Mari Diaz Leyba

Mi historia

I am a 38yr old mother of 2, and a wife to a wonderful man. I am blessed to have what God has given me and blesses that God has chosen such great parents for myself and my siblings. I was born and raised in this small, touristy German town of New Braunfels. My dad risked his life first crossing the border to find a place to bring his wife(my mom) and 4 kids and 1on the way. I am #7 of 8 kiddos. My dad, Felix M. Diaz was born and raised in Matehuala. Mx. he is now 82yrs young...my mom an 80yr old wonderful Mexicana was also born and raised in a small town in Coahuila, they moved to Monterrey and met and married. My dad decided he wanted something better for his family, so he crossed the border back in the late 1960's....days w/out eating, no money-he found help and made friends w/a couple in NB. He went back to Laredo where my mom was waiting for him and got my older siblings, and what little stuff they could bring and borded them on a small raft, he swam the way pulling the raft w/my family in it....that dangerous Rio Grande. Everytime I hear this story, I can't help but get so emotional @ the bravery my daddy had performed to save his family. My family settled and made a life here in NB, had 3more children, then came me!! My dad was so afraid to go anywhere because he thought the 'Migra' was gonna catch us and deport US. Well, when I was almost 2mo old, the house we lived in burned....my dad was trying to lite the water heater, when the gas was still going(of course he didn not know)and the match lit and exploded in his face.(funny how as an infant I remember this day clearly and get so emotional), he had 3rd degree burns on 40% of his body. At this time, of course he and most of my family was here illegally, he was transported to what was then BAMC burn unit in San Antonio, Tx. Did I mention this was jst a few days before Christmas, yes...this happened in December 1973. In my life, my daddy is my hero, Felix M Diaz...we had a very tough life, he was an alcoholic(recoved after more than 25yrs.), when he had tough days, he'd cry out for me-since I was his Princesa. My mom, is also a great lady. To keep our family together after so much heartache. She is our Rock. My parents are not US Citizens, they are however they are Permanent Residents. Texas is now there home, because we were all brought up here. Our 1st language was Spanish and now English is our Primary. After my parents raised 8wonderful kids, yes....we are..;). They are now enjoying life as the "Retired Couple", traveling through Co, NM, my mom's dream was to visit the place our ancestor's came from, which is Spain. My parents for the first time will travel out of the continental USA, my mom will see her dream come true. She, my Daddy and my little brother will travel to Germany, Spain, and Italy...I praise God and all the Saints, our family has truly been blessed. And now, they will see all their hardship paid off...this is SOME of my biography. There is plenty more.....thank you IAP!!!!