April 29, 2012
Dear Jesus:
Today we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Romero-Navarro family which was established on April 22, 1912, when Matias and Candita got married. I am blessed to have married into such a beautiful, united, faith-filled family. Right now, counting all the spouses, we are 246 family members.
On a different note, two of my babies will be graduating next month from college. I'm so proud of them. Rafi will be starting a new job with Facebook in September and Chabeli will go on to obtain her MBA. She got accepted into Fairfield University. We went to visit last week, just the two of us. It's a Jesuit university. I found it to be very peaceful. There's a chapel in the middle of the campus, and every corner reflects Your Holy presence. While Chabeli met with the dean, I went to explore on my own. In one corner, I found a cross. In another little nook, I found a statue of our Blessed Mama Mary. There were religious symbols everywhere. It gave me a tremendous sense of joy. I would be very happy if Chabeli chooses to go there. But Chabeli left more confused than before she arrived. Her meetings with the dean and career counselor did not convince her. She felt that the university was more geared to the undergraduate program than to the masters program. Most of the students in the masters program are part-time so they don't live in the university. Most of the master classes are at night. She could try to find a day job, but the career counselor did not provide a lot of assurance. She left feeling that maybe that would not be the best program for her. So now, she's planning to apply to UM and Fordham. Once again, Jesus, I leave this in your hands. Please, lead her towards the university where she will be the happiest and where she will obtain the best education.
During the family reunion, they mentioned the achievements that some of its members have accomplished. Most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren have graduated from college, many of them with honors. I have to thank Matias and Candita for all the sacrifices they made in moving to this country. Even though they are no longer with us, they live on through their legacy. Their sacrifice was definitely worth it. The new generation is living proof of that as they continue to honor their great-grandparents' legacy. I pray that they also honor the legacy of faith that is also such a big part of the Romero-Navarro Family.
Papa Matias and Mama Candita, continue to guide and protect your family from up above.
I love You, Jesus!!!
May 10, 2017
Dear Jesus:
Since we had that reunion five years ago, we have lost various members from the Romero-Navarro family: Papa Rafael, Mama Dora, Tio Jose, Tia Calila, Tia Carmen, Lulu... They are all now reunited in Your Kingdom. There have also been many more births so the family keeps growing. We are going to have to do another reunion so we can get a new count.
This month a lot of Alex's friends are graduating. Alex has one semester to go and I'm sad because UConn does not celebrate graduations in December. This means that he would need to return next May to be able to participate in the graduation ceremonies. Most likely, that's not going to happen, so we are going to have to plan our own private graduation in Miami.
I'm very proud of him because he finished this semester with straight As. That is a huge accomplishment for my Alex. He is also honoring his great-grandparents' legacy. Tomorrow he'll get home and he has a job for the summer, so I will get to enjoy having him home for more than three months. Best Mother's Day gift ever.
I think of my husband's grandparents often. They had twelve children. They lost one at the tender age of two. In spite of carrying that pain in their hearts forever, they managed to provide a good, faith-filled life for the other eleven. The younger ones all received an equivalent of a college education. Then, they had to leave their country, their home and most of their family to move to the United States in search of freedom and a brighter future. By this time, most of their children were married so they knew the risk they were taking that they might not be able to see them again. Nine of them were able to follow them, but two stayed behind. Today, only two of their daughters remain with us, tia Viro in Cuba and tia Dulce here in Miami. But the values they instilled are being carried on by their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. I am sure, they are looking down from heaven, and are feeling very proud that their strong family legacy lives on.
Papa Matias and Mama Candita, continue to guide and protect your family from up above.
I love You, Jesus!!!
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