In a year when so much has been taken away from us, Yahweh sent two reasons to smile—Noah and Emily.
After teasing his mommy and daddy, and the whole family for that matter, Noah Daniel Lorenzo finally met his family on Jun 2, 2021.
For maybe three days I received a text that Daddy Andrew was driving Mommy Aiden to the hospital, only to find out that Mommy Aiden was in false labor. So, when the actual time came, the text was met with some reservation. But we soon found out that Nathan finally got his little brother.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we got to meet Noah in person when he was close to two months old. He was still so tiny and delicate. But that sure didn’t last for long.
The next time we saw him, he was a roly-poly teddy bear—with a quick smile and sweet, friendly disposition (until he gets hungry is what we all were told). His puffy cheeks and Woodstock hairdo make him a huggable, loveable baby.
Noah makes Lorenzo grandchild number three.
Then came Emily Ruth Espino (to Big Brother Joseph, she’s Emimy). Lorenzo grandchild number four—their Little Princess.
This Little One was also not in a hurry to officially meet her family. We all kept waiting for word that Emily had arrived. Yahweh chose October 27, 2021, as the date of her birth. From the reports, Big Brother Joseph fell in love with his baby sister the moment he met her.
We got to meet Emily a week later. She was so dainty in her little Sabbath dress. She matched her Mommy Stephanie and DaMa Ruthie. Mommy Stephanie was happy but tired. Daddy Raymond proudly snapped pictures of family carrying his Little Girl.
Emily slept through all the noise from her visitors, while Big Brother Joseph took time out from playing to check on her. She was so tiny and delicate compared to her older cousin Noah.
While waiting for Aiden and Stephanie to deliver, I wondered how it would be for Joseph and Nathan. They are still little guys. There really was no need to worry about them. Their parents prepared them well for the arrival of their baby siblings
It’s so cute to see Big Brother Nathan (Li’l Andrew) cradling Baby Noah (Li’l Aiden) during the AOY Children’s Memory Verse videos. And Joseph (Li’l Stephanie) holding Baby Emily (looking like Daddy Raymond with her big, beautiful eyes) and kissing her cheek. Joseph and Nathan have definitely embraced their new roles as Big Brother.
Having newborns in the family this year, a special year for my Baby—Zechariah, reminds me of the babies during some of my special years. When I graduated from high school, Rob was only two months old. Then, during my college graduation, Andrew was the baby. This year Noah was the infant when Uncle Zeek graduated from high school.
Then Baby Emily was born during Uncle Zeek’s first semester at VCU—her own mommy, Stephanie, was getting ready to start her first year at UVA when Uncle Zeek was born. Stephanie and Ray’s “Miracle Baby” is starting her life at the time my “Miracle Baby” is starting a new chapter in his life.
As we welcome the new additions to the Lorenzo Family, we can’t help but remember our loved ones who are no longer with us—those we have lost from all four of the families joined together through marriage.
For the Asercion family, we are still reeling over the loss of Julie earlier this year.
Emily and Noah will never get a chance to feel their Auntie Julie’s loving arms around them or hear her voice and laughter. But they will get to know of her through stories and pictures. And they, and their brothers and cousins, will learn of their great-grandparents and great uncles and aunties through our stories and pictures.
When we embark on a journey, in order to move forward, to enter new adventures, we have to leave what we have passed behind. We can take some of our past experiences with us physically. But we can take all of our past with us through our memories. Happy times to remember the blessings Yahweh has given us. Sad and hard times with the realization that Yahweh walked with us, and many times carried us, through each valley.
And for our loved ones whose journeys in this life have ended, they will forever be with us in our hearts.
These are the memories we share with Emily, with Noah, and with all the children of their generation. So, they will know who came before them and WHO will always be with them.
To Andrew and Aiden, Stephanie and Ray: I wish you many wonderful and exciting adventures as you continue your own journeys through parenthood raising your children. Tell them the stories that have shaped your lives, because through those stories you share your family legacies.
To Joseph and Nathan: You are great Big Brothers! Good job, Guys!
To Noah and Emily: Welcome to our family! You are blessed to have wonderful parents and grandparents. I will pray that every moment of your lives you will feel the love of Yahweh and Yeshua, and that of all your family, those present and those in eternity.
Today is your Great-Papa Paul’s birthday. He and Great-Mama Fe will be so happy to meet you one day in Heaven.
Thank you, Yahweh, for bringing these two bundles of joy into our lives.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” ~James 1:17, NIV