Day 3 in Mexico city visiting Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe
“Am I not here? Don’t be afraid. Am I, who am your Mother, why be afraid?” (“No Estoy Aqui?No tengas miedo. ¿No estoy yo aquí, que soy tu Madre?” – Mother Mary’s words to Juan Diego during her apparition 493 years ago in the Tepeyac Hills in Guadalupe, Mexico city 
The miraculous image that appeared on the tilma (cloak) of Juan Diego should have disintegrated already on this day but it has miraculously survived for 500 years, including a bomb attack, earthquake and acid spraying, despite being made of cactus fiber which typically disintegrates in 20-40 years. Seeing it with my own eyes, I cannot describe how blessed I am! 
Thank you Mama Mary!
Mary is our Mother! And if she is our Mother, why be afraid? Seems so simple, yet for me it was a profound realization. And what better place to have it than right in the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe, during Spanish Mass with 2 kids, husband and my 72-year old mom (still healthy and we feel blessed to travel with her), where, for over an hour we sat and prayed just a few feet away, staring at this miraculous image, given as a sign for the conversion of many pagans (Indians killing and sacrificing humans, and up to this day many conversions of non-Catholics).
She continuously takes care of us, her children, interceding to Jesus, our own needs, be it financial, health or any desires of our hearts. 
