Long Beach District Convention 2011

First day at the District Convention in Long Beach.  I just love this building.  It looks like a giant aquarium. 

I just love the details.....



When you go to the district convention you never know who your going to run into....old friends, new friends, family, bible studies.....all I know is that everyone is so happy to be there together!  See all the smiling faces!



And then came Saturday.....We went to the convention and Kim was not feeling good since he woke up.  I thought maybe he just was tired.  Well half-way through the morning he really was feeling bad and he felt like he needed to lay down.  We went to the first-aid department at the convention and he was told that he had an irregular heart beat.  With him being diabetic they didn't think that we should take any chances and they suggested that he go home and get it checked out right away.  So we had to leave the convention and I took him to the ER by our house.  We arrived there approx. 4:00 p.m. and we didn't get out of there until 11:30 p.m.  So needless to say we did not make the convention on Sunday.  Kim is fine, his tests came out ok.  We think he just was worn out and needs to slow down!!!   But, while he was in the ER, what do you think he was doing?????  Of Course he was on his phone!!!!  I told him that I was going to post this on my blog!!!!

Anyway, we will be making up the District Convention in Long Beach this weekend, perhaps we'll run into some old friends.....

Jehovah's Wonderful Creations......

I woke up this morning and it was an over cast and gloomy day outside.  You know those days that you just want to stay under the covers and just veg all day....Well with the district convention starting tomorrow and there is lots to do, I knew that wasn't going to happen....


It amazes me how it could be so gloomy outside and all I have to do is make myself a cup of coffee (real strong coffee) and walk outside into my back yard and I instantly get a smile on my face.....


It doesn't matter that it is a small space....or that I don't have any grass back here....but it is MY space....


You could have a small patio....a balcony.....a doorstep....whatever!  But as long as it has flowers and life added to it, it will add to your life....


I just love the way everything in the garden smells and the way it looks back at me....I love the colors.... the way it is responding to my care....the rewards it gives me...are theraputic!  Here are some of the photos I took this morning in my happy place.....ENJOY!

The annuals are so colorful!!!

I harvested my first zuchini this morning, can't wait to have it for lunch!!!

My garden sign....

The garden.....

Brilliant colored geraniums....I love them because I can't kill them....

The herb garden.....

Even the patio lime tree is showing me it's happy with it's blossoms....

Flower pots with more color...

I don't know what this bush is called but the hummingbirds love it and so do I....

My love bird feeder....

Beautiful Rose Bloomed....

Look at all the buds on this rose bush!!!

And I know the Rubber Ducky is happy too....



Tomato's are happy....



Zuchini....



More wildflowers...



We did a collage of our iron on our back wall.  Candle holders and iron and planters... I love lighting the candles at night and illuminating the backyard....



Wild flower seeds are doing great!!!!


All I know is that even though we live in a very stressful world today, it makes me really appreciate what Jehovah is going to do for us on an even grander scale when the whole world is a beautiful garden.  I have just a glimpse of the amazing beauty that Jehovah has created, and I'm reminded of how great he is each time I harvest something from the garden or each time I pick a beautiful flower to put in a vase and each time I step out into my special place.....



District Convention Day for the Grand Babies....

Oh, yeah....Look out girls!  Do my grandchildren look sharp or what!!!  They were all decked out for the district convention this last weekend at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

What a great big brother......Kim and I have really been enjoying our role as grandparents.  Now we know that feeling that all grandparents talk about, when they talk about that "special love" you have for the grandchildren.

You know... that love that is so different from the love you have with your children.  Oh yeah, Kim and I have been bitten by that "Love Bug". 

We can't believe how naturally this came, and how quickly we became attached!  We are already worrying about them and thinking about them all the time!  They are going to be leaving us for two weeks (they are going on vacation) and we are already going through withdrawals!  We can't wait til they get back..... 

Let Me Introduce You.......

Everybody who knows Kim and I , knows how long we've been wanting grandchildren.  Everytime one of our friends has a baby we let them know how jealous we are!

Well we are no longer wanting or waiting!!!!

I am now "Grammy".......

We have two beautiful children who needed grandparents as much as we needed grandchildren.

 Let me introduce you to
Micaiah Joseph Coleman & Micaelah Angellé Coleman our newly adopted grandchildren.
Aren't they beautiful!   Micaiah is proudly holding his little sister while he plays his video game.












Here are the proud parents, Hiram and Liz. Their family is in our congregation here in Sun City. They came over this week and visited us with the grandbabies.  We really enjoyed the time we spent with them and we love our new role as grandparents.

 And here is Kim the proud "Papa" holding the new addition who is only two weeks old.  We actually have to pry her from Kim's arms if we want a chance to hold her (does that surprise you?)......

Oh my goodness!!!!! Look at that precious face!!!!! We are in love!!!!!!

Mom caught a smile......TOO CUTE!!!!

My Yard is Happy!!!!!

My yard has been a work in progress, but as the weather warms up I see that my flowers are singing to me!!!!  Check out how happy the yard is......

We are over-flowing with color!!!!! I love it!!!!!

Kingdom Hall Inside....

We can't believe how the interior has come together so quickly....It seems like we were just meeting in the old Kingdom Hall and "poof", now we are almost ready to install the chairs......Check out how beautiful it is coming along.

 The stage area is an eggplant color and the side walls are a rich buttery yellow.......

These announcement boards are in the lobby.....

The stalls have already gone into the girls restroom.....

These are the bookcases for the second school.....

 We have beautifully made shadow boxes adorning the literature room.....

 These young sisters sat at the tables and hand-wrote "thank you" cards for everyone that was there working.  What a sweet thing to do.......

 This is the precious card I received from the young sisters, isn't it cute, a tool belt is so appropriate.....

Ps. 127:1 - Unless Jehovah himself builds the house, It is to no avail that its builders have worked hard on it. Unless Jehovah himself guards the city, It is to no avail that the guard has kept awake.

Kingdom Hall Almost There!!!!

Well we have been working on our Kingdom Hall for the past few months now and it is starting to come together really fast!  Last weekend we were down there helping out.  There were a lot of helping hands there doing their part.  The parking lot was being framed and prepared to the cement that will be poured this week-end. 

There were tractors........

Lots of helping hands........

 Landscapers.........

 Cement cutters......Jeff Rice.

Young and old helping hands.....

And even Steve found something he could help out with.......