From Bridesmaid to Bride: A memoir of a single mother and how her faith in God carried her through this journey

By Damari Pedroza

This memoir is about the journey of a single mother, raising three children and holding on to the hope that her faith in God would see her through challenging and difficult times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385012640

Damari Pedroza

Damari Pedroza, is a Puerto Rican, Licensed Mental Health Counselor who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received two master's degree from Nyack College, One in Mental Health Counseling and one in Professional Studies with a concentration on Urban Ministry Counseling. Pedroza is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Christian Counseling and Psychology. She is the owner and founder of Holding Hands Mental Health Counseling PLLC, a group practice in Ardsley, New York. As a blended family, Pedroza and her husband have four adult children and one grandson. She currently resides in Westchester County, New York.

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Copyright © 2023 Damari Pedroza.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1263-3 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1264-0 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date:  11/20/2023

Contents

Introduction

April 10, 2006

May 6, 2006

June 10, 2007

June 15, 2007

June 17, 2007

June 20, 2007

June 22, 2007

Later In The Night Of June 22, 2007

Somewhere Between 6/22/07-6/25/07

June 25, 2007

June 26, 2007

June 27, 2007

June 28, 2007

June 29, 2007

June 30, 2007

July 3, 2007

July 6, 2007

July 7. 2007

July 8, 2007

July 9, 2007

July 11, 2007

July 13, 2007

July 13, 2007

July 19, 2007

July 20, 2007

July 27, 2007

July 27, 2007

July 30, 2007

August 5, 2007

August 17, 2007

August 18, 2007

August 27, 2007

August 28, 2007

August 29, 2007

September 7, 2007

September 16, 2007

February 20, 2008

October 1, 2009

August 9, 2010

August 10, 2010

August 14, 2010

August 15, 2010

August 17, 2010

August 21, 2010

August 22, 2010

September 5, 2010

September 13, 2010

September 14, 2010

September 16, 2010

September 29, 2010

October 4, 2010

October 5, 2010

October 8, 2010

October 9, 2010

October 10, 2010

October 11, 2010

October 13, 2010

June 02, 2011

February 05, 2012

May 27, 2013

May 30, 2013

November 1, 2013

January 2, 2014

January 5, 2014

April 20, 2014

March 08, 2015

March 27, 2015

April 6, 2015

April 14, 2015

April 16, 2015

April 30, 2015

May 04, 2015

July 04, 2015

July 9, 2015

July 12, 2015

October 28, 2015

January 27, 2016

February 2, 2016

February 5, 2016

February 23, 2016

February 29, 2016

March 8, 2016

March 16, 2016

March 21, 2016

March 28, 2016

April 8, 2016

April 12, 2016

April 20, 2016

May 2, 2016

May 5, 2016

Introduction

For a very long time I have desired to write a book, however, I kept changing things up and going back and forth with what this first book should look like. After much prayer, I remembered that my beautiful, sweet friend had always told me to do a memoir filled with my journal entries as my first book. My friend passed away in 2014. With that said, I decided to go through my journals that are all put away in my closet and to start this process. So, here’s to you my beloved I hope you’re smiling and happy I finally had the courage to do this.

This book is a memoir on me, my life as a single mother, and my hopes for a better future. These are my personal conversations and prayers written to God through my journaling. This is me expressing myself and seeking God during some of my most intimate and most challenging seasons. These journal entries are real however, for the safety of others, some names have been changed. My prayer is that as you read this book, that it will help you to increase in your faith and to see that God’s timing is perfect! May you recognize that He hears our cries and our prayers and that no matter what, He is faithful!! The fruit of my labor is evident, not because I did anything special, but because He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. I chose and continue to choose to grab a hold of God’s garment. The freedom and peace that I have inherited with God, surpasses all understanding, and has made me who I am today. With God ALL things are possible! May my testimonies minister to you in a deep and intimate way and may you draw nearer to God and see that He knows what is best for you and if you follow Him, I promise you, you will NOT be disappointed. So, with that said, buckle up and enjoy the read…

APRIL 10, 2006

Dear Lord,

On Saturday as I poured my heart out to you, I really felt that I desperately needed that cry. I know I cried all day, but as I cried and allowed myself to recall all the hurt and pain that right there in my bathroom, you met me. It was as though a movie replayed in my mind and I saw all the people that have disappointed and hurt me. I saw me living with the family for the entire sixth grade and me crying because I missed my mother and family. Lord, my prayer to you was that if you were real, that you would please allow me to go back to school, possibly obtain my GED, and go to college so I may know big words and know how to use them in the right context. That you would show my kids that you have a purpose for me and that they would see me doing something with my life.

Lord, I cannot believe what happened today. After I took the boys to school and came back home, I remembered that Jenna’s husband about a year ago told me to look into Edward R Murrow High School where they do GED testing and that I should apply. Well, I do not even know how that application process for GED works since I dropped out of school at sixteen years old and that was long ago. Anyway, it was as if the green light in my head went off and I dialed 411 and asked for the number to the school and there was a recording that said, due to the error in Albany GED testing will take place today at 1:00 p.m. Photo identification and sharpened pencils required. Lord, I was astonished and I kept trying to reach someone who could tell me that it was true and that I could indeed take this test. Finally after several attempts, a lady answered and told me that they are no accepting the first hundred people.

Man, I never got the baby ready so quickly and dropped her off at her babysitter’s house. I stopped at the 99 cents store and purchased two packs of Tylenol because with a four-hour test, I may get a headache. I bought two pencils (unsharpened, they did not have a sharpener), and a Snapple iced tea. And what do you know, I took the first half of the GED exam today!!! I am still in awe that this happened to me!! God, I told you today that if you showed up in my life, that’s it no more smoking. God, I mean it. I don’t have much to sacrifice and I know that you do not approve of me smoking, but today it is done. No more smoking!!! Lord, thank you soo much for allowing me to take this test! God, if I can go to college and do something with my life, then I will know that it is because you have heard my cries and have seen me.

MAY 6, 2006

Dear God,

HALLELUJAH!!!!!! I got my GED Diploma in the mail today!!!!! I cannot believe it!!! I had no application, no pretest, nothing!! God, thank you, thank you! For someone that dropped out of school at sixteen years old, I did well on this test. The passing score is 2250 and I scored 2510! I was afraid of the math section since math was never my best subject. The passing score is 410 and I received 470! My highest score was 610 in Language Arts Reading. That’s not a surprise since Mami always bought me books and I love reading. Wow, I am still shocked here as I sit looking at this GED diploma while writing this to you.

God, this feels surreal, and I really would love it if I could go to college and educate myself. My kids must see that you are real and that there is a purpose for me here in this world. Lord, I cannot thank you enough for this! No more smoking and it’s time to make big changes because I want more of you! You heard my heart cry out to you! I cried and you answered. I look forward to all you have in store for me. Again, thank you for this! Now guide me to look into colleges and start that process.

JUNE 10, 2007

Dear Lord,

Today I must say I am quite exhausted. I am still waiting for the machine to finish, and I just hung up the white clothes. I swept the house, and I was anticipating mopping, but the truth is, that won’t be happening tonight. Today I was just feeling so down. I went to church and got prayer and yet, I was still down. I took the kids to the park and let them run around. On my way home I saw their father. Today I really felt broken hearted. Today I cried, not because I am still in love with him or anything but