Gerardo has an older brother named Enrique, who is married to Veronica, and they have a little son named Enrique, as well as a new baby on the way!

Enrique and Veronica met while at Texas A&M, and I met them there while in school, since the G and I were good friends. Their house really is a home, and it felt great to be in the home of a Catholic family who loves Christ so much.

Veronica chatting on the phone:

They have lots of beautiful holy art adorning the walls of their home (this is yours truly with a picture of Jesus and children playing behind me):

I took pictures of the G with little Enrique (Enriquito as they call him, or just Quito), so he will have to post them because they were on his digital camera. Little Quito was afraid of me (and most other people) when I last saw him several months ago, but during this visit he poured out his affection on his uncle the G, and he even toward the end of our visit let me come near him and pat him on the shoulders.

We talked about marriage and family life a lot, which I love to listen to and learn from. I shared with them my desires to be a husband and father, God willing, and my excitement about meeting the beautiful girl God has chosen for me. They said they’d pray for me, too, so I have all the more confidence in meeting her soon!

The next morning, we got up and decided to do our 7 mile marathon training run before going to Mass. It was a gorgeous day–huge pine trees surround their house and neighborhood, and so we took a leisurely run around the area. I managed to keep up with the G and didn’t have to stop to walk any, thanks be to God.

After our run we went to Mass at their home parish, and it was of course awesome to receive Jesus in the Eucharist along with our brothers and sisters in Christ there. Then the G and I took them out for lunch and ate a TON of ribs at a local restaurant!

When we got home, Veronica made us an apple pie, ice cream, and coffee, and the G took a nap because he was a tired-the-G. Finally the G and I needed to return home, so we said goodbye and listened to U2 on the way back.

Spending time with their family made me all the more want to be a husband, and I confided in them that I feel like the time is drawing close for God to bring me and that special girl together. I don’t know why I feel that way, but I just do, so it must be grace from our Lord, giving me joyful hope to carry on in purity and in diligent, peaceful preparation of myself for her.

St. Joseph’s soul was adorned with virtues for our Blessed Mother, so that he could be so Christ-like for her, and I, too, want to be as much like him as I can for my special girl!

One last one of the Garcias: