WOG conference

What an inspirational night it was to

be at the Woman of God conference last night.

My sisters aside from Mone who remains in the hospital,

and my Tedi-girl and Rebecca were all there to give

family support and for some of them,

it is the first time they actually hear the story

of the Riera life and how I, because of God,

understood how very fortunate I have been.

So many of my old friends were there,

Laurie and Lindsey,

Camille and lea,

Lena and Roxy,

Rachel and Antoinette,

and so many other people from my past.

Sad part is so many came to me after to share that

they too were living some of the hell that comes with

drug addiction in a family.

Wish this disease could be wiped right off the face of the Earth.

Yet, it lives on and it will take people with big mouths

such as me to spread the word of hope and help for

those families that are suffering.

I Love speaking in front of audiences but I mostly

love that hopefully my testimony has helped someone else

to find peace and serenity because what was it all for

if not to share with others?

We have been the fortunate ones to have beat

the dreaded disease in our immediate family two times.

We are blessed and as I promised God many years ago,

I will tell this story every time asked,

shout it from the rooftops in thanksgiving for

what He, the ultimate Big Man has given us.

Having peace and serenity are two of the the things

I prize the most, two things that money cannot buy

that are priceless to those who are blessed enough

to find them.

I don't know why I have been so blessed,

why the tragedies in my life has always turned into miracles

but I will never take them for granted and if

this "diarrhea of the mouth" issue is how

I show my thanks then so be it.

So glad that I know my God and He understands me,

and I will end with my favorite quote again because

every time I say it, I believe in it that much more:

I WOULD RATHER LIVE MY WHOLE LIFE AS IF

THERE IS A GOD AND DIE TO FIND OUT THERE ISN'T,

THAN TO LIVE MY LIFE AS IF THERE ISN'T

AND DIE TO FIND OUT THERE IS."

albert camus