November 2017
If You’re Teachable, You’re Fixable
Who Get’s the Thanks? I’ve been turning on the stove in the Family Room and the Living room each morning for the past week. The old saying: “the north winds do blow, and we shall have snow, and what will poor robin do?” has been truthful. We have had a few days of wind, the birds have been numerous and VERY busy – no doubt preparing for winter. In the evening just before sunset, I bring in our huge fern plant and the wonderful flowering gardenia, so as not to lose them in a frost. I am thinking about baking, which often happens this time of year. Yes, we shall be getting ready for Thanksgiving soon, and I have already tried a new Pumpkin recipe – Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins. Ron loved them! I am considering making Grandma Rockey’s Sticky Buns, as we all called them, (really Pecan Rolls, and perhaps her Cinnamon Rolls as well.) They store nicely in the freezer until the Thanksgiving guests arrive and they are served on Thanksgiving Morning along with breakfast. I usually give a few away as well, so no doubt will this year. But there are several things for me to be especially Thankful for during the month of November. It was in November of 1963, that I graduated from Nurse’s Training, and then spent the next 20 years enjoying that profession.
On a cold, blustery day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 30, 1964, I met the love of my life. So he is #1 on my “I am thankful for:” list. # 2 on my list is the couple who took me to meet #1 – Pastor Joseph S. Damazo, a very close family friend since I was 5 years old. Believe it or not, I talked with him just the other day. He is 97 and still driving, preaching and performing weddings and funerals. He performed our wedding on August 15, 1965, 52 plus years ago. What a wonderful man and precious friend and supporter. Unfortunately, his sweet wife, Hazel, passed away a number of years ago. #3 on my list is Renata, Ron’s mother, who I met very briefly later that day. She was the BEST mother-in-law a girl could ever have. She would come and visit (sometimes for 3-6 months) and would bake the BEST goodies ever. She adored our children and loved packing their lunches for school. She became a close friend. #4 on my list is Phyllis, Ron’s sister, who I also met on that special day. She took care of him when he
was a very young baby and really “mothered him” until she got married when Ron was seven. She married Johnny, who became a “father figure” to Ron until his death just a few years ago. One always says that a boy marries someone similar to his mother, and for sure that’s what Ron did! We are much alike, Phyllis and me, and very good friends! That’s it for the November “I am thankful for” list, but there are so many more things to be grateful for! We get inquiries from folks wondering if there are small groups happening in their area. If you are leading a small group in your area, please let us know, so we can pass on the info. Include: Dates, Time, Place, Contact info and Class name. Here are the ones we know about. Alaska - Anchorage Contact: Ron Latsha Phone: 907-842-5653 Alaska - Fairbanks Leaders: Adrienne Lee Canada - Canadian University Leaders: Wanda J Johnson Class: The Journey Contact: Wanda Phone: 403-392-7093 Canada - Nanaimo, Vancouver Where: Prison Colorado - Canyon City Where: Canyon City SDA Church When: Tuesdays, 4 pm Leader: Fonda Harris Contact: email Colorado - Denver Colorado - Longmont (30 miles N of Denver) Leaders: Matt & Amy Miller Contact: Matt, Amy New Mexico - Ruidoso Class: The Route Where: Private Home When: Sabbath Afternoons Contact: 575-336-8095
God gave Ron and me two “Miracle Girls!” My ability to conceive and bear a child was doubtful at best, but God gave us first, Sara Louise in 1968 and then Naomi Lynn in 1969. Only 14 months apart, they surely kept me busy, but I was so thrilled to have been given these two miracles! These days, Sara is a wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a nurse. She and her hubby, Wade, live just down the street from our home. Naomi Lynn and her “Darlin’, Bob, live in Illinois near son, Joshua and his wife and baby boy. Sure wish we were closer, but immediate family is so important, so Naomi gets to enjoy her son’s family nearly every day. Also on my list would be the rest of Ron’s clan. Since I was raised as an only child, I always longed for a brother or sister, so God granted me that when I married Ron. At the time of our wedding, he had an older brother, George and a younger Brother, Bobby. He had two older sisters, Peachy and Phyllis and a younger sister, Judy. Unfortunately Peachy, George and Bobby have all passed away. We do keep in close touch with Phyllis and Judy – special sisters! Naomi lives within an hour’s drive from them both. God gave us precious friends too, who become increasingly more special as the years go by. Priscilla was my roommate in nurse’s training, and she and hubby Don were both in our wedding 52 years ago. We met Kenny and Donna in 1976 in New England, and they have become increasingly more precious through the years! We have a tradition of Thanksgiving together, and this year will be no exception – God willing. She and I love to bake pies together the day before the Holiday. Deb and Doug have been special friends since 1992, when we met in Bismarck, ND. They are fun to be with and she and I along with the “boys” used to love to go “Estate Sale Shopping” on our Golf Carts. Alex and Kathleen, who live nine hours away by car, have become such enjoyable
Oregon - Newberg Leaders: Sherri Mahurin Contact: Sherri Oregon - Portland Class: The Mode Where: Healing Hope SDA When: Wed, 7 pm Contact: 503-253-8595 Texas - El Paso Class: The Journey Where: St. Clements Anglican Church Wyoming - Cheyenne
friends as well. We share books, recipes and fun phone calls. YES, there are tons of other friends too - the article would take up pages if I listed them all. Just know that we have Precious Memories with so many of you. Some day in the kingdom, we shall have a GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY, when we shall dine along the crystal sea, praising God in song and other ways for all He has brought us through. Now the tears are streaming - memories and loneliness for those who live a distance – so I shall close this epistle, with but one more thing we are grateful for. Through the years, the Lord has given us an immense privilege – to travel the world, to write books and workbooks, to consult with the hurting and to see so many brought out of darkness into light and happiness. Thank you Lord! All the blessings already listed are from you and we know that for sure, and so as we sit around the table on Thanksgiving Day, we shall thank you for them all!
We all know Charlie Brown in the comics. I received some great Charlie Brown "words of wisdom" today in some cartoons in my e-mail. CHRISTMAS and the SEASON of GIFT GIVING is almost upon us! Plan Now what educational and Life-Enhancing Gifts you can give to Friends and Family this year. Go to PRODUCTS and shop for gifts that will be a blessing!
I was surprised what perfect sense his observations make! Year to year, decade to decade, all the basic principles do not change and all were excellent but I finally chose this one to share.. "The smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect. It means that I appreciate what I have and what I have been blessed with. I CHOOSE to be happy." www.Daveswordsof wisdom.com Our heavenly Father gives us the power of choice ... always. When we choose to trust in Him and follow His plans for us, we are happy, already living the perfect life that He has mapped out for us. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn has written many wonderful books and is often a guest speaker on a Christian T.V. show, the Jim
Baker Show. One time I took some notes as he shared his words of wisdom. His words were simple and spoke to my heart. I came across them today and thought I'd share them. Here is what I wrote and I hope I spelled this correctly. In the old testament Hebrew language, "machashabah" means intricately woven plans of God. We are living on earth - trying to attain Heaven and we have it backwards. WE NEED TO LIVE FROM HEAVEN! We already have God's plan for us - Jer. 29:11 .. My interwoven tapestry mixed with good and bad; It is as He planned my life. Heaven is the solution (problem already solved; just Trust!) Earth is the problem; the victory is already won.
We can lose it when we’re small -
an understanding of our light. we can take their faults & weaknesses and make them ours. we can live a lifetime under shadows of others delusions and mistake them for our own beliefs. and then! we can wake up and remember! we can walk thru the anger
What is finished IS perfect! We are victorious in Him, living a life of fullness NOW. God HAS the plan - we don't need to know it .. He loves us; it is a Good Plan to benefit us, and bring us home to Him. Amen! -Jer. 29 11-13
and forgiveness
"You stand today, in your God appointed place, completely surrounded by His grace." - Roy Lessin
we can stand in the beauty
And it is easy to choose to be happy because God has this plan for my life. (.... which doesn't always seem perfect to me .. but IT IS!)
to a place where the past is past and who we really are is the now—
that we always were. And laugh in the glory of the journey. ~BoneSighArts.com
Steps to Growing Up
Trust
Autonomy
Initiative
Industry
Identity
Intimacy
Productivity or Generativity
Contact the Rockeys with your questions and/or comments 1-575-973-7793, 10 am—5 pm Mountain Time or email