So Many Blessings

It’s such a blessing to be back in the Philippines! We arrived here in October and stayed a couple of weeks in Malaybalay. Then, we were able to visit Camiguin Island and many of our friends there. It was awesome to be able to serve at the Mass again, to visit our favorite places, to see the friends we love so much, and to just be there. We had been away for almost a year. We are going back there after Christmas to visit for a few days and to celebrate the parish’s Christmas party with the community.

Ferry Ride to Camiguin

 From the Romeros

           

Together Again

Reunited With Fr. Joe

                   











When we got back to Malaybalay, we only had a week to get the new house ready for our family and the Eckstine family to live in together. We were so happy when they arrived!

Morning Prayer

                                           
Mrs. Lora was going to help my mom with the birth of the baby. They arrived here in perfect timing! After two weeks, they moved into the house that the Romero’s had been staying in before they went back to the States. The day of their move, Mom went into labor. All of the Eckstine and Alvarez kids besides Abi (their oldest) and I stayed at their new house while Mom was in labor. Only Dad, Abi, Mrs. Lora, Mom, and I were left at our house.
My mom had been in labor for awhile. I was downstairs in the kitchen when Abi came down and said, “It should be soon!” and she started getting some things ready. Literally a minute later I heard Mom’s voice from upstairs, “It’s a girl!” I dropped everything and ran.
Mom had had the baby on the floor. She was sitting up, holding the baby in her arms and laughing.

Mom and Josephine

I thought I’d never have another sister again!!! It has been over 12 years since our family has had a baby girl! At the beginning of Mom’s pregnancy, we all guessed that the baby was a girl. But towards the end, when she wasn’t born on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary like Mom wanted her to be, I thought it must be a boy and that he would be born on December 3 because we were going to name her Xavier if she was a boy and the 3rd is the feast of St. Francis Xavier. God had a surprise for us! Her name is Josephine Eva-Marie Alvarez. We prayed a long time for a baby girl and God answered our prayers! She is a big blessing and I was also blessed to be present for her birth.