The surprise planning started in February of last year. In April, I noticed several emails from Rome confirming hotel reservations. Curiosity got the best of me, and the investigation revealed the anniversary gift that Mike worked so hard to keep secret.

Mike’s goal was to have a romantic dinner in Rome. At first, I thought the weather in January would be a deterrent, rain, and possibly snow, and then I questioned the time frame? My daughter Sonja snapped me back into reality, reminding me of an ungrateful behavior. She was right, and I was humbled yet again.

Mike was nursing a cold, and the flight up was miserable, coughing and sneezing the entire way. He was focused on the trip and graciously stuck to the travel plans. Upon our arrival at the Roma Cavalieri, I mentioned that we were celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary.  Maria our hostess shared our excitement and upgraded our room with a view of the Vatican.

Monday was a day of exploring the familiar site of the grand city. Walking for miles with few visitors in the city makes you feel like a local. The women so chic, no tennis shoes, no workout clothes just beautiful puffy coats, designer handbags, and leather shoes or boots. Ladies, leave your bulky Uggs at home.  I caught a reflection of my 7 year old leather coat and felt a little outdated. I mentioned to Mike “Am I the only one wearing leather?” He laughed in agreement.  I never purchase clothes in Europe because of expense and the sizing is really insulting. For instance, if you are a size 12 in the states, here it would be in the fifties. The only thing that I buy here is shoes, and at 50% off, who can resist. Yes, they have the inexpensive brands like H&M, but these are on the main streets like Via del Corso. The boutiques along the small cramped cobblestone streets each uniquely selling one of a kind fashions and every thing was on sale. Soft American music was playing in the background of every business we entered, everywhere we went the American music followed us.

Our dinner experiences were great for Mike, but not for me, ordering the wrong thing was a constant, Mike is a foodie so he knew exactly what to order. Towards the end of the trip, as if I were a child he took over ordering my meals. The Romans love octopus, truffles, and artichokes must be in full bloom because most pasta was laced in the odd vegetable. The bread, stuffed with olives and breadsticks sprinkled with sesame seeds are delightful and plentiful.  The red wines, especially the Chiantis did not disappoint, I rarely drink wine with dinner but here it’s a different experience.

Months before the trip I made arrangement for the audience with Pope Francis by visiting: [email protected]. Via email, we were instructed as to where to pick up the tickets once in Rome. A stones throw away from the Trevi Fountain is the Pontifical North American College, a hidden gem behind massive dark wood doors. Greeted by a young seminarian with a clipboard and list, he checked off our name and led us into another area. A beautiful fair skinned Sister Anne warmly welcomed us, and schooled us on how to get good seats to see the Pope. With a map of the Vatican and a picture of the room, the nun pointed out where to sit. The winter audiences have its advantages because of the smaller size of the crowds as the meeting are held indoors. The nun told us to arrive early; 7:00 A.M. for the 10:30 visit but my advice is to arrive earlier to secure your spot. Sister Anne said that they had just received 2,000 rosaries and asked if we wanted some. After sharing with her about the ministry, she gave us 200 rosaries and Mike carried them to the Vatican for the Pope to bless. These were the only religious items that I brought back, and they were free.

It was the year 2000 when Mike and I renewed our wedding vows in Rome. I was traveling with our ministry to the Holy Land and Mike caught up with us in Turin, Italy. We were in Turin to visit the Shroud located in the  Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. From Turin there we traveled by tour bus through Genoa, Florence, Assisi, and then reached Rome.

Father Pat

Father Pat Hussey, a Jesuit priest from Ohio, served as our chaplain for the trip. It was a special blessing to have Father Pat because we celebrated Mass at all the holy sites in Israel, as well as different basilicas in Italy. We have known Father Pat for several years because he always took his vacation in California, visiting family, and was affiliated the St. Pius V in Buena Park, California. Father Pat was part of our family as well, officiating Sonja and Russ’ wedding (daughter and son-in-law).  He has since gone home to be with the Lord.

Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Saint  Paul Outside the Walls is a grand cathedral that once served as the original Vatican and now is one of the four major Basilicas in Rome. St. Paul’s remains are housed in this cathedral. The St. Benedict chapel is located on the right side of the basilica; a marble sculpture of St. Benedict towers over the altar. It was here that Mike and I  were surprised by our team, with Joanne (ministry leader) making arrangements ahead of time for us to renew our wedding vows. Since this was a surprise, both Mike and I dressed casually for the event, but what we experienced next was an added blessing.

The Spaniard

During the ceremony,  stranger walked into the chapel, and quietly interrupted the service, saying that he had to give me something. Father Pat kindly reminded the gentleman that we were in the middle of the service. The man did not leave, but rather stood in the back of the chapel. I had never met this man and did not understand what his visit was about. Father Pat continued with the service.  Mike and I were so gratified and humbled in renewing our wedding vows, believing that our marriage would now have the blessing of the Church.  Again, the man came to the front, and said  in Spanish, “I must give her something.” With that, Father Pat paused and allowed the man to present me with the gift.

The Rosary

It was the most unusual rosary that I had ever set my eyes on. Ornate and bigger that the normal-size rosaries, he explained that he made the rosary with his own hands and that God told him to give it to me. The man was short is stature, and when introducing himself, he did not give his name but only stated that he was from Spain. He asked me if I knew anything about Garabandal. Having just read about the apparitions that had occurred in this region of Spain, I was somewhat  surprised and answered “yes.” As he handed me the rosary, the gentleman explained that the rosary contained a piece of  a page of the visionary Concita Gonzales’s personal prayer book that was kissed by the blessed Mother. With that said, the team wanted to know if the Spanish gentleman had more rosaries. The man said no, just this one.

With all the excitement we took a few pictures of the Spaniard, and then we turned our attention to the beauty of the rosary. By the time we were done admiring the work of the gifted craftsman, the man disappeared. I wanted to thank him again but he was gone. We finished the ceremony with great adulation and Mike was still wondering what the heck just happened. Mike kept asking if I knew the Spaniard or if the team was part of this surprise too. “No, I had never met him,” I told Mike. This happened way before the iPhone, so I could not wait to get home to have the pictures developed.  I was sure the man was an angel; typically angelic beings do not show up in pictures. We developed the pictures and sure it enough my hypothesis was proven wrong; there was the Spaniard, clear as day. After a careful examination of the rosary I discovered that the back inscription read “Besado por la Stanta Virgin Garabealal,” translated  “Kissed by the Blessed Virgin Mother Garabandal.”

Joanne said this was a gift from God because of my service to the homeless. I have no understanding of this event other than it was indeed holy and I love that Mike was there to witness it first hand.

Next week will mark another milestone in our lives. Mike and I will celebrate 45 years of marriage, and he has surprised me with a trip to Rome.

On Thanksgiving Day 2016 Elizabeth was engaged to Evan, her boyfriend of 4 years. In December, shortly after Christmas, Elizabeth and her mother Jane set aside a day for wedding dress shopping. This event was to take place in October of this year, 2017. On Tuesday, January 10th Elizabeth reminded her mother to be sure to put money down on the venue for the nuptials. It was not to be, for on January 12, at 11:40 PM after a grueling battle with cancer, the Lord called Elizabeth  home.

Elizabeth was a beautiful 25- year- old woman whose  biggest worry was paying off her student loans from the University of Denver. She was planning her life, entering new chapters with her dreams coming true, and looking forward to marrying her Evan. Evan is in medical school and everything was great until the cancer came to destroy  the plans. Her surgery last Friday, to remove the cluster of tumor from her brain, was successful, but it was the other tumors throughout her body that she could not battle successfully that finally took her down.

Several months ago, Jane shared a story with me about Elizabeth and her father Jim. When Elizabeth was in high school Jim worked graveyard and many times, when he got home from work Elizabeth was up doing homework. They shared this special time together. It was Jim that God allowed to be in the room when she left this world, one last special time together. Elizabeth was a daddy’s girl and he was there to the very end.

We prayed and prayed for Elizabeth’s miracle, but it was not to be.  In Jane’s words, “I saw God in everything during this trial, witnessed His special graces but not in the cancer.” A mother always knows these things; Jane kept this in her heart.

In all this cloudy sadness God did manifest a miracle, several as a matter of fact. Elizabeth’s death will never be in vain. She brought many backslidden Christians to their knees. They will never forget how bravely beautiful Elizabeth struggled for her life, how she fought to her last breath, and how in the end gracefully surrendered. Rachael and Jacob will never forget how their older sister Elizabeth loved them and what a positive influence she was in their lives.

Please keep Jane, Jim, Rachael, Jacob and Evan in your prayers for their hearts are broken and in need of great repair.

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.