First: July 31st, the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, is Mom's birthday! Happy birthday, Mom! I wish we could be celebrating once again with you and toasting to another year of your life. But, we will be praying for you and thinking of you from afar. We love you very much and thank God for your life, the meaning that you have brought to ours, and the joy you bring to the lives of so many people, including the little people that call you Grandma Mimi. Thank you for your love as Mom, Grandma Mimi, friend. May God continue to bless and guide you on your life's journey, and may His dear Mother always hold your hand and lead you to her Son. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, Grandma Mimi! Happy birthday to you!
Second: On August 1st, Pita will celebrate her First Birthday as the daughter of God through 
Holy Baptism. Just one year ago, we were cuddling a one-month-old, who was wrapped in a beautiful white garment--the same that her big sister wore just two years prior. Guadalupe Belen Maria, may your guardian angel always guide you. May Christ always hold you near his dear chest. And, may His holy Mother keep you pure all the days of your life. Happy birthday! You are a true delight, Ra-Ra! You are full of spunk. May your soul always be as spunky with joy as you are spunky romping around in your life's journey!
Third: On August 5th, Maddy celebrates her third Birthday as God's holy daughter through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Madge, you are a gem. You love to pray as emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances pass by. You say, "Mom, we gotta pray." And, you ask why we are not praying when you see them pass and they do not have their sirens going. You love Jesus very much, and I wish I could see the smiles on His face when you say prayers, like the other day, when you said: "Thank you for letting us find 2 beach chair. Thank you for letting Pita wake up. And, thank you for this little girly" and you reached over to touch Pita in her car seat. There was the one morning that you were saying your morning prayers and you said, "Thank you for a new day. Thank you for the sun coming up. Thank you for the sun coming up on it's own. Thank you for Mom. Thank you for Dad. Thank you for our parents. Thank you for all you've given us."
Madge, thank you for reminding us that God is in charge. You reminded me of that so well, when, after I told you that we found a house to buy (you had been so compassionate after all the times we went out looking that you would say, "Sorry you can't find a house, Mom." So, I told you that we found a house, and you responded: "No, Jesus found a house." Boom. Humility and childlike trust. We love you, dear girl. May you always follow Jesus' path in your life. And, always hold Blessed Mama's hand. She knows the way home best. Happy birthday!
