Our Daughter's Maria Mikaela's Christening / Baptism - November 4, 2012

It was the most awaited part of our family …to have Maria Mikaela our dear daughter be baptized as Catholic on November 4, 2012.  Baptism would serve as her start and big leap into Christianity despite her innocence.  For us,  it is Mikaela’s birth into our Catholic faith thus, it was something URGENT and BIG. 

With the sense of urgency, we wanted her immediately baptized when she was in the incubator at the hospital since we believed that God’s grace through baptism brings healing to the physical form that is the human body.  And looking at the fragile body of our daughter in that incubator was accompanied with that deep sense and faith that some miracles could happen if we did that.  We wanted so much to bring a priest but then we were held by the fact that only parents were allowed in the nursery.  I also felt some peace within in my  prayers believing that our daughter can “pick up” fast.  And true enough she did.

Mikaela With Fr. Casey:-), Mommy and Daddy

Since it is something worth celebrating not only in the heavens (as I feel that God rejoices to one new and beautiful human being will be offered to him) but also on earth, we wanted something big.  At first we wanted it lavish and hold it at a nearby  hotel but still it may be too much  that it may lead to unreasonable expense.  So we tried to keep our balance such that we would be able to invite more guests  with our  budget and projected expense.  Another thing that I meant with BIG is that it is something that we Catholics believe in.  Something that encompasses our life of faith in God. 

Part  of God’s “bigness” in our life is the inspiration as parents  to share some values of our family to others such as :

Value of Simplicity.  Simplicity in terms of the following: 

1.       The decision at our end to join the general schedule of the parish Baptism ceremony ones a month.  That way we could make our daughter feel a festive celebration with other babies whose parents also desire the same for their own infants.  But the thing was, it was only Mikaela that joined the ceremony making it appear like it was an exclusive baptismal ceremony.  That was God’s greatest surprise that day for us as a family.

2.      Holding the venue of the small banquet at home.  We live in a small house with a single bedroom.  We brought Mikaela from the hospital to this small house that we now call a home.  Our home.  We wanted it so much to make her feel that family celebrations  are held  at home.  And the simple taste of having family at home is much more beautiful than huge and lavish places for celebrations.  This is something very intimate and meaningful for us as a family.  I could so very well correlate Mikaela’s entry to Christianity to her entry into our Christian family through the small house we call as home for our family.

Value of Love.  It is love for us to be able to give the best gift we can give to our daughter…that is to share our Catholic faith to her.  It is love for us to talk to her about God and to pray with her even if she does not understand the content of our prayers.  It is love for us to be able to gather some family members to help us in the preparation of the food.  And, it is love for me to be able to show my cooking prowess (eeheemmm:-))  for the first time cooking as much as 5 to 6 viands for the celebration plus the help of two brother in laws Ronnie and Dennis for their own signature style of cooking Humba and Beef Steak, respectively. 

Really, I was so in love that I sacrificed getting enough sleep nor breakfast in that morning of the baptism since I did not have the time to feed myself instead rushed together with my husband to bring our daughter Mikaela to the Church on time with the help of my sister Gay and her family.  I just simply surrendered to God my own physical strength so that I would not faint in the Church (hahahhaha…great mom).

Value of Generosity.  This value was so obvious.  There was generosity from the preparations to the end of the celebration.  

1.       Family members that helped in the preparation together with Mika’s aunt that took care of her while I was busy with the cleaning and cooking

2.      Generosity of all the sponsors (Uncles Jun and Nono, Dr. Ronnie, Rodel, Nina, Auntie Gay, tita Lui, Lolitz and Vilma)  and some guests that brought their gifts to our daughter Mikaela and

3.      The generosity (ehem heheh) of our family that opened our humble home to our family members and friends.  We wanted so much to share what our faith dictates and even our advocacy of living a Joyfully hopeful life amidst the many challenges we have encountered as a young family of God.

 

Value of Family.  I and my husband value so much family.  With the minimal budget, we decided to invite our most immediate family members only.  Of course I felt sad that my own father and my husband’s sister and brother were not there in the celebration.  

Recalling the moment, we missed to invite some friends, too.  And we chose not to since we thought there can be some special moments that we can spend with them, too in the future.   Some really close ones  are so far from home.  But then we realize how such moment, we also spent in prayer for them that were not there and some friends who were invited but were not able to make it.

God does make things happen.   Mikaela’s baptism was one of those best “Make things  Happen” moments in our life as a family.  WE THANK GOD for that grace and for blessing us with families and friends.

Challenges and Some Milestones

I admit having gone to the United states left me with the experience of taking care of infants aging 6 - 9 months, toddlers and a four year old kid.  The case with my daughter Mikaela is different.  I did not only take care of an infant.  I  was into the most challenging situation of taking care of a premature baby.    Days  before she was released from the hospital, I was so anxious at taking care of her such that I might not be able to give her due care that she deserved.

I was not alone though  in taking care of her.  I and my husband did take turns with feeding most especially during night time.   All the other tasks such as changing her diapers and bathing her were mostly mine. 

Maria Mikaela is now 3 - month old weighing more than 9 pounds (much bigger than her weight that was 3.6 pounds).  More than two months  have passed also since we took her out from the hospital after her 25 - day stay in the nursery mostly spent inside the incubator.  

At this time seeing her so alive and responsive to her environment made me look back and say that "it was more worth the price of every effort that we had put forth" and I thank God for such wonderful blessing.

How has she been?  Well, I am going to piece by piece bring in some beautiful things that I observed with my daughter since she joined us in our home.

First month with us (second month since she was born)...I could describe her with the following : 

1.  sleeps most of the time but with short breaks in between

2.  had to wake her up most of the time during feeding since she always doze back to sleep

3.  had blank look

4,  remarkably increased in weight from 3.8 - 6.3 pounds

5.  new born clothes were so loose at first

6.  Bowel movement was stable

7. Smiles a lot during sleep

8.   No signs of any abnormality with other physical features

9.  random activities such as clapping of hand, punch, and opening and twisting of mouth are evident

The second month with us...(third month since she was born)...

1.  longer waking moments

2.  Smiles and giggles a lot

3.  Can see you and can do eye to eye contact

4.  follows your movements

5.  Likes to listen with any music played ( a lot of times she listens and doze off to sleep)

6.  Listens to stories

7.  Can really focus with figures and objects on any book.
8.  More interactive

9.  more intense demand for milk

10.  longer hours of sleep and longer breaks (meaning longer waking moment)

11.  mumbles and responds to talks and discussions as if she was also trying to discuss and stress something (that's it...more interactive:-) )

12.  Likes being breastfed more than drinking formula milk (and i guess easier to put to sleep when she is being breastfed).

Having experienced all of the above and really saw them first-hand made me realize how important it is for parents to be able to really witness their children's growth.  

One time when Mikaela was still in the hospital, I was so desperate with finding a nanny that would take care of her.  Days passed and I seemed to have missed not having someone to do  that for my daughter.  Day in and out I did what I had to do to respond to my baby's needs and I realized, there was never a boring moment with my daughter...only a tired  body with a very able and willing spirit.

Really I and my husband prayed so hard to having someone to help us in the house.  But having the beauty of the experience of taking care of one beautiful girl made me re-route my prayer a bit such that, I prayed for a housekeeper now than having a nanny.  You see I searched for answers at why we haven't had someone who would serve our baby in that purpose until I heard some "horror" stories with how some nannies took care of some kids in the neighborhood :

1.  3 children being locked in the restroom by the nanny

2.  a baby that was hospitalized due to UTI since the nanny had his diaper on for the whole day without changing it

3.  minute toys being played by an infant while nannies engaged in a long texting rendezvous  with her boyfriend

4.  a nanny that used her feet to clean the anus of a little boy and

5.  An 8 year old boy died due to injuries with his head banged a lot of times when he was a baby (this one is not from our neighborhood).

You see when your are a mom and you get to hear all these...you would not think hundreds of times or hesitate having someone to take care of her.  I had my own foretaste of that when the supposed nanny of my daughter had her one week training with us slipped in one of our conversations at breakfast that she tried to breastfed one of the babies she took care to put her to quiet and sleep.  She added with laughter "that baby was fooled by what I did".  I and my husband were so shocked with that which made us finally decide to let her go... Please don't get me wrong she slipped with so many things that led us to strongly ground ourselves with the decision to just let her go.  It was as strong as "LET HER GO EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO HELP US"...:-(

A lot more to go for us neophyte parents and the challenges continue...and...we are so up to it...THANK YOU GOD FOR STRENGTHENING US...AMEN:-)

ISN'T SHE WONDERFUL

I was told that a baby was born in a manger.  I wanted so much to go there and I did.  I climbed some rocky hillside and got there among several other guests such as the magi popularly known as the three Kings and the shepherds.  And I was awed and struck upon seeing the beautiful child wrapped in a simple white cloth.  And I met the beautiful eyes of the baby boy’s parents.  I approached them and sat beside them.

I did not say anything yet.  I laid my eyes on the little boy.  Oh so cute.  I wanted so much to pick him up.  The beautiful lady….mmm the mother told me “go ahead pick him up”.  And I couldn’t believe she trusted me that much.  Did she know me that much to trust me to hold her child?  Hahaha what if I would steal him and run away.  Nope I won’t do that.  Crazy me. 

I did pick him up.  I was so conscious at all eyes on me.  I was just so awed.  “He is so beautiful”.  I told the baby’s mother.  And she replied “ savor him…oh you may bring him with you to the world”.  And I was so super doooper shocked with that statement.  In  my mind I was vehement as to saying NO.  So I said “ how can I buy him milk I don’t have a job”.  And the baby’s mom just smiled.  And indeed after that I got the job. 

What I just shared with you above is my sort of contemplation during my retreat with my spiritual director.  You see in contemplation (to deviate a little from my topic) you can engage yourself actively as if you are one of the characters in any of the stories in the Bible.  Actually you can converse and my main focus  was with the Blessed mother Mary in the manger with the oh so beautiful baby Jesus.

Why am I sharing this?  I feel so blessed having known the mom of Jesus.  And I was told stories about her since my childhood years.  In fact, my own mother introduced us to praying the rosary everyday.

My personal journey with this beautiful Woman of God has grown from the simple mumbling of the rosary to reading about her, to seriously praying and asking for her intercessions to the latest knowledge of her as the strong mantle of protection against any attacks of the devil.

One adult member of the Catholic Charismatic Movement in my old place Phillips Bukidnon shared to me one time an unforgettable story about her.  She said that the YES of Mary to God as she was asked to be the mother of Jesus was the great downfall of Satan.  Her YES shook hell and brought the devil to great fright.  Her YES brought Jesus our saviour to the world.  She is literally the bridge to salvation.

Furthermore, I was also told to observe the moment we pray the rosary.  We get to notice how our minds drift afar from focus.  You know why?  This is Satan’s way of diverting us so that they won’t experience the turbulent piercing of the power of each Hail Mary said with all our hearts.  Hell is literally being bombarded as we say the prayer from the heart. 

Wow…the Blessed Mother I should say is put on pedestal by God.   And I wonder how we get to miss to acknowledge the same  this wonderful person that God chose to serve as our bridge towards attaining salvation. 

Let me share with you a very recent incident of manifestation of her

presence.  I really don’t know how far you could take and consider miracles to happen among us.  But where I live (Xavier Heights) came

Mother of Perpetual help

a manifestation of her presence about a month ago.  The priest Fr. Rolando Gabutera and some parishioners have witnessed how the picture of the Mother of Perpetual Help has released and sprinkled (sometimes ) water and sometimes oil.  Some accounts of healing were also mentioned. 

Now you would ask if I saw it myself.  I and my husband do hear mass at our chapel her in our subdivision.  We heard their stories and we tried touching the photo and did not have any of those experiences mentioned by others. I know that a lot of us that heard the stories desired so much to experience what they had.  Unfortunately, we weren’t.  And I thought parishioners’ number after that have increased and that a lot of them flock even during weekdays.  For me that is a miracle in itself.

I could recall also the old film of Nora Aunor that mentioned  “walang himala, ang himala ay nasa puso ng bawat isa”.  Yup, the greatest miracle of all is the conversion of man.  Not all of us may not have experienced the random revelations of the Blessed Mother, yet the inner  and the positive changes that we will have with how we live our lives is the most important thing.

Anyway, it is the month of rosary …October… we might at least consider praying it with our entire family or do it by ourselves so that we may experience such beauty and wonder with one beautiful woman that God chose to journey with us.  Please give it a try.  There are some secrets that I want to share with you.  First, the devil does not like families.  He just wants families to be destroyed.  And, he is afraid of the blessed mother...He can't even utter her name...Mary:-)

And oohh…I have this simple invitation.  Kindly grab yourself copies of the following books by Fr. Jose Francisco C. Syquia.  He is an Exorcist priest, our very own from the Philippines who was able to produce the following books:

1.      Exorcism

2.       Exorcist – A Spiritual Journey

3.      Exorcist (Volume2) – A Spiritual Battle Lines 

(this is where you would be able to read  the BIG ROLE OF THE BLESSED MOTHER in combating the “Enemy”

Hmmm….did I read them.  Yest...and I am still starting the third one. Seriously we need to strengthen our journey through the Blessed Mother’s intervention.  

We are surrounded by a lot of lies.  Don’t you think we deserve to know the TRUTH too… I mean …to focus on what is TRUE about our faith and journey with God?  Again, please buy those three books (St. Paul’s Publication and National bookstore ...they are bestsellers).  You will find great peace with our God :-)

May the Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us and put us under her mantle of care and protection.  Amen.

Planting the "Seeds" Everyday

The graph showing different countries that dropped by my blog site:-)

It happened yesterday.  I sort of mistakenly pressed a key in my blog site that led me to the graph above with the statistics below.  It specifically states that there are 83  different countries that have visited my blog site since I started.  What does that mean to me?  Regardless of intention of dropping by in here, I felt so much of fulfillment in my heart knowing that I am able to share something in the form of words everyday to anyone from  any part of the globe regardless of number.

I am a fan and follower myself to a lot of blogs - great writers I tell you.  And I was able to learn from all of them, too.  I have met those that have hundreds of thousands of views everyday (wow!!!!).  Really very popular ones.  And I thought what they have is incomparable to what I have ...a neophyte blogger.  But hey, I and them are into one business...sending the messages everyday to everyone....slowly planting the seed everyday.  A toast to all of them and BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE that takes time to be here and learn with me....

...Does anybody pay me for doing this?  Nope...This is what you call ...Passion:-)  And...this is what I call ...Making a Difference and being God's Hand in the World (from my Joyfully Hopeful Advocacy prayer) God bless you all...Have a great life:-) Praying for all of you:-)

Guide Questions

1.  What specific ways can you do to slowly "plant the seeds", make a difference or be God's hand ...in the world..?  

The Three P's

Passion, Potential and Purpose.  That's what the three P's stand for.  They are not originally mine.  I got them from a famous preacher, author and writer Bo Sanchez (great writer). He has not completed the three topics yet in his blog site (http://bosanchez.ph/category/blogs/).  But I feel I'll do my own reflection here from his writing.  I and my husband are followers to this great man because he makes so much sense in a lot of ways.  Very gifted:-)

To start with, I have written months back about Passion (soon it will come out not really in a blog form...you will know :-)).  Passion for me is really "fire".  Something that's really fiery that propels one to do something and explore.  Bo Sanchez also describe this as something that you really, really love doing.    

From my standpoint, I was led to explore mine through a Jesuit priest named Fr. Frank Savadera, SJ.  He had this sort of subtle way of telling me to start blogging.  Over and over again I resisted the idea.  

Since my college years, I was into giving talks and facilitating trainings and workshops.  I wrote and prepared lots of them too.  I started to get the hint that when I see a need, I can readily respond to it by designing something that would facilitate learning.  Can you imagine having that "third eye" that sees beyond the physical?  That is what I have.  

One time in college I joined a seminar with Fr. Bulatao, SJ from Ateneo de Manila.  He just sort of mentioned "Look at your hand (with its movement)....it says 'I am a teacher'. "   In my mind, I ran the question "How can that be? "...I am not a teacher."  What I really meant that time was my course was BS Psychology not BS Education ( wisdom crept on me later that I don't have to be a BS Education graduate to be a teacher).

You see, I love standing before an audience (though at first i get cold knees and feet hehehe).   But I seem to have a grip of my audience and I felt that I can easily come across and be "lost" with them.  I laugh, cry with them, listen to their stories and talk to them even after the seminars, workshops or trainings.  I just feel soooo passionate being with them.  

Then time came that I did not much of those opportunities to give trainings.  Still the desire to reach out was so "alive".  I just felt so lost not being able to do what I used to be doing.  And when Fr. Frank sort of invited me to write, I slowly responded to it.  I felt something ....somewhere within has found a new path to reach out.  And I love it....I like so much writing that when I touch the keyboard on my computer, it would lead me to write and write and write...and write (hahaha OO nga write...:-). 

Oh the second P...for Potential.  Yes, I do have the potential. Though I underestimated myself over and over again when I was in high school that I was a bad writer and so insecure with myself that I could hardly find words...heavy ones that I thought writing should be that hard.  I did not know then that the use of heavy words won't be very attractive to a whole wide audiences.  Hmmm realizing that was my redemtion.  

That's why right now I am still writing.  And don't get to pressure myself to produce articles with overflowing heavy words that a reader need to have on his side a dictionary or thesaurus.  Hahaha I don't want to burden my audience in that.  Those who are really great writers and editors may say that I write so free and spontaneous that a lot of editors may perhaps give up on editing my work:-(.  But thanks be to God...if someone would really come and truly commit doing the "forest-like" (if there is such a word) writing that I have...hahahha...

One day in a not so remote past, I thought I could compile my notes and publish a book.  One thing also that grew with my writing was faith.  Faith that anything is possible with God.  I just sort of feeling it that I am slowly aligning myself to my own calling - my Purpose .  

I know in my heart that there is NO OTHER PURPOSE that OUR GOD designed for all of us (endowed with varied gifts and capacities) but to GLORIFY HIM IN ALL THAT WE DO.  Other than that would be an interplay or shall I say the game of the ego and self - glorification.

Who among us does not want to be acknowledged anyway.  I love it.  In fact my facebook account sometimes or a lot of times is my venue to be acknowledged and I am able to do the same acknowledgement to my friends.  Again, I love the attention.  But my gift...my core gift that is writing...always bring me back to the TRUE message that is...to let God be known sometimes with subtle shades to the most honest to goodness messages that I realize may not be so attractive to those that may still want to stay in grey areas.

I am not perfect in my craft.  But I keep on improving.  I keep my own "editing" carrying only one standard through the question "Am I truly sending the message?".  

Did I fail in sending "the MESSAGE".  A lot of times I did.  But I did try to send even in the subtlest article I write to send HIS MESSAGE.

PS.  One time in the past, I was so anxious at the thought that maybe only few will read my book or books...hahah but I then I shun it off saying and as simple as ..."It does not matter...I will just send the MESSAGE:-)"     

Hey...I am posting below Bo Sanchez blogs site on the following topics: (just click the links)

1.  Passion :  http://bosanchez.ph/are-you-aligned-with-your-passion/

2.  Potential :  http://bosanchez.ph/what-is-your-special-gift/

3.  Purpose...we will all wait for the third piece :-)

A Great Awakening

Forgive me for my desperate attempt to give your visuals:-)  Thanks to google for the above photo:-=)

Hello everyone.  I guess it has been a while since my last blog.  A while means days or a week that I have not really written.  I just decided to stay off for a while and think hard.  I mean feel hard.  I just feel so detached lately from the web that I thought this morning that perhaps I could put in here something of great value to my readers in here.

This is my gift for your today...as I think it is :-)

My husband ran through a feature at a TV program called EYE - WITNESS at GMA (Filipino channel that features Abaca - made products at a particular place called Sarranggani ( I hope I got the name of the place right...my husband is not certain either).  But as he presented the details, we were both not caught with the products but with the people, particularly the children living in that place.  I do have a very soft spot for children ...all the more that I am now a mother.  

You see these children live by eating Kamote (sweet potato) for  breakfast, lunch and supper.  Note...it is everyday all throughout the year.  Anyways, since the children (according to the account in the above -stated TV program) only knows this kind of food,  it is kind of heart breaking to me as I see my own little girl having so much. Well she gets to drink lots of nutrients from my breast milk side by side with her formula milk  plus her other daily vitamins.  And these children with physical descriptions as having big head, skinny and short bodies  just have to contain themselves with one type of food (even my dog and my adopted 3 stray cats according to my husband sort of "complain" when they are served one type of food  in all meals in a day by not eating them). 

What is my point in here?  My heart goes so much to the lack and poverty of others.  I guess I have succumbed myself to complaining about a lot of things including those desires that I would want to have and accomplish that resulted to a deep struggle and questioning why didn;t have this or that or why in the world have I done something that I regretted later.  A lot of issues I tell you.  But these children... SIMPLE children would be an understatement.  They are literally POOR CHILDREN that   just needed food to survive all throughout the year and they get to fight over the sweet potato that they dig somewhere...someplace...

This really needs a lot of consideration.  All of us that complain a lot might as well join me in my day's reflection...God bless us all:..towards a great awakening...:-)

.Guide Question :

1.  What is it in your life right now when you get to say "I want this and that...endlessly that leads to frustration and great distaste with life?  
 2.  Are there things that you failed to see as...blessings?  

 Hhmmm you might as well re-consider...what I just shared above...:-)  God bless:-)

A Looking Back to Our First Year of Marriage:-)

opefu

This writing will be all about moving back to the previous year of my marriage with my husband Michael  up to our wedding anniversary that we just celebrated:-)

First was the very rocky and challenging preparations we had for our wedding last October 1, 2011 ... and yup ...after almost 12 years in the relationship:-)

Second.. was my fear after almost 2 months of marriage that I might not get pregnant immediately due to a little "rough" age ...hmmm i mean a little late jump and hump into the married life ...and yes at the age of 37 years old:-) shocking to you?  ... Those who who know us are not.  They have been waiting also for such a long time or else ... hahahha...

Pregnancy Test - January 2012

Third...was when I found out that last January 15, 2012 (during the feast of the Sto NIno), that I was month and a half pregnant...ohhh and it was a rejoice halleluiah moment for us husband and wife.

Fourth, was my crazy and "OA" preparations for my baby such as writing a program for her formation.  Hmmm yes I can see your face twisting and questioning just how in the world could one give a formation to a fetus!!!.  Hahhahaha just as simple as talking, listening to a music (from the most solemn Christian music to the wackiest of all rock and roll including nursery rhymes hahhahah)  praying, reading stories with moral lessons (I downloaded from the net 100 stories PDF version..wow...actually mommy cried while reading...hmm I seem to be getting the lessons first), watching movies, etc.  All of these came with touches on my tummy.  

I also did some actual coloring and tracing on paper while I explained as if Mika was in front of me  and touch my tummy about what I did.  Do you know why I did this?  My OB doctor told me to start stimulating while the baby is inside the womb.  And the  obedient me just did anything I can to create the drama of a lifetime (just love being crazy ha :-).

And..where did I get those stuffs that I did?  Nowhere except some of those moments when I just imagined how I would entertain and make her learn at the same time.  I am highlighting entertainment rather than creating an impression that it is being imposed.

And I also did Mika's first scrapbook..some kind of putting together some "milestones" (according to my friend amphie in her blog)  documenting special moments of my pregnancy (and beyond) such as photos of ultrasound and fetal scan and many more.

some of the few stuffs given to Mika

Fifth was the putting together, receiving gifts from Tita Mae, Tita Joyce, Tito Marco of Mikaela and her cousins Andrea and Aethan....clothes...lots of clothes ...and the cute, pretty silver shoes:-)  ...so grateful for the gifts ..(BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU / THEM :-) ).  We did not really buy much of those stuffs.

Sixth was the very challenging... unexpected and premature delivery of our daughter Maria Mikaela last July 28, 2012 that put us at a great "halt" with life.  I mean I did a lot of reflecting and "seeing" beyond what was superficial right after that incident giving us couple "seeing" more of our life journey as a family with God:-)...  A beautiful entry of our daughter despite the challenge (id rather call it that way than seeing it as a "problem":-) .

And now...after 1 year of marriage ...we are a family... Our first year of marriage brought forth so much of blessings...more than anything...was the coming of our daughter Maria Mikaela.  She is just a wonderful and the best gift that God gave us for the past 1 year of marriage:-)  

You see some our dear friends have asked us how we were able to have a child immediately after the wedding.  I just had to boast of one thing.  God is a faithful God...After the longest wait prior to the wedding, even and despite the fear, He dispensed His blessings (I am praying for my wonderful friends that have desired so much to have children) and the best of all is our daughter Mikaela... I am more than grateful to God for such:-)

Lastly, celebrating our simple first wedding anniversary yesterday (October 1, 2012) was such a joyful one that led to a greater hope for the future.  

A big toast to my husband Michael for a Joyfully Hopeful marriage and to our daughter Maria Mikaela for coming into our lives:-)

Our Family Advocacy :  The Joyfully Hopeful