Review in 2011 & Goals for 2012

Looking back 2011 was not easy year for me. I had to reflect many of my photos to be picked for 2011. At the beginning of the year, I was laid off in January, 2011. I did my best to keep my mind positive for many months and trusted in the Lord for the direction in my life. I found myself working through school with my master degree, selling Avon as hobby, volunteered for community college on a project, hung out with my dad & family often, adventured with my family to many family events including Padre Island, in South Texas- April 2011, celebrated my 91^st Grandfather’s birthday, getting a makeover with Bobbi Brown with my close cousin, going on motorcycle journey with my boyfriend in South Texas for a week, meeting my cousin 1st time in San Antonio, TX  and hung out with Clifford’s close friends in Blanco, TX, I received a call to go to China-April 2011, watched Dallas Mavs, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys had an amazing year in sports, worked with my Hilton family again, watched the crazy weather in May and June come through Texas, celebrated my dad’s last birthday when he turned 57 years old in June, I had amazing time with my family on Fourth of July, taught English in Beijing, China, explored places that I thought I wouldn’t ever gone in my lifetime in China, I met new friends in China and also in the states with my University, watched my dad being diagnosed with cancer 2^nd time in August, had emotion pains with my dad go through hospice care and had a funeral for my dad in Sept., I had celebrated my 31^st birthday and my niece’s 8^th birthday two weeks after my dad passed away- which we made the best of it with friends & family, my family went away to Kemah, Houston for vacation at the end of Sept., I went through a new season with my family and my mom at home, walked at Susan G Komen race in Oct. with good friends, ran for colon cancer with my family in Oct. 2011, my family had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family from South Texas and 91 year old grandfather, celebrated 5 years with the love of my life Clifford, continued to finished my studies on campus for my master, I had 1 great mentor pray for my family and me, I graduated with my master in Dec. 2011, I went to Virginia and New York city to see friends & family, and spend Christmas & New Years with my family.

Life is not perfect and it has its ups and downs. At times you can't control your life because “LIFE HAPPENS”. You are not in control and I really believe the Father in Heaven is in control of your life with the choices you make in life. I did my best to stay positive and be strong for my family this year because I did not want to fall into deep depression with the crazy season that I was had in 2011.

What is ahead in 2012…. many are saying the world will end Dec. 2012. I don’t know what is ahead after Dec. 2012 but I will say that I will make the best of this year after going through 2011. 2012, it will be a year when my writings will be published online or maybe in a book, I will do my best to get my dad’s book published for my family, I will finally find that dream job in teaching, in marketing field or the hospitality industry, I hoped to start my life with the love of my life and plan a wedding this year, & I hoped to vacation in Florida this summer with my mom and my family. I don’t know what else to write as my goals but we will see what to expect in my life. I will need some of the prayer warriors to pray for my family and I. Please pray for my family to be stronger in our faith and not fall. It has been difficult season because our father was leader when it came to things of the Lord. I am doing the best to be a leader as woman of the Lord because it has not been easy. I am trusting in the Lord for the next steps in my family’s life.

Until next week blog, I will see you online.

Isleen

                                                       

                                                                 

                                                 

                     

                                                
                                                   

    

                          

                                     

               

                                
                    

                                                             

Christmas 2011

The joys of Christmas as a kid is memorable one for my family & I. The midnight opening presents with my folks on Christmas Day. Hanging out  on Christmas day with my folks in our Pj’s to play with our new toys. I wished to be a kid again and turn back the clocks.

This Christmas will be a quite different year for my family because special memories will not be there with my dad. My dad was a big part of our Christmas traditions and shared many gifts. My dad was the one to pick up the wrapping paper after the gifts were torn apart. He was the one to hug you when getting a gift from him. He was one to write a special letter to you to say how proud of you as a dad. It will be emptied this year and I don't know how to take this new season of Christmas. 

This is why.... I decided after my graduation to visit my family and friends on east coast instead of Christmas shopping. Christmas shopping has not been on top of my list this season. I love looking at decorations and checking out all the great products in the stores but shopping for others is hard for me. The only shopping I'm doing is for my nieces and my nephew. The important factor in all this is fellowship with others. Loving each individual and thanking the Lord for them. Christmas is about more than gifts. It is about the birth of Christ. The miracle story of Christ coming into this world. It is about families and friends coming together as one. Watching children open their gifts and the huge smiles they have. Eating together and sharing laughter. Watching Miracle 34^th Street for the 100^th time. It about believing amazing miracle on this holiday. It about families praying together. It is about life during this Christmas season. Take the time to enjoy this holiday call “Christmas”. Life is so precious this year.

Isleen

Merry Christmas

圣诞快乐

חג מולד שמח

メリークリスマス

¡Feliz Navidad

I finshed the race to get Master Degree

“Behind every success is effort… Behind every effort is passion….. Behind every passion is someone with the courage to try…”

Today is one of the biggest days in my life. Today is also the last day of my schooling which I received my master. In my commencement, the speaker said only 8% receives their master and I am one of those 8%.  In my immediate family, I am the only one to receive my masters. One gal next to me said she experienced a lot while studying her master. She told me that she had finished her exam online then she had her baby. There is a lot of sacrifice when you have a passion for something more than yourself. While studying my masters in last 2 years.. I have experienced joy, studied a lot in the library, writing late nights, experienced a lot tears, moved to different homes, being unemployed, going into the mission field to preach the gospel, having fears, laughing, having the love in my life standing close to me, have the greatest mentors in my life, meeting new friends, trust in the Lord, lost a dad to cancer. My dad’s last few words to me were to finish my masters. I told my dad I would.. I wanted to be a doctor one day. One day it will happen. I will get my Ph. D when I am 50 something. G-d helped me get through my education with a learning disability and anything is possible in life. As my dad said to me once, “You can do anything and all things are possible with Christ.”

These are the moments with my family and friends at my graduation on a beautiful day in Dallas, TX.

Isleen Rodriguez

Great Ideas for Christmas in the City

Christmas Time in the City! Today is Wednesday favorite’s because I have been busy with exams, graduation planning and preparing for a vacation at the end of the week. I know a lot of you are busy with preparing for Christmas in last few weeks. I am going to make your life a little easier. I will give you some suggestion on things to do in major cities such as Washington DC, New York City, Dallas TX, Ft. Worth, TX and Arlington TX.

New York City, NY

Ice Skating in Central Park Info 

Rockefeller Info

Empire State Building Info

Things to do in New York City Info

Washington DC

10 Things to do in Washington DC Info

Ft. Worth, TX

Sundance Square in Ft. Worth, TX Info

Dallas, TX

Things to do in Dallas Info

Calendar Events for Dallas Here

Arlington TX

Things to do in Arlington Info

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