When our daughter was attending Pepperdine University she came to visit us in Santa Barbara, California. She had met this young man from Malibu, California, and was eager for us to meet her new boyfriend.   Our beautiful daughter walked in with this strange young man, tatted from head to toe with piercings in his nose, eyebrows, tongue and ears. He wore a heavy chain attached to his wallet on the world’s widest bell bottoms. This jaw-dropping experience left me with visible scars. From this day forth, I felt that I had a mandate from God to find Sonja a husband. This short journey got me in a lot of trouble.

The Interview  

While I was on a missionary trip to the Czech Republic, I remember chasing after a priest with a prayer request to find the right husband for Sonja. This was a common occurrence; wherever I traveled, I made it a point to include this prayer request.

I was so obsessed with this task even got Mike involved. He arranged for a blind date with one of his younger golfing buddies. This was the biggest disaster ever! But did I learn my lesson? Nope, I continued to work diligently by meddling in all of my poor daughter’s affairs.

Second Wedding

At another wedding, I did something so shameful that it pains me to write about it. I went so far as getting a young man’s phone number from Sonja’s cell phone bill and calling him. Since this guy was a physical therapist, I came up with a creative opening dialogue about my dog having a hip problem. From this conversation, I smoothly  transitioned into asking him how things were progressing with him and Sonja. The nerve of this young man; he never called Sonja again! Sonja got wind of this and I still did not understand why she was so upset. I was just trying to help.

The Message From God

I continued my odd behavior until the Lord gave me this dream while I was in the Holy Land. In this dream Sonja was being fitted for her wedding dress, and she was standing on a riser in the bridal shop. I was lurking in the background so I could see how happy she was. The dress was beautiful, especially the bottom, which had intricate beadings and a lot of beautiful detailing.

When Sonja and the seamstress left the room, I came in with a needle and thread and started to hem the dress myself. I heard them coming so I quickly ran out. Sonja started to cry, “Who would do this terrible thing? The most beautiful part of my dress is missing!” I woke up crying and prayed for forgiveness for all the meddling and embarrassment that I had caused Sonja.

Minding My Own Business

After this dream I realized what I was doing was so wrong and that my prayers were misguided and controlling to the point of witchcraft. By witchcraft I mean that I was not allowing God to do what was best for Sonja. My prayers were not efficacious and God set me straight in this dream. What I should have been doing was asking God to do His will in Sonja’s life, not begging for Him to find her a husband.

The young man from Malibu turned out to be a sweet gentleman, but remember this was almost 25 years ago when piercings and tattoos were still frowned upon. I promise I will have nothing negative to say about people who choose to express themselves with tattoos but back then it was taboo.

Russ  To The Rescue

Soon all was forgiven, and Sonja introduced us to Russ at our annual Tamale Party. Russ’ first appearance did not go over well with me because I was still that judgmental mother wanting the best for our daughter. I still had some controlling stuff I needed to get rid of. Russ had this huge hair thing going on, and it was way too long.  After a few dates, Sonja invited Russ over for breakfast. I remember  sarcastically asking him, “So do you even go to church?” Russ replied,”I’m Catholic.” It was as if harps and heavenly trumpets went off in my head! I could have sworn I heard a choir of angels singing alleluia! After hearing this I knew he was the one that God had chosen for Sonja, and I had nothing to do with this union. Russ is a perfect fit for our family and we love him dearly.

My Prayer

Prayer for unmarried children: Heavenly Father, I know You have a perfect plan for our sons’ and daughters’ future. I am asking that You bring the right person into their lives who is going to care and love them for who they are. Lord, You are in control of their lives.  All I’m asking is that they find the right helpmate and that this marriage be sanctified by You. Amen!

Mothers of the world, do not try to control who your children are going to date or marry. Remember, God has the perfect person for each one of them. Don’t mess with God’s plan.

I am a Baby Boomer.

Boomer’s Rule

Do you know that Baby Boomers represent the largest population in the United States? We were born directly after World War II; our birth was a celebration, not a planned pregnancy. Our parents did not use birth control.  Being born to a family of seven like mine was common. My mother had nine siblings, and each of them had more than four children. We populated the world.

eLearn Industry

According to eLearn Industry, these are the characteristics of Baby Boomers:

• Strong work ethic;
• Self-assured, we are independent;
• We like competition
• We are goal oriented;
• Resourceful;
• Mentally focused;
• Team oriented; and
• Disciplined.

Lynda

For as long as I can remember, work was part of my life. We lived in Brawley, a farming town that grew all types of vegetables and fruits. My first job was picking tomatoes. So at the ripe age of 12 I understood that working brought many benefits. The wages were paid in cash, ranging from $12-$15 per day. I will never forget the great reward of purchasing a pair of white shorts and a turquoise top; nothing was more satisfying. We gave most of our earnings to our mother to help out with our daily needs.

In addition at the age of 15 I worked for a family-owned fast food company. The owner trusted me to run her business because I was honest. Sometimes we would run short of meat for the burritos, so I would add more juice or beans. Learning to become resourceful was part of my little job.

In college I continued to work at the fast food establishment but also had a job working in the Spanish language lab. I never had a car so I’d walk or take public transportation. This was the norm in my life, until our older sister Jo, who worked, purchased a vehicle. The two-seater convertible, that Jo purchased was the pride of our youth.

Mike

My husband Mike has been working since he was 12 years old. His family owned a tortilla factory, so Mike’s father would take him to collect cardboard boxes from liquor and grocery stores. These boxes were recycled and used for packing tortillas for delivery. Mike received five cents per cardboard box. He remembers going to work with his dad on a regular basis. When he turned 16 he was given the responsibility of a local route driver. Mike also took over the vacation routes of the company drivers. In addition Mike had a part-time job as a janitor at a convalescent hospital.

Mike was attending San Diego State when his father had a stroke. He came home to help run the factory and enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona to finish his education. Logistically Cal Poly was closer to home; however, when his father suffered a second stroke, Mike took over the tortilla factory and had to work full-time. So he transferred to the University of Riverside.

Our Union

By the age of twenty Mike had purchased a home. We met and shortly after this were married. Working in the front office of the factory was my new job. Checking in the drivers and taking phone orders were just a small part of what was required.

Miguel, Mike’s Dad

Mike had a special relationship with his father and, on many occasions, his father shared with him that he had changed his will. He told Mike that he made him the executor of the new will. Mike was too young to understand the ramifications of this conversation. So when his father passed away, his older sister from a previous marriage took over the business. She was the executrix of the original will. She did not waste any time in eliminating our positions. By trade she was a realtor and did not have any attachment to the company. She did not care how this would affect all the employees, including her brother. She was ruthless and quickly liquidated the company.

Boomers Bounce Back

What we have endured as a couple is living proof of how resilient Boomers are. Mike did not miss a beat. We packed up and moved to Santa Barbara to become part owners of a new tortilla factory. You can read about the venture in my other Blogs.

The 70’s Birthday Party

Our friend Hazel was celebrating her 70th birthday where we had to dress like we did in the seventies. Both Mike and I were borderline hippies, so this was a no brainer. I loved the freedom of this era: bellbottoms, leather vests with fringe, flowers in your hair. I did not have to go out looking for an outfit to wear because in my heart I’m still  a hippie. This was a wonderful gathering filled with love.

Free Love

This was a period of time that changed the world. When you developed the mentality of free love, it takes on a whole new meaning. Many of our acquaintances and co-workers in Santa Barbara were actual hippies. They lived a life of drugs and sex, so we watched their lives unravel before our eyes. This type of free love was self-serving and destructive. Thank the good Lord that He spared us from  this lifestyle.  As lost as I was during this time of my life, I never lost sight of God.

God’s Free Love

The love that God demonstrates for us is so fulfilling, nothing can compare to it! We will never fully understand God’s love because what He asks of us is so simple that we get lost trying to figure it out. As Christians we are to be living examples of love. This is a massive undertaking: what is required of us during these tumultuous times is to receive everyone in the love of God.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, as we Baby Boomers enter into our last chapter of life, give us godly wisdom to walk in Your shadow. Give us good health and guidance. And teach us to operate in Your perfect love.  Amen.