Love Story

I received a video about a beautiful love story: A simple girl completely healthy meets this guy, he's a photographer, they start going out and they fall in love, one day in his studio he leaves the room and meanwhile she's looking through all the things he has there, she tries to reach for some bottles on a high shelf and an opened bottle with a strong chemical content falls on her face spilling all the hazard liquid in her eyes, she's rushed to the hospital; she's lost her sight, but there's one thing the doctors can do to give her back her sight, a donator who would be willing to give away his cornea…..after a long operation she recovers and once on her feet again she starts looking for her love, she goes to his house, to his studio, even the places she knew they or he would frequent, but he's nowhere to be found...already about to give up she runs into a blind folded man who's sitting on a bench, it was him...her love was her donator. As soon as she saw him she realized what he had done for her, he loved her so much that he gave away his most precious possession to save her sight.After reading this story you must be thinking, wow, what a beautiful story, if you see the video you would be moved even more.Well, let me tell you an even greater love story, the greatest love story of all:Many years ago, simple men, most of them completely healthy, went in life without any “brakes” most of the time sinning over and over again, judging other people, pointing at others their flaws, worshiping other gods and doing wrongful things, falling into temptations, into the things of the world, then one day this Being, a wonderful and Mighty Being who was already very much in love with them, with all of them, saw that they were 'dying' of spirit, that they were falling apart and had no salvation then, His love for them was so GREAT that He was willing to give away His most precious possession to save their lives, His only Son's LIFE. God gave His own and only Son for us.Jesus gave away His life to save us.How easy is for us to believe in any love story that is told or sent to us, and we don't even know if it’s real...but how difficult it is for many people to believe in God and His miracles. How easy is for many people to talk about a love story in a movie they watched and spread the word- "You have to watch this movie!” And how difficult it is to do same with Jesus’ Love Story and say "You have to read His Story in the Bible!"Honestly I don’t know how I would react or do if somebody tells me I have to give either of my children’s life to save another. I think of my two kids, my own flesh and blood, and just the thought of it overwhelms me. God did it for ALL OF US.He is my HERO.It takes a GREATER love to do what He did.That is OUR GOD!God bless you all.

A new love

Today is a special day, since I'm celebrating the life of that being that came into my life filling me with happiness. Back then I asked myself how my life was going to be. Everything changed in a second, I wasn't that independent woman anymore.

I imagined how she was going to look like, her hair, her eyes, her skin, her voice, her personality. I thought of the uncertain future that was awaiting me.

From the first second of life she needed me, to breath, to feel, to live. All of my feelings I was sharing them with someone who I did not know yet, I was talking to somebody who didn't know my language.

I discovered a new way love, a love that's spontaneous, pure, a love that's different. I understood for the first time that maternal love I never had. I started to feel God nearer me, I felt Him inside me, with every heartbeat, with every movement. I thought of how perfect nature can be that is capable of producing everything it needs; I'm certain now of the existence of that Immense Entity that gave me the greatness of life and bringing life.

I thought then what would happen to me, to my body, to my way of thinking, to my point of view, what would happen to my way of understanding things, of my way of loving. Little by little I've been finding the answers, now I see through a different point of view, I'm more rational, more mature, more Woman.

I think of how unbelievable is that metamorphosis, how a simple cell turned into some body so important, a being that got formed from every part of me, of what I am. I stared at her perfection, a being so vulnerable that still depended on me.

I still remember her heartbeat, so strong, so fast, her tiny eyes that seemed asleep all the time, her tiny and fragile arms embracing her body, her little fingers that could barely hold mine. She seemed to understand my feelings, when I smiled, when I cried, when I was angry. Many times I asked myself if she could hear, if she could feel me.

Doubts and fear came to my life, but I was never alone. She was with me everywhere I went, even in my dreams. Then I was anxious for her arrival to her new world, that moment when we touched for the first time, when we saw each other the first time, that moment so important when I held her in my arms. I was filled with so much love that I forgot about my weariness. I wanted to stare at her all day, when she was breathing, when she was sleeping, when she woke up and looked at me as if trying to tell me something, that something that only I could understand.

My life is now one filled with emotions, when she smiled for the first time, when she made her first expresion, when she said "Mom" the first time I didn't know if to cry or laugh, when I opened my eyes again she was already walking, she had now complete personality. Each day I realized how valuable is time.

I thank God for giving me the privilege of bringing life filling me at the same time with more life, for giving me the opportunity of loving without limits.

I thank God each second for the life of my daughter, for giving me the chance of watching her grow up and live.

I thank Him for giving me the joy of being a Mother.

By Sandra Falcon

Why are we the way we are?

After picking up my daughter...

While driving in my car to my house I see the vagabond asking for money , a young guy, as young as the one who just graduated from high school, with his bare feet, the clothes pretty dirty he looks at me and waves his paper cup, I say No. Then I look forward and I see this car crossing the red traffic light, and then I think: "this people just don't love themselves!" I keep on going, I stop at the next red light and at my right I see this kid jumping in the front seat of the car.

Getting almost home, a group of teenagers leaning in their cars stare at me as if they've never seen a woman in their short life. Finally I get home and the windows vibrate at the astounding rhythm of the neighbor's music.

I turn on the TV and all I see is violence, sex, unfaithfulness.

After dinner I wash the dishes, bathe my daughter and send her to sleep, my day ends.

It's already dawn, on my way to work I see the newspaper salesman, standing up the whole day under the sun, sometimes under the rain, to earn just a "few bucks". Nobody wants to let me pass, cars driving in opposite direction to avoid traffic jam, not one police man at the sight. Finally I get to work: "good morning", "hi", "how are you?". I get to my desk, in the newspaper: "A total of 6 car accidents taking the lives of 11 people in just one day", "A man commits suicide after killing his wife and her lover", "A boy was found dead with multiple bruises on his body", concert of famous artist, "Fraud in well-known company", "$10,000 on drugs confiscated by police"...etc, etc.

In the office, that woman at the phone smiles, is she in love? The other one is reading the newspaper and speaking out loud, who is he talking to? Other employee is working as if he had to finish the work of two days in two hours. The day goes on, people are talking in a low voice so nobody can hear, I see sad and serious faces and others seem to be always happy. People drinking coffee to release the stress, the other is complaining because the paper got jammed in the photocopier. At the end of the day a huge mass of employees are waiting at the exit ready to go, outside at the parking lot everybody start their cars and go as if somebody was going to pay the first one to get home.

And again, at the road the vagabond asking for money, the one that crosses on a red light.

In what world are we living!?

You hear that person telling his child he loves him and hugs him, and when he gets into the car accelerates without thinking he has a child at the back seat. Some people tell you not to smoke because it's harmful, and at the end of the week they go and poison their bodies with alcohol. Others tell you to organize your life and their houses are a mess, how many women say that don't have money to pay their phone bill but visit every month the beauty salon to get their hair and nails done. People say that they can barely support a living but technically live at the mall. Many people tell you to live your life day by day; others tell you to keep present your future.

A kid can barely walk because he's overweight, exhausted hurries to go sit down, hm! And then his mother says that her kid is just big, and then you hear her talking in shock about child abuse.

We are so into our every-day routine that we take for granted what happens in our surroundings, criminality, abuse, prejudice, evil. Why do we insist on keeping this kind of lifestyle? Why not to wake up every morning and think: "Today I'm going to try to do things the right way, to be a good human being, better than yesterday". How many people live their lives focusing only in their material ambitions and forget to live the present time, when they realize how much time they've lost is too late.

Why not driving with courtesy without hurries, after all, it could cost us our life. Get to work and mind our own business not every body else's, without envy, hard feelings, live our own lives. And then dedicate quality time at home, with our family. Teach our children real values, to not to be afraid to be weak, not to be proud for being strong, to laugh if he wants to, to cry if he feels like it, not to be embarrassed of expressing his feelings, to earn the things before receiving them, to fight for it, don't give him everything. Why not better stay quiet when bad critics come to your mind.

How many times we complain about the life we have? In such a hurry, because the phone won't stop ringing at the office, because it starts to rain when you're about to go out, because you got to rush to pick up the kids, because "look at the time I haven't eaten yet".

How many times we thank God? Because we have a car to go places, because we have a roof to protect us from sun and bad weather, because we can eat every day even when we're not hungry. Because we have good health and are able to go to work. Because we've got a variety of fun stuff to do to not get bored.

How many times we thank God for life itself?

And yet I still ask myself...

Why are we the way we are?

By Sandra Falcon

Be Happy


Life is so precious you can't sit down and wait for things to come to you, especially happiness, happiness is what keeps your life meaningful and worthy. Days come and go and are filled with challenges and obstacles, but you have to keep on walking no matter how narrow or hard the road may be.

As life goes on you'll find it more and more complicated, more difficult, but that's how is supposed to be, it's your mission to go through it and fight and don't give up, just don't let negative thoughts affect your life, nobody knows what the future holds until they get there, live everyday in the present, do what your heart feels and go with your instincts remembering always to keep your feet on the ground, grab on to your feelings and let Him guide your way.

Life is full of risks and this is something you have to deal with everyday, even on the simplest situation. Don't let these risks stop you from being happy and successful, at the end they make your conquer more valuable.

People around you that care about you will try to protect you and give you advice, listen to them but also listen to your heart, you are the only person responsible for your own happiness, nobody else but you know better what makes you happy. Your life is full of experiences, good and no-so-good relationships, but these experiences make you grow as a person. Maybe you'll find that what was making you happy at the end is not the right thing for you. But what if it is? You'll never know if you don't try.

You can't stop your life and keep wondering what it could be for not knowing what is going to happen tomorrow, life is too beautiful to let it slip away from your hands so easily.

You have your dreams that keep alive your reason to keep trying, go for them.
When it comes to make happy other people, you have to make yourself happy first.

Pray and ask Him to let you see the way, He knows what is right for you, just trust in Him and let happen what is meant to be.

I believe that in life everything happens for a reason and we may never know why. Happiness is everything, you may have money and security all you've ever wanted, but if you're not happy, you're not going to enjoy what you've got.

Remember that people and things don't just happen by coincidence; they have a purpose in your life, treasure them and make your life the best of it.

And the most important of all things:

BE HAPPY

Sandra

Dedicated to my friend and Sis' in Law, Sharon

El Padre Perfecto

Cuando vine al mundo Tu estabas allí, Tu me mantuviste a salvo de camino a mi hogar, no te conocía entonces pero Tú ya sabías quién yo era y el tipo de persona que iba a ser. Te aseguraste que hubieran personas a mi alrededor para cuidar de mí, Me cachaste cada vez que caí he hiciste de mi caída una menos dolorosa.

Me ví forzada a crecer más rápido que los demás, la mayor parte del tiempo aprendiendo las cosas de la manera difícil, la soledad era acompañante. Muchas veces te cuestioné sobre mi vida y por qué tuve que sufrir tanto y sentirme tan infelíz, estaba perdida caminando por un largo trecho con panoramas borrosos, tratando de mirar hacia atrás buscando respuestas a mis preguntas pero todo lo que encontraba eran vagas memorias de mi pasado. No sabía a dónde ir o qué buscar a quien admirar pero todo el tiempo Tú estuviste allí, esperando por mí, que te buscara, te pasé por el lado y no te ví.

Corrí a través de la vida con mis ojos cubiertos, algunas veces terminando donde había comenzado y cayendo en el suelo sintiendo las espinas enterrandose en mi corazón, busqué en todas partes y me pregunté dónde estabas pero nunca te encontré, estaba buscando en los lugares equivocados, desde lejos Tú me observabas. Trataste de mostrarme una manera más fácil pero no me permití verlo, trataste de decirme por dónde ir pero no te escuché, colocaste personas en mi vida con un propósito pero las ignore, me enviaste señales con mensajes importantes, pero yo estaba mirando hacia el otro lado, las dejé pasar. Sentí un gran vacío dentro de mí y lloré noche tras noche muchas veces sin saber por qué.

Un día en el lugar menos esperado Te encontré, Señor, en mi corazón. Tú haz borrado de mí las lágrimas y enjuagado con ellas mi alma, me ayudaste a aclarar mi mente y me hiciste entender la simplicidad de la vida y aún asi la perfección de la misma, y por primera vez mi vista ya no estaba borrosa, las espinas se fueron desvaneciendo una por una, poco a poco las fuiste sacando todas de mi corazón. Por primera vez cerré mis ojos y pude ver el camino y comenzé a andar en un trecho firme, no había rocas en mi paso, una vista colorida rodeada el lugar entero y no podia dejar de sonreir, me convertí en una persona con más fortaleza, encontré la felicidad.

Ahora estoy confidente de que fuiste Tú quien no permitió que me derrumbara, que todas esas noches obscuras y solitarias Tú estuviste allí cuidándome, que no importa cuanto me alejé de Ti Tú nunca te olvidaste de mí.

Tú siempre me haz respetado; te preocupas por mí, eres estricto y firme pero aún puedes ser sutil y comprensivo, Tú eres fiel.

Te doy gracias por todo lo que tengo, por todo lo que he conquistado en la vida, por todas las experiencias por las que he pasado, ellas me han hecho la persona que soy. Ahora sé una manera más fácil, ahora sé por dónde ir, ahora tengo a quién admirar.

Tú eres mi fortaleza, Tú estas en mis pensamientos a donde quiera que voy, Tú eres todo lo que yo necesito…..

Tú eres el Padre Perfecto…… Amén

Sandra Falcón

Live your life today, tomorrow may be too late.

Be Thankful


Today is a new day, you get out of bed, brush your teeth and wash your face, go to the kitchen and make yourself a hot coffee and some toasts, or maybe you go direct to the shower and then get dressed to go to work.
You're on a traffic jam hoping that it doesn't rain because you just washed your car yesterday, calling somebody on the cell phone to let out all your stress and worries, sometimes also to share a very exciting moment of your life, like when you got a new car, or when you bought your first house, or even when you just found at the store that thing you wanted so much at a great price.
During the day you are so busy with all the work at the office that you don't have time to call anybody, but still you manage to take a few minutes to see if you got any messages on your e-mail.
By the end of the day you're very tired. You get home, get a nice shower and have dinner; meanwhile you watch the news to see what's happening on the rest of the world.

Every now and then you argue with people and feel desperate because they don't understand you, and you wonder how they can't see what you see. How is it possible that they do things the way they do? Other times you feel drowned by people and complain that you don't have time for yourself, that you need a "break".

You worry about your appearance; you make sure you look great all the time.

You clean and buy things for "your place" to make it look neat and perfect, and if there is something you don't like you put it away or change it.
You are so busy with so many things that you miss the things that are really important, moments that happen just one time in your life.

Have you ever thought what your life would be if you wake up one day because you're so cold and have no blanket to cover yourself, and go to the fridge and it was empty, that you had to walk to go to work?

Hoping that it doesn't rain because otherwise you would get soaked, that you had no way to communicate with people that are far away from you and share your worries and happy moments.

How it would be if when you got home very tired you had no water to take a shower and had to go to bed hungry because there was no food on the table, and you didn't know what was happening on the rest of the world?

How would you feel if you had nobody to talk to, willing to do anything just to have somebody by your side, and needing to feel the warmth of people around you?

There are so many people around the world, like us, but have nothing and no one, people that have to walk wherever they go, people that would do anything just to have a loaf of bread to eat and some clothes to cover themselves. People that sleep out there under the rain and the only thing they can do is to pray for the rain to go away.
People that don't even understand or know what love is and can't even think of enjoying the good moments if any because their hunger and circumstances don't let them.

And you still think life is unfair to you......

Life is not only about studying and getting degrees and buying great cars and great houses, is not all about getting nice clothes and looking great.
Is about sharing and appreciating people and moments that can happen in a split of a second but can last for the rest of your life.

How many times have you thanked Him because your fridge is full of food? Food that sometimes you don't even eat and end up throwing away.
How many times have you thanked Him for the car you've got?
How many times have you thanked Him for your job? Because even when you don't like it that much you can still buy the things you need...thanks to your job.
How many times have you thanked Him for you health?

How many times have you told somebody that you love him?
How many times have you thanked him for something he did even when he didn't do it the way you do it?
How many times have you made something for somebody out of love, without expecting something in return?
How many times have you gone outside and stared at the light of the sun between the clouds, the sky, the trees and appreciated the wonders of the nature?
How many times have you stopped doing something just to go with that person, your child, your other half, and shared with him for a few minutes, and stared at him, and hugged him with your eyes closed?

How many times have you thanked God for your own life?

Time flies and you don't notice, you take for granted the people that are with you all the time, all the things you've got, things that you don't even need.

Unfortunately you can't stop time nor you can go back in time to fix or change things, and certainly you can't change people.

Many people think and believe that to have a meaningful and purposeful life is to get a career, have a wealthy living and become "somebody" in society, and to complement their life then they think of love and family. They dedicate most of the time to their job and trying to maintain their "good living", and if they have time left and are not too tired they spend time with their loved ones. They concentrate their lives so much in things that are just...material, that at the end of the road they find themselves lonely because they forgot about that special person, because they didn't care enough to appreciate what they had, and the saddest part is that most of the time when those people realize what they have missed, it's too late.

Jobs, houses, cars and everything else play an important part of your life, if you lose them you can still replace them, but if you lose somebody, you can't replace him or his love or the time lost, then you'll only have the memories…

Today when you get home, instead of saying you're tired and going straight to the bedroom, just put everything away and give a kiss and a hug to those you love, instead of complaining of something and pointing at them when they don't do things around the house, look at them and see who they are, appreciate what they do, if you know you hurt somebody let away that pride and say your sorry, forgive them for their mistakes for they're only human, like you. Tonight when you go to bed before going to sleep close your eyes and thank God for the day, because you got home alive, thank Him for everything you have. Tomorrow when you wake up before starting the day kiss again that person next to you even if he's still asleep, if you have kids go and tell them how much you love them and how important they are in your life, they'll appreciate more those few minutes with you knowing that they can count on you than the things you buy to them. During the day take at least one or two minutes to call that special someone just to say hi. Help your friends when they need somebody.

If you would only see the good things and cherish them more and care less about the negative things...life would be so different.

Life is so precious and full of material things, but without those people that share their lives with yours, it's empty.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, I don't know if today will be the last day I'll see the light, I don't know if I will lose someone I love soon, I don't know If I will live until I'm old and see my grandchildren, all I know is that right now I'm alive and healthy and have people around me that in one way or another care about me and other people that are not with me but think about me, and to all those people I want to let them know that I care about them too, and that I love them. All I know is that right now I want to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every moment I can before is too late.

Sandra Falcon

The Perfect Father

When I came into the world You where there, You kept me safe on my way home, I did not know You then but You already knew who I was and the kind of person I was going to be. You made sure there were people around me to watch over me, You caught me whenever I fell to make my fall less painful.

I saw myself forced to grow up faster than others, most of the time learning things the hard way, loneliness was my companion. Many times I questioned you about my life and why I had to suffer and felt so unhappy, I was lost walking on a long road with blurry sights, trying to look back searching for answers to my questions but all I found was faded memories of my past. I didn't know where to go or what to look for or who to look after but all that time You were there, waiting for me to reach for You, I passed You by.

I ran through life with my eyes covered, sometimes ending up where I began and falling on the ground feeling the thorns piercing my heart, I looked everywhere and wondered where were You but never found You, I was looking in the wrong places, from far away You were watching. You tried to show me an easier way but I didn't let myself see it, You tried to tell me which way to go, but I didn't listen, You put people on my life with a purpose, but I ignored them, You sent me signs with important messages but I was looking the other way, I missed them. I felt a great emptiness within me and cried night by night sometimes not knowing why.

One day in the place I less expected I found You, God, in my heart. You've taken away all the tears and rinsed my soul with them, you helped me clear out my mind and made me understand the simplicity of life and yet the perfection of it, and for the first time my sight was not blurry, the thorns were vanishing one by one, little by little You were taking them all out of my heart. For the first time I closed my eyes and I still could see the "road" and started to walk on a still strong path, there were no rocks in the way, a colorful view surrounded the entire place and I just couldn't stop smiling; I became a stronger person, I found happiness.

Now I'm confident that whenever I feel sad you'll be there to comfort me, when I need an answer I just have to ask You, when I need advice I can count on Your Wisdom, whenever I find myself in weakness, become vulnerable and make mistakes I know that I could learn from them and turn them to Good.

Now I understand that it was You who kept me from falling apart, that all those dark lonely nights You were there watching my back, that no matter how far I pushed You away You never forgot about me.

You have always respected me and still do, You care about me, You are strict and firm but still can be gentle and comprehensive, You are faithful.

I thank You for all I've got, for all I've conquered in life, for all the experiences I've gone through, they have made me the person I am. Now I know an easier way, now I know which way to go, I've got someone to look after.

You are my strength, You are in my thoughts wherever I go, You are everything I need...

You are the Perfect Father.

Sandra Falcón (2004)

Fácil y Difícil

Fácil es ocupar un lugar en la agenda telefónica. Difícil es ocupar el corazón de alguien...

Fácil es herir a quien nos ama. Difícil es curar esa herida...

Fácil es dictar reglas. Difícil es seguirlas...

Fácil es soñar todas las noches. Difícil es luchar por un sueño...

Fácil es exhibir la victoria. Difícil es asumir la derrota con dignidad...

Fácil es admirar una luna llena. Difícil es ver su otra cara...

Fácil es tropezar con una piedra. Difícil es levantarse...

Fácil es disfrutar todos los días. Difícil es darle el verdadero valor...

Fácil es orar todas las noches. Difícil es encontrar a Dios en las cosas pequeñas...

Fácil es prometerle algo a alguien. Difícil es cumplirle esa promesa...

Fácil es decir que amamos. Difícil es demostralo todos los días...

Fácil es criticar a los demás. Difícil es mejorar uno mismo...

Fácil es cometer errores. Difícil es aprender de ellos...

Fácil es llorar por el amor perdido. Difícil es cuidarlo para no perderlo...

Fácil es pensar en mejorar. Difícil es dejar de pensarlo y realmente hacerlo...

Es un día precioso para estar vivo!!!

Before I was a mom

"I don't know the person who wrote this, I don't know anything about her, but even so we share so much in common, I received this E-mail some time ago and it brought me back to that very moment when I held each of my kids for the first time. Sit back and enjoy!". Sandra Falcon

I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about
how late I
got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth
everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a
lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were
poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Spit on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child So that doctors
could do
tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby
sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't
want to put
it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I
couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my
life so
much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside
my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a
hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her
child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me
feel so
important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10
minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache,
The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much
before I was a
Mom.

Send this to someone whom you think is a special Mom
or Grandma.
I just did. And remember that behind every
successful mother......
is a basket of dirty laundry

Edda & Fabrizio Enrique

A new love

Today is a special day, since I'm celebrating the life of that being that came into my life filling me with happiness. Back then I asked myself how my life was going to be. Everything changed in a second, I wasn't that independent woman anymore.

I imagined how she was going to look like, her hair, her eyes, her skin, her voice, her personality. I thought of the uncertain future that was awaiting me.

From the first second of life she needed me, to breath, to feel, to live. All of my feelings I was sharing them with someone who I did not know yet, I was talking to somebody who didn't know my language.

I discovered a new way love, a love that's spontaneous, pure, a love that's different. I understood for the first time that maternal love I never had. I started to feel God nearer me, I felt Him inside me, with every heartbeat, with every movement. I thought of how perfect nature can be that is capable of producing everything it needs; I'm certain now of the existence of that Immense Entity that gave me the greatness of life and bringing life.

I thought then what would happen to me, to my body, to my way of thinking, to my point of view, what would happen to my way of understanding things, of my way of loving. Little by little I've been finding the answers, now I see through a different point of view, I'm more rational, more mature, more Woman.

I think of how unbelievable is that metamorphosis, how a simple cell turned into some body so important, a being that got formed from every part of me, of what I am. I stared at her perfection, a being so vulnerable that still depended on me.

I still remember her heartbeat, so strong, so fast, her tiny eyes that seemed asleep all the time, her tiny and fragile arms embracing her body, her little fingers that could barely hold mine. She seemed to understand my feelings, when I smiled, when I cried, when I was angry. Many times I asked myself if she could hear, if she could feel me.

Doubts and fear came to my life, but I was never alone. She was with me everywhere I went, even in my dreams. Then I was anxious for her arrival to her new world, that moment when we touched for the first time, when we saw each other the first time, that moment so important when I held her in my arms. I was filled with so much love that I forgot about my weariness. I wanted to stare at her all day, when she was breathing, when she was sleeping, when she woke up and looked at me as if trying to tell me something, that something that only I could understand.

My life is now one filled with emotions, when she smiled for the first time, when she made her first expresion, when she said "Mom" the first time I didn't know if to cry or laugh, when I opened my eyes again she was already walking, she had now complete personality. Each day I realized how valuable is time.

I thank God for giving me the privilege of bringing life filling me at the same time with more life, for giving me the opportunity of loving without limits.

I thank God each second for the life of my daughter, for giving me the chance of watching her grow up and live.

I thank Him for giving me the joy of being a Mother.

By Sandra Falcon

The times that we live in

The paradox of our time in history is that
We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways, But narrower viewpoints;
We spend more, but have less,We buy more, but enjoy less...
We have bigger houses and smaller families;
More conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
More knowledge, but less judgments;
More experts but more problems;
More medicine, but less wellness...
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values
We talk too much, love seldom, and hate often...
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We've added years to life, but not to years...
We've been all the way to the moon and back
But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor;
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice...
We've higher incomes, but lower morals;
We've become long on quantity, but short on quality...
These are the times of tall men, but short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships...
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
More leisure, but less fun;
More kinds of food, but less nutrition...
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce;
Of fancier houses, but broken homes...
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom;
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and the time when you can choose either to make a difference or to just hit delete.....

Author Unknown

Mother, only one

You think of her often, in her tenderness, in her strength, in her simplicity and her beauty. With frequency you imagine her how you would like her to be, perfect. Nevertheless, she's only a human being, so similar, so different, so special. Because not only she takes care of herself, but she worries about everybody else, to give support, company, affection, love. She gives everything without expecting anything back.

She's that person who comforts you in your suffering, in your sorrow, that laughs with you even when it seems dumb, that every now and then makes a big deal out of something that for you is meaningless, but stays calm down when you scream at her in anger.

She's that person who worries about everything, even that your shirt is straight and that your hair looks good although you're not going anywhere.

Since the moment you were in her womb she was talking to you about all the things she was going to do with you. When you came into the world you demanded a 101 percent of her time and it wasn't enough. You wanted her to solve your math problem when she already had forgotten about that subject, even so she learned it so she can teach you, so she can help you.

She feeds you, cleans you, teaches you, gives you advice, plays with you, sings to you, and everything she does it with dedication, with tenderness, with love. She accepts you the way you are, in spite of your critics. How many times you wished she was different, to live you alone, to not speak to you, but when you needed transportation, company, someone to hear your complains, she was there.

Now you are all grown up, you say you are independent, that you did everything by yourself, that you learned everything on your own, but that's not true, because along the way she was there with you, making sure everything was "O.K.", that you were alright.

That person that's so important that you call "Mom" loves you endlessly, loves you with all her heart.

If you're lucky to have her with you in this life, thank God for every minute with her, if it's God who's accompainying her now, thank Him for every moment that was.

If you have had the privilege of bringing to life a child you'll understand the greatness of that being that brought you to life, you'll understand the arguments you had with her every time she said "No"., and you will convince yourself of God existence when you observe the nature of your child.

Maybe she can't be with you, or maybe you're so lucky to have her, perhaps she's far away from you and you only bother to call her one time during the year because is "her day". Many other just never had one.

No matter what your situation is, love her every day of your life, but specially love her every day of Her life, show it to her, and remember that to love, is never to say "I'm sorry".

By Sandra Falcon (2000)