said. - Remembering Dad can bring many feelings, but it's important to cherish the happy ones. Cruz nodded. - I will, he said.
Cruz held his mom's hand as they walked back home. - I feel braver now, he said. - That's because you have courage in your heart, his mom said. - And you always will. Cruz smiled. - In my hands and in my heart, he said.
Cruz and his mom spread out a picnic blanket in the grassy meadow. They sat down with their picnic basket full of goodies. Cruz looked up at his mom with big, curious eyes and asked, Mama, do YOU feel him in your heart? His mom smiled gently and said, I Do my love. Do YOU?
I do not know how. I don't understand, Cruz expressed. Give me your hand, said Mama. Let's use our five senses to remember him. Cruz's mom held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. - We have five fingers, and we can use each one to think of a sense, she said. Cruz copied her and wiggled his fingers too. - Like look, listen, smell, touch, and taste? Cruz asked. - Exactly, his mom replied. - Let's start with look.
Cruz looked up at Mama, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. - When I look, said Mama, I see freckled fingers, dark brown eyes and his bright orange running shoes. What do you see? Cruz thought for a moment. - I remember seeing his big smile, his spikey red hair and our family bikes rides, Cruz said. His mom nodded. - Yes, and his smile and all of these memories are always in our hearts, she said.
Next, Cruz's mom touched a second finger and said ,number two, let's use our ears. - Now let's listen. What sounds remind you of Daddy? she asked. Cruz listened to the gentle breeze and the birds singing. He closed his eyes and thought, - I remember his deep loud voice, his big laugh and all the music he loved. - His laugh was the best, his mom agreed. I hear his loving laugh too, his voice calling for us 'sweet cheeks babycakes', and yes, him singing those songs!
Cruz's mom took a deep breath and closed her eyes. - Let's think about smells, she said. Cruz sniffed the air, smelling the fresh grass and flowers. - I smell his skin, his showers and his stinky gym clothes. Mama and Cruz laughed. - I smell the chili on the mango, chocolate chip cookies and steaks on the grill! Cruz added excitedly. Your daddy did love to eat, mama added.
Cruz reached out and touched a soft flower petal. Mama touch Cruz's fingers, how about number three? Close your eyes, what do you feel when you remember Daddy? Cruz thought for a moment. - I remember holding his hand when we walked together, he said. I feel love, his hugs and him popping my toes! - I can feel his kisses on my forehead before he left for work and his hand in mine too, Mama shared.
Finally, Cruz's mom took out a piece of sour candy from the picnic basket. - Let's think about taste, she said. Cruz took a bite and smiled. - I can taste those chocolate chip cookies Mama! I can taste our freshly made watermelon juice, and paletas! -Yes exactly, me too my love.
Cruz sighed and looked at his mom. - But sometimes I feel like I forget, he said. His mom hugged him tightly. - It's okay to feel that way, she said. - Memories are always in your heart, even when you can't remember every detail.
Cruz looked down at his hand. - So I can use my fingers to remember Daddy anytime? he asked. - Yes, his mom said. - Each finger can help you remember a sense and a special memory. Cruz smiled and wiggled his fingers again. - I'll always have Daddy right here with me, he said.
Cruz and his mom sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the peaceful meadow. - I'm glad we came here, Mom, Cruz said. His mom nodded. - Me too, she said. - It's a special place to remember Daddy. Cruz felt a warm glow in his heart. I think I understand now Mama. I can feel him in my heart anytime I choose...
Cruz picked up a small rock and examined it. - Dad would have liked this rock, he said. - He always loved finding little treasures, his mom said. - Just like you, Cruz. Cruz put the rock in his pocket. - I'll keep this as a memory of Dad, he said.
Cruz's mom looked at her watch. - It's almost time to go, she said. Cruz sighed but nodded. - Can we come back here again? he asked. - Of course, his mom said. - This meadow will always be our special place to remember Dad.
As they packed up their picnic, Cruz felt a mix of emotions. - I'm sad but also happy, he said. - That's okay, his mom said. - Remembering Dad can bring many feelings, but it's important to cherish the happy ones. Cruz nodded. - I will, he said.
Cruz held his mom's hand as they walked back home. - I feel braver now, he said. - That's because you have courage in your heart, his mom said. - And you always will. Cruz smiled. - In my hands and in my heart, he said.
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