Franceskas Photo Album

I have a very special friend named Michelle Wilson ,that handed this photo album to me last friday. What you need to know about Michelle is that when her home burned down a couple of years ago she did not want anyone to go out of their way for her husband , beautiful daughter Lexi and herself because she said there are so many more people out there that need the help. She is my friend but we have yet to eat lunch together,or even go shopping together!!! I have always really respected her and really, really loved her as a person and I have always told my sister Kerry that we really need to get together with Michelle!!! What I am trying to say is that she made this for me "JUST BECAUSE". She said that she wanted to be a part of our amazing journey. She goes to my blog daily and when you read this Michelle I hope you know how special and loved you are!!!

I typed out what each page said in the slideshow. You would not believe the detail that just the pictures do not do any justice for. She put so much time and effort into this and the result is absolutely beautiful. Yes all of you who really know me , have to know that I was a blubbering idiot when I got home and really looked at it!!!

The first page says: The Gift of Life

I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my hear I know,
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.

For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn't give you
The Gift of Life,
LIFE GAVE ME THE GIFT OF YOU.



The last page says: Today I kissed an Angel

Today I kissed an Angel
I knew if from the start
The first time my angel smiled at me
I gave away my heart
Today I kissed an angel
This angel child of mine
Though not of my creation
My child by God's design
Today I kissed an angel
My heart is dancing wild,
A family by a miracle
Blessed by this angel child.

My card read: I have been so moved by your spirit. Thanks for sharing your "journey" online for all of us to read. Any child would be blessed to have you as their mom! Michelle

mir*a*cle (mir'e-kel) n. 1. An event that seems impossible to explain by natural laws and so is regarded as an act of God.

wel*come (wel'kem)adj. 1. Received with pleasure and hospitality into one's home. 2. Willing or glad acceptance.

There just isn't anything adequate enough to say for how thankful I am that God put Michelle in my life several years ago. I have this album beside my bed , because it does something for me spiritually, optimistically, positively, and faithfully among many other "ly" words that I just can't think of right now!!! The album is beautiful and not just physically , it was truly a remarkable gift that I will treasure for the rest of my lifetime, and I look forward to filling it with pictures of our little Franceska. Thank you Michelle, I love you and God bless you.

It feels so good outside!!!!

Oh it feels so good outside!!! I know for all of you "up north" people you are probably laughing at me, but it is in the low 50's and the wind is blowing and it just feels great!!!! I love this time of year!!! Happy Monday everybody and I pray God is being as good to you as he is to me!!!!

It is done!!

Saturday , Frank and I had our appointment to redo our fingerprints and it was great compared to the first time. We were there a couple of hours the first time and this time we were there about 30 minutes!!! It has to be a sign of the future don't you think!!!!

Our anniversary and the Cyber Shower!

Today is our 18th month LID anniversary, ok the only thing I have to say about that is that Thank God we are this far and thank you God for keeping me sane!!! Ok so maybe I am a little crazy but it could be worse!!!! But for real I am so thankful that we are as far as we are, because there is light at the end of our tunnel, my heart hurts for those just starting , we have certainly been there and done that!!

And today was also the Cyber Shower that I put together for all of us "Waiting Mommies" all around the country and Puerto Rico. My secret pal was Melissa from Fitchburg, Massachusetts. She is the bomb!!! She went to Target where I am registered and yall will not believe this but she bought me the very first thing that I picked out and scanned!!! The lavender blanket with the Butterfly on it!!! She also picked the Bunny Rabbit hooded bath towel and picked out a pair of moccasin like shoes with butterflies on them!!! I love all of it and it is so exciting to get something for your baby , because it makes it so real!!!!

BLESS HIS HEART!!!

All of you that know me personally , know that I am an extremely blessed girl in the "Husband" department!!! Frank is an incredibly super loving man and he is also a truly strong man of God!! Well he just cracks me up sometimes, and yes I know I said that I would be back next week but I love all of you so much and miss you so big that I just had to share this with you. Ok he called a minute ago and said to me that I am a "CULINARY COMMANDO" !! When making his lunch this morning I cut up some strawberries, made the usual two sandwiches and what he does not know but the cup of peaches , animal crackers and chips that were in there were actually left from the other day so I thought what the heck, leave them in there!!! (hehehe)

So the reason I am a "CULINARY COMMANDO" is that he just knows that the reason I put the peaches and animal crackers in, is I knew he would put the crackers in the peach juice and it would taste like Peach Cobbler!!!!! He thinks I am brilliant!!!! When actually they are leftovers, he just kills me!!!!! God love him!!!! I just had to share this with all of you. I know he is joking but just the simple idea that he would take time out of his busy day to call me and tell me that I am a Culinary Commando just makes my day!!! May all of you be loved this much!!! Love to all!

Hello!!!

Hi everyone, I am just letting all of you know that all is ok with me. There has just been a ton of stuff going on , everybody has been sick, or something. I will be back next week OK!!! Until then I pray all of you are safe and that all of you are healthy and happy!! God Bless you.

What a surprise!!!

Yesterday when I picked Astrud up from V-ball practice she handed me an envelope and said Mom I forgot to give this to you yesterday. I saw that it was from a lifelong friend of mine Kathie. You know when you have one of those friends from elementary all thru high school that you really admire and look up to???? Well Kathie was that for me. She has taught at "our" school for several years now and was also Astrud's 5th grade Math teacher. It felt so comforting having her teach our daughter. We started out as Jr. High Cheerleaders together and I have just always loved her. She is one of those people that you never hear a negative thing come out of her mouth ,and her Mom and sister are exactly the same way. We don't even get to see each other and never spend time together but she is one of those people that you know is just always going to be there and I thank God for that.

Well all of last year her husband Brack was in Beijing,China building the US Embassy and he gave part of his paycheck to GWCA, because he believes that they are an extraordinary organization. What a small world!! So she sent me a postcard with the Great Wall on it , a piece of their currency, and a beautiful pair of chopsticks. I just love all of it. Thank you Kathie, you are a blessing in my life.

IT'S ALL GOOD!!!!

A big giant thank you and hug go out to all of you for your prayers!!! My mammogram came back just fine and my colonoscopy was good, there was no endometriosis growing through!!! PRAISE GOD!!! Now I can schedule my hysterectomy. Again IT'S ALL GOOD, and THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!!

This is one awesome Lady!

I went to the Oatsvall Team blog (look on my list to the right), this morning and Gwen asked us to go to her friend Tina's site so I did. And it was truly inspiring to me. I am so discouraged about the wait and there really is no end in sight and then with all of the stuff going on medically this lady touched me in a way that I can't explain. We are all waiting for something. We wait for Steven to come home, we wait to bring Franceska home, I wait terrrified for the day that my momma won't know who I am , we all wait for more money to pay the bills, we wait to buy that new car, we wait for this , we wait for that!! And all along we know that God has a plan and sometimes that plan just does not reveal itself to us in what we would call a "promptly manner" but Tina really put things into perspective for me. I pray that all of you whatever you are waiting for get what I did out of this sweet lady's words. I think she is so well versed and so accurate about God's love , I only hope that one day I am such a woman of God like her. So if you have an extra minute click on Tina 4 Hope and maybe your day will be a little brighter like mine will. Love and Blessings to all of you. I love you all.

Alright here we go again!!!

OK remember the other day when I felt like roadkill because I had a mammogram. Well guess what???? I got a letter in the mail saying that there is a "questionable area" and so I have to go back tomorrow to be smashed again. >>>> Ok so I am a little nervous, I know I will be alright but I sure would like to know that all of my "Cyber Homegirls" and everyone else would pray a little extra prayer for me. Thanks everyone I love all of you!!!

The Good and the Better New is!!!

Ok the good news is that my weak butt rescheduled my colonoscopy for friday since I could not even imagine pooping myself to death today!!! I realize it has to happen anyway but I am soooooo glad I do not have to do it tomorrow!!

The even better news is that we received our fingerprint renewal appointments in the mail!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!!! The lucky day is October 20th which is a Saturday so Angela I will make sure that they are open!!!! THE CCAA MIGHT NOT BE SHOWING ANY PROGRESS BUT BY GOD THE USCIS IS MY FRIEND TODAY!!!

PUKING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

My weekend sucked!!!! On thursday night I had what I would call a "Gall Bladder" attack , was climbing all over my bed with pain, could not breathe!!! So on friday morning I called my Doctor and she scheduled me an ultrasound , well to make a long story short there were no stones and now I have to have this other 4 hour test!!! WHATEVER!!!
Then by friday night @ 8:00 I was violently puking for the next 13 hours! I felt like shit and wanted to die!! My back and hips were killing me and once again I was climbing all over the bed like a crazy woman! It is now monday morning and I still don't feel normal. I realize that I am not "normal" anyway but oh to feel somewhat normal again!!

I have a colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow, now REALLY I can't imagine making myself "poop" on purpose. Much less the thought of drinking that stuff nauseates the hell out of me! I really think I am going to reschedule for later in the week.

So I promise that eventually I will catch up on all of your blogs, and I will be talking to all of you soon.

Franceska's bows and neck pillow!!

Today , Kerry and I went to run some errands and we went into this little Childrens clothing store and look what I found!!! A baby neck pillow for the plane ride!! How cute is that!! That is Astrud being silly with it, and then I found these precious little bows in all different colors and I just wanted to share with you. Aren't they cute!!!

Prayer request!!!

I would like to ask all of you to keep my best friend Jessica in your prayers. It is nothing very serious, but she had to have her eardrum cut open today and she is in so much pain. She has had nothing but trouble with her ears for several years. I really pray that you start feeling better Jess, love ya!!

I got an email from Steven

thanks mom cant talk much but i love you and as soon as i get a day off to go buy a phone card(which wont happen til after the end of the month) i will give you guys a call. love you tell strud i said hi and i love her. peace out
-stevo
joshua 1:9

This picture is so old but I cherish it, it is Bubba and Astrud being silly!!! It was like 4 or 5 years ago!!!

This morning bright and early I got this email from Bubba and I have to tell you it might not be much but I love these words. Last night at the volleyball games during the National Anthem at that very moment it was almost as if my arms ached because I wanted to hug him so bad and just as always God takes care of it. Because getting this email was a "HUG" for me. All of you hug your kids today really tight ok!!!

SCcrrreeeaamm!!!! STILL WAITING ON THE USCIS!

I sent off our I600-A renewal on August 3rd and I am still waiting for our fingerprinting appointment to come in the mail! Everyday I run to the mailbox and see if it is in there. I know we have enough time but when we are doing something like that it makes it feel like it is really getting closer, or at least like we are doing something in that direction. I know it is just a headgame , but hey whatever helps???? How long did it take for all of you to get your appointments set up????

17 MONTHS DOWN!!!!

Today is our 17th month LID anniversary!!!! Don't know how many more but I sure am glad we got 17 behind us. It will happen soon, I know it will. Thank you goes out to Rachelle and the boys for making our #17!!! Thanks you , we love you guys.

This may be way too much Information, BUT......

Ok this may be way too much information , but today I felt like this kitty looks because I had to have a sonogram in my "private" place to check for scar tissue and endometriosis and gunk because I need to have a complete hysterectomy and guess what they found???? A big ole honkin fibroid tumor!!!!(which explains alot , to say the least). Then if that was not enough I had to have a mammogram because yes you guessed it I have crap in my almost non existent boobs that tend to flare up , so I was smashed like "Roadkill" like the cat!!! I AM A WALKING FEMALE FLOP!!! None of it ever worked anyway other than to give me grief so it's coming out!!! BUT if that is not enough violation for one person to handle , next week I have to have a colonoscopy to check for more scar tissue and stuff, by this time next week I will have been completely humiliated and violated so please keep my sanity in your prayers!!!!!

Rayns 3rd Birthday!

Technology is a Blessed thing, Thank you God!!!

Tonight Frank, Astrud and I got to see Bubba via our web cam and Yahoo messenger!!!!Megan kind of was trying to walk us thru things but actually technology was not cooperating with the words but by God we got to see our boy!!!! It is super early in the morning in Iraq and he just got off work. He was able to see us and hear us, we just were not able to hear him. Megan was telling us what he was saying.

As a lot of you know I have had the blues for a couple of days so you can only imagine what kind of state I was in when I got to see my Soldier boy, but gosh it was so good to see his face, I wished I could have touched his chubby cheeks!!

When I think of how my Granny went months without hearing from my Uncle Bill when he was in Vietnam it breaks my heart. I am so so thankful for the internet and modern technology. God is great!!!! And to all of you who really know me, you have to know that I had my camera taking pictures of my computer. Frank and Astrud truly think I have lost my mind, I say "whatever"!!!!!!!