It's a sad day around the Rodriguez house!!

Well I killed her!!! We have had "Cleo" our goldfish for about 2 1/2 years , she had grown to be orca size and she was my little companion!!! When I would walk into the room she would flop around as if happy to see me and dangit I killed her!! I got my sister Kerry's big fancy aquarium with the big pretty oak pedestal and everything to give Cleo a new Condo and she died. The picture is not Cleo but that is what she looked like. I'm a murderer, what a bummer !!!! Oh well Cleo is in fishy heaven now!

Go on with your lives but NEVER EVER FORGET!

I am posting this in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, those who have lost their lives fighting for our freedom and our protection and in honor of those fighting and protecting us today. May God protect all of them and all of us and may nothing like this ever happen again on our Homeland.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
LAND OF THE FREE
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!

And Rachelle , my dear friend may one day your Birthday not be overshadowed by such an awlful day in History. Happy Birthday, We love you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!

GUESS WHAT ???? I GOT TO SPEAK TO STEVEN TODAY!!!!!!!!! He called around 2 this afternoon , which was around 11 pm in Iraq and he just wanted to touch base, let us know he is allright!! I have to tell ya'll that it was Heaven getting to hear his voice. When Steven and Astrud were quite younger Frank started this ritual that we do at the supper table and as the years have passed now my neices , well all of us still do it. We play "HIGH/LOW". That is when you tell your high and low for the day. It is and I guess will always be something we will look forward to. Well today after school Kerry and I took the girls to Dairy Queen while I was waiting for Astrud to get out of Volleyball practice and when I asked Jade, Lily and Rayn what their highs were for the day, they all three immediately said their high was that "Bubba" called. I thought it was priceless since they did not even get to talk to him!!!! And just one last thing, you three awesome women that left some of the most sincere , loving, spiritual comments in the world on my last post, Thank you, I don't even know you ladies personally, or let's say away from the internet, but all of you mean the world to me and I am so thankful that God put you in my life.

An update on Steven!

I just wanted all of you to know that Steven has left Kuwait and is now in Iraq. Saturday about 20 of them including Steven were left in Kuwait, but now the entire unit is there. They are probably getting settled in as we speak. Keep all of them in your prayers because it is really hot over there and they have to wear those Hot uniforms and carry alot of gear. Thank you all and God bless!!!!

And Steven if you see this the Longhorns beat TCU saturday 34 -14!!!!
And the Cowboys beat the Giants!!!

For Jenny!

Hi everyone, this weekend we were at a birthday party for my nephews, Kurt and Jeffrey and my neice Jenny said that she enjoys looking at my blog first thing every morning and that she has a friend at work who does the same. I really appreciate it and I love you Jenny. AND TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO SAY THEY LOOK AT MY BLOG OFTEN, PLEASE LEAVE ME COMMENTS, I LOVE READING THEM. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!
(jessica, tammy, jenny, etc. etc.!!!!!)

Some things I got and found

Yesterday my very special friend Rachelle gave Franceska and I these "Mommy and Me" bracelets. I love them so much and can't wait to put it on Franceskas little wrist. Thank you Chelle , you make everything so special.

And then my neice, Jade gave me a set of 12 books that are all "Bugs Life", some Family bible stories, and 3 Barney books that were hers when she was little and she wanted Franceska to have them. I love you Jade and you are going to be an awesome "Big Cousin!"

And finally I was cruising one of my favorite sites, Cafepress.com and I found a T-shirt that I just have to have, it reads :

ARMY MOM

I am a caring mother ,
My son has gone to war
My mind is filled with worries
that I have never known before.
Everyday I try to keep my thoughts
from turning black, I may be scared but,
I AM PROUD
MY SON HAS GOT YOUR BACK!!!!!

I know I ask all of the time, but please keep Steven in your prayers. Today is one of those "bad " days for me I guess. I will be better tomorrow. I always try to remember what Phillippians 4:6 says,

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

There truly is a part of me that has given it to God this time, which I just could not do the first time, I sometime have such a sense of peace and I know that is what my God wants me to do, so I do try everyday to put it in my "Something for Jesus to do box", as all of you should do also, no worries. Thank you all for letting me ramble on , I needed it!!! Love to all.

WHAT TIME IS IT??????

You betcha it is time for FOOTBALL!!!!! HOOK'EM HORNS!!!!!!!!! Oh and of course , GO BEARS!!!! And of course GO COWBOYS!!!

GO LONGHORNS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim is 44!!!

This is a picture of my "BIG SISTER" Kim with our neice Rayn, and today is Kim's birthday!! She is 44!!! Did you hear me? FORTY FOUR!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Kim , we love you!!!

Today is Craig's birthday!!

Today is our son Craig's 24th birthday. He lives in Lubbock and we miss him a bunch!! This is a picture of Craig and Tracy a.k.a. "BUBBLES" and we love her bunches also. We hope you have a great and very blessed day Craig, we love you!!!

Our Labor Day Party!!

We put together a little get together pretty quick for Labor Day. We were all inside for the duration of the party because we got roughly 2 1/12 inches of rain AGAIN! We all played the WII game or all of the kids played Guitar Hero and we ate and ate and ate!!! Here is a group picture. And it took 4 pictures to get it right because APPARENTLY it irritated a certain "FEW" that I had put lip gloss on for the picture and they kept trying to wipe it off!! Hey it's my house and my party, so I can do whatever I want right????

Ten years ago today!

I still remember exactly where I was and exactly what I was doing when I heard that Princess Diana had been killed in a car accident. Even though I did not know her personally I felt as though she was my "Friend". I remember being a young girl and watching every minute of her wedding and wishing and praying for a wedding like that one day. I feel such sorrow every time I see a picture of her or think of her, but I know that she is in a better place looking down on her boys. She will live in my heart forever.

A gift for ME!!!

The other day the Huth boys, Colby,Ashton and Jayden saw something and wanted to give it to me. They bought me this ladybug trinket that is so pretty, I just love it. They also got me a folder with ladybugs all over it and I love it too, I put all of my Hague certificates in it. There are classes for the Hague convention that we have to complete for our adoption and it is the perfect place to keep them. Thank you boys, I love you!

Our baby is a Freshman!

We have had alot of things happening in the last two weeks around here. First on sunday the 19th Steven gets married, then the next saturday Christopher gets married, then on tuesday Steven leaves for Iraq again, and then on monday Astrud goes to her first day of HIGH SCHOOL!!! Where does the time go. To all of you "first time" parents don't blink because one day they are babies and the next they are teenagers and so on and so on!!! I swear I am going to savor every single second with Franceska, I am not gonna be going in 100 different directions and I AM gonna stop and smell the roses!!!!

Karlee Johnston!!

I finally got to meet Mya and her and Duane's babygirl Karlee Mei. I followed their journey and we live about 25 minutes only from each other. Come to find out we know alot of the same people, she even lived with my God parent's daughter for 3 years in La Vernia where I grew up and still live. What a small world!!! Mya I want you to know that it was so much fun meeting you and I hope and pray that our daughters grow up to be really good friends. Thank you for the meds for our trip, and I look forward to getting to spend more time with you. And that Karlee is just beautiful and already has her mommy's sweet and playful personality!!!

Steven and Megans Wedding Day!!!

Their wedding day was just beautiful and special thanks goes to my sister Kerry and her husband Ricky for letting us have the wedding at their house. There are not any pictures of them because they are all in another file and I can't get them out because I am computer "DUMB"!!! Megan was just gorgeous and we are so happy to welcome her to our family, now we have another daughter. And what can we say we thank that our Steven was just the most handsome groom in the world , at least until this coming saturday then him and Christopher will be the two most handsome grooms there ever was!!!! Thank you to everybody who came and shared this special day with us. Just 24 hours later we had to say goodbye to Steven since he is on his way to the Middle east again. Please keep him in your prayers as well as Megan this is really a difficult way to start their life together. But I know all will be fine. Thank you again and God bless all of you.

It was so much fun!!!

Today Kerry and I went to Target and I registered for "BABY" things!!! It was so much fun. I picked out alot of nursery things, feeding things, bathing things, playtime stuff, baby toys, baby electronics, baby keepsakes, blankets, and even two neck pillows for Frank and I for the plane trip. And no nursery would be complete without a University of Texas Longhorn Cheerleader uniform!!! Once we get our referral I will then go and register for things like diapers and lots and lots of clothes!!!!! It was so much fun, now I really can't wait until my Baby shower!!!

Our 16th LID month Anniversary!

Today our dossier has been in China for 16 months and I know I say this every month, but please pray that the time will speed up so we can go and get Franceska very very soon!!!!

With Heartfelt Thanks!

I have to tell you all about some pretty darn wonderful people that God has put in our lives. They are Troy and Rachelle Huth and their boys Colby, Ashton and Jayden. You have seen them on this blog before but I have to tell you that there are no words that even come close to what I need to say to this family. They have put together a Chocolate fundraiser for us to help bring our little Franceska home. It was really hard for Frank and I to swallow because there are so many people in this world that need more help than we certainly do, but as Rachelle says , people just really want to be a part of the blessing of bringing your babygirl home. They ordered 50 cases of America's Finest assorted chocolates with 30 pieces in each box at $2.00 each. So many people have already taken boxes to sale it is pretty overwhelming and down right humbling. Here is a picture of Jade my neice putting a picture of us and precious tags that Rachelle made in all of the boxes. If any of you would like to buy or even sale a box of chocolate just call me, you can also go to Rachelles blog: www.theguysandme.blogspot.com , and leave her a comment and she will get in touch with you. It will all be very very appreciated. I thank God everyday for the people he puts in my life. Thank God for all of you.

Stevens Sign

I had this sign made to put out by the road so people will see it and maybe keep Steven in their prayers. Here are some pics of Poppy and Frank putting the sign up, a pic with a whole slew of us in front of it, and then a picture that Poppy (my daddy), wanted me to take for Steven, if you look real close he has a can of beer on the top of each post!!!! I see people slowing down all the time just to take the time to read it. God Bless Steven and his unit.

High School Volleyball Tryouts!!!

Well as always Astrud and all of her friends succeeded again with the game of volleyball!! They had volleyball tryouts and all of them made the team !! Here is a picture of the girls with us MOMS, Their BIGGEST FANS!!! And then one of just the girls!! GO LADY BEARS!!!!