HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!

Oh how God keeps blessing our family!!!! We have a 4th Grandbutton on the way!!!!! Our daughter Kellie and her sweet Jon are expecting!!!!! Maybe this Meme is gonna have a "Girl Grandbutton"?????? Thank you God for how you just continue to bless our Family!!! Our Grandbutton is due on it's beautiful Mommy's birthday.....December 20th!!!

Our Itinerary!!!!

6/30- Which happens to be Frank's Birthday, we leave San Antonio at 7:18 a.m.
arrive in San Francisco and then on to Beijing, China

7/1- Arrive in Beijing

7/2- On our own to rest , play , explore, whatever we want to do!

7/3- Sightseeing: touring the Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square

7/4- Fly to Nanchang ( where our Angel is)

GO TO CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICE AND GET OUR FRANCESKA AT 3:30!!!!!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO EVERYONE OF YOU!!!!!

7/5- Paperwork and then on our own

7/6- Shopping!!!!!

7/7- Sightseeing in XiangHu Park, etc.

7/8- Sightseeing in Teng Wang Ge

7/9- Get Franceska's passport and fly to Guangzhou

7/10- Get Franceska's Visa and Medical exam

7/11- My Birthday!! Sightseeing in Chen Family Temple, etc.

7/12- Go to American Consulate for CA appointment!!

7/13- Go to American Consulate for Oath taking ceremony!!!!

(She will become an American Citizen!!!!!)

7/14- Play time and Family Time just to be with our babygirl!!!!

7/15- Fly to Shanghai and then to San Francisco and on to HOME!!!!

We get to San Antonio at 6:23PM HOME SWEET HOME!!!!!!

Right now it is 3:18 on monday afternoon Bags are packed, meds are bought, house cleaned, animals taken care of, Astrud situated, car seat in car, paperwork done, ant poison out ....what else?????? I think we are ready!!! WoooooooHooooooo!!!!!!!

Thank you!!!!!

I want to thank each and everyone of you for your comments, emails, and comments on FB !! All of you have never been anything but loving, caring and so encouraging to me while on this journey. I can honestly say that I love each of you and that my life has been blessed immeasureably by all of you. God has humbled me so.... by every step of this journey !!! We only have 4 days before we leave, and as all of you can imagine I am going to be pretty darn busy so this will be my last post until right before we leave....WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!

I have to tell you that I realized that almost all of Franceska's big brothers and sisters including her Mommy and Daddy have her picture somewhere in their cars....today my son Christopher text me ....'I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU .......GO GET MY SISTER ALREADY!!!!!!!! That is just priceless to me. I will tell you one thing that this little girl is coming home to a giant family , so many special friends and a huge church family that love her already so much and that just warms my heart! And I know all of my family of "YOU" out there love her too....I just feel so blessed . Thank you Jesus!!!! I will talk to all of you soon........

OUR TRAVELS....

On Wednesday , June 30th our flight leaves at 7:18 am and we fly into San Francisco and on to Beijing, China. We get there at 3:00 in the afternoon on July 1st. July 2nd we can rest, play and explore, then on the 3rd, we get to tour the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square, and then on the 4th of JULY we fly to Nanchang and at 3:30 in the afternoon we get our hearts desire.....Franceska!!!!

Oh we just can't wait to see her and have her in our arms!!!! I keep wondering when they bring the babies in will this Mommy be able to pick her little one out of the crowd????? And then after several days in Nanchang, we fly to Guangzhou to make her ours forever and then on the 15th we fly to Shanghai, to San Francisco and then San Antonio ......and then HOME!!!!!

I want to give all thanks to God, HE is so good and is ever so faithful. Thank you so much Father........

Pictures!!!! and Presents!!!!!!

The first three pictures are from my friend Kim!!!! Her mother made this for Franceska and these pictures do not do it any justice!!! It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! And I love it!! It has gone with me everywhere I have went in the last two days so I can show it off to whoever wants to see it!!!! lol I can't wait to see Franceska on top of it!!!!

This picture is not a good one but I wanted you too see the beautiful detail!!!

And I just love love love this!!! I am a year round flip flop kind of gal!!! And look what is on this precious dress that IS going to China!!! And the precious hat , precious ladybug frame, with a Bonus....a picture of her son Nick!!! Thank you Kim, you know how I feel about you....I love love love you BIGGEST!!!!

After my shower it took me two full days to organize Franceska's closet . She also has 9 drawers that are full!!!! My daughter in law Megan made this precious bow holder and there is no more room!!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!! When this came in the mail I almost passed out!!! This is from my Sweet friend Lea in Canada. It has Franceskas initials on it.....FDR, and we think it is absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much Lea, words will never be able to express how much this means to us! I love you! xoxoxoxoxo

This came by courier the other day it is from my Girlhead Amy and her husband Rick, and children Garett, Kyndall, and Mr.Zane. It's the high chair I wanted....I love it!!!! Thank you so much and you know I love you to the moon and back!!! All of you!!!!! Come Home!!!!

Father and son eating the entire box of popsicles and playing with Franks Ipad! That's our granddog Brinkley laying there! This is truly a picture of the circle of Life, here is Rayn my 5 yr old neice taking care of her Nonny and feeding her ice cream.....it is just priceless isn't it!!

Happy Anniversary and Father's Day babe!!!!

Here we are on top of the world !!! The top level of the Eiffel Tower , you make me feel like I am a million feet up on cloud nine every single day of my life!!! You make me want to be a better person. Your faith is unending, and unfailing, you are an incredible man! The best son, brother, brother and son in law, uncle, father, husband and friend anyone could ever ask for!!! You have made me a Mom of Seven and Grandmother (meme) of 3 and I love all of our kids more than life itself, you have made every dream I ever had come true and I thank God everyday for you. I love you more everyday Frank. You have taken me around the world and back and now we are on our way to China to complete our family. I promise you I will love you to eternity and back.......you are my HEART!!!!! Happy Anniversary and Happy Father's Day you are truly a once in a lifetime and an incredible blessing to all of us.........................thank you for all you do, words could never be adequate enough to show how much are are appreciated and loved.

I love you to the moon and back, Pook


p.s. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY DADDY.....I LOVE YOU!

Introducing Miss Anna Grace Daniels!!!

This is a little late because the Travel phase is a little crazy but I so wanted to share Anna Grace with all of you. My friend Christie , her husband Eddie and son Johnny received their picture of this beauty on June 7th!!! Congratulations!!! We think she is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! Just look at that smile..........

feeling a little overwhelmed......

This is what I am feeling like our suitcases are looking like!!!! LOL!!! I am so particular about my kids clothes and being matched and such that yes I am stressing a little about the packing situation!!! I know what you are all gonna say, LESS IS MORE and I know that, and I have sacrificed alot of things !! Fliss calls me a "girly girl" and says that I am no way a carry on bagger!!! NOPE Im not but I will get it all packed and done but for right now this picture depicts kind of the way Im feeling!!!!

My Baby Shower pictures!

Sunday was my Baby Shower and it was incredible!!!! It took me and hour and a half to open gifts and there was about 25 people or so that could not make it....can you imagine how long we would have sat there opening presents!!!! I was really praying that the day would be awesome, because I kept worrying and making myself sick over the fact that my Momma was not going to be there , but as always God wrapped me in his arms and got me thru it. I have an incredible family and amazing friends that love us so much and already love Franceska. Here are some pictures from the day. In the top left hand corner is me with my sister's, my besties Kim and Kerry that I love so much, and yes I am the tall one of the family but I had heels on so I looked like and AMAZON WOMAN! My cake which was made by Carole from our church, she makes such good cakes, they are yummy..... Myself and then me and my girls. ,my DIL Megan, daughters Chas and Astrud, and DIL's Amy and Traci, they are all the Sunshines of my heart!!! Just wished Kellie could have been there.....:(

The Guest book table with the Diaper cake I made, my neices Dominique and Mariah and their mom, my so ,so special friend Yvonne, my bestie Jessica and I , and then all of my hostesses: Gina, Wendy, Aunt Mary, Aunt Margie, Aunt Ida, me , Kim, Lisa, Jenny, Jessica and Kerry

The top is our living room floor full of presents, the next two are my dining room table that seats 10 and it was solid presents ,even my Hutch was full!!! And the last pic is of my extra long couch with layers and layers of clothes for Miss. Franceska!!!!

The first picture is the gift from my SIL , Franks sister Olga, It is a turning music box with pictures for all of the "Firsts" in a baby's life and the star on top is engraved Franceska Danielle Rodriguez on one side and August 4. 2009 on the other, and on another area it says , Love , Aunt Olga. It is absolutely beautiful and I will treasure it forever! The second is a handstitched/crosstitched quilt that my Daddy bought me at a benefit and had Kerry wrap it from him and my Momma.....need I say more?????? The next is the diaper cake I made :), and then just a shot of my friends and family some of them before the shower started.

The first is my MIL , Marcela and I, (Love her!), I had my two girls Chas and Astrud sitting up there with me, sorry again the guest book table and another shot of my grandbutton Josh, Reese and Rayn watching so patienly.... I am opening my sister Kerry's present, it took me about 15 minutes to open ! She has been collecting things for 4 1/2 years so it was quite a bit!!!!

The first pic is of just the stuff my sister Kerry gave me, it took all of our BIG chair and large ottoman, just unbelievable, she is something else!!! Im sorry some of these are duplicated, like the diaper cake and then here is another view of my dining room table, and then another view of the fellowship hall at church full of guests!!!

Franceska is set!! and then some ......it has taken me two days to get all of it organized into her room!!! I will post pictures of her closet again sometime this week. Our last homestudy update is tomorrow so see all of you soon!!!

Thank you to all of my hostessess , friends and family for loving me the way you do, for already loving Franceska the way you do and for just simply being blessings in our life. I love every one of you!!!

Todays my Baby Shower!!!!!

I am so excited!!!! Today is my Baby Shower !!!! I will have pictures later today or sometime tomorrow!!!!

One month ago today we finally saw that beautiful, precious little face and fell so completely in LOVE!!!! We love you Franceska Danielle and in only 35 days you will be in our arms FOREVER...........

The Call

Every call has a beginning
A quiet moment when
God whispers a promise
to a mother’s heart
A holy place where
a father bows and faithfully
accepts the journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that
unexpectedly dawns…
Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.
A gentle knock..
a closed door opens.
A sacred invitation sent by the Father..
Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows
Praying for someone to care..
And then one morning,
On an ordinary day
An orphan’s life changes...
God sends them a second chance...
Through you..

--author unknown

(My friend Fliss found this and shared it with me, I love it! Thank you so much Fliss.)


I

THIS MAN.....

THIS MAN IS MY HERO, THE FIRST MAN I EVER LOVED, THE BEST CARETAKER IN THE WORLD, HE IS MY DADDY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE!!!!!

p.s. We got our Consulate appointment today....the day after my birthday !!! July 12th!!

It's starting to look like we are.....

on JUNE 24TH!!!!!! Did you see that!!!!! God's plan is revealing itself more and more everyday!! To HIM all the Glory goes!!! Our wedding anniversary is 6/19, we leave on 6/24, Frank's birthday is 6/30, we should head back home around the 7/7, and my birthday is 7/11!!!! How perfect is that!!!!! And then Franceska's 1st birthday will be 8/4!!!!!! What a great Summer we are going to have!!!!!!

Just playing around..........

Frank found some pictures of him when he was little and I cropped them and played with them a little and I'm thinking there is a bit of a family resemblance going on here!!!!!! lol You should see our son Christopher's pictures compared to his little sister's!!!! I just love this!! Franceska

Daddy

Daddy

Chunky Monkey Daddy....

You might not see a resemblance, but we are having fun anyway.........

TA and our baby is 10 months old!!!

Oh Little one we are on our way soon!!!!!!! We can't wait to hold you in our arms, and we can't wait to give you all of our kisses and all of this bottled up love, oh baby we are on our way.......

Updated pictures of our Franceska......

She weighs 19 lbs and is 27 inches long and has two teeth and we are just crazy in love with her !! I just can't wait to get my arms around her!!!! Come on TA!!!!!

As for me and my family....WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!

OH NO .....WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

Today was a GREAT DAY!!!

Today was such a great day, I was with my Momma all afternoon and what you all should know is that it is very rare that she just sits still. Well she sat down and I handed her a picture of Franceska , and LOOK what she did............Oh God is so good!!! She was so funny today so much like her old self! My sister and several very special friends are giving me a huge Baby Shower on June 13th and although I am so excited it has been really bothering me that my Momma will not be there, well she will be now, I am framing this picture and setting it by the cake. So she won't only be there ...she will be there holding her grandbaby............ This is not such a good picture because she was sitting on me and I was trying to hold the camera and right before I snapped the picture she grabbed my face, isn't it just so sweet!!!

This morning our Grandbutton Joshua graduated from Pre-K!! We are so proud of him, he is such a "Big Boy"! He was so proud of his certificate and Medal!!!!! Meme , Grandpa and Aunt Astrud are soooooo proud of you!!!! We love you!

Here is Joshua with Me (meme), Amy's Mom Vivian (mama) and Amy his Mommy!!!!

Here is Joshua with his beautiful Aunt Ashley!!!

This was taken on Sunday, it is Kourtney, Jade and Amy!!! There was no way we could have had Jade do Speak No Evil because as you can see her mouth never shuts!!! LOL

I hope each and everyone of you had a blessed day like I had and if you didn't I pray tomorrow is better!!!

Alot of AMERICAN PRIDE AND THANKFULNESS....

We are only abut 35 minutes from BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center) in San Antonio ,and I have to add that we are very proud of BAMC!! BAMC is where alot of the critically Wounded Warriors are brought to for some of the best medical care in the world. On Saturday BAMC was taking 300 Wounded Warriors and their families on a fishing trip to Corpus Christi, Texas and they just happen to have to come down Highway 87 right thru La Vernia!! Well there is about 25 miles of Hwy 87 between us and San Antonio and all along the route there was hundreds of people just waiting for these brave men and women to pass by just so we could yell, clap, wave an American Flag and just show our straight from the heart Texas gratitude and appreciation for all that they have done for us and for all that they have sacrificed!! Here are some pictures from the day , they passed at right about 7:15 a.m. and people started lining the streets at about 6:00 am and it was all over by 7:20 , and it was just about the best 45 minutes I have ever had!!! We parked out in front of our church, I think 98% of our church was out there , it was just an amazing time!! THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS OUT THERE WOUNDED OR NOT....ACTIVE DUTY OR NOT....THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE....YOU ARE TRULY OUR HEROES!!!!!
HERE THEY COME.....

THERE WERE 4 BUSES AND OUR COUNTY SHERIFF AND ABOUT 6 COP CARS CAME THRU IN FRONT AND BACK WITH SIRENS ON !!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!

THIS IS WHAT THE SCENE WAS FOR ABOUT 25 MILES AHEAD OF US AND PROBABLY FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 60 MILES AHEAD......

THIS IS GRACE...SEE HER TSHIRT??? MY DADDY WEARS COMBAT BOOTS!!!

MY MISTER AND GRACE'S DADDY OUR GOOD FRIEND LANCE!

MY MISTER, OUR PASTOR, BRO. DAVE , HIS WONDERFUL WIFE CATHY , OUR NEICE MICHELLE AND MYSELF

FRANK, ASTRUD AND MICHELLE

Also on Saturday we had a wedding, a very special wedding. These two people are Wayne and Yvonne Brooks. Mine and Wayne's families go back about 5 generations...THEY ARE FAMILY!

Yvonne and I were in the same class and graduated together. They had Brandon which is the same age as our Steven, they graduated together and we also had their graduation party together. Then the beautiful Dominique and then our gorgeous Mariah was born. Like I said we are FAMILY and we all love each other sooooo much. Saturday Brandon married Melissa outside in a beautiful yard wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and I just wanted to show you a few pictures from the day.

Here is Wayne and Yvonne..... you know how I feel about both of you. I love you!!!! My life would not be the same without you in it, and I thank God for you both. Oh the memories....I can't wait to see what God has planned for our future together.....

Here is a picture of the wedding party....all of them were so handsome and pretty....

Here is Brandon looking at his BRIDE, I think this picture is just priceless, I just love it!!! It made me tear up, I am so proud of him.

Here is my Dominique, she is such a lovely young woman, and she is so smart, she loves God, she is so caring and so unique she makes me so darn proud, her Aunt Kristy loves you so much!!!

Here is my Mariah! This young lady is just not a pretty face, she is so talented, she is an athletic machine!!! I love listening to Mariah talk, her voice just pours sweetness and caring , she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, your Aunt Kristy and Uncle Frank love you so much baby.

And of course it would not be a normal event if there wasn't the usual "Dork" picture! Here is Astrud, my neice Michelle and Astrud's "Lil Mister" Anthony!!! They called it their Family portrait!

And last but certainly not least, My Mister usually gets our coffee ready at night , so most mornings all I have to do is flip the switch. Well last week this is what I woke up too....my mug that says: "The Real Boss", his mug : The Man, The Myth, The Legend and can you see it????

Franceska's picture with a handwritten note that says: "WE LOVE YOU BIG"!!!!! and little stick people for all of us!!!! I know....you have no words.....he is toooooo much isn't he!!!!