Being Humble and Receiving Hospitality

 Wow! This is that time of the year again for a blessing and to be blessed. If you didn’t get my previous newsletter, let me fill you in. Last June, my episode on The Texas Country Reporter, that was aired last October 2008 and again in January, received the Barbara Jordan Media Achievement Disability Award at the new Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium. Later in July, I got to meet Gov. Perry. An update for all of you: I recently received a proclamation certificate from the governor with his seal because of the Barbara Jordan Awards. He also gave me a Braille copy! This will be hung up in my future museum and gift shop, but more on that later.

 As I mentioned before in my earlier newsletter, I was going to head to Pennsylvania. This I did in August. I arrived in the small town of Tionesta on August 5^th. It is a small town of 500 people and is much like Mayberry. The day before I arrived, they had put my picture on the front page of their newspaper announcing my arrival. That was so cool! On the 7^th, I spoke at a local senior center to all of these precious people who welcomed me with open arms. On the 9^th, I headed to Johnstown and met with my great, wonderful Uncle Tom, who I hadn’t seen in several years. We got to spend that afternoon together and I got to meet with all of the rocketeer folks. That was fun, too. On Monday, I headed to Hershey, Pennsylvania! YEAH! Chocolate! (Note: I did call a week ahead of time to ask for one-on-one assistance.) So, when we arrived, I walked up to the welcome desk and told them my name. “Oh! Ms. Rose! You’re the amazing quilter! Everyone wants to meet you!” exclaimed the desk clerk. Soon, all of these employees were coming out to meet me. They bent over backwards trying to help me out. I got to take the ride that explains how the chocolate was made. Then, when I went to the gift shop, I walked up to the counter with my list of things I wanted to get. Michelle, the head of customer service, found me Haley, an associate, to help me get all of these things. Mr. Ron had to go sit down while Haley helped me get everything from chocolate to Christmas presents for two hours! What an experience! Yes, I do know how to shop! The next day I went over to the Rose Garden and the butterfly house. Milton Hershey built the garden for his wife, Kitty. The roses smelled wonderful! Later, they took me on a tour of the old hotel and all of its wings. If Milton Hershey was still alive, he would be so proud of his employees. They were all so nice and outgoing. I have never been to an organization that was so in sync with one another. The following day, I went to the museum and received the same hospitality. I even got to hear Milton Hershey’s voice on a radio recording. If anyone gets the chance to read anything on him, take it. He is so inspirational by the way he set goals and even when he failed how he picked himself up by the bootstraps and kept going. That is what we should do with our lives each day by trusting God. That is how I have gotten to where I am today: by setting goals and believing God that they would happen through His hard work. The bottom line though is that without goals nothing is going to happen. Sometimes people think my goals and dreams are unattainable, but that is what faith is about. It’s about believing things into their existence. Okay, back to my story now. The same day that I toured the museum, we drove down to Gettysburg. We got a one-on-one, dramatized bus tour around the battlefield. How enthralling it was to learn and understand some of the history of the Civil War. The next day we headed back to Tionesta and the next few days had a little R&R. That Saturday, I went to their Indian Fall Festival. Again, thank-you to the folks of Tionesta for treating me with such honor and respect. I flew home on Sunday.

 That following Wednesday, I headed up to Dallas to stay with Donna and Mike. Donna and I left on Thursday for Hartsthrone, OK. I got to spend a couple days there with my cousin Jim and his family and got to see my other cousin Theresa. Got home Saturday night. Left the following Friday for Dallas again to speak at Donna and Mike’s church. I met up with my friend, Dena Reed, who I hadn’t seen in twenty years. We promised that we wouldn’t let another twenty years go by like that. I had been in her wedding and even caught the bouquet. However, I have yet to catch a man to go with it. Now, what’s wrong with that picture?

 Now, I would like to give tribute to Donna Akin Thomson, who I have known since we were twelve. She left this earth on August 28^th and went to the better place of heaven. She was very special to me and close to me throughout my life. She is the one who introduced me to the Lord. I prayed the sinner’s prayer in the back seat of her car with her family. Though, I didn’t know what saved meant at the time, I quickly developed a relationship with the Lord because of it. We never know who and why God puts people in our lives, but she was one of the ones He used in mine.

 I would also like to tribute this newsletter to Harry Foster, who we lost in March. He was like another dad to me. He and Wanda were married for sixty-two years; Harry was eighty-one when he died. He lived in Dexter, Missouri. He was a wonderful man.

 In September, I received more birthday cards than ever before. On the 25^th, Jennifer and I went up to Dallas to stay with Dana, who threw me a birthday dinner and cake. The next day, Jennifer and I went to “Arise”, a day for people who have disabilities to have an End-of-Summer Bash. I had a booth there and it was eye-opening for me to be exposed to all of the different disabilities. Then I came home and spoke at three services for the United Methodist Church. Every service was a little different as God poured different words in my mouth to bless different people. I loved getting to shake everyone’s hands at the door.

 From then until the 24^th of October, I prepared for the 14^th Annual Bob Phillip’s Waxahachie Street Fair. A week before that, on the 17^th, they re-aired my episode in Texas. And as I have mentioned before, the episode will be shown on RFD-TV, nation-wide. I just heard recently that it will be shown in February, in time for Valentine’s Day. I have already been told to be prepared for doors of opportunity to be opened because of it. The shows are shown on Friday nights on RFD. If you have Direct-TV that’s channel 345 and Dish is 231. The festival was the biggest ever, 48,000 people came and I don’t even know how many thousand people came to my booth. I had a guest book, but it was too crowded for most to even sign it. There were people from New Mexico to Louisiana and Missouri. I even got to be in the parade. People brought their cameras and wanted hugs and pictures. I don’t see myself as a celebrity and I don’t want a big head, but I am thankful for everything God has done in my life. Thank-you to all of you who signed up for this newsletter while you were at my booth. I would now like to thank all of my assistants and security guards for all of your heart-giving help.

 People have been asking me what my future goals are. This next year, I would like to start getting a financial foundation for my museum and gift shop. So, if any of you would like to make donations to that, I will be putting it aside in a bank account for that purpose. The financial supporters of my museum will have their names put on a plaque to hang in the museum. I don’t know when, where, or how but I know that God does and the best way for me to start is by getting some of the finances together. Also, this next year, I would like to have a documentary put on a DVD on the step-by-step process of how a blind person quilts. I would also like to put together a book on all of the celebrities I have met and how I know them with our pictures together. Presently, they are all hanging in my living room. Yes, I re-did my cookbook, which was my goal last year. It’s called Country Rose Cookbook and is available upon request for $20. (Also, prayerfully I will be getting married this next year.)

 My last event for this year was on October 29^th in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area. It was a seminar for employers to hire disable workers through Easter Seals. Thank-you Tempe, Margo, and Connie. (I want to thank all of the organizations who have asked me to be their spokesperson this next year. Yes, I will do all that I can!)

 If you haven’t checked out my website lately, the 600^th quilt is up. It is called The Photo Gallery of the Past Presidents. It is available for rental to be displayed for showcases.

 God has recently blessed me with my extra kids from Baylor. Shane, Taylor, and Kelly have helped me out in so many ways. Like getting out my Christmas decorations and getting out these newsletters to you. Also, thank-you to Kristen, who has been my typist.

 One question I have received a lot lately is when I am going to be on Oprah. I have found out through her office that she is picking her stories for this next, final year of her show by the emails that people send in about their ideas. So, if anyone would like to adopt me as their idea, get on Oprah’s website and send her an email about me with my website.

 If anyone would like me to speak to their church or group just let me know. My next speaking date is in February for Valentine’s weekend for widows and widowers. The festival next year is on October 23^rd; and yes, will be there. I think that pretty much wraps up my life for this year. Keep checking up on my website for updates.

Have a Very Merry Christmas! Keep safe and healthy this holiday season! I send my blessings from my home to yours this season! Keep warm and happy and enjoy your friends and family! Thank you for taking the time to read this. May God richly bless you and reward you for all of the ways that you have blessed my life.

 With His Everlasting Love,
Diane Rose
Hebrews 11:1

ROSE OF SHARON MINISTRIES

721 Petty Place

Waco, TX 76705

(254) 799-7990

www.theamazingquilter.com

quiltrose@prodigy.net