Missing a Love One during Holidays

Today, I was writing on the computer working intensely in my studies then suddenly, I remember the voice of my dad coming home early on Thanksgiving week or on a Holiday from work. He would shout “Woo Hoo” and do a silly dance saying, “I am off from work for a whole week!” Now, the house is empty without joys of my father’s voice. The tears started to shed like water falls from my eyes on to my cheeks. Holidays are the hardest on family members who are dealing with loss. I have never felt like this before… cooking, shopping, decorating are the hardest to do. The family member or friend feels like it is not normal because their love one is gone from their life forever.

You can say to the friend, “Your love one is in heaven with Jesus.” Yes, the love one is in heaven... What about the person who is hurting for their love one during this holiday season? It takes years and years to overcome the loss of the love one. The closer you are to the one who has passed away... it is hard to move forward in life without them in this holiday season or any holiday season.

I see why there is so much depression in this holiday season and so many folks drive themselves to ease the pain away to forget it. At times, I fall asleep to hide the pain away. Others drink themselves away, do drugs, runway on a vacation, and watch TV all hours, shop, & etc. A lot of folks cover their pain to escape. There a lot of hurting people during this season. Remember the ones who are hiding in the corner and crying for the loss of the love ones. Don’t forget about your friends or family even though their love ones have passed away a month, 2 month ago, or even years. Love on them, hug them, shop with them, invite them over for dinner, go to a movie, drink coffee, have a glass of wine etc..  It is still real to most of us each day and it is fight to be normal in our everyday life. Prayers are in need for the person, on the phone, or even with them in person during this season or need a word of encouragement.

Check out this grief website by clicking here This grief website has really helped me in my daily life with small short stories and a verse. There are grief counseling if you have not seek it during the holidays in your local area. 

Isleen

Monday’s Favorites on Thanksgiving Week

Last year was my first time in my life to make turkey and I was successful thanks to YouTube.  I didn't even know how clean the turkey. 


Pictures from last year.

Before Picture

If this is your first year to make turkey here is the video that I used on YouTube.

Click on YouTube

After Picture

This year, I am taking a break on making a turkey but next year will be my year to make a yummy turkey.

We are all shopping and making dinner list for that perfect dinner on Thanksgiving Day.

Here are some great ideas for your dinner.


Click on the titles for the yummy receipes

Gluten Free Browned Butter Pecan Tart: sinfully simple Thanksgiving dessert

BUTTERNUT SQUASH CASSEROLE W/ COCONUT MILK

Delicious and easy glazed carrots

How to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Whole Food’s Holiday Recipes

5 Stunning Thanksgiving Cranberry Desserts

Why I am thankful… I recently quoted each day for the last 21 days on my Twitter and Facebook: One quote I will leave you this holiday seasons which will be my last quote on 24^th which is: “I am thankful for my family.” It has been a rough year in my life and my family’s life. The loss of our father in September. It will be hard not to have my dad not cut the turkey this year at family's dinner table. We are giving my 90 year old grandpa and the help of my brother to cut the turkey this year. My family will make new chapters in our book of life this Thanksgiving Holiday Season. We will always remember the  wonderful memories of my father during Thanksgiving holiday.


Isleen

COURAGEOUS MOVIE

“A man cannot be passive about what Scripture tells him to do for his family and expect to be found faithful to God in the end. He must see with spiritual eyes and realize that future generations are directly impacted by his daily decisions.”

—The Resolution for Men

This past Monday… I saw a movie with North Richland Hills Baptist Church at Rave Movie Theater. This movie made me cry throughout the movie. I will not say too much of the movie
because I do not want to spoil the movie if you haven’t seen it recently. I will say that my
father Dan Rodriguez was Courageous man of his house. He was a man who would protect his
family in prayer or if something bad happen to any of us. I remember one time my dad
would not leave to go to work until this strange car left that sat in front of our house. That
was courageous man! He was a man of prayer. When things went bad in life… dad would call you
up and pray for you. My dad prayed and blessed you even on his last days. My cousin Charity
wrote a blog about my dad on his last days @ http://displacedcaliforniahippie.blogspot.com/2011/09/true-christ-
follower.html .


I am wondering where are the Courageous men of the Lord are? Have Courageous men taken a stand
in their homes? Some men fall into the selfish ways. I remember one time my dad shared with me
on how he had fallen away from the Lord. Money and success started to take a turn in his life
and he forgotten the Lord. His family was not first. Dan was first.
Then, things started to fall apart in many ways until my grandma and his mother passed away in
1997. Dad had a wakeup call on his life with the Lord. I know many men are not perfect but remember you have to leave a legacy for your family. You have a short time on this earth and make every moment count with your family and the Lord. My dad made every moment count and he would tell us when I am gone…. You will remember the words I have said to you. He was right and my dad lived as the Courageous man even at the end. My dad will live in my heart forever.

Today, please make your stand as Courageous man for your family, if you are single for your future family, for your nation if you are in the services, if you are in law enforcement for your city or state, or even for yourself on to the Lord.

Isleen Rodriguez

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Resources:

http://www.courageousresources.com/youandyourhouse Taking a stand in your home with your family

http://www.courageousresources.com/officialresources Resources on what to read

http://www.courageousthemovie.com/themovie Information about the movie

http://www.griefshare.org/ If you are in the season of grief

A 30 year old woman lessons

I am turning 31 years old this week...


My 20’s was to explore new adventures in my life such as going to Bible school, travel, ministry, school, living with a family, and friendships. Being 30 this year was quite different for me. These are some lessons that I have learned this year that I did not know when I was in my 20’s:

Jobs come and go but they do not identify who you really are but G-d knows who you really are. G-d will direct you in that dream job no matter what economy looks like from a distance. I watched my dad being successful in his job. My dad brought new ideas to his company and did not worry about being laid off. My dad continued to wake up each day at the age of 57 and went to work happy. I saw my dad modeled this attitude for me and I will continued his legacy to my next job.

Home is a place for a time and season. I learned after three moves that you cannot place yourself forever because it is temporal. There will be new seasons when it comes to a new home. I am ready to be stable but I don’t think I would ever be stable in a home because I feel there is a mission in some unknown country or in a new home.

Material does not revolve my world. My pastor brought up a good point today in church he said are  you a different person than you were last year. I was… I did not realize it but I have allowed my life to revolve material. I had so many shopping moments that I can’t count them. This year, I haven’t had many shopping moments and very few of them. I had more moments with my family or friends that I did not need to allow material to take my life or my time.

Children are a gift. Children are a gift but at this point of my life I don’t see myself having children anytime soon. My season with children is to adopt them. My two nieces and my nephew have been my world. I sing and dance with them when I babysit them. When they there are fussing then I give the children back to their parents. I wonder to myself if I will be a good parent one day?….but not right now.

Marriage is on everyone’s agenda but mine is to be one day. I have a wedding planning magazine that I bought myself if I ever need it but at this point no. When marriage will come for me but at this point I am not pushing myself until the right guy asks me even if I am in relationship with him. I want to make sure this special guy wants to grows with me and wake up each morning with me when I am married to him. I can’t push marriage on anyone for now I wait.

Parents are here on earth then they are gone. I learned to appreciate the moments with my parents no matter how much they bug me. My dad used to call me every morning to say good morning and I would say hello in sleepy voice at the beginning of the year. I wish, I had those moments again but now I only have voice mails of my dad saying good morning to me. Everyone if you have two parents still living please tells them that you love them no matter how much you hate them or spend time with them. I had so many wonderful moments with my dad and I wished, I had more wonderful moments with my dad again.

As I turn 31, I will look back of what I have learned this year and continue to grow another year.



Isleen

Ordinary Individual who was a Hero

Today is a new day for me because it is a new beginning without my dad. A determination to move forward with my studies, and to work again because this is what my dad wanted from me if he was living today.  

As, I move forward in my life today, I leave this speech on my blog I wrote for my dad call, “Ordinary Individual who was a Hero.”

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve

This was my dad, Dan Rodriguez. He was a hero to all of us. Our Superman. He was also our best friend including me. I had the honor to be his daughter. My dad was a best friend to many of us. Many of us can relate to Dan being our best friend.

For 30 years of my life he taught me so much about life, school, writing, speaking, career, family, sports, to be hero, but also of the Lord. The Lord was close to his heart. He spent many of his days with the Lord on earth and in ministry to others. Dan was a man of prayer and reading the Bible. He spent his last days with his close friends and family praying. Dan had the honor to give blessings to us even though he was in pain. Dad was a giving man. Once dad told me that he never wanted his children or grandchildren to go through cancer. He was willing to die for us if we caught cancer.

Life- Dan was a teacher to all of us. Words can't express how much my dad taught us about life. There were many wisdom lessons that my dad taught us.

Writing- Dad was a writer. Many of you may not know but dad loved to write. My dad & I shared something common with each other, one of them being our talent to write. He wanted to write a book many years ago but did not pursue it. In his last days, we spent some time at night reading his own stories.

Speaking engagements- Dan was involved with Toastmaster when he worked for Mobil Oil. Dan had a way with his words as he spoke in public with confidence. It taken him a lot of years of practice to speak in public but he accomplished being excellent speaker.

Career- Dan obtained his bachelor degree at the age of 30 from Pam Am University. Dad worked for Mobil Oil for many years. My dad loved working Mobil Oil and took us to work sometimes. I remember one summer I got a temp. job working with Mobil Oil at the age of16. My dad and I spent our time together that summer going to work and having lunch together. Those were priceless moments for me working with my dad.

In 99, Dan was laid off from Mobil Oil. Dad went to EDS from 1999-2001. Laid off again because of the economy after 9-11. I watched my dad for 6 months look for a job. My dad was not giving up to find a job and to help his family. Then, my dad landed the Wal-Mart job as assistant manager in 2002. My dad worked a few years with Wal-Mart. He learned a lot about the retail business that made him stronger as person in life. Then, my dad went from Wal-Mart to Safety-Kleen in the Accounting position. My dad was the happiest person when he got Safety-Kleen job because he was back doing what he loved, which was being challenge with numbers. When he landed Safety-Kleen job that is when he got colon cancer and continued to work with Safety-Kleen after he beat cancer. Then, my father moved from Safety-Kleen to QuickSilver. I remember my dad telling me that he was happy to work in the oil industry again. He was happy to being his field again. He felt like he was working his first job at Mobil Oil. My dad loved what he was doing in his career because of the colleagues, the challenges, coming up with new projects, and friendships. Some people strive to be the best and make money but my dad was the opposite. He was man who had humility, who wanted to serve others and give of himself.

Family- Dan was a family man. You bet that my dad received # 1 father's day gifts each year. My dad would not miss any of our important events. As a family we traveled together each year on our family vacations. We ate as family, went to church, and watched lots of movies. Dan was not only a father to us but a father to many. Many of us will miss my father.

Sports- During his off time dad loved to watch sports in person or on TV. Dad told me once that he watched the cowboys when he was young boy and that is why he had a love for the Dallas Cowboys.

To be hero- My father helped us children in times of trouble. When we went through scary moments in our lives which our father was there with us to pray and read the Bible. I remembered as a child being scared when there was tornado in our area. My dad prayed with us to drive the storms away. He did the same thing when I was coming back from China this summer to pray for my safety when there was a typhoon in China and I came home with no issues.

A hero sometimes through weakness with his health...In 2006, I watched my dad as he dealt with colon cancer the first time. It was the hardest moment of his life of going through long weeks of chemo and radiation but my dad wanted to live and go back to work. Dad did eventually went back to work in 2007. Dad went through cancer 2^nd time in his lungs. Dad was a fighter as he went through hand full of surgeries in the past month but my dad continued to fight until he was called home.

Man of the Lord- My dad was man of the Lord. He prayed for you even though you did not know it. He would spend early mornings as he drove work to praying for many of you, at his desk, or in his quiet place. My dad was not flashy about his religion. My dad was not in ministry or pastor but he shared his faith when you were going through something in your life. My dad accepted you for who you were. My dad had unconditional love for you even if you did wrong to him. My dad taught us to be like Jesus and to share your faith no matter.

Dan will always be remembered in our hearts, and as my dad would tell me in his last days, “Look to Jesus”.

Written by Isleen Rodriguez
Picture taken by Nina Perales

Did you feel the mountains tremble?

One of my favorite songs is by a group name Delirious? “Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?”

In the beginning of the song the instruments are playing in the back ground which it sounds like you are in desert parts of Australia.

Then Martin Smith comes out and says….

Is it true can G-d save a nation?

Well it is true or I must believe it?

Is it true that G-d can break a nation?

Yes, it is true and I feel it……..

Did you feel the mountains tremble?

Did you hear the oceans roar?

When the people rose to sing of

Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?

Did you hear the singers roar?

When the lost began to sing of

Jesus Christ the risen one

And we can see that G-d you're moving

A mighty river through the nations

And young and old will turn to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play

Let the streets resound with singing

Songs that bring your hope

Songs that bring your joy

Dancers who dance upon injustice

Did you feel the darkness tremble?

When all the saints join in one song

And all the streams flow as one river

To wash away our brokenness

And here we see that God you're moving

A time of Jubilee is coming

When young and old return to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

In my world right now… I feel like I can’t do anything to cure my dad’s cancer but I can only believe in G-d. I don’t know what I would do if did not believe in the Lord right now. I could see myself in the bar drinking away my pain and sorrows. The pain right now is unbearable that your tears start to dry up and you don’t know where to turn only to hear this song right now. 


One part of the song says

And we can see that God you're moving

A mighty river through the nations

And young and old will turn to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play

Let the streets resound with singing

Songs that bring your hope

Songs that bring your joy

Dancers who dance upon

Hope! My dad is always there for me even I was in the deepest pain in my life. My dad was a phone call or away.. or he would pray for me. This time, I am here for my father by his side. I hold his wrinkle hand and told him, “I love him.” Last night, I could not sleep because so many things in my mind. My dad put his hands on my head and prayed for me to sleep. I felt the power of G-d all over me and I became sleepily. Sacrifice for one another. I was honor as his daughter that my dad would pray for me. I wish, I could do the same for him but only I can believe in the great healer and not give up for my dad to be heal.

Isleen

China

Since I arrived from China 2 weeks ago, life has been crazy for me. In my last entry, I said my life was going to forever change when I was in this unknown land. When I came back to the states my dad was diagnosed with cancer 2nd time. It was hard on me and my family. For the last 2 weeks, I was feeling low but I have to be strong for myself and my family. I have to trust in the Lord in my life with everything. Now, I am going to write about China. Everyone wants to be on the mission field but it is harder than one can think because there is a lot of sacrifice involved with oneself. These are things that I have learned while being on a short term mission this summer in China. The reason I went to China was to teach English to a bunch of kindergarten kiddos. ( I miss all the kiddos that I taught this summer). Food…. You are not used to eating at your favorite food or restaurant in your hometown. I have found cheddar cheese was hard to find in China. I did not eat much cheese in China. There were times when my team went out to eat @ McD’s, KFC, Burger King, and Subway. I did not complain but I found the difference in the fast food in China compared to here in the USA. I did not care to eat Burger King in the states but in China I did appreciate whatever I ate even if it was rice each night. My favorite dish was fried rice and I found out that I can survive on fried rice with eggs for almost a week. I did try new dishes such as Hot Eggplant that I like to eat. Clothes-I bought a few cute dresses in China, t-shirts, but very few clothes. I did not buy a lot of shoes but a few. In China.... American clothes are cool to wear for the Chinese people. English T-shirts are cool to wear. Chinese people wore name brand t-shirts. I even saw guys wear Apple brand T-shirts which I thought was cool. I haven't seen anyone here in the states with the Apple brand t- shirt yet. Hair- Some women in China like their hair a different color. I found it was very expensive to color your hair at the salon which is around $133. I was thinking of coloring my hair from the box which was a little too expensive for me. I allowed a few of my grey hairs to show. I did get a haircut in China which I found very cheap. To cut your hair which is around $5.00. Very Cheap! The guy who cut my hair did a great job. I did not take my Chi straightener or Chi blow dryer but I learned to manage without it. I always put my hair back and use Bead head gel to keep it in place. Very little maintenance on my hair because there were a lot more things to worry about then my hair. Environment- It was hard to not be in our own environment. I did not bring a pillow, a blanket to feel at home. It was hard not to have your own car or even talking on your own cell phone. Facebook was not the site you could go on to say hi to your friends or family. It was hard to manage without the stuff from the USA . I did not watch TV in China except to explore what the Chinese people would watch at home. I found there were more things to do because there was less technology used in China. I was not on my Facebook 24 hours of the day ( China does not allow Facebook). I did spend some time watching the news online for about 10 min. I spend more time fellowshiping with new friends, eating my favorite ice cream, watching the sunsets, walking, riding the bus, eating dinner, laughing, shopping... I had time to think and enjoy the moments in China without being distracted with technology. As Americans... We keep ourselves busy with technology that we forget there is a real world with real people away from our computers or our smart phone. Language- I felt like a lost person without speaking Chinese. We had our friends help us translate when we went out in public. There were times when I had to point or act out of what I was trying to communicate. I did try to speak one word or two but Chinese language is hard to learn. Family & friends- I missed my family & friends at home. I could not speak with them on Skype because of the time difference. I found a family member who lived in Japan that I had Skype with after the school day had finished. It felt good to speak with a family member in the same time zone. One person I missed was my dad. My dad & I exchange emails almost every day and my dad was very encouraged by his words when in China. Friendships- I met a lot of great friends in China. One of my favorite times was watching Notebook movies and crying with my Chinese friends. I enjoy speaking with my friends about shopping, hair, shoes, guys, careers, family, babies, school.. etc. I miss those times with my Chinese friends, especially getting our hair done at the salon. My own space- No space in China. As Americans... you have your own space in America but not in China. When you go on the bus, store, subway or anywhere else there is no space except in the bathroom or when you went to sleep in your bed. I learned to be flexible with the culture and to accept and not complain. My emotions- No time to cry being home away from home. When I taught.... I had to be patient with my children and be understanding with them in the classroom. I was tired a lot of times and I wanted to sleep but I could not because I had to keep moving until 9pm. Religion- Americans are very blessed to live in a place where religion and churches are free. We can preach or speak to anyone about the gospel in America. China has a lot of restrictions on religion. In China, the churches have to be under the government. My teammates and I were lucky to go to church in China. We went to Christian church called “Passport Church” on Sundays. We had to show our passport as we walked into church on Sunday. No local people could not show up to church without a passport. It was amazing to worship in a church in China. Also, I was happy to carry my IPhone with my Bible on it. If I was feeling down then I could pop out a verse to encourage me in public in China. Coming home- Coming home was hard on me to say goodbye to my teammates and my new Chinese friends. I miss my Chinese friendships. I cried as I said goodbye to my close friend in China. My roommate in China, which I missed even today. China has forever changed my life.... even today. My life will never be the same again. You can read more about my China trip with my teammates from Dallas Baptist University @ http://overthepacific.blogspot.com/