#brian mulligan

[alainas-sims]

On a rainy day in Oasis Springs at the Sagrado Corazón Catholic Church, Carolina Vera Marquez, age 18, married Brian Seamus Mulligan, also 18. The ceremony was attended by a handful of family and friends of the bride and groom.

[alainas-sims]

On a warm May afternoon at Sagrado Corazón Church, Arturo Marquez and Valeria Hernandez’s family and friends gathered together to watch as the young couple was married. Just as his older sister and her husband had been, Arturo and Valeria were just 18 years old, yet filled with commitment to make a promise that would last a lifetime.

[alainas-sims]

On a cool autumn day, Nora Mulligan married Alan McGregor. Everyone agreed that Nora looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress and that she and Alan would be very happy together. Though Adela had once held on to a sense of shame that Alan had turned her down to be with her cousin, she watched the ceremony wishing nothing but the best for the newlyweds.

[alainas-sims]

Adela’s Diary

Cousin John married his fiancée, Holly Vinedal, in a beautiful ceremony today. I can hardly believe he is almost 20 years old! Holly’s dress was so beautiful— it was more lace than I have seen on any other dress before.

Nora cannot stop dreaming about having her own glamorous wedding someday. “I’ll be next, Adelita, I assure you,” she said. It got me thinking about my own future and my parents’ expectations for me to get married. Will I find a true love just as John and Holly have?

[alainas-sims]

Carolina and Brian came to visit Valeria with their children to celebrate Valeria’s pregnancy, as did Beatriz and her toddler, Ernesto. The Marquezes’ dining room and living area was crowded and filled with love. Adela immediately connected with her cousin, Nora. The children’s Abuela Liliana paid a visit as well. She was proud of the home and family that her only son had made for himself.

[alainas-sims]

After a brief engagement, Josefina Marquez married Adriano Adamo. Liliana was pleased to see her youngest child had found love at last but it was bittersweet that Josefina’s father couldn’t be there to see the wedding.

The newlyweds would move in with Josefina’s aging mother and take care of the Rancho de Marquez, where Adriano had access to the gardens he’d come to love. They quickly settled in to the married life.

[alainas-sims]

The funeral for Alberto Marquez was held in the same church he had attended Mass and celebrated his wedding, but he was buried in a cemetery beside a small chapel. Alberto’s family came to bid him farewell.

None were more devastated than his widow, Liliana. Both her parents had lived long and healthy lives and she knew she would have many years time to spend without her beloved husband.

[alainas-sims]

Dear Mamá and Papá,

Your grandson John is now a charming and independent little toddler and bears an uncanny resemblance to his father, Brian. I think about how blessed we are to have our little one every day. However, though Brian and I have discussed expanding our family, we have had no such luck yet, and it has made me sad. I pray to La Virgen Maria to help me conceive as John would like a little sibling. Wishing you all the best especially Arturo as he is engaged to Valeria.

Love, Carolina