I always wanted children. My marriage was annulled after three years and I was without children. I began the arduous journey of adoption. It was expensive, tedious, painful, and very, very thorough. I was required to provide hundreds of pages of documentation about my character, my education, my faith, my physical health, my financial status, my home, and on and on. Despite the chiding of some friends and relatives that I was no longer a young woman and children would be difficult to raise alone, I pursued my dream with prayer and determination. When I turned 40 years of age, I finally was told that there was a baby girl for me in Guatemala. I traveled to that country to hold that baby and complete the adoption process. Two years later, I adopted another baby girl from Guatemala. They are Joanna Katherine Elsa Pelio, now 19 years old, and Jeanna Gail Pelio, now 17 years of age. I wanted to put into writing the joys and wonderful memories I've had raising them so far. Here is my poem to my wonderful and beautiful daughters by their mother, Judith Ann Pelio (Judy)

ONE MOMENT AT A TIME
A LOVE POEM TO MY CHILD

All my life I wanted you
My little nursery rhyme.
And then you came, my life was changed,
One moment at a time.

When I first held you in my arms
And saw your lovely face,
My eyes filled up, my legs got weak,
My heart began to race.

I checked your fingers and your toes,
Into your eyes I gazed.
That very moment in our time,
Has left my heart amazed.

Just yesterday, I watched you play
You skipped and jumped and ran,
And when we went outside to walk
You loved to hold my hand.

Just yesterday, I tucked you in
And kissed you on the cheek.
We sang and joked and laughed out loud
And then you fell asleep.

Just yesterday, you slept with me,
We snuggled in my bed
And we would laugh at silly things
That both of us had said.

Just yesterday, you had no cares,
You gave them all to me.
And all your wishes, hopes, and dreams
I’d make reality.

Just yesterday, you said so much
About so many things.
And you would spread your arms so wide
Pretending you had wings.

Just yesterday, you were a kid,
So tiny and so small.
My eyes still see the wonders of
The day you learned to crawl.

The day you learned to walk alone,
The days you fell and cried.
The nights the bogeyman chased you,
‘til in my bed you climbed.

My eyes still see your heels and gowns,
Your pearls and gloves and hats.
The times you played your baseball games
With mitts and spikes and bats.

My eyes still see my little child
So young and yet so smart.
The times I picked you up to hold,
And pull you to my heart.

My eyes still see you as my babe,
Although you are a teen.
For me the mommy days are gone,
My plans are now your dreams.

The years have passed, they flew right by,
You grew up overnight,
And now it’s iPods, friends, and phones,
And clothes that must look right.

My wish for you is that you’ve learned
How love will get you through.
And that some day you’ll teach your kids
The things I once taught you.

Before you grow into adult,
A day that soon will dawn,
Please know that you have changed my life
The moment you were born.

So listen well, my dear sweet child,
You are my nursery rhyme,
For you have been my endless breath,
One Moment At A Time.