Si Yu'us ma'åse' para i bendision-miyu, nana yan tata: Thank you for your blessing, my nana and tata. As I sit here contemplating a strong, heartfelt story to express, I am deeply moved by how much this will touch the core of my soul and melt my heart. Although I am not afraid, I am a Chamoru inspirational storyteller humbly here to share the memories that will forever be instilled in me. I was blessed to have a multiple set of grandparents: The Baleto’s of Santa Rita, The Unsiog-Charfauros of Santa Rita and Agat, and The Sahagon’s of Agat. Growing up with all of them gave me the opportunity to gain a special platonic love and affection; for example, I can never forget Grandma Baleto’s slice of her famous, freshly-baked apple pie and Grandpa Baleto’s top-secret homemade sweet iced tea, but what you may not know was that the Baleto grandparents had a beautiful love story during World War II: As Grandma Baleto raised her children alone, my grandfather Baleto was considered a prisoner of war, and during and after the war, my grandmother was heard silently crying herself to sleep, but still gave the equal love and attention to her children. Though my grandmother Baleto never gave up hope that one day her true love would come back, she was faithful that her twinflame, her soulmate, and her asagu’ (spouse) would one day return to her. Finally, prayers and her faith in God, herself, and her husband led her to the grace of God’s power; Grandpa Baleto returned to her arms in the embrace of a moment they would never forget in their unforgettable love story. Every Sunday after mass, my adopted parents and I visit them and spend a few hours together for breakfast, where my cousins, aunties, and uncles also join us. It is always so pleasant. The greatest gift the entire Baleto family gave me was acceptance, and, despite being different and physically out of place, I was always included and loved just the same. And Grandma and Grandpa Baleto would make it clear to my cousins.Grandma Unsiog-Charfauros was the hardest-working chicken kelaguen maker in Santa Rita. You are definitely from Santa Rita if you are the one who tries to beat the line to buy her fresh homemade tortilla and chicken kelaguen wrap at six in the morning. Her ability to be a Chicken kelaguen maker, a seamstress, raise six children, and be a full-time homemaker, a workaholic, devoted to her schedule, always right on the dot, with no excuses. Although she was very private and independent, and publicly chose not to attend mass, I secretly discovered a unique way she attends mass. In her bedroom, inside a sealed closet, I discovered beautiful lit-up Catholic candles of Jesus and Mother Mary. Her faith was always within her own realm, her connection with God, and her sanctuary where she can pray in her time, her way, and her way of peace and tranquility. Although I haven’t had many opportunities to get to know my Grandma and Grandpa Sahagon, when I had the chance to spend even a moment with Grandma Sahagon, I always felt I didn’t want to let her go. Her warm embrace, her acceptance, her love, and her wisdom make her a rare, shiny seashell placed by the light of God’s divine providence at the beach shore of Agat. I am turning this opportunity for my cousin, Sara Aliza Coletta Sahagon, and my sister, Lolanie Charfauros Moniz Mesa, to elaborate on the beauty of Grandma Sahagon of Agat. In a more colorful detail, my cousin Sara Aliza says, “Our culture and traditions that Grandma and Grandpa Sahagon instilled in every child they raised are my drive for everything I do. Although I never got to meet grandpa, he knew how to find fun in the dull times. He was firm but still loved laughter more than sadness. Grandma Sahagon was God’s greatest blessing on Earth. Her patience, nurturing personality, and willingness to serve were just a few things I admired about her. My grandparents combined created wonderful children that I am so blessed to be guided by every day. Since I have been home. Their teachings made me a well-rounded teacher...to be firm, but nurturing.” My sister Lolanie mentions, “My story is limited in comparison to her depth of LOVE she could give to all her 'Children. She almost tendered her earrings, worn to gift to my daughter Tehya... that’s grandma’s Heart of Pure Love, refined as a Heart of Gold. She gives her last dollar and everything for us, her “My Children.” That’s what she defined us as.”I stand beside my family, as it is so important to us not only as a Filipino or Chamoru clan of Guam, but also as a strong reflection, a heightened moment of pure, genuine, unconditional love coming from the main generation that began before our time. It is our time and our moment to carry and teach the coming generation the true meaning of what our nana and tata had instilled in their wisdom, talents, personalities, and strengths in us. My question is... will you pass on the same lesson of life to your descendants?Indeed, we are uniquely created, divinely timed, chosen, or destined. We are the gift from God, and your nana and your tata saw you before you even saw yourself. Whether blood-related or not, they knew your power and abilities. Deep in the core, I wish I could turn back time, and just ask them, “Nana and Tata, can you give me another slice of your apple pie and sweet tea? Could you hug me one more time so I won’t let you go? Could I help you make chicken kelaguen? Now, I ask you, my familia and friends of Guam... What would you ask your nana and tata?