The Roses Christmas Update 2006Since we last sent you an update on our lives, A LOT has happened! Basically, we came to visit Lisa’s family last Christmas and between December 31 and February 1, moved to back to AL. WOOHOO! It is a crazy God story and before we go any further…you can get the WHOLE story here on our FAMILY BLOG. It will catch you up with pictures and what we have been doing all year! This time each person will write their most memorable time this past year. God has been faithful even during the rough times and we have been convinced time and time again that He is Provider. He used so many new friends to help us get through a BIG CHANGE in our life and we love him even more.
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Lisa’s Lines 
I think moving back to Alabama brought on many, mixed feeling. I felt peaceful for the first time in my adult life about moving back, but certainly missed my first love, New York City. I love that city more than anything and when the Lord nudged us to come back, I trusted Him but felt sad. It is good that it is so easy to get there these days.
One of the fun things has been reconnecting with old friends from high school and college. Many people have stayed around and I didn’t really have much contact with them at all. We have had some fun times together getting reacquainted so that has been really cool.
I also got the opportunity to HOMESCHOOL Jason in the spring since we came in the middle of the year. He was an excellent student. We bonded a lot and he caught up on a lot of things academically. I enjoyed that so much. I was sad that I didn’t get to do it anymore than I did.
I started a job with the Montgomery Baptist Association in August of this year as the Church and Community Director. They have a lot of cool ministries going on and if you would like to read about them, go to http://www.mgmbaptist.org/ and click on CCM.
The Lord has stretched me being a mom, being a woman, a minister, a wife this past year. I have wondered what the heck God was doing and then He would surprise me with something. I would always shake my head saying, “ Ok God, I get it!”
My verse this year has been:
“Whether you look to the left or the right, you will hear a voice behind us saying , this is the way, follow it” Isaiah 30:21.
I’m very grateful for everyone who loves me and whom I love. The Lord has brought many people across my path over the years and I am so amazed at what I learned from each of them.
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Jason’s Jive
I love moving to Alabama but I miss everyone in New York. I loved home school. I wish I could still do it. Fifth grade is hard. I am in a regular classroom for the first time and it is very hard. I am doing great in Math and Spelling and Social Studies. I have to work on my conduct.
I am taking Taekwondo to learn to focus since I have ADHD. I am trying for my yellow belt soon. I am an Auburn football fan. They beat Alabama 22-15 at Thanksgiving.
This year has been hard with moving and all but my mom and dad tell me that I am brave and an adventurer. I am taller now. I like that. I will be able to sit up front in the car. I like our cars. We have an Intrigue and a Rendevouz. I like both but I miss the subways!
I have been learning about the verse in the Bible. I Corinthians 10:13
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed. The new has come.”
I am learning to give up some old habits. It is hard.
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Russ’ Remarks
2006 has been a year of growth for me. First, after 37 years of being in New York, and living no where else but New York, I move to a foreign place or what feels like a foreign place…. different culture, different accents and back to a suburban lifestyle. I so appreciated the graciousness of our friends in Alabama, making us feel at home, Beverly and Jim, Stan and Jeanne and of course Lisa’s dear friends, the Kallies!!! I lost close to 50 lbs when I got to Alabama working in the Lawn Care business, in the HOT Alabama sun, pushing lawn mowers, swinging weed eaters and just walking parking lots picking up trash, I tried to make the best of it but it literally felt like I was below the equator in some tropical environment. I want my 4 seasons back!
Despite that, we found a wonderful church home at Huffman Baptist where I was involved in the choir, a choir ...what a concept that I haven’t seen in years, since my days in the Lutheran Church. It was wonderful!
But plans change, God knows best and closed all doors to jobs for both Lisa and I, and we landed here in Montgomery and have found home. It took me 2 months in Montgomery to find the most perfect job in all of Russell Rose’s history of jobs! As you all know I have been in the Lawn and Garden business for 20 years and this job is a culmination of everything I’ve learned over those past 2 decades. I am a vendor for Home Depot in their Lawn and Garden department and pretty much deal with everything there except the plants, which I love, I get to see them everyday though, that makes me happy!
It has many perks and takes care of its employees very well, we had a meeting not to long ago and they served us Filet Mingon, which I had to grub off another it was that good ( He didn’t want it so I took it off his plate while the waiter was taking it away LOL). So that gives you a little about how they treat us. That was in Atlanta so it does require me to travel some, but that is fine with me my new car has a tape and CD player which makes traveling fun.
Most everything about the family was filled in by Lisa and Jason, but I will put my 2 cents. The neighborhood we live in is wonderful,. We have the best of both worlds in our duplex, apartment living with a front / back yard. So for those who don’t like to clean get a duplex.
We found a wonderful church at Ridgecrest Baptist here in Montgomery. It reminds me of Trinity Lutheran architecturally in the sanctuary. They were very welcoming and made us feel at home, making the decision really easy for us. It is a mission minded church and we can’t wait to be plugged in further.
We want to wish all of you a blessed Christmas season and a gracious New Year, filled with happiness and prosperity. We thank God for all of you and your support for our family and will be praying for all of you.
All of God’s blessings!!!!
Peace on Earth, Russ, Lisa and Jason
Our Christmas dinner
All of our gifts from the Lord!
Jason and Santa
Russ playing Rudolph. 
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