Thank you for celebrating with us tonight, despite the chaos Hurricane Helene has brought. It’s in moments like these that I’m reminded that life isn’t about what we have, but who we have by our side. Preparation is important, yes, but it’s the people we can count on that truly make the difference.
Think about a moment when you really needed help—maybe you’ve already lived through one. Who was there for you? Who stood by your side, offering support when you needed it most?
For us, Hurricane Helene tried to throw a wrench in Brianna’s 15 Años celebration. But thanks to the love and support of our family and friends, we were able to pull together and make this night happen. Many of us are still without power, still cleaning up the aftermath, but here we are, celebrating a beautiful milestone in Brianna’s life.
I’m thankful that I’ve always been a planner—stocking up on food, water, and other essentials to get through emergencies. But I’ve also witnessed the beauty of community. Neighbors helping each other clean up, offering a hand when it’s most needed. It really puts things into perspective: at the end of the day, people are more important than material things.
Life brings challenges and we have all been through challenges to know we can survive anything. Nothing was ever handed to us, we have worked for everything we have, and we’ve made something out of nothing more times than we can count. We are favored, wise, and discerning, and that’s what keeps us going through times like these.
Tonight, we thank God for this special celebration, with or without power, we are here. That’s dedication, faith, and persistence at work. Despite the stress, the running in circles, and the last-minute venue change because the food and cake were already prepared, we pushed through. Even with long lines to buy last-minute party supplies and drinks, we made it happen. We missed Brianna’s church ceremony, blessing her path of life today because of all the preparations, but we didn’t want to let this special day slip by without celebrating.
A special thank you to everyone who pitched in to make tonight possible: the music, the decorations, the food, the drinks, the lights, the limousine, the generators, and much more. Every task done for this party was done for Brianna in love. It took hard work and dedication. So let’s celebrate, laugh, and have an amazing time together!
When life throws storms your way, remember: it’s not what you have, but who you have by your side that matters.
CRYSTAL TORRES 