One Plus One Equals Ten

Introduction This book is written with a great deal of love. My purpose for doing it was to let you, my children know about the life of your father even before we became your parents. It is also an account of our relationship and our love for God and one another and for each of you our children. In writing it, I was able to experience many, many wonderful memories some of which are nestled deep within my heart. Each one of you is a special gift from God and I give thanks to God for our treasured gifts. Exaggerations of course have been made by me about some of our day to day experiences of family life. We all know our life was not perfect. This writing was also therapeutic in nature. It has taken a number of years to complete this book which started with journaling to help me experience my grief and to feel closer to Jesus and to Al. It was like walking hand in hand with the two of them. With great love and thanks to Almighty God I was able to finish this book for my beloved children and grandchildren. This is also with great love in my heart for all who have become husbands and or wives of my children. I cannot express my love, words cannot do justice. I have been blessed with the gift of you all in my life. We, as a couple, and all of us as a whole family have not lived a perfect life. We have had many hills and valleys, our struggles and, our accomplishments, sunshine and clouds, joys and sorrows on our journey. We have prevailed because God has been the center of our lives. We have celebrated the joys and accepted the sorrows. We do not always agree with one another, but we always accept one another, and hold one another up when the going gets rough. We love one another. Where does one begin to tell the story of a deep, burning love affair between two people who vowed “till death do us part” and indeed it was death that parted them, and ended their love as they knew it. That is to say it was changed, not ended. The two major players in this story are Alphonse R. Formica, and Mary C. Hamm to become Mary C. Formica. Since me, Mary C. Formica will be the storyteller, this will be from the point of view of a woman who loved and was loved very deeply. True love is one the greatest gifts God can ever give a person in this life. It is also an active gift, and one that needs constant care and nurturing. It is like a spring garden that has been planted. It needs watering with tenderness, care and self sacrifice. You cannot walk away from it and expect it to grow, but with care, it will grow and flourish beyond your wildest dream. There may be a question about my math ability regarding the title of this book, but rest assured that one Alphonse R. Formica, plus one Mary C. Formica with the creative genius of Almighty God did result in a total of ten. Our number increased by one each of the following years Anastasia 1962, Anthony 1963, Maria 1964, Mary Rita1966, Ann, 1967, Ellen 1970, Joseph 1973 and Jennifer 1974. So our number was ten, but we have to subtract one as our little Maria only lived among us on earth for two days. God saw fit to care for her in heaven. Then there were nine. What a house full, what a beautiful, wonderful house full. There are still days when I just meditate on this family and thank God for giving us such great gifts. Allow me to take you back to the beginning of this relationship which would go on for three years of (sort of) courtship and thirty-one years of marriage. What a very brief period of time as I look back on it. What a great deal to accomplish in that period of time. I am completely convinced that God has a divine plan and He gives us the time, energy and the means to accomplish our mission, which is the plan. All we have to do is cooperate with the graces sent to us and have faith, hope and love.