Our Madelyn Rose

Free At Last
Written by Brenda Penepent, LPN

I want to play and soar and dream.
Fly above the fields until I am free.
No pain, no sorrow and no fear,
Can touch me now that I am here.
Breathe in the breeze and feel the sun,
Across my face, I run and run!!!
I play and laugh among the trees.
Alive! Alive! I breathe! I breathe!
With legs so strong, I run so fast;
The world just smiles as I go past.
Sweet laughter bubbles up inside,
For freedom long denied, denied.
No tears, no pain, remembered here,
I’ve been released from all my fears,
To run and laugh until the day
When all bad things have passed away.

Two years ago today, after battling for more than a month with pneumonia, the Lord healed my sweet Madelyn Rose forever. Today, at this very moment, my daughter is safe in the arms of Jesus.

Madelyn was born on October 25, 2004. Our fourth child; a special gift from the Lord, arriving at the perfect time in our lives. At birth, she looked so beautiful, so full of life and so aware of her surroundings that I just couldn't take my eyes off of her.

For the first time I felt that one of the purposes in my life was to be a mother; the mother that God wanted me to be for my earthly children. At that very moment I also realized that my children were God's children first. That He knew them since the instant they were conceived, He numbered their days on this earth and He has entrusted me to care for them (A challenging and noble calling I must say). I thank God for His precise plan in our lives, He does not make mistakes, His ways are always perfect. After having Madelyn I learned to seek Him more, to trust Him more and I begun to appreciate the beauty of his creation even more.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

Today I rejoice in the promise of the Lord; the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).


Here are pictures of my precious Maddy that I will always treasure: Growing up in Grace !

6 months old, April 2005

In her crib, April 25, 2005 (6 months old)

April 25, 2005 (6 months old)

With Abuela & Papi, April 23, 2005


First time eating solid foods, May 4, 2005 (6 moths old)


Maddy and Me, May 2005 (7 months old)

May 25, 2005, 7 months old

She found Jared's Pizza, June 10, 2005 (7 moths old)

Enjoying Jared's lunch @ 7 months

Madelyn and William, August 2005

9 months old, July 25, 2005

Crawling around the house, August 25, 2005

Jared's & Jack's birthday, September 9, 2005


Halloween 2005, 1 year old, taking little steps


October 31, 2005, 1 year old


We celebrated her 1st birthday on Halloween night

Christmas Eve 2005, waiting for Santa

Christmas Eve 2005

Christmas Day 2005, Maddy helping in the kitchen




After opening all her presents, she was looking for more


January 2006. She got 1st place in a beauty pageant


Easter 2006

Jacquelyn and Madelyn Easter morning 2006

Madelyn with Daddy and Jared. Easter 2006


May 2006. Look what Jacquelyn did to her hair

My handy Maddy, May 2006


Father's Day 2006



Father's Day 2006 after dinner

Our family at Universal, July 2006


With Abuela and Papi, August 2006



Maddy & Daddy, August 2006




Maddy & me, August 2006



August 2006

September 2006



Kissing Mandito, September 2006

Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday to Jared

At Jared's 5th birthday party, picking up candy from the pinata, September 2006

Hiding from me inside my kitchen cabinets, September 2006

Her second birthday, October 25, 2006

Halloween night 2006, celebrating her birthday

October 31, 2006. Her second birthday party.

At Opa Restaurant in Miami, October 2006, 2 years old


And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)