Feeling a little under the weather? Get a fire in your bones and let the Holy Ghost blow in you and through you...WIND AND FIRE- An insirational and a must read!

A CAMEL comes to The Rock Church!!!

YES! You have read correctly, we had over 15 first time visitors Sunday morning including a camel! A man in our church, who lives literly 1 minute away, has been inviting his neighbor to church. She finally agreed to attend as long as her 8 foot tall camel could come as well! She walked her camel to church, and thankfully left it outside tied to a fire hydrant. It was not happy let me tell you! But I'm thankful she came!!

Let EVERYTHING that has breathe praise the LORD!

Sincerely,

a.rose

An inspiring post!

This tree has been standing here growing bigger and stronger for approximately 46 years and within a few short hours it was totally gone. All that is left is a few stumps that will be burned for firewood and some mulch which can be used for some good in a garden. This got me to thinking about Reputation. We can work all of our life to build a good reputation,, one of character, and in a moment of temptation or anger or whatever, it can be stripped away and we are left with just a few stumps and some mulch. We are ground down to nothing! Guard your reputation. It is worth everything! You worked too hard and long to let it be stripped away from you in a moment. Your reputations defines who you are. It dictates where you are going and where you will end up! It is the very essence of 'you"!...... You do not want to miss the rest of this post, it is a GREAT read!

Autumn has arrived...

Well, not officially until the 23rd, but close enough! Bring on the sweaters, boots, scarves, and yes, the umbrellas!

It's raining, it pouring

The old man is snoring

Went to bed and bumped his head

And couldn't get up in the morning

Never have gotten the ending of this little tune, but its true for today! I awoke at 5:45a to find the sky a deep dark void. An unusually darkeness for the hour, but the mystery soon revealed itself, It was raining! The leaves are turning, school bells have wistled the return of their fans, the temperature is dropping, and smiles are arising as the thought of a new season approaches.

Life in the spiritual realm has new seasons as well. We love the summers' heat waves, but long for the coolness of evening before the fire that winter brings. The summer days are drifing away, leaving us with lessons learned, and battles fought. The rains of autumn wash away the dried tears of heated pain, and refresh and renew our thirsting spirits! A new season brings change, and change brings new adventure. God knew what He was doing when He created the seasons both in the physical and the spiritual! Don't think of the battles still to fight, put a smile on your face and greet this new season with JOY! You never know what blessings HE has in store for you!

Sincerely,

a.rose

ITALIAN KIDS vs. American kids

• 
  American kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.
• Italian kids:Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married....unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.
• American kids:When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.
• Italian kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.
• American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them, and it's usually only on special occasions.
• Italian kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees, he'll plant some.
• American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.
• Italian kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean?? This is soooo true!
• American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.
• Italian kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get antipasto, wine, a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad, bread , a cannoli, fruit, and espresso.
• American kids: Will greet you with "Hello" or "Hi".
• Italian kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.
• American kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs .
• Italian kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad. And your grandparents Grandpa and Grandma. =0)
• American kids: Have never seen you cry.
• Italian kids: Cry with you.
• American kids:Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.
• Italian kids: Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.
• American kids:Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
• Italian kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.
• American kids: Know few things about you.
• Italian kids:Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
• American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.
• Italian kids: Eat Genoa Salami and Provolone sandwiches on crusty Italian bread.
• American kids: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
• Italian kids:Will stop and lecture the whole crowd who left you behind.
• American kids: Are for a while.
• Italian kids:Are for life.
• American kids: Like Rod Stewart, and Steve Tyrell.
• Italian kids:Love Tony Bennett, Guy Lombardo and Frank Sinatra!
• American kids: Think that being Italian is cool.
• Italian kids:Know that being Italian is cool!

I LOVE being Italian!

Sincerely,

a.rose

9-11 We Remember

Today, Tuesday September 11t, marks the 6th anniversary of the 09/11/01 attacks. Though many may have carried on today with no care, I along with many have been taken back to that morning that changed our lives forever. It felt as if my innocence had been stripped away , my freedom questioned, my future threatened , and my present grasped in the clutches of fear. But I am thankful for a God who sees all and knows all. For in 2 Cor. 10:4-5 it says, "I do not fight with merely human weapons. No, the weapons with which I war are not weapons of mere flesh and blood, but, in the strength of the Lord, they are mighty enough to raze all strongholds of our foes. I can batter down bulwarks of human reason; I can scale every crag-fortress that towers up bidding defiance to the true knowledge of God. I can make each rebel purpose my prisoner of war and bow it into submission to Messiah." In HIM, do I put my trust.....9-11.....I REMEMBER!
God Bless America!

http://mission242blog.blogspot.com/

"There She Stands"
A tribute to 9-11 victims

Sincerely,
a.rose

My New House!

Okay, many have been asking about my new house-room....well here they are, I just so happened to have my dad's camera on Saturday so I ran home and took a couple of pics. My first intent was to decorate using different buildings and architecture, but the eiffel tower became an easy find!My roommate and I made the throw pillows at like 2 in the morning on Friday! We had a blast!
I fell in love with the vase!

My computer/sitting room, the comp is to the right.

Oh yes, and this is our Lucy, our manakin that greets us at the door, its kind of fuzzy, but she scares everyone when they open the door. It's Great! =)

Sincerely,
a. rose

Happy Birthday Vince!

Saturday, September 8th my little buddy, Vincent Nataniel turned 13 years old! Vince, I love you and am so proud of you! I am so blessed to have you as my little bro. I couldn't have chosen a better young man to pick on me! =)

Derrell and Vince digging into that free sunday!

Little Weston enjoying his ice creamAunt Lupe and Jordan

Sincerely,
a. rose

LABOR DAY!!! Patience day! Roll eyes

What a weekend!! 22 years ago I was supposed to be born, but no those drs decided to make me wait, their reasoning, " She is too little, she'll have to wait"! Well, once again I have learned that valuable lesson of waiting. Patience is a virtue the Bible does say. I had some fabulous plans to go to the mall with Courtney, I cooked dinner, and waited, and waited and waited. At around 8 she finally showed up and the fun began, 2 hours late, but it began. The evening carried on, feeding turtles, rabbits, dogs, a cat, doves, and watering plants in the dark in 36% humidity, and 90 degrees! That was quite an experience! Around 10p we got the idea to drive to Auburn about 45 min away to meet up with my family who had hooked up our trailer and camped out in this fabulous campground with a fishing lake, a boating area, and even a built in pool! After a "quick" packing experience for overnight, which consisted of pjs and a swim shirt, and a Starbucks run we made it on the road at 12a! Did I mention that it was a quick pack, just making sure! We were up till 2, or at least I was, 10 people crammed in a travel trailer! It was great! We crawled out of bed around 10 ish and the fun began. That was a complete overstatement! The lake became a pond, the fish shriveled up to the size of a dollar tree sardine, the boating area disappeared, along with my favorite flip flop! =( sob sob....Or shall I say the prior campground never existed in its glory. Several bruises, at least 5 splinters and half a million scrapes later, I made it through the afternoon with a smile on my face, well kind of half a smile. Saturday evening a few of us celebrated Maria's 23rd Birthday with a bicycle progression dinner! Now that was fun, despite the heat. Sunday was church, AWESOME! I had only 20 students in class, my average is anywhere between 45-50, so the Lord gave me a break on my spending for snack, Thank you Jesus! Though out of about 1100 there was only a good 300, we still had church. Monday was lazy day! 103 degrees and in my pj's till 4pm! What a day! I was able to relax, sleep in and even sew a bit. My family once again decided to hit the water and try out for some more fish! I was not in the mood for fishing another day, and even the boat didn't sound like much fun! I did not need another pentecostal farmer burn. So my sister, my roommate Tammi, and I loaded up and headed to Thrift Town. Woo Hoo! It was waiting for us, 50% off all clothing! Let's just say I have my winters wardrobe for 2007!
All in all I learned alot this weekend! Your best times are often made out of your worst experiences turned positive! Let me clarify, sometimes we look at a situation and think, "You have got to be crazy, I am going to be so bored!" or "Why me?" but if you simple apply a positive twist the humid heat of September and trickling 5 foot wide stream begins to look and feel more and more like The Underground Railroad(thanks Derrell, I love you), adventure, excitement, and the best time of your life! Surrounded by some great deals! $$ Though I was bored silly, surrounded by at least a dozen or more people, I found that my attitude was making my day. I no longer became lost in the crowd, but became the crowd and found a fashion show, a laugh, a smile and fond memories that will last me at least a million Labor days to come! Waiting wasn't so bad, I got a few surprises out of it! ;) Crocs!! Thanks mum! I guess the whole phrase, "RUN with patience" actual makes sense!