Look what I got today!!!!!

Today there was a knock on the door and it was our local "Flower Lady", with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and you will never guess what the card said????? Sorry it's late, Happy Mother's Day,

Love, Franceska

They are just beautiful and what a surprise, it made me tear up!! I knew right away who did it. It was a very good and special friend of mine, Rachelle, she's such a gunch at first she said I did not send you anything, but I knew. Thank you so much Rachelle, I love you big!!!

Our Kiddos!!!

The other day Astrud played hookey from school for half a day so we could go and spend the day with Steven and Megan. It was such a good day , I love watching my kids pick on each other, laugh with each other , and just love one another. They took these pictures for me and I really wanted to share them with all of you. It might not look like they are intelligent children , but they really are I promise, they are just DORKS!!!

A gift for Steven

Last night Steven and Megan, Nonny , Poppy ,Aunt Kim, Aunt Kerry, our nephew Greg ,the Bruners and the girls were here for a bar-b-que, just to get together since Steven leaves Monday for training. And we just really want to be with him as much as possible. This is a picture of him opening the watch that Frank and I gave him. He really liked Franks so we wanted him to have one to take to Iraq with him. It is so hard to send your child away, and everyday we get a little closer and that sinking feeling is starting to settle in.

Thank you Christie and Eddie

I got a package in the mail today from Christie and Eddie from Mississippi. It was a bib that I have resisted from buying for quite some time now. It says "GROOVY BABY", and a beautiful pair of Ladybug earrings. Thank you Christie and Eddie, I love all of it. you have become such a blessing in my life!!! Love you.

Introducing the BRUNER'S

Hi everybody, here are the Bruner's, they are like family, and we love them so much. We have been close friends/family since around 1999, we have went through so many trials and so many laughs and I am sure there are plenty more to come. The oldest is Chelsey,she is the same age as Steven, then Charlie, then Haley, and she is the same age as Astrud, then there is Drake which is the same age as Jade. I just wanted to introduce them to you, all of our kids have grown up together and love each other very much and are very protective of each other. We are so proud of all of them!!!

WHAT A GREAT DAY YESTERDAY WAS!!!

Yesterday was a great day , first I received my Cyber Shower present in the mail from Tracy and Jeremy Meltzer in New York, and I loved it!!! It was a Munchkin bag with a set of disposable spoons and cups with lids and a pack of wipes. THANK YOU SO MUCH TRACY AND JEREMY!!

And a friend of mine from many ,many years ago finally found me. I have been searching around for her for years. Her name is Elise and I just love her. She has a son named Ryan and her husbands name is Mike. I am so excited to have her in my life again!!! Frank has always called her Herme, cause of the little character from Rudolph that wants to be a Dentist. As soon as I get an updated picture I will post it here on the blog. Again I am so excited for her to be back in my life. Thank God for little surprises!!

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!!!!!!

I FEEL LIKE THIS ANGEL , WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!! THAT IS ALL WE DO!! THE PLACES EVERYONE EMAIL IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT ON THE 4TH OF EVERY MONTH, AND I AM SO ANXIOUS TO SEE IF WE ARE OUT OF THE REVIEW ROOM, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CHINESE HOLIDAY GOING ON SO WE HAVE TO WAIT!!!!!

This is Kyndall, Garret and Zane!!

I just wanted to introduce all of you to Kyndall (her name should have been Lauren so that is what I call her), Garret, and Zane!! Their mom Amy is one of my best friends and this blog was really created for her. Her husband's name is Rick and he is in the Air Force. They had to move to Virginia so this is how she can really keep up with all that is going on and so she is always informed of what is going on with Franceska. After all she is her Aunt Amy!! We miss them so much and we love them bigger than the sky!!!

THEY DID IT AGAIN!!!!

Real quick before we leave for church, yesterday Astrud and her team LV HEAT had a big tournament at U.T.S.A. in San Antonio and won the championship game for the 2nd week in a row! They are awesome and I can't wait to see what these girls do in their freshman year next year!!!! GO HEAT!!!!

More of Franceska's Room

These next few pictures are of the lamp I made , the rocking chair Aunt Kim has given me to use , the baby is going to use her Big Sister's bed from 14 years ago, the Chest of drawers I also stained for her. The lady bug plaque actually has 3 more to it that say Ladybug Fly Away Home, and that is from Aunt Kerry, Her lavender pillow with her name on it I just love, I think it is so pretty! And her name over her bed and last but not least every baby needs a burp rag that says, "BABY LONGHORN"!!!!! I hope all of you have enjoyed your virtual tour of Franceska's room, now all we need is HER!!!

Franceska's Room

Hi everybody , I thought I would show off Franceska's room to all of you. Katy still has one more roll of wallpaper to put up , but I think we still have enough time!! The first picture is of the light switch plate, the little cross is from Jessica and I just love it. And the other picture is just of her corner shelf that I stained myself. I hope you think the room is pretty , I sure do!

SPRINGTIME PICTURE

Here is Astrud, Jade, Lily and Rayn on the pile of dirt in our front yard that is supposed to be on the grass!! lol Next spring there will be a 5th little girl and we can't wait!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!

Saturday , April 21st was our LID one year anniversary!!!! It was a good day in my eyes because if things stay the same we are looking @ 5 to 6 more months only and I say only because we have 12 behind us and oh it feels so good to not be at the end of the line anymore!!!! It was also a good day since Astrud and her Club Volleyball team LV HEAT took 1st place at the Hill Country Open tournament in Austin , Texas. They played AWESOME, and it was Astrud's best tournament yet!!! She played great!!! So anyway HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring Break at Graceland

During Spring Break, my Mama and Daddy, my two sisters, the four girls and I went to Memphis to visit Graceland. Here is a picture of all of us at the infamous gates of Graceland! You can't see Rayn because she had finally fallen asleep.

This photo of Daddy and me was taken at the Rock'n Roll Cafe, a restaurant right next door to Graceland in Memphis. The food was good...very very FRIED, but good!

This photo of my niece Rayn was taken at the pool at our hotel. She was being silly!! We had a really good time, but really missed Frank and Ricky!

A Family's Prayer Request

On Monday of this week , Steven and Megan came to the house to let us know that Steven had been deployed again for his 2nd tour in Iraq. God blessed us so much the first time by bringing Bubba and the rest of his unit home safe. We ask you to please pray for him and the guys that the Lord will watch over them again and bring them all home safely. He will leave for Fort Dix in New Jersey at the end of May , go to Iraq in September and come home the following May. He will miss Astrud's freshman year and he won't be here when Franceska comes home so when he comes home we will just have to have another big party. In our family picture , Steven is the one in the green t-shirt. Please pray for Steven. God bless all of you and tonight hug your children really really tight.

A Big Giant Thank You

I would love to take this opportunity to thank someone that has very rapidly became an important and special part of my life. Thank you Christie Daniels from Petal, Mississippi for creating our blog and teaching me a thing or two!! We have become such great friends and we have never even spoken on the phone. Everybody she is GREAT!!!!Thank you and God bless you Christie!! And she has a great name too!! You can click on her blog also, "Our Red Thread Journey".

This is a photo of Christie and one of her students. She teaching students with special needs at an alternative school in Mississippi.

About Our Family

We are Frank and Kristy Rodriguez. We have a son, Steven who is 22. We have a 14-year-old daughter named Astrud and are awaiting the referral of our daughter Franceska from China. Frank has four beautiful children - Chastity (29), Christopher (27), Craig (23) and Kelly (19).

We have been blessed with a wonderful, loving family. My parents Harold and Sudie and Frank’s mom Marcella and late father Joe mean the world to us.

I have two sisters, Kim and Kerry who are the wind beneath my wings! And a brother-in-law Ricky. They are a great source of support to me as are my beautiful nieces Jade (11), Lily (7) and Rayn (2).

Frank has four brothers (Joe, Jr., Oscar, Victor and Mark) and two sisters (Olga and Maryann).And our sister-in-laws Cindy, Belia Lorrie, and Michelle and all of their children our neices and nephews that we love so so much!!

Kristy is a fourth generation resident of LaVernia and it is a wonderful town to call home. We are surrounded by lifelong friends and family. In addition to thanking God for our wonderful life, we also want to thank Him for my wonderful Godson Jacob and his sister Alex, Jessica and the entire Bruner family!!! And our La Vernia First Baptist Church Family, we don't know what we would do without each of you!

Some Special Family Photos

We wanted to take a few minutes to share a couple of special family photos with you all. We hope you enjoy them!

A Mei Mei for Astrud

This is our beautiful daughter, Astrud. She is waiting on her Mei Mei (little sister) Franceska!

Some Thoughts To Make The Wait Easier.

The following verses have provided my family and me with great comfort as we wait for the referral of our daughter from China.

When a child is born an invisible red thread reaches out to all important people who will enter the childs life. As the child grows, the threads shorten, bringing those people who are destined to be together....
Chinese Proverb

Do not be afraid, for I will bring your children from the East and gather them from the West.
Isaiah 43:5

Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Galations 6:9

Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.
Colossians 1:11