What blessings we have!

 Little Z 

Zephr Dean

AND

Luna Rose

Healthy, Happy Babies!

Beautiful Mamas

What Happens When You Spend a Lot of Time at the ZOO?

This!

Summer Highlight

Every Summer, we have a special convention. We look forward to attending this convention every year. Our brothers work very hard in our behalf to make these programs for our benefit. 
This year the theme is : 
 IMITATE JESUS (based on 1 Peter 2:21)

We are very busy this week inviting our neighbors to join us in this special event.
For my family and friends who are far away I would like you to know you to are invited.

For your invitation and information please visit the link:
www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/conventions




For those of you in Utah the convention will be held on:
 7/10/15, 7/11/15, 7/12/15 or 7/17/15, 7/18/15, 7/19/15
In Saint George, UT at the Burns Arena, Dixie State College
225 S.700 E. 3875
Saint George, UT 84770

For my loved ones in Arizona the convention will be on: 
7/17/15, 7/18/15,7/19/15, or 7/31/15,8/1/15, 8/2/15
In Tucson AZ. at the Convention Center.
260 S. Church Ave. 
Tucson AZ,85701-1614

For those of you in North Carolina there will be a convention on:
7/10/15, 7/11/15, 7/12/15 or 7/17/15, 7/18/15, 7/19/15
In Winston-Salem NC at: Lawerence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum 
2825 University Parkway
Winston-Salem NC 27105-4225 

Or if you prefer going to Raliegh NC there will be a convention: 
7/24/15, 7/25/15, 7/26/15 or 7/31/15, 8/1/15, 8/2/15
In Raliegh NC at: PNC Arena
1400 Edwards Mill Rd 
Raleigh NC 27607

And of course the Indiana bunch may want to go to: 
Romeoville, IL on 7/10/15, 7/11/15, 7/12/15 at: 
Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
800 N. Schmidt Rd
Romeoville, IL, 60446-1073

or: Dekalb IL on 7/17/15, 7/18/15, 7/19/15 at: 
Convocation Center 
Northern Illinois University
1525 W. Lincoln Hwy
Dekalb, IL 60115-3989

or: Hoffman Estates, IL on 7/31/15, 8/1/15, 8/2/15 at: 
Sears Center Arena
5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192-3720

HOW DOES MY GARDEN GROW?

Let's have a look!

Behind these sunflowers alot is going on.

Busy Bees are pollinating. 

See the pollen on her legs?

Corn is growing tall!

Purple tassels

match my purple beans.

Watermelon growing like crazy

Squash plants

Add for dessert. FIGS

A Surprise Road Trip

Dale and Sheena picked us up, and away we went!

We drove and drove and drove...

We passed cities, pastures, orchards and farms, 

we went over a long bridge...

And ended up in this camp ground 

in this accessible cabin

Redwoods trees were everywhere.

First stop was Dennis' favorite Brewery, 

This brewery actually had it's beginning in Temecula

Driving around  the countryside, 

In the middle of farms and pastures

Dale and Sheena found a butcher shop

with lamb, bison, wild boar, elk sausages. 

Also, beef cowboy steaks!

Delicious!

We went to this Seed Bank which was housed in an old bank

The building was so cool. 

The seeds were heirloom and Non-GMO

We found this great pie shop

With savory and sweet pies. 

The BEST

We went for a drive along the Russian River 

where we came across this winery.

The scenery was beautiful, full of tall trees, 

wild berry plants and wild anise.

As we came over the hill, along this bay, the view was perfect,

the aroma of redwoods, euclyptus and salty ocean

was truly invigorating!

We pulled into one of Sheena's favorite destinations.

An Oyster Farm!

We ordered some and began shucking them.

A new experience for me.

Drove along the coast on the way home and saw these wind surfers.

Thanks for sharing your vacation with us DALE and SHEENA!

Fun at the Temecula blueberry farm.

A perfect day to pick, not hot and not cold.

Kai's mom, Kai, her two brothers,

Desy and Dallas in the back

And Lilly!

Still happy after all these years.

Dennis with his girl.

Off to a good start.

Kai and Desy

Me and my love

Mmmmm mmmm good!

We ate those berries sooo fast, I had to go back for more!

So, this time I took Zane and Koen.

So happy to be there!

Thought of you Sandy when I saw this poster.

That world is coming, every day another day closer.

Learn Humility and Avoid Disaster

In our Theocratic Ministry School, I was assigned this topic to present: 

Learn Humility and Avoid Disaster

As we progress in our knowledge of the Bible it is important to also cultivate Christian qualities.

The quality of humility is very important. Humility will help us avoid disaster. 

How? 

Let's turn to the Bible book of Daniel, chapter 5 for an example. This is the account of Belshazzar, the King of Babylon. At this time Babylon is under siege. The Medes and Persians are a real threat. However, Belshazzar is not preparing for battle, he feels secure that no army can penetrate the great walls surrounding his great city. Babylon is full of necessities so he is not  concerned with shortages. In fact, he is actually hosting a grand party. As the night goes on, Belshazzar calls for the cups be brought from Jehovah's temple so they can drink out of them.  Then, a hand appears and writes a message on the wall. This terrifies the king. No one understands the message, so the prophet Daniel is called. 
(Daniel 5:1-16)

Daniel reminds Belshazzar that it was Jehovah, the Most High God, that made his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar great. When Nebuchadnezzar became haughty, Jehovah corrected him. 

(Daniel 5:18-21)

"But when his (Nebuchadnezzar) heart became haughty and his spirit became hardened, so that he acted presumptuously, he was brought down from the throne of his kingdom, and his dignity was taken away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was given vegetation to eat just like bulls, and his body became wet with the dew of the heavens, until he came to know that the Most High God is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he sets up over it whomever he wants." -Daniel 5:20

Remember, Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the world empire at that time, even over God's people Israel. But Nebuchadnezzar took all the glory to himself and did not recognize Jehovah the Most High. Jehovah disciplined him, by taking away his kingdom and his sanity, so he would be forced to recognize Jehovah's superior position. (Daniel 4:30-37)

Daniel 5, at the end of verse 21 it says, "..he (Nebuchadnezzar) came to know that the Most High God is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he sets up over it whomever he wants."

"But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. Instead, you exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens, and you had them bring you the vessels of his house. Then you and your nobles, your concubines and your secondary wives drank wine from them and praised the gods of silver and gold, of copper, iron, wood, and stone, gods that see nothing and hear nothing and know nothing. But you have not glorified the God in whose hand is your breath and all your ways." -Daniel 5:22, 23

What do you think? Did Belshazzar have opportunity to learn humility? Yes! As verse 22 states Belshazzar was aware of Nebuchadnezzar's experience.  

Belshazzar failed to learn humility from history. Rather than humbling himself before Jehovah, he proudly, arrogantly called for the sacred vessels from Jehovah's temple, so he and his guests could drink wine out of them, all the while praising the lifeless gods of Babylon. This was a deliberate act of contempt for the God of Israel. Belshazzar was headed for disaster!  

"That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom..." -Daniel 5:30, 31

Today people make gods of lifeless things: money, career, prestige, pleasures. None of these things can give life. Jehovah alone is who we owe our existence to, and who we depend for every breath we take.   What have you learned from this Bible account regarding humility?

One thing I have learned is that we need to put Jehovah and his righteous interests before our own interests. We can meditate on our relationship with Jehovah, humbly submitting to his right to guide us in the right way. By applying Jehovah's principles first in our lives as we make our decisions, we will avoid disaster and in fact receive many blessings.

"Trust in Jehovah with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways take notice of him,
and he will make your paths straight."
-Proverbs 3:5, 6

Where's the Sunflowers?

Here they are! All over the place!

 Won't be long before they burst in to blossom

 Patience, they will bloom soon

 Even have some in my corn patch

 Here's some early bloomers

 More are popping up!

 And some Hollyhocks too!