Called to a Holy Family
By
Eddie & Aimee Cerdeiras
Almost everyone we knew who had a commitment to God from a vocations perspective began as a calling through the influence of a holy person, a saint.
Both of us had a similar perspective that began early in our teen years role of Mary and Joseph. Our calling was married life. Our awareness was based on thought and desires based, not on what normal teenagers go through such as what profession I desire or what school to go to, but rather, what type of person I want to marry, how many kids we want to have and most important how do we want to raise our children.
Both of us, independently, cherished these desires, which allowed us to unite together with the belief that God placed us together to conclude His plan.
One of the most difficult moments early in our marriage was to break away from mainstream marriage life even though we both had a college education/profession. That required sacrifice. I was to work while Aimee was to stay home and raise the kids, but with a purpose - to have a balanced life under the model of "The Holy Family" from Nazareth.
The preventive system of Don Bosco was extremely influential in the way we raised our kids in order for them to be balanced. Today, we can truly say that our family is truly Salesian.
In 1994, We faced a very difficult situation. Our second child, Daniel was diagnosed with autism. Back then autism was very new and the prognosis was weak. We refused to succumb to medication, however, we exercised every mean of physical therapy and nutrition. Aimee, also decided to home school, not only Daniel, but our oldest daughter Jennifer too. But the most bold decision we made as a family was to consecrate Daniel to Don Bosco. Today, Daniel is a 23 year old, normal young man finishing his degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology.
By not seeking success but rather faithfulness, after 30 years we can truly say that we have been blessed - 4 children and 2 grandchildren (so far). All four children have pursued a college education with a purpose of making the next generation better, all for the glory of God.
Our advice to young couples who feel they are called to married life is to emulate the life of Mary and Joseph - be involved with everything in their children's lives and let go when it is time, as Mary and Joseph did.
Both of us had a similar perspective that began early in our teen years role of Mary and Joseph. Our calling was married life. Our awareness was based on thought and desires based, not on what normal teenagers go through such as what profession I desire or what school to go to, but rather, what type of person I want to marry, how many kids we want to have and most important how do we want to raise our children.
Both of us, independently, cherished these desires, which allowed us to unite together with the belief that God placed us together to conclude His plan.
One of the most difficult moments early in our marriage was to break away from mainstream marriage life even though we both had a college education/profession. That required sacrifice. I was to work while Aimee was to stay home and raise the kids, but with a purpose - to have a balanced life under the model of "The Holy Family" from Nazareth.
The preventive system of Don Bosco was extremely influential in the way we raised our kids in order for them to be balanced. Today, we can truly say that our family is truly Salesian.
In 1994, We faced a very difficult situation. Our second child, Daniel was diagnosed with autism. Back then autism was very new and the prognosis was weak. We refused to succumb to medication, however, we exercised every mean of physical therapy and nutrition. Aimee, also decided to home school, not only Daniel, but our oldest daughter Jennifer too. But the most bold decision we made as a family was to consecrate Daniel to Don Bosco. Today, Daniel is a 23 year old, normal young man finishing his degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology.
By not seeking success but rather faithfulness, after 30 years we can truly say that we have been blessed - 4 children and 2 grandchildren (so far). All four children have pursued a college education with a purpose of making the next generation better, all for the glory of God.
Our advice to young couples who feel they are called to married life is to emulate the life of Mary and Joseph - be involved with everything in their children's lives and let go when it is time, as Mary and Joseph did.