I am proud to be American!

This 4th of July is going to be special to me for many reasons. One reason is to look back on our nation and remember those who is serving or served our nation.  We are free in this nation. Looking at my money which says, " In G-d We Trust".  You may have traveled to many states in our nation and look at the history of each city. When I traveled D.C, I am amazed of our history and where we have come from since 1776. I am proud to say that I am American and live in land of freedom. One of my favorite songs is America The Beautiful>>>> I love the lyrics to this song>>>

(lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates; music composed by Samuel A. Ward on the poem and music) American The Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness.

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

A Little Bit of History....

The lyrics to this beautiful song were written by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929), a professor of English literature at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, after an inspiring trip to the top of Pikes Peak, Colorado in 1893. Her poem, America the Beautiful first appeared in print in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal, on July 4, 1895. Ms. Bates revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913. In addition to those changes in the words, it is notable that the poem was not always sung to the tune presented on this website ("Materna," composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882, nearly a decade before the poem was written). In fact, for two years after it was written it was sung to just about any popular or folk tune that would fit with the lyrics, with "Auld Lang Syne" being the most notable of those. The words were not published together with "Materna" until 1910, and even after that time, the tune to be used was challenged to some degree. For example, in 1926 the National Federation of Music Clubs held a contest to put the poem to new, reportedly "less somber," music, but no other entry was determined to be more acceptable. Before her death in 1929, Ms. Bates never indicated publicly which music she liked best, but it now appears likely that America the Beautiful will forever be associated with "Materna."

My Superhero who is my dad

My dad is my super hero and my best friend! Father's Day and his birthday falls in the same-time line so my family members chooses to celebrate his birthday on the same day.

This year, my dad turns the Big 57! He still looks like he is 35 years old.

One thing, I learned about my dad that he taught himself to read English at the age of 9 years old. My dad was a quiet child in school and very shy. My dad wanted to accomplish a lot through his education which he did. I have learned education is very important and it helped my father to accomplish a lot of goals in his life. This is one of the reasons why I went back to get my Master degree because of my dad. My dad has always supported me in my education and he continues to help me. I don't know where I would be without my dad.

My best friend.... My dad updates me on the Mavs games, Cowboys games, Rangers games when I can't watch the games or we review the games together. Priceless moments with my dad.

My dad saves me from sticky situations.... I had a few cars issues and I tried to call the toll truck but my dad came to the rescue no matter what situation I am in.

I celebrate my dad being my dad this year!

If you don't have a close relationship with you dad please remember there is father upstairs in heaven who will be your daddy or you can adopt my dad to be your dad.

Isleen Rodriguez

Calmness

When I think of calmness, I think of a windless fair day green meadow with birds singing

Thunder snapping in the night can bring all of us to immediate attention

How smooth can one be when all is fair and all is moving according to plan

The drive in all of us is different making us so unique though it seems we are the same

See the continence so relax and so handsome yet a sea whirling storm brews within

A faint sound comes from below and just the few hear the rumbling of the track

A signal is sent to alarm us within that something is not right yet we stay still

We want to shout it to the mountain tops of all the possible wrongs that may be coming

Then just as the workings of wrong seem to be growing, silence replaces the spaces

Aristotle, Socrates, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln come to mind with Calmness,

But life does not stop for even the famous or all the hopefuls of times of success

We measure someone by our success and admire those who do what we even dare

We try to see if their facials display the courage and overcoming of life’s extremes

Statues try to capture the greatness the mightiness and especially the bold facades

The search through time of serenity brings more questions of further closer examination

The smallest of creatures knows the answers we seek daily but moves to their calling

Quietness speaks so much louder than loudness because it is so special

A painting can bring so much peace and tranquility to our mind

As a beautiful man or woman does make us forget the falling leaves and raindrops

Glaciers can be so clear and magnificent in all their glory and do not ask for respect

Gracefulness can equal calmness because it brings pleasure to those who see it

I long to see those who triumph in the midst of turmoil because it brings joy and peace

The greatest can be the least because it is those that admire them once time has passed by

Speak what you want to yourself to bring what others seek in you and you in them

That which is found in the ant who is not moved by your size or your shadow

Ride that horse, stretch your arms out or yell into the wind to speak stillness

Do not allow the angry or the sad bring you down and you determine to climb higher

To where the birds sing in the quietness of the green meadows on a beautiful day.

 Written by my father Dan Rodriguez

 **Picture was taken on 05.24.11 by Isleen

 

My Motorcycle Journey

“@CSLewisDaily: Faith in Christ is the only thing to save you from despair & out of faith in Him good actions must inevitably come-CSLewis” I found this quote while researching on net and it relates of what is happening in my life right now.

Faith in the Lord is the only thing that I am holding on during these days. I went on vacation in South Texas a few weeks ago to hang with my family. I spend one afternoon and I looked at the cotton field. I asked myself of what I was going to do in the future. I did not have the answers but to trust the Lord the for the solution for me. I also prayed for an opportunity to go on a mission field in some unknown land to do something great for the Lord. It had been 10 years since I walked in unknown land call Israel to do mission work but it was time for me to take that step again but I had faith in my heart.

After my vacation with my family in South Texas, I had a choice to go home with my mom or go with my boyfriend on motorcycle to San Antonio, TX. San Antonio, TX is where I wanted to see my family and friends. This was the best choice I made to be close to my guy and traveled 300 miles on the open road in the country on the motorcycle. Miles and miles of freedom. It was hot and my hair was messy but it had it's purpose to be on the bike. I spend hours and hours prayed for protection for my boyfriend & I on the open road. I also spend hours and hours prayed for my life and my guy's life to change in our journey and in our near future. We came to San Antonio safely and soundly on the bike.


After we spend a few days visiting friends and family in San Antonio  and then it was time to go home.

When we started the bike trip with my guy's knee being infected. I wished, I could rode the motorcycle for him but I did not know how to drive it. Prayer and my guy taking his meds was the only thing for us to get home. Plus, I had interview at my school to take the opportunity to do mission in this unknown land. My guy was determined for me to get to my interview on time. On that morning on April 27^th, we rode through the Hill Country in Texas. As we rode on the motorcycle it was rough. It was not easy at all. The wind was blowing 30mph and it was rough ride for the both of us. Scenery was beautiful in the Hill Country. My guy and I stopped almost every hour to take a break. Plus, I had my summer purse and taken it out during our breaks. Yes, a biker chic can have her fashion purse and ride a bike at the same time.

My guy was in pain with his knee while he rode his bike. All I could do is pray for him and hold closed to him as I was rode on his bike. We went through many country towns in TX and it seemed peaceful. There was some towns that were ghost towns and been hit hard by the economy. There other towns that were still surviving and it seemed to me that these people lived a simple life. A simple life without huge homes, expensive cars, and expensive clothes. It was the schools, family, fellowship and of course G-d. You could see so many churches in many of these small towns.

Finally, as we came close to home it was 5:00pm. My guy taken me to my school for the interview and I had 10 minutes to put my make up on me. My fashion purse had everything to make myself look pretty again after being on the bike for 6 hours. I walked into the interview with full confident to know that I am going to unknown land to serve on the mission field.

My guy was still in pain with his knee after riding the motorcycle for 6 hours. The next day, he went to ER. We found later he had staph infection in his knee. My guy spend 3 days in the hospital on IV. I spend many hours with him at the hospital thinking to myself if this was my fault but it was not. Things happen for reason and we can not explain it. The next day, I went home to rest. I had sorted out my Avon brochures for my clients and I received a phone call that would change my whole summer and my life. I was going to be on mission field again to unknown land for a whole month. I am going to the mission field again! Thank you, Lord as I whispered. I rejoiced with my family of the good news. My boyfriend was still in the hospital but I believed in healing for his knee. Eventually, my boyfriend did come home and he is still recovery with his knee. I am thankful for my boyfriend and the sacrifices he made to get the both of us home safely on the motorcycle. 

Now, it will be 60 days from now that I will be in another time zone in unknown land serving with a purpose to unknown people. One thing I will say.....Don't give up on the Lord. Keep in faith and in your dreams. The Lord will show you through his word and through him where your next journey will be.

Isleen

*** Picture was taken by Isleen in Evant, TX.

Hope Floats

PS. 119:49

“Rememeber the word unto thy servant, upon which thou has caused me to Hope”. Hope is the word for today. Most of us hope for G-d's will, a better life, better career, hope to be skinny, hope to be sucessful, hope to have a good marriage, hope to have good kids,  & hope the dog is good to us. The dog part is a little too much but you get the point.

Really does hope mean to us ? Most of us are Christians but do we hope on the Lord or ourselves? Are we having faith in what the Bible says to us about our life? Are we trusting in the Lord? I found myself in hope of my life. I did not want to wake up one day. I wanted to stay in my bed all day to allow the pain to go away in my life. I cried. I cried to the Lord to help me out of the pit I was in my life. I wanted to give up on life. Yes. When you are in the deepest depression the thoughts of sucide can come across in your mind. This is where as a Chirstian you have to fight yourself in prayer to have hope in your life. I asked the Lord to help me to have hope again in my life. There are times when I wake up each morning to find hope in the word and in the Lord. I tell myself there is hope for everyone but it is my job to help other's to find their hope in the Lord and also in the word.

Isleen    

A Special Royal Wedding

This Royalty wedding is a big deal is in the media today but it is a dream. The dress, dinner, invitation, dance, decorations, the crown & jewelry. For many it is a dream for many of women across the world including me to marry my prince......

The reality... of this wedding. As we watch Princess Diane's son walk into his mother's foot steps of getting married on 04.29.11. Many of us will record it or watch it live @ 4am but all of us want to find out about this wedding.

Diane had remarkable life because she was a mother to two beautiful children but also a princess. She went through a messy divorce but Diane gave to help others. I grew up looking at her photos in People Magazine, her fashions, and her hair styles. She helped & traveled to many countries to recognize the important issues in the world during the time she had lived. One of my friends Roz even meet with her one time when she was younger. Check out her Blog, Call “Princess Di”

and also you can read another blog call "Watching the Royal Wedding” . Diane died in tragic accident. The world cried and many of us wonder of what was going to happen to her two sons including myself.

Friday Morning, I will be one of those crazy people watching her son William walk down the aisle with his bride to be. Why? Diane story continues with her son. History is being made and I want to be part of it. I want to tell my children that this prince found his princess to be. My desire is to be that girl to have her prince to ask her to marry her. I also want to make a difference with my life to reach out to others who can not help themselves. I want my husband & I to go into nations to seek those who are hungering, needing the gospel, to be healed, to be taught, and fed. I want my prince & I to do this to help many people in this world similar to Diane and now like her son William. I know it is a dream but I really feel it will happen one day. I believe in all powerful G-d in heaven.

Isleen

Meaning

What is the meaning of life is often asked to lending ears

Quickly the answer comes with little satisfaction of the assuring words

The old and the young sound the same when speaking of this

Each has determine what has been presented is worthwhile satisfaction

This is what it is all about someone may say of a sandwich or a trophy

But echoing words are meaningless to us who see only what is proclaimed

Life goes ever so slow and yet the morning runs into the night

Meanings has brought much turmoil and unexplainable events

Groupings of meanings seem to explain but the search continues

Listen to the story of singing swallows that don’t complain but give thanks

In their musical tones flowing through the air to reach those who listen

Yes, there is a meaning in the air if you hear what is spoken to you

The created flying beings seem not see the traffic lights in red or yellow

Who sings to them when they are down or do they listen to themselves

Tears come down my cheeks when I think of all the small who hurt and cry

We may seek meaning when the meaning is already there in us

Answers to deep thoughts are slow to find and hard to hear easily

A morning can bring some meaning yet direction lacks our focus

Another morning brings another meaning and still no light shines the path

Time gone by is examined by someone seeing many mornings to find that

Each one is as fresh as the next bringing newness and joy

Sing to me young bird that I may see another morning and look for more

To come because I begin to see that meaning is not in-between but in the continuance

Of the little ones walking and the old moving to where they find significance

Meaning can not be seen but yet all speak of it or are determine to find it

Meaning can not to be found but it is a mere journey to your final destiny.

Take care of yourself and those around you in your journey afar

Because a measurement speaks of you in what you did in search of meaning.

By Dan Rodriguez





***This was written by my father Dan Rodriguez. This is just a piece of work but he hopes to write a book one day.
Isleen