In Plain Sight | May 2026

May 31, 2026

A Journey Across the World to Find What was Always There

I heard recently that we don’t learn from our experiences. We learn when we reflect on our experiences.

In the book The Alchemist, the protagonist travels across deserts to find a hidden treasure, only to realize it was buried back at his starting point all along. I just traveled over 10,000 miles—from the East Bay to Singapore and finally to the Philippines—to find the family I’d longed for for a lifetime. And I found them! Meeting my relatives in the Philippines was a blessing and a gift I will treasure forever.

The greatest realization happened in the quiet moments of my flight home. This journey to my homeland challenged my faith in the best way possible. I’ve always believed that God is sovereign and has already written our stories. This trip gave me the "clarity" to see that the rejection, abuse & voids I suffered early in life weren't mistakes—it was all part of God's plan, which He used to build the woman I am today. If I trust Him (which I do), then I trust that every chapter happened for a reason.

I realized that while I was searching for belonging on the other side of the world, I already had it right here. My husband and my son have loved me, accepted me, and genuinely wanted to know me every single day. I had that "big family" I prayed for all along. They are the treasure I was looking for.

I learned how one person's decision can completely change another's life trajectory and how God’s mercy & grace are even more powerful. Standing on the Barretto shore to replicate a photo of my 2-year-old self was my “full circle” moment. The "romanticized" father I used to wonder about from Ocean Beach in San Francisco has been replaced by the reality of a Heavenly Father who has never left my side. He was there when I was two, welcomed me back as an adult, and has been with me throughout my entire life.

Standing there, I realized I’d finally moved from searching for information to resting in God's mercy & grace. I realized that I don’t have a "right" to every answer. Some hurts are too deep to be retold, and I’ve chosen compassion over curiosity.

I flew back to my boys in California with a grateful heart and a contented spirit. I’ve decided that for the rest of my life, I will focus on the people who actually want to know me and be known by me - the ones who choose me back.

The journey isn't over; it’s just beginning. I am home, I am loved, and I am at peace.

In His Loving Grace,

Rica