The gift of LOVE!-How often do we overlook such a priceless opportunity

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her Five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive Gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even More upset when the child used the gold paper to Decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to Her mother the next morning and then said, 'This is for You, Momma.' The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, But her anger flared again when she opened the box and Found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh Manner. 'Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a Present there's supposed to be something inside the Package?' She had tears in her eyes and said, 'Oh, Momma, it's not Empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full.' The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put Her arms around her little girl, and she begged her Forgiveness for her thoughtless anger. An accident took the life of the child only a short time Later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box By her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems She would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss And remember the love of the child who had put it there.

The Purple Iris

I got this the other day and thought instead of forwarding the message....I'll post it!

There comes a point in your life when you realize:

Who matters,

Who never did,

Who won't anymore...

And who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Give these flowers to everyone you don't want to lose in 2009, including me, if that's what is in your heart.

My Thanksgiving Story

This year at Thanksgiving, my sisters and I went to our mothers house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick. She told my sister that she needed something from the store. When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, and inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird. With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, "Tamsen, you've cooked a pregnant bird!" At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry. It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs!

lol Though this story is not completely true, it is so funny! Sorry Tammi I had to pick on you-cause you're the cutest blonde ever!!!

We're at it again...

Ayla, Tamsen, Joey and I are heading up to Keno/Klamath Falls, Oregon for the holidays. This will by my first Thanksgiving spent with my mother in 10 years!!! Crazy! I'm looking forward to the snow and the time we'll spend together but I'm not looking forward to the drive.....=) mark that down as yet another road trip for the Lombardo's! he he Please keep us in your prayers as we travel, the roads are slick and there are crazy drivers out at this time of year! Have a wonderful Gobble Gobble day and remember to be Thankful for HIS Many Many Blessings!

Things I am truly thankful for this year:

• The Faithfulnes of my God
• The love of my family
• The support of my church and ministry
• New friends
• Joseph Ladd ;)
• Breathe
• Life
• School ending in 5 days!!!!!
• A roof over my head
• Food to eat
• A car to drive
• Wise parents
• A job
• okay so I could go on and on.....
• Thank you Jesus for my health and the health of my family. Continue to keep us in your ever loving arms. Guide us direct us in the path you have chosen us to follow! I love you with all my heart! Thank you for being my protector, my shelter, my peace, my comfort, my very very best friend!

An evening at the water store....

NOTHING tastes as good as Water From the ROCK.....

Step #1. Fill all empty bottles with crisp clean Water From the Rock.












Step #2. Screw the beautifully colored caps with seal.















Step #3. Place bottles in cold fridge and step back and admire your work! =)





There you have it...my evening at work =) Lovely isn't it!

Friday Night Fun

I thought I was supposed to be attending our church Plan Night, but ended up babysitting my brothers instead, soooooo that meant Fun Fun Fun! Last night the downtown Ice Skating rink opened!!!!! Yee Haw!!

We had an absolute BLAST!!!!!!! I didn't get any pictures though :( sniff sniff....We packed out our "bus" of a van and headed downtown around 7pm. You should have seen the staff when all 16 of us came scamblin in through the gate with the hugest grins on our faces! :) Alot of the staff remembered us from last year so we got to chitty chat with all the head people :) I'll def be getting some pictures within the next few months,

so if you don't hear from me for the next few weeks don't stress I'm probably out enjoying my favorite sport,

Ice Skating!!!!

I'm Late, I'm late....

Okay so its been a whirl wind around here....block finals, a live recording, life, Disney on Ice, church, iceskating, rain and a holiday! whew I'm just about worn out....NOT! Actually these past few weeks have been extremely busy but fun! At this moment, this day, this very hour I have 18 more days left of school! =) I can not believe it....6 months has flown by so quickly!

Well I've done some home work over the past couple of days....checking up on everyones blog and I've seen many many pictures and have truly enjoyed the laughs. It looks as if everyones Halloween was a blast! Well I had a great time as well! Just about everyone at school participated and what imaginations I tell you....We had a pumkin carving contest, a scream contest, and a costume contest. I of course, the big mouth that I am(sometimes) won a $25 giftcertificate as the #1 screamer in the school! LOL it was great...and to make it even more interesting no one expected it to come from cute me....I didn't win the costume contest....no one seemed to know who Pippy Longstocking was, except my principle who deemed me her absolute favorite lol....

Joey brought me lunch and then stuck around for me to do a few procedures on, *patterns, cutting lenses, Keratometer* after school I worked and it was the LONGEST 3 hours of my life. It Rained and Rained and Rained, so it was really slow at the shop. By the time I got off I was not in the mood for any parties =( So I just let my hair down and relaxed =) I worked all day Saturday, which was slow cause it....Rained again =) Joey, Cody, Ashley and Bubbles came over and we played a little RISK which was an absolute BLAST! The boys didn't think us girls would enjoyed it and so they were a little hesitant at letting us join but little did they know that 3 hours later we would eliminate them from the board! HA HA HA well not Joey but Cody we did! Great game guys!

Well, there you have it life in 2 paragraphs...yesterday was election day and though I am very disappointed at who our country has voted into office I am not disappointed in the one who has given me today. When I trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding, but look to HIM who is the my hope, my refuge, my protection, my strength, and my future. I have a peace that all things are in His precious hand. I need not fear of tomorrow, the terror by night, nor the destruction that wasteth at noonday. For in Psalm 91 it states There shall NO evil befall thee, and he will keep me in all my comings and goings. Because HE has set His LOVE upon me, and He will deliver me. In knowing this how can I NOT trust Him with everything?

When the future of my country is uncertain, I am certain of this

HE IS COMING SOON! And oh what a day, what a Beautiful day that will be!!!

Life in the Fast lane

Have you ever felt like you were going 100 MPH with no way of slowing down? You look in the distance and its just as busy and crazy as the present! Its October 17th already! Where did the beautiful months of spring go? It seems like yesterday I was skating on a frozen Canadian lake and ringing in the new year...I can't say that this last year hasn't been eventful and exciting, but it all came so quickly! I began my schooling June 2nd of this year, and 24 weeks seemed like an eternity away, but as I sit here today, having completed my 3rd 6-week final, I can truly say it hasn't been but a moment. I am so thrilled to see all that I have learned in the last 5 months. I've climbed many mountains, and crossed many streams, I've found a new depth in Jesus and I wouldn't give up anything to change it all.

But with the rush, rush, study, study, practice, practice, I've finally collapsed-I can't go and do all that I used to do...and though I've tried, I've found myself ill the next day unable to keep up with school and work. So I will publically appologize to all I haven't emailed back, C & C events I've failed to attend and youth services I've missed out on....I've taken the advice of my elders and stayed involved as best as I could, but I needed to focus on this season of life and stay afloat.

I've come to love my evenings of doing just about nothing =) at least once a week at my parents, my house, or at a friends, I just snuggle into a chair and enjoy the hug of a blanket. I miss doing something on every night of the week, it makes me feel young, but since I've stepped down from a few things I've excelled academically. I'm top of my class and can't help but brag just a little. My whole being feels restored and I can't WAIT to get back into sunday school, bus ministry and College and Career! 6 more weeks, a HUGE State ABO testing and then....Graduation! yeah!!!(though the ceremony isn't until June, my certificate will be in hand ;-)

*For those that made it this far and are still reading, Lord Bless you =) Please say a prayer for me. I take my State ABO testing on November 16th,which is with the American Board of Opticianry. I decided to skip my NCLE (National Contact Lens Examiners) until next year, I only need one stressful test a year lol! I appreciate you all and pray God Blesses you richly!

sincerely yours,

arose 2008

Did you know?...

The body has 70,000 miles of blood vessels! The heart pumps through this labyrinth and back again once every minute!

Its Friday!

The "JOY" of the Lord is my strength.....

Got a smile of my face =0).......

Have you shined a little light today?

Just SMILE-

"Life's best possibilities are yours to fulfill. Get busy, take action, and make it happen. Make it a Great Day!"

Sincerely yours,

arose 2008