thebride

I was born on March 9, 1972 to proud parents Ricardo Febre Lopez and Maria Elena Aidaluz Asuncion Navalta Lopez. I sadly lost my father at the age of 10.

My family and I moved to United States when I was 12. We lived in St. Louis, Missouri where I studied at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Elementary School and later attended Buerkle Junior High.

We moved to Vallejo, California at the beginning of my 8th grade. I studied at Solano Junior High.

I went back to St. Louis and went to Mehlville Senior High School. This is where I learned prejudicism and the "differences" between races, which I later found out - there is none. This is where I learned that in high school, your "status" count. I learned the difference between the "in-crowd," "the jocks," "the dweebs," "the hooisers," etc. Which I later learned that it didn't really matter after all. I learned plenty in high shcool. Not so much educational wise but more

survive. Come out of it stronger, smarter, wiser, with more confidence in myself and more faith in God. As we all know, not everything lasts forever and things do change, especially people.

I am currently working as a Litigation Legal Assistant/Paralegal with the law firm of Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady & Rabkin in San Francisco.

I now have the opportunity to start anew with the man I married on November 23, 2001. On this first day of our forever, I wore a beige dress from the 2001 collection of Scott McClintock. I wore a tiara and pearl jewelries including my most treasured pearl necklace from Grandma Ponching. She gave me this necklace that she's owned since she was in her early twenties when I had Ricky.

My bouquet consisted of two dozens of red roses made by myself, my sister Rica and Jun the night before our wedding. My something borrowed was two one-dollar bills borrowed from my mother-in-law pinned inside my dress and my something blue was a little silk flower also pinned under my dress. My something new? Well, my dress and my pearl ring - a gift from my husband...

so the facts of life. I learned that I had the ability to write anything I wanted and others found enjoyment to it. I learned that the more friends I had, no matter what their status was, I had more shoulders to cry on, to lean on and to learn from. I learned there will always be that one teacher, Ms. Hachegechog, who will always believe in you, see your potential and encourage you to no end. Someone who I can trust and love and keep in touch with to this day.

After graduating from high school a semester early, I married my first husband, Vinnie who I thank each and everyday for giving me the most wonderful son, Ricky, any parent can have. Ricky gave me the will-power to live and strive hard to achieve each goal I've set for myself. He gave me the meaning of "priorities in life" and will always be my reason for living, keep going and know that no matter how hard it can get, God is always there with us to help us through and carry us when He needs to. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for Ricky and his Father. I wouldn't know so much about myself if it wasn't for them. I wouldn't have had the courage and strength to learn new things. I wouldn't have known that I can handle life's trials and tribulations and