Christmas Eve 2008

Well, I have alot to fill in from my last post till now, but I'll only go over the demanding details ;)!

I flew out of Calgary on Monday, Dec 22nd and arrived in Springfield, Missouri late that evening. Wednesday afternoon everyone, which included Joey's parents-Alvy and Norah, Joey's brother and sister in law-Ben and Lauren and their two children-Sariya and lil Josh, and Joey's sister- Sarah, went to Jordan Valley Ice Park to ice skate. We skated around a few times and then Joey got off the ice. I waited for him but he continued to stand and talk with his dad, so I miss impatient just turned around and decided to continue skating without him.

Moments later he was behind me.

Joey: "I'm so sorry everyone is so stressed."

Me: "Its okay."

Joey: "My parents are really stressed, I'm sorry."

Me: "Joey, its okay, I understand, It's Christmas, don't worry."

Joey: "Well they are stressed for a good reason."

Me: Sarcasticly "Oh really and why is that?"

Joey: Grabbed my arm and spun me around " Cause I wanna ask you to marry me!"

Me: "WHAT???!!!???!!!"

Joey: Hands me the below locket

Me: "Oh my word, are you serious Jo?!"

Joey: with tears forming in his eyes, flips the locket over "Will you Marry Me?!"

I began to cry and then laughed and then just hugged him and cried/laughed some more.

Joey: "Well.........."

Me: "Yes, Yes!"

Everyone was watching from the side, so when we skated over the family said, "Welcome to the family Angel!" And I just cried! =)

Front of locket

Back of Locket

Inside of Locket-I opened it on the ice and the picture dropped

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

LIFE-Cali and the Philippines

WOW WOW WOW! Okay, so the last few weeks have been so busy. Saturday, August 30th, Joey, Sarah, my Mom, Ayla, and I packed up my parents van and headed out to yonder winding death-cliff mountain actually known as Ocean Cove, near Ft Bragg, to meet my family and a whole gang of folks from the church. After a 4 hour scenic route, through the city of San Fran, passed acreas of farm land, twisting mountain roads, and cows at every mile marker, we finally arrived at the camp site. Oh what a weekend =) It was nothing short of cold...no wait I take that back FREEZING, but beautiful. We camped on the side of cliff with an incredible view of the ocean. We hiked down to the water and carved our name in the caves below and risked our lovely lives to have a BLAST. The evenings were a bit frigid, 3 sweaters, leggings, 2 pairs of socks, a heavy jean skirt, a blanket and a blazing fire, the chill was bearable =) I'm a loser when it comes to the cold so I was the imbomable snow monster walking around, it wouldn't have been half as bad had it not been for the wind. Poor Joey stayed in a tent =( while I slept warmly on the couch of our motor home. Rough camper! ha...Joey, Ayla and I found ourselves in an open meadow the first night and among those rocks and trees, the stars were INCREDIBLE! I took a great flying leap over some rocks and bruised myself really good and hurt my wrist! =)
Well, after 3 days of fun we headed home. Sadly only to find out that my beloved grandmother had had a massive heart attack, and within 10 min of them getting ahold of us she passed away. =( We raced home and bought a ticket for my daddy and within 45 min he was on a plane headed to Ohio. We left Thursday morning at like 5am! Joey was a great support. He stayed with us most of Monday evening, and then headed out to work early on Tuesday, but NOT before stopping by to wake me up and deliver some flowers. He came home Tuesday and decided to stay home from work and help us get ready for our trip. He was a great help to my mama at the shop and he along with his mother, sister Sarah, and mom's friend Tiffaney took us to the airport.

Thursday evening we arrived just in time for the viewing. There was another on Friday, and the funeral was Saturday morning. It was so hard! All the family was there, but it just wasn't the same without Grandma Sarah. Well you can only have so much fun before its time to come home. And oh was I ready. I missed my church and my lovely bed! We were late arriving to the airport on Tuesday and MISSED OUT FLIGHT! What a joy! ha ha sarcastically....well it turned out okay...All 8 of us stayed in a hotel room, I didn't get any sleep, but we did make some great memories! =) We departed Akron, Ohio at like 5 something am, and landed after a almost 5 hour flight in beautiful Sacramento. So life begins again on Thursday, Dad flies out at 5am for a business trip, and we the children head back to school. The only thing missing is...Joey =( I got to sleep with Grandma's blanket the night before the funeral. The next morning it was placed in the casket with her. =(

He flew out Monday evening with a whole group of people including Pastor and Sister Young, Pastor and Sister King, both of them, and an few others from our church to the Philippines! So we've not talked since Monday....oh what a tearful time of moarning I am in....its life and I'm proud of him. I've recieved 2 brief, yet wonderful emails from him and everyone is having a great time. No one is sick, so the mercy of God is with them. The crusade and recording are going well, and God is moving-and YEAH he'll be back Monday evening! Can't wait to see everyone!....So back in Cali, here I sit at work....Missing Joey sob sob...lol Yes, I am at work and missing Jo, but enjoying the lovely life I live and for the breathe I can take through this stuffed up nose due to allergies, I have a smile on my face and I can truly say GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME! Now there you have it....my life in a long, but detailed post! For those that have made it to this point God bless you! =) XOXO

KEEP ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE CRUSADE IN THE PHILIPPINES IN YOUR PRAYERS. We want a move of God and safe return home.

****PICTURES****

Sincerely yours,
a.rose 2008

In Honor of a Grandmother....

Who's one of a kind!

There are no words to express me thoughts and feelings that come with the name Grandma Sarah. She was truly one of a kind. An incredible cook, wife, mother, teacher, mentor, but more than just your grandma, she was your friend! I'm numb thinking that she will never be there to hug me and offer me another cooking lesson, or leave her lip sticked kiss on my cheek. Grandma lived a good life, full of fun, excitement, and adventure with family as the most important!

Grandma I will NEVER forget your love and devotion. I'll forever cherish your memories and your stories. I love you and miss you SO much!

Please keep the Lombardo Family in your prayers.

"What's in a rose, that by any other name would smell as sweet."

The Calling

April 28th changed my life...10 year old DaVoughn Dow, a young boy in my Sunday School class, tragically passed away. An intelligent kid with an imagination out of this world. His death struck me like a load of bricks. Life comes at you fast, and before you know it, it passes you by and all you're left with are precious memories. Our children's pastor sent this letter to me this afternoon and it touched me. This is my mission statement: This is why I'm here-for others just like DaVoughn.

I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. I
minister to children.
My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is
strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or
distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back, or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes, or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting, and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears, and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory. I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.
by Roger Fields

My eyes look much higher....

So often when we are in a struggle or have lost something, whether it time or someone dear to us, we as humans tend to focus on what we are MISSING...

But to be Christ like I believe we have to refocus our eyes and come to the realization of His goodness and focus on what we are intended to LEARN!

Falling in Love again with my 1st Love!

Sincerely yours,

arose 2008

Thoughts of the heart...

Oh emotion
You seek to arise
You strive to conquer
The struggle of victory rages
Night and day you prey on my thoughts
Corrupting my dreams and weakening my structure
Wearing heavily upon my heart

Oh emotion
Your strength distracts, but your strategy has flaws
For I know a power beyond your desire
One of peace, of which I trust
My life never faltering from His plan
Though emotion you seek your will
I while heartedly give you to Him
For I know the best is to come
To those whom wait on Him
Who love Him as their Everything



Sincerely,
a.rose 2007

LIFE-Comes at you fast!

Life has a way of sending you unfortunate events that rock your world! Wednesday evening a childhood friend of mine and a dear friend to our family was involved in a motorcycle accident. At this time he is stable, but his life will never be the same. The accident has deformed his lower leg and after 6 hours of surgery the doctors have decided they could do no more. Below is a story that was sent by his mother hours before the accident. The young man along with his father are not in church nor serving the Lord, but know the truth. I only heard this story second hand so I have added my own adjectives and twists, but I know you will understand the purpose and meaning. Please keep the Seward family in your prayers, and pray Michael comes to know how precious life is and how threatening it is without the promise of eternity. God has each of our lives in his hand!

I heard of a story of a not so wise, yet not so negative King who had a trusted servant whom spent every moment with the king. The king had a jolly phrase he quoted each day, "It's all for the good!" One warm afternoon the king took his trusted "side kick" hunting with him, in the confusion and excitement of the sight of game, the servant pulled the trigger of the gun and unfortunately blew the kings thumb off. Angered the king had the servant thrown into a bitter jail. Many years later the king was traveling in a foreign land and was captured by an ancient tribe. He was tied to a stake and prepared for an offering. One brave noticed that this so called king was missing his thumb, and superstitious as they were, released the king for all sacrifices were to be whole in every way. The king gratefully returned to his kingdom and was met with the familiar phrase, "It's all for the good!" The king quickly ran to the jail and had his long time ago friend released. Upon their glorious reunion the king told of his story and ended with "It's all for the good! But I am sorry I so hatefully threw you in prison" The man heartily accepted the apology and said "But my king, it was all for the good that I was thrown in prison for all this time. For if I had been with you, I would have taken your place as the sacrifice and would not been able to celebrate this precious life with you my friend, my king!"

Please Pray!

Bro Jeff Hoffer's daughter, Bre from Bro. Bertram's church near San Diego, has just been diagnosed with cancer. They didn't catch it until now and its in the final stages according to the doctors. She is only 13, I believe! She will be having a bone marrow transplant today at 4pm. They are good friends to many of us. Please help me pray that all goes well... This little girl needs our prayers today!
Thank you all...