My mom's first gathering at her home....

This past weekend we enjoyed time with some friends from our congregation.  We wanted to have a barbeque and since my mom has the largest and most perfect yard for a gathering.....She hosted it at her house!!!!  There were approx. 21 friends who came and there was plenty of food and goodies!  Everybody seemed to have had a great time.  Most of the friends stayed til long after dark as we played a mind boggling game that was introduced to us by my Uncle Tony many many years ago.

Richard Torres was in his element right behind the barbeque.  And boy was it great!  Ribs, chicken, tri-tip, and swordfish.  And also grilled vegetables. Yummmmy!!!! Richard is the one in the apron and his son is watching on while he cook's.  There's Sharon, Richards wife walking toward them on the left.

Mom actually sat a took a break to enjoy the wonderful food prepared by everyone.

Victor Besancon and one of the Luna boys are in deep conversation while they enjoy their meal.

Chad and Pam are enjoying their meal while visiting.

This is my friend Pam's daughter Emma. Kim loves to tease her and call her Gemma.

My new friend Sarah is visiting from the French congregation.  She is here for her circuit assembly.  She now has a new game to play with the french speaking friends that will drive them crazy!

Here is Dave Camacho and Bro. Wiems relaxing and having a great time.  It's always good to get together with our friends.  We live in such stressful times so I think that we need to do this more often and really get to know one another better.  I really enjoyed the time we had to spend with just a hand full of our friends and I look forward to doing this again real soon.

New Update on the Trailer....

Well Kim worked very hard on our roof!   Especially since it was over a 100 degrees these past few weeks.  But it really looks great!  WHAT A MAN!!!!!

He is so happy to be done with that roof!!!!

I painted my refrigerator front to match my paint and then put chalkboard paint on it.  I still have to put the final details on it in gold out line.

The textured wallpaper was soooo hard to put in.  It tore very easily but I finally got the hang of it.  I antiqued it with an olive green to give it an aged look.  The vent hood is painted to match the refrigerator.

Now I have to get to painting the bathroom.  And did I mention that I still have to register the trailer and reinforce the bed frame and get gas tanks for it and get a battery for it and make my cushions for the bed and the table area!!!!! I hope I'll be ready for my trip at the end of this month!  Oh, and in between I've been working with the RBC on a kingdom hall in San Bernardino and also service during the week not to mention I'm fighting not to get a cold (but I think it's winning).  I THINK I NEED A VACATION!!!!

I so hope I can get it done by my deadline!!!!!!

Calgon Take Me Away !!!!!!

                                     Do I have to explain it.  You know what this picture represents.... Life in this world that we live in.  You feel like you could just go nuts!!!!  If it isn't one thing it's another.  We are all going through SOMETHING!!! Or is it just me? 
No, everywhere I turn to.....no matter who I speak to..... EVERYONE is going through some form of craziness in their lives.  It may be their job or perhaps their health or their kids or death of a loved one or family matters or depression or divorce or perhaps life in general!  I tell you that something has got to give! Can we not see we are living proof of what 1 John 5:19 says: . . .We know we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the [power of the] wicked one.
And the scripture at Rev. 12:7-12 where it talks about how Satan has great anger because he knows he has such a short period of time....don't we feel the effects of his anger today?  All of us who are truly trying to serve Jehovah faithfully are truly being tested daily.  So as I go through my trials in this world that we live in....I do know that I am not alone.  I cope by drawing my strength from Jehovah first (and boy do we need to pray a lot!) and then I am trying to stay active and busy in his organization (despite my health issues) and I stay close to my friends who encourage me always with their smiles and their hugs and who let me know what they are going through so that I don't feel alone.  We need to sometimes laugh at ourselves or our situation or just sing or put on good music (sometimes when we don't even feel like it).  Or just look at a laughable picture like this one and it will make us smile.  So when you see the friends smiling at the Kingdom Hall (because this is what we do) know that they are smiling because they are happy to be there with you but it doesn't mean that they are not going through trials of their own.  Don't forget to give them that hug....they may need it that day.  Lets continue to encourage one another especially in these last days.....

Serving Our Pioneers....

Today I got the privelege of serving the afternoon meal at the pioneer school.  I have to admit that today I woke up feeling pretty tired and I was thinking that I put too much on my plate to do this week.  I was feeling like I shouldn't go and just stay home and rest.  But I am so glad that I didn't listen to my body!  What a privelege it was to be there!  We set up the tables with sandwiches and salads and beans and drinks.  There were cookies and pie and all kinds of goodies there for them.  As each one of the pioneers came up to the table I would ask them if they wanted Roast Beef, Turkey, BMT or a Club sandwich.  They all had such a smile on their faces and they were happy to be there and sit and visit with one another and share a meal.  I felt very priveleged to go to each table and see if there was anything that they all needed.  Afterward I didn't even mind cleaning up and doing the dishes!  After all that was done I forgot how tired I was this morning and how I didn't feel too great this morning and all I could think about was how much fun it was doing something for someone else.  Not thinking about how I feel but thinking about how they were feeling and it occured to me that they really have no idea how encouraging they were to me!  I thank Jehovah for the many opportunities he has given me through the last couple of years to serve him in many different ways.....the ministry, the international convention in Frankfurt Germany, the RBC, bible studies and serving the pioneers at pioneer school.  And it's so amazing how no matter how tired we are (and that is usually very often for me) and when we really think that we should just rest.....Jehovah always refreshes us when we need it the most.

My buddy Pam McKey was helping to set up the tables along with brother Krume.

There were pioneers from all age groups there enjoying their afternoon meal and enjoying each others company.

It was very encouraging to see our young ones volunteering their time to help serve our pioneers.

We had really great sandwiches and condiments served along with salads and desserts.

Progress on Our Travel Trailer Restoration.....

Ok girls, I said that I would keep you posted as to the progress on our restoration of the trailer.  So far I have completely cleaned the inside which was completely discusting.  The stove and the refrigerator are working and so is the air conditioner.  With this heat wave that we have been experiencing it has been so hard to go in there and work but so far I have primed all of the cabinets and walls.  They were all dark paneling before.  I am now starting to apply colors to the cabinets and doors. 

The bench seats I painted a bright turquise color.  I thought it would be fun to do something different.  I will also be putting different knobs on all of the cabinet doors.  I got the cutest knobs at Anthropology (my favorite store).

Kim has been working non-stop on the restoration of the roof and siding.  He has completely stripped the roof of all of the old sealer and has removed all of the vent caps and now is ready to apply a new rubber seal and vent caps.  It will be like new.  This has been very hard work and I love Kim for it!  Gee I wonder how I can reward him?  Hmmmm.

Kim is also stripping the siding paint and polishing the upper half to look like polished aluminum and the bottom half he is going to paint a vintage yellow.

So I will have to keep you informed as to the progress we are making.  Although this has been a lot of work it will be worth it in the long run when we get to see how cute and comfortable it will be when we are done.  Can't wait to take our first trip!

My Secret Garden is in Bloom.....

All of the elements are finally coming together in our backyard Secret Garden.  Although we still have a long way to go I'm beginning to feel like this is my happy place.  Today the weather here was soooo HOT and I really do miss having my pool, but when I come home to my backyard it really does make me smile.  I think that Uncle Duck's really would have loved this backyard.  He always talked about how he loved our backyard in our other home and I wish he was here to enjoy this yard with us. 

Some of the elements that I wanted to incorporate in our little sanctuary were water, fire, life in the form of plants and animals.  The birds are now visiting everyday and they look forward to playing in the waterfall.  We have a number of humming birds that come and buzz in our ears and say hi.  And we really were excited when we got a visit from our first dragon fly!

Kim made excellent use of all of the rocks that Uncle Duckie has collected throughout the years. Uncle Ducks was famous for finding rocks (no matter what size they were) and bringing them home.  So we couldn't get rid of all of the rocks (that would have been sinful) so we used them for our pond.

My Crepe Myrtle has it's first bloom and it's lavender Yeah!!!

The Geraniums transplants and my ground cover is finally taking.....

There is also a little of whimsey......

And of course you have to have herbs!

We also have a whole bunch of baby fish that are very happy......

2010 District Convention In Long Beach California

What a fun time we had this weekend!!! That shot in the arm that we get every year....just when you need it the most.  You know, the district convention!!!  A time to see your old friends and make new ones.  A time to reflect on what we  need to work on.  A time to give our thanks to Jehovah for all that he has done for us and to feel so privileged to be a part of his people.  Well Kim and I were so used to going to Qualcom Stadium in San Diego for our convention but I think we really have been spoiled going here to Long Beach!  No getting up early to save seats.  We actually sat so close to the stage everyday that we could see the speakers face!  We sat in air conditioning all day.  The restrooms were spacious and very clean.  Oh, and then during the lunch session.....the weather was absolutely beautiful!   The grounds of the Long Beach Arena are beautiful!  We had park like settings and walked around an visited with everyone and enjoyed the scenery.  What a relaxing weekend.  We also got two new brochures, a book and a new DVD!  Can't wait to check them out.

Here are some of the beautiful things that we experienced during our convention...........

My Mom and Silvia looking too cute!

At lunch time we would take a long walk in this park like setting and enjoy the association with our friends.

You don't get this at Qualcom!!!!

The outside of the building is painted like a giant aquarium.  It was very pretty.

This is how close we were to the stage!!! How cool is this!  But there is not anywhere in the staduim that is a bad seat. 

Kim and my mom.  Aren't they cute!