These Are The Women I Come From...

"While you were holding me...

There are very few women in this world whom I look up too.

There have been a few who said they would always be there for me but walked out without an explanation.
But these ladies...
These ladies have proven time and time again that they are not going anywhere.

"God knew that it doesn't matter how your children get to your family, it just matters that they get there."

I love these ladies.

I am so glad the Lord felt led to place them in my life.

It has taken a village to raise me.

A wild, bulletproof, independent little girl.

"Motherhood is a choice you make every day to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is... and to forgive yourself, over and over again."

It's one thing to be born into a family, but it's another thing to be CHOSEN by a family.

In my life...I was born to a great mother, but she didn't raise me alone.

I was blessed to have wonderful Mother figures in 25 years.

This is a look into my relationship with each of them.

One day I hope to have a little something from every one of them.

My Mother.

She's a single mother.

She's had her fair share of trials.

I was the toughest child she had to raise. I'm probably the more independent of her four children. I don't know if this made it easier on her or much harder.

In my opinion, I think it has been harder for her.

Because of my independence, it seems like I don't need her.

Truth is, I still need my Mom.

It hasn't always been easy but every moment has made us stronger.

I love you, Mom.

My Chosen Mom...

Our skin doesn't match, I don't have her eyes, her nose, and our faces aren't the same shape. But our hearts match. She didn't have to choose me to be her daughter, but she did. 20+ years ago, she chose me... her Navajo baby. My mother doesn't have to share me with her but she does. She prayed the Lord would bless her with children. And He did what she asked. I'm one of her nine children. She loves us all and

encourages us daily to seek the Lord in all that we do in our lives.

When I was a little girl, this woman who had known me since I was a baby looked at me and, "Gloria, someday God is going to use this for His Glory and you're gonna do great things." That little girl's life was forever changed at that moment. With empty eyes and no hope in sight, I knew this woman was placed in my life for such a time as this. She knows me better than I know myself, and in a way, we are the exact same person. She's my best friend. I love the smile that is on her face whenever we are together. I love you! 

The Queen.

The Matriarch of the Martinez family.

There are no words for how much I love my grandmother. If you know Emily Gloria Martinez, you know she will take you under her wing and you become one of her children or grandchildren. Her home is your home.

She will fight the devil toe to toe when he starts throwing his punches. He has tried taking her from our family multiple times, but he fails EVERY SINGLE TIME. Her faith holds our family together, her prayers have saved us on more than one occasion. She is fiercely loyal. She's been my prayer warrior since day one. She has been my caretaker and disciplinarian my entire life. My life has been filled with joy because she introduced me to the Joy-Giver.

She has spent countless hours interceding on my behalf. If it weren't for my grandmother's prayers, I would have been on a whole different path. To our family, she is "The Queen". We have the utmost respect for her.

When she needs something done - we execute.

She is a force to be reckoned with. In spite of uncertain futures, fragile finances, deep betrayal, and tragic loss - she carried on with elegance and grace. She has always lead by example that there is always a reason to be joyful and hold fast.

Her name and legacy continue to live on.

Leslie...

I remember the day I met her. I had just started college at a different University, when I was in Dallas my sister asked me if I would meet her. Sure, why not? She trusts her and she had been telling me how much she's helping her out. I got to DBU and met my sister outside Nation Hall. My sister led to me Leslie's office and before we went in she turned to me and said, "I just want you to know... She might give you a hug. You'll live if you get just one hug." I chuckled and sure enough, a lady I had never met, nor did I think I would ever allow getting close to me, embraced me in a hug that literally changed my life. I have had the honor of getting to know her outside of DBU. She has one of the biggest hearts I know. She's down to earth, supportive, caring, loving, compassionate, clothed with dignity, and strength. I'm so glad she holds me accountable and lets me know when I need to change my attitude. Being part of her family has been the greatest blessing.

Ms. Jan. Mama Jan.

This wonderful lady took me and Sister under her wing the day we met her. She changed the way I look at the Gospel, she's taught me so much through her teaching of the Gospel.

February 21, 2018 - her teaching on her radio show changed my look on restoration, forgiveness, and love. At the beginning of her show, she talked about how Jesus taught us Grace and Forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15). That specific teaching changed my life and the events that would happen that day. I could not be more thankful for the Lord leading her to teach on that topic.

Ms. Jan has been the biggest supporter, especially this past year. When I felt I couldn't make, she made sure I knew I could. She held my hand and guided me to God's Word. When I needed to let go, she met me at the altar and held onto me until I cried all I could cry.

She's a listener and doer.

She's a woman driven by compassion, by faith, by a fierce sense of justice, and a heart full of love. I'm so blessed to be under this Godly woman's wing for the past two years... She's encouraged me, prayed with me, held me when I cried, taught me, and shown me what it means to show others, Jesus, in you. She breathes, speaks, and lives Jesus. She's seen me through the valley and rejoiced with me at the mountain top. She has a front-row seat in all that I do and all that I continue to do. I am so blessed the Lord gave us that little nudge to make the drive from Dallas to Joshua to go church. Her family has been so great to me and Sister and we are so blessed to have them as our Pastors.

Donna.

My Nonna...

This rare elegant gem...

Never in my life would I have thought I would get to know this beautiful woman of God. I grew up listening to her sing on TV. I looked up to her long before I knew her.

She said these words to me when I was going through a very dark valley, "Come what may keep Christ the center of your life and you will always be fulfilled in life. Each trial makes us stronger; we look back and realize how far we've come and rejoice! Praise in the trial is hard sometimes, yet it gets God's attention...He says, "Hey....wait... that's MY Child calling out to Me"... He comes and teaches us to stand, trust, and walk THROUGH the trials."

She's a constant reminder that it's all about Jesus.

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

She went through a very dark valley with me and if I didn't have her by my side, I don't think I would have made it. I don't understand why certain circumstances happen to people but I continue to trust in God and His Timing. And I still believe the desires of my heart will one day be fulfilled....in His Time. There was a loss I didn't think I would recover from. But I knew I had to keep going, I had to keep trying, and I had to keep breathing. I didn't know the reason why - I asked God daily why He would take something so precious and so innocent. But it was in that dark moment, He was working on something else. He has a plan. When I decided to join the Army - she was super supportive and prayed for me every day. She reminded me that what I was about to do, it was all about Jesus.

When I need prayer, she's always the first one I text because I know at that very moment she will stop what she's doing and start praying. The Lord has a way of using her when I need confirmation about something I'm praying for. Her music has brought so much encouragement to literally millions of people. God puts people in our paths for a reason.

The woman is real and authentic. She doesn't beat around the bush and she definitely doesn't allow a day to go by without praying for me. Her Navajo.

I know I can go to her and there will be no judgment and definitely no shame.

She will tell me where I'm wrong and she will tell me when I need to start acting right.

Next to Sister, she's my best friend.

These women, in their own way, continue to shape the woman I am becoming.

They're women with backbone, not afraid to look life in the eye.

Hard times couldn't tame them, the Devil couldn't break them.

Their loving spirit helped me find my own.

Each one of them as walked through their own valley and their own trial.

They went through it with grace, fearlessness, elegance, and pure hope.

Happy Mother's Day.

I love you (even when you don't think I do).

Thank you for choosing me.

Thank you for praying for me.

Thank you for choosing to love me.

While You Were Holding Me

You were showing what it means to live by faith..."