Some pics...

In Oceancove....our camping trip over the Labor Day weekend

Jo and I entering the cave

The ocean was beautiful.....we walked out across that to the tip

The wind was crazy strong...but we had a great hike

More of our view

We hiked down here...this was right by the cave

GUESS WHAT!!!!?????

Joey's home!!! =) Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sister Ayla, my bud Nichole and I drove to San Fran...well, okay so I slept in the back seat...their flight landed around 7:29pm and it took them forever to make it through customs and claim their baggage. But they made it back safely! Maria and Joey were half starved for American food, toilets, soap and a shower! We stopped by the warf on the way home and we enjoyed some bread bowls filled with HOT clam chowder! Yum yum...Maria and Joey both scarfed down a Ceasar salad...one of the simplistic foods we take for granted, lettuce! Well as you can see I am soooo excited to have them home. I've heard crazy stories about hand shakes =) we'll leave that one there, boat rides, the singing, the preaching, and more about the incredible services and sights around Bohol and Manilla. God is good and I can't wait for Youth on Missions to Bohol!

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

Hello United States

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year from the beautiful land of Calgary, Canada!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and got everything you had hoped for, I did! All I wanted for Christmas this year was a Hippo, and the Holmes were caring enough to purchase one for me! lol He is so cute-I love him!

I am having a wonderful visit. The weather has been at like -10degrees C. Everyone just laughs at me, but its just sounds so cool! Christmas was so much fun and the gifts I recieved were priceless...We have gone skating on a lagoon, sat in a spa when it is was snowing, what an experience and have just had a splendid time. I will be returning to Sacramento the 1st of January =( I mean =)....

Hope and pray your holidays have been shared with friends and family making many memories that will last for a lifetime to come.

God Bless!

more pictures to come

Sincerely yours,

a.rose 2007

Thanksgiving Day Pics

Uncle Jeff, the good ole turkey, and Daddy

Poor Dad, he's tired....

Thank you Lord for our link-n-log mansion!

The boys were a little "tied" up outside...lol

Joey and Tamsen jump roping in the living room for Jesus!

The ride of my life...oh wow!

Daniel thinks he's the hottest guitar player in Sacto...too bad he doesn't know how to play!

Woo...Tammi after a long night of shopping!

Around 12:30am, after our Thanksgiving meal , Bubbles, Caren, Tamsen, Ayla and myself packed up my car with snacks, gas, and blankets and headed to Gilroy, which is about 2 1/2 hours away. From 3:33am to 8:30am we shopped till we literally dropped. The mall had opend at 12am with some great deals, we couldn't resist! After returning home at 11a we crashed. It was so crazy, but soo much fun!

Miss Santa

Lil Hairy Cutie! These hats were great-considering how cold it was outside at 5a!

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!

Can someone say VACATION!

Well... I am presently in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where the weather is simply lovely! No triple digits, light showers and beautiful sunshine! Nothing too absolutely exciting, just busy getting ready for the scheduled graduation to be held this coming Wednesday evening, and the banquet to follow on Friday. Looking forward to an eventful week to come!