Chinese food takeout and watching a movie at home was the way our family celebrated straight A report cards, sports wins, job promotions and other special events. We started this family tradition before our sons were born. It wasn’t superstitious. It was just fun.
After we ate the Chinese food, we opened the fortune cookies and read our fortunes out loud. If we liked the fortune, we saved it and ate the cookie. If we didn’t like it, we threw the fortune and cookie away.
For our third wedding anniversary, Ed and I went to a Chinese restaurant. Over dinner, we excitedly talked about our decision to adopt a baby since we could not have children due to my endometriosis. At the end of the meal, we opened the fortune cookies and read our fortunes out loud.
Ed’s fortune said, “Any children around you could contribute to your cheerfulness.”
My fortune said, “Good news of a long-awaited event will arrive soon.”
Ed said, “God communicates in so many ways, why not through a cookie?” We laughed. I took the fortunes home and glued them into my journal.
A few weeks later, I felt queasy for days. I thought, “Could I be pregnant?”
I went to the doctor without telling Ed. The doctor said that against all odds, I was pregnant.
After the doctor, I rushed to purchase a Precious Moments figurine of a little baby. I called Ed and asked him to meet me near his office. He opened the box and asked, “Did God find a baby for us? I said, “Yes, he did! I’m pregnant!” We cried with joy and hugged. Months later, feeling so much love looking into my newborn son’s cherub face, I thought, “With God all things ARE possible.” I believe. No fortune cookie needed.
—-
Leonor “Leo” and Ed Rivera were members of the local Worldwide Marriage Encounter community for 32 of their 34 years of marriage until Ed unexpectedly died of a genetic heart defect on Aug. 1, 2020.
The 2026 Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are June 5-7 and Nov. 20-22 at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua.
Tags: Catholic Marriage
