Our Story
The Day We Met
The clock starts ticking
We met for the very first time in 1994.I was working at an office supply story called Flamingo Blue Print that was behind the Dennies on West 49th Street in Hialeah.Hugo was purchasing some stencils for his first sign job with his printing company.I remember seeing him and he caught my eye.I felt like I had seen him before.He seemed so familiar to me.I tried to give him a discount on his stencils but he gave me a hard time because he thought I was doing something I wasn't allowed to do.lol,he finally gave in when I convinced him I was allowed to give a 10 % discount to customers.He visited me at the store every once in a while when he needed art supplies.He was very handsome and always very kind and friendly to me.
He shows me the Bible
Hugo explains salvation
I ended up dating a friend of Hugos about a week after I met Hugo I met a friend of his.Hugo had a girlfriend at the time so it was a no way deal.Interestingly enough,I began to become curious about why there was so many different religions and just one God?So I remember that the boyfriend I had at the time told me that Hugo was a church going man and that he could talk with us and inform us more about God and answer so many questions.During this time Hugo taught us about God and the bible,he started a bible study at his warehouse (as a matter of fact,I was at Hugo's very first bible study ever!)I learned many truths and turned my life over to Elohim and accepted Yahshua as the Savior of my sins!
We'd never be together
Or so it seemed...
Hugo was engaged to be married to his girlfriend at the time and I was also engaged with his friend who i mentioned earlier.I was married first and a few month later he was married as well.Time went on,I got pregnant with Sasha and eventually things stopped working out with her dad.That relationship ended in Divorce.Hugo also had marital problems and was divorced as well.Hugo went to ex's house actually tried to convince my ex husband not to allow the divorce thing to got through but he simply refused to listen.Hugo called me up and asked me what was going on,i told him what had happen and he asked me to come to church with him.I was to angry to listen and to annoyed with God and men in general to be reasoned with,I let myself slip back into the world and lived my life the way I did before,i joined the herd of goats (disobeying any law or biblical principal i knew)
I come back to my senses
Betseti Likatcha Likrati Metsaticha".. when i go forth to find you i find you seeking me
March. 1 ,2004 This is the day I realized my life was hopeless and worthless,i turned my life over to the one who it belonged to Yahshua.On this morning i came home from work,I was working as a bar tender at a local Gothic Night Club.I got home so depressed,i hated my life and just did not want to exist any longer,I got on my knees and was pounding my fists on the cold floor,I was yelling to God "Please help me Father,send me an Angel",I got up and went straight to my kitchen,i looked in my cabinet like a crazy person for my old address book and to my surprise it was there.I knew I needed to find someone in there.Funny thing is I didnt know who.I ran into Patrick Hadleys number first and called him.(he is my current Pastor)then I called Hugo's number.I didn't know what was going to happen when i called.I thought for sure the number would be disconnected but it wasn't,his mom answered.Then I thought,he probably doesn't live there anymore,but she said hold on i will get him.Then when he got on the phone I asked him "Are you still following the Lord"?He said yes and I started to cry.I told him how aweful my life was .He told me to wait for him that he was going to come over right away.He got to my house in less than 20 Minutes!When he came over I explained to him how I gave up because of how upset I was with God for everything that happen with the divorce.
He took me to the story of Adam and Eve and showed me how Adam loved Eve so much that he ate of the fruit of the knowlegde of good and evil not because he didn't know any better but because of his love for Eve.That he knew he would have to seperate completely from his heavenly father in order to not have Eve be lost outside of the garden all alone.This was a true story of love,this is what he explained to me,that what I had before most certainly could not have been the kind of love Elohim had intended for me and that true love would not have ended in the way my marriage did.I had streams of tears pouring from my eyes.That was exactly what my spirit needed at that moment,and I knew that the unconditional love described in Genesis was exactly what I needed so I surrendered my life back to my heavenly Father!
We lost each other once,but never again
Ba'asher Telchi Elech ...Where Ever You Go I Go
Hugo and I worked hard for a whole month cleaning out my old house,it was full of all sorts of worldly horror.It took a long time and many hours of labor from our friends.Manny and Hugo's brother Leo helped out alot also.We even made a video of all the junk I owned.Sasha was able to spend more time with me now cuz I quit the club job and found a new job at the bank.I moved to a smaller place and lived there for 2 yrs.We pretty much knew God had put us together from the day he came over. I remember sitting next to him one day I told Hugo that I always had a crush on him and that I always like him,he couldn't believe it.He told me he always felt the same way about me.We have been inseparable since then.Its really kind of funny that I used to have a saying I would tell him,"Where ever Hu go I go".It turned out to be something Ruth told her Mother-in-Law -
Ruth 1:16-17
1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Engaged!!
"Matzati Et She'ahava Nafshi" ..I found him, whom my soul loves
On Dec. 9th right after worship service Hugo went up to the front of the church and made it seem like he was going to make an announcement for the Youth Group Hanukkah play.Well,he wasn't lol,he started off by saying "Three years ago I received a phone call,that completely changed my life" he asked me to come up with him I was totally lost.I thought he was going to make me say my testimony!He wasn't.He told me ,"now that I found her I can't imagine my life without her".He got on his knee and pulled a box from his pocket!!!He was proposing and I was totally shocked!!!I couldn't believe how he kept the secret so well! I had no idea what was coming.I was laughing and crying at the same time!!Im so very happy.I know that we will be very happy together and that we will serve Elohim together as a family!
Our First Home Together
Elohim always provides!
Well needed to find a place to live.I had a cute little apartment I was sharing with Sasha.It was a 1 bedroom.I called up the building management to ask them about leaving that place due to my engagement to be married.The lady there informed me that my lease was up on Dec.31 and that I could not get my deposit back due to the fact that i did not inform them of my intension of leaving with a 2 month advance notice as per the contract.I was also informed that my rent was going to go up about $200 more.I was already paying $850.00.There was no way I was going to pay $1050 for a 1 bedroom apartment.I was really concern as I not only was not going to get my deposit returned to me ,could not sign a lease for another year for so much on something so little but I also had no other place to go!Hugo and I did not know what we were going to do.
I was at work sitting at my desk and my mom called me and asked me if the same building had any 2 bedroom apartments.I told her yes but that I could not afford it.She insisted that I call and find out more information,so I did lol.I spoke with the same lady and asked her what the charge was for a 2 bed room and the square footage.She informed me that she had 2 bed room apartments that are 1180 sq ft for $1225 with 2 bathrooms.I thought it was alot and started to calculate what it was going to cost me to pay the deposit and all that.I asked her what it would cost me to move into that apartment.She told me $250!!!! I was just shocked!!What she explained to me was that since my lease was not up yet that my deposit was still good for renewing my lease.She told me I could renew the lease but toward the new apartment,we did not have to pay the difference on the new apartment for the deposit amount and that the $250 was a transfer fee and all we have to do is pay $1225 for the month when I move in as i would my old apartment and im in.I told Hugo what she told me and it went well with him and So we signed the lease!
Manny,Leo,Hugos mom and Dad,Lil Sergio and Nia came over to help us move ,that was even a breeze because we used shopping carts to shuttle stuff from one apartment to the other.We saved a bunch of money we really did not have and went from 850 sq ft apartment to a 1180 sq ft place!We can totally see Elohims hand in this !!
So now we have our happy little home.We are fixing it up and trying to make it more cozy.We are missing a bunch of things but its ok,we are just happy that we have what Elohim has provided.It is exactly what we needed and more.
Hugo will be moving in his stuff the week of the wedding and officially moving in himself after we return from our honeymoon!!!It is amazing how Elohim is moving us along.We had projected our wedding day to be June 9th but now its May 19th.LOL,who knows if it will happen even sooner!!
Hugo's Ring
Hugo's ring is being made
Im very happy to say that I have sent out for Hugo's ring to be made.It is being engraved in Jerusalem as I type.I was told we should have by 2 weeks and a half from Feb 28th.I just can't wait to show it to him.It is 14k Gold and spins around just like time is circular and not liniar.Its really is a symoblic ring.The words engraved on it is-
"Ba'asher Telchi Elech" (Where ever you shall go, I shall go).As i explained earlier ,this is what I used to tell Hugo when we were just good friends over 14 years ago.(Except I would use "Hugo" instead of "you shall go" lol).
The symbolism of the ring is that we meet 14 years and as time is circular with the turning of time we ended up meeting in another day and time and as I had told him before,Where ever he would go I would follow and Elohim made it be just like that.Its as if these things came to our memory again as a sign that Elohim had chosen us for each other from way back then.
And as the ring can spin in a circle as time does still,I will be there for him wherever he should go!
**Update**
March.16,2006
I am so happy to inform you that the ring I ordered from Israel has arrived.It is very nice and it fits!!Yayy,that was my biggest concern.It was supposed to arrive next week on March 19th but we got it early.(Like most everything has been going.Moving right along)In fact,when the Fex Ex lady arrived to deliver it,she made it a point to mention to my mom "I was supposed to bring it next week but i brought it early.(Elohim is so wonderful!)
Click on this link to read about how the Hebrew thought of time is circular as a roller up scroll and not linear as some believe
Organizing a wedding plan
So Much To Do
Ok I’m going to write a little about what we are trying to get together. We have been offered by our favorite family to borrow there house for our wedding ceremony and the reception. We totally love and appreciate Sergio and Daily Martinez for lending us there back yard. Not only have they opened there house to a wonderful group of adopted children who are there pride and joy but they have opened there home for bible studies and for youth group meetings. They are a living example of how Sarah and Abraham had there tent open for anyone who needed it to come in. We are most grateful!!!
Unfortunately we are not able to afford to do a more expensive wedding like we wanted to and had to turn down this wonderful offer. We will be having the wedding and reception on a May.19th Shabbat morning at 10:30 am the service will begin and the ceremony will be at 12:00 pm sharp. We are very excited! I have found an awesome wedding ring I am going to send to be custom made in Israel for Hugo. I will post an image as soon as we get it and one of the rings he gave me for our engagement!!
So far we have a few ideas and some surprises in the works (we know you are expecting something off the wall, lol) We hope to have a joyous and fun occasion with our guests and hope to make this a memorable event.
Wedding Garments
Consider the Lillies,He will provide.....
March 01 ,2007(Its our 3 year Anniversary today!!)
We are going to start buying stuff for the wedding this month.We are starting to look for our wedding attire.Hugo Is going to be picking my gown as per Hebrew tradition.We are hoping to do it as traditional as possible.We have both agreed that my gown will not be white.We don't have any problems with the beautiful white gowns worn in most weddings ,but we would like to do something a little different.
March 10 ,2007
Wedding Dress
Elohim has provided for us to purchase the clothing for the ceremony,I was able to find a dress at a store Hugo asked me to go to on Sunday.I went with Sasha and sure enough it was there (she helped me so much).He has no idea what it looks like,it should be a nice surprise!We are going to go to a store recommended to us by a brother in the faith this weekend to find something fit for Hugo to wear.I have to go to make sure it will match with my dress.I'm so excited,things are moving so fast!The funny thing it that we can get married at any point,i don't have a date,it is literally up to Elohim to tell us when to go! We can really say "No one knows the day or the hour exept my father in heaven" Matthew 24:36 ,Also i wanted to add that not only did Elohim give us the funds for our wedding attire through our wonderful brothers and sisters at church but Mario who we bought our car from,he forgave us our debt of a remaining balance of $600 we owed on the car.He told us that Elohim put it in his heart to not charge us the remaining amount!
We are very grateful to Synthia and Mario for blessing us !!They are going to be married now in March.We pray many blessings to follow their holy union!!
March 17 ,2007
Suit
Today we went with Hugos folks downtown to buy him a suit.We found a store that had very nice suits at a great price.We were able to get his suit and all he needed.It was so pain-free.Hugos parents blessed us greatly by helping us find the store to buy it and as if that was not enough,they also gave us money to help pay for the suit as well.
March 18 ,2007
Veil
Today Elise and I went to a fabric store to pick out some materials to make a veil for the wedding. I kind of had an idea of what I wanted it to look like but could not find anything remotely close. I told Elise and she knew exactly where to find it, she said" Michelle, We have to make it” LOL, and that’s exactly what she is doing. She has made some fabulous costumes for the kids for plays and cool t-shirts for shows. Elise also made a veil of her own for her wedding, it was very pretty. I just can't wait to see my veil when it’s done. I know it will be beautiful! Elise has been a wonderful sister to me during this stressful time and has helped me immensely!!
Reception Plans
Organizing
March.22,2007
Today my friend and sister Jessica spoke to me and had a great idea. She asked me if I had ever heard of a custom (i forgot the name of it sorry) where for weddings or 15's parties all the family of the couple come together and bring different items to the wedding. For example someone is in charge of lets say the decorations, another the favors, another the plates etc.If this goes as planned it will truly be a picture of the Bedouin wedding with all the families coming together as one. Jessica has given me some great ideas. If you are interested in participating in helping with something in the wedding please contact us so we can let you know what is needed!
If you are interested in participating in this, please click on the image below-
Invitations
Finally!
April.13,2007
Shalom Ya'll, we are working on getting all the different things organized to make the reception to go smoothly. We have received several offers to help out and a few guests have informed us they are bringing a dish. Dave and Cary have offered to bring all the utensils and tableware. Elise and Jessica is going to start a list on Saturday that will be going around for anyone who will be bringing something .We really do appreciate any help. The more food we have the less likely anyone will be left without. We want this to be a fun time for everyone. Hugo and I are going to provide a cake and finger foods!!
Wedding Gitters
May his will be done!!
I was checking out this site two days ago and realized that there is only 37 more days left to get things organized and ready to go. I have been told I was going to feel nervous as it gets closer but I didn't really think it would happen to me since im so calm and collective.....ha! Anyway, I am getting a little anxious, Hugo is just fine, LOL! I guess it’s just a girl thing that we want everything to be perfect.
I recently found out that we need permission from Landmark to hold the wedding reception on the Chapel grounds. Patrick is going to meet with them next week to discuss some matters and will be bringing it up. Please keep us in your prayer as there decision will determine what we can and can not do. As per Landmark rules we are not to have food in the Chapel. (Im not sure what the rule is about outside of it)If they say we can not do the reception then we won't be able to have on. We can not even change the date of the wedding because we have already reserved the honeymoon and paid for more than half of it already.
The one thing I wanted everyone reading to know is the following story-
Lolita a wonderful sister in Messiah came to me three weeks ago after church asked me how the wedding plans where going. I told her we had changed a lot of the plans and that we were going to do the wedding at the Chapel. Her eyes got watery and she began to tell me of a vision she had the night before. She said she could not remember if it was a dream or what but that she saw a wedding at our church and that food was brought in from the outside. She told me that she didn’t know who was getting married; she thought that maybe it was her wedding but then thought to herself that she was single and not even engaged so I could not be her. She thought maybe its Mario and Cynthia but they weren't getting married at the church. She told me that it must have been ours because when I told her about our plans for the wedding she immediately remembered that vision as I was explaining what we where trying to accomplish.
The point of sharing this with you is so that you may pray for this to take place. If it is Yahweh's will for us to be able to serve food on May 19th, we will. I believe in my heart that Lolita’s vision was to encourage us in this situation of "waiting to see”. Last night when I was thinking of this whole situation Yahweh brought to mind the vision Lolita had. It reminded me of the words our master spoke -
John 14:13
14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
14:13 and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do .
and also
Matthew 21:19-22
21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
21:20 And when the disciples saw, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
“In his name”, is referring to living righteously according to what his word says is righteous. Also, it is referring to how you represent his house or (beit) If this be his will, let it be according to his word, ever according to this scriptures above ! Amen
Update
April.23,2007
I am so happy to announce that we have been given the ok on holding the reception at the Chapel on our wedding day!If you are interested in bringing something to the celebration you are welcome to do so.We are going to have a small buffet type meal with appetizers and finger foods.
We are very excited and looking forward to this excellent day!!
April. 23,2007
Always consider his purpose!!
Ok,we got into a small car accident on the 826 on Saturday afternoon after the seminar we attended. We were getting off the turnpike and the cars ahead of us suddenly stopped. We stopped on time and so did the car behind us. The lady behind them crashed full speed into the car behind us pushing them into our bumper. We thank our Heavenly Father that no one was seriously injured and that everyone walked away without a scratch. The car that crashed the car behind us was totaled, the guy behind us has some pretty bad damage at the front and back of car but fixable. Our rear bumper was damaged but nothing major. But that is not what this story is about; continue reading and you will see what is the report we have that is to the glory of the Master above....
I called the insurance company of the lady who caused the accident. They told me that they take full responsibility for the accident. The representative told me I could take my car to any of there full service car repair stations to have it fixed and then washed for me after repair is completed. The lady told me that we can have the car repaired in May. They said that they will pay us $30 every day that we don't have the car while it is being repaired. Wouldn’t you know, we have rental car already reserved from a month ago for the honeymoon that will now coincide with the repair of my car. We are going to take the car in for repair on May 18th,they pay us $30 per day we need the rental. We need the rental for a week anyway for our honeymoon so the $30 they give us per day will actually end up paying for the honeymoon rental! Talk about Elohims timing!!
Yahweh has made a way so that the rental car we had for the honeymoon will now be either free or very very inexpensive. At first the accident seemed like a bad thing but we got to thinking about it and realized :
1-We were not at fault for the accident
2-We received little damage to the vehicle
3-We received no hard time at all from there insurance agency.
This is truly a blessing in disguise.Kinda like "The Blessing of the lice and the flies”, I heard by a very wise woman Corrie Ten Boom a Biblical Holocaust Survivor (click name to hear the story portrayed by Actress Evelyn Hinds) .You will learn that sometimes bad things happen to help with a good thing. Sometimes in order to receive a blessing you have to face certain unexpected obstacles.Does that make sense?
Im am grateful for all things, good and bad. Yahweh see's them all & is in control of everything...
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love Elohim, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
April. 24 , 2007
We have our Marriage Licence!!
We applied for our Marriage Licence today.We are all set for May.19th!! We can get married in 3 days ,but we won't,LOL.We will wait till the scheduled day.We waited 15 years ,I think we will be ok hee hee :)!!
May.5 ,2007
Rehearsal
We will be having our wedding rehearsal on May.5,2007 right after Shabbat service.We sent out an email to everyone who is to attend.Please try to attend.We would like to make sure everyone will know what is going on the day of the wedding to avoid any confusion.I should not take a long time,we will be practicing the procession and speaking to organizers.Thanks Ya'll ;)
Laeliocattleya Gypsy Queen Orchids
A gift from above
May.16 , 2007
It is only 3 more days until the wedding dat & I thought I would share this story with you because it truly touched my heart.The other day my mother told me that she has some orchids in the back yard.She wanted to know if I wanted them for my bridal bouquet.At first I really did not pay much thought to it.Then two days ago I was at my mother house ,she mentioned them to me and asked to show them to me.I went with her to the back yard where she keeps her Orchid boxes.
She showed me the Orchids ,they are these two huge purple and yellow Gypsy Queen Orchids,so beautiful I was amazed.My mom went on to explain to me that she purchased this orchid plant 2 years ago.She bought it without a flower on it because the ones with a flower cost much more and was out of her budget.She has had this plant in the back yard for two years and has never seen a flower bloom from it.It got so bad she thought that they had sold her a bad plant.
Well... two weeks ago she was in her garden looking at her orchids ,she noticed two buttons had appeared on the same stem of one branch on that box.She said that she thought to herself,if the flowers bloom by my wedding she was going to give them to me for the bouquet.This week Monday May 14th,she went outside and the flowers had appeared.They are just amazing.These are the first flowers (first fruits you can say)of this orchid plant.My Mom was telling me that she found it so amazing how this 2 year old plant did not have a flower for so long and that it waited to bloom the week of our wedding.This brought tears to my eyes because I knew this was the hand of Elohim.This is a gift from him and not only that but both flowers are blooming from the same stem.I feel these flowers are symbolic of Hugo and My coming union in marriage.Not only that but how appropriate for it to bloom now in time for Shavuot,"The Festival of First Fruits" on MAY 22-23.I feel so honored to serve such a wonderful,loving Messiah!!!Thank you Abba!
In the image to the right is an actual picture of one of my daughter holding the bouquet for me the day of the wedding,she is also a beautiful flower!
