Regional Convention 2014

June 6 - 8, 2014 was our Regional Convention in Winston-Salem, NC.  What a historic convention!  We were tied in with the International Convention in Ford Field, MI.  It was amazing having Governing Body members give parts and for us to be tied in.  The parts, releases, dramas, interviews, and being with our brothers and sisters was the BEST.  

Thursday we checked into our hotel.  We had dinner at the hotel restaurant and then Josh & the girls swam.  It is so nice having the pools outside at the hotels in NC (versus inside and sniff all the chlorine like the hotels in MN).  

Friday Josh, Pops & Mick had an attendant meeting early (7:00am) so Grandma rode with me and the girls.  It was a treat arriving at the convention and seeing all our friends!  That evening we had dinner out with our friends The Dodson's.  Swimming of course happened after dinner.

Saturday we took a van selfie on the way with Grandma.....ha!  This was an exciting day......Asia was getting baptized (along with the other 58 at our location).  The screens were wonderful, all could see the baptism.  That weekend a total of 656 were baptized with our 11 tied in locations.  Sophia & Abigail were so happy to see Asia get baptized and take this important step in her relationship with Jehovah!  That evening we had pizza, beer and relaxed by the pool so the girls could swim.  

Sunday we packed up & checked out of the hotel before heading to the convention site.  We didn't want the convention to end!  It was a beautiful, motivating program.  The total attendance for all 11 locations tied in was 105,891.  Our location was 11,612.  Tears flowed Sunday during the session.

Until the next one.......

Daddy & his girls

My view

Our seats on the floor (Josh was attending and was assigned this area)

Br. Murray, our CO

Br. Loesch

Tied in with Ford Field while singing

Our Family Friday

Mick, Sophia, Grandma & Pops

FRIENDS!

Zoe & Abby

Dinner with these guys

Girls Selfie Saturday AM

With Grandma on way to convention site Saturday

FRIENDS!

Asia & Sophia

Noa, Ajeh, Abby, Sophia, Aliah & China

Saturday with my girls

Hosley's

Finally found Rye & Mel

Grandma made these note books for the girls

Our Family Saturday

Blown up program in the lobby

Me & Ginger

FRIENDS!

Mel, Diane & Lynsey

Mikaela, Alex, Abby & Noa

Noa & Abby

Grandma & Pops

Our Family Sunday

Hosley's

McKinley's

Wilson's & Grandma & Pops

Dodson's

Some of the kids in our congregation

Some of the sister's in our congregation

Surprise Party for Allison

Allison, a sister in our congregation, applied for helping construct our new headquarters in Warwick, NY. She's a licensed electrician and single and willing to help!  Hans & Amber threw a SURPRISE going away party for her.  It was great!  She had no clue!!!

This time she'll be gone for one month.....can't wait to welcome her back and hear all about it!!  

Aiden & Abby (he LOVES Abby)

Sophia, Larkin, Aliah, China, Allison, Seth Jr, Megan, Brooklyn, Asia, Abby,
Asia's cousin (he was visiting) & Zach

Shauyna, Beth, Lindsay, Caitlyn, Me, Benicia, Sarah, Liz, Allison, Christy,
Amanda, Amber, Angela & Christina

Caitlyn, Me, Debbie, Benicia, Sarah, Liz, Christy, Allison, Angela,
Amber, Amanda & Christina

First Time Talking

May 31, 2014 was the first time Abby spoke at the door in the ministry!  She was so proud, excited and happy.  And we were too!!!  

Jehovah is very happy as well to see young ones helping others learn about him!

Keep up the good work sweetie!!!  

Camping 2014

Our annual camping trip was May 23 - 26, 2014.  We always have a great time and this year was no exception.  We are 3 for 3 each year's weather.  Cool in the evening for bonfires, but warm & sunny during the day.  We ate too much food (as always) and enjoyed each other's company along with the beautiful creation around us!

Friday was set up day for us & Castenada's.  They brought their brand new puppy Dude.  He did so well and was a great little camper.  The kids were helpful washing dishes for us too!  They love playing games, riding bikes and just hiking around the campsites.  Josh & I took the kids for a hike.  It is a beautiful trail along the lake. 

Saturday Gunn's arrived.  We hung at the beach, relaxed, played games and hiked some more.

Sunday Dodson's came and set up camp.  Peterson's came just for the day.  We had quite the crowd (23)  for dinner & games around the fire.  It was really fun!  Abby made a new friend Zoe, they were inseperable!  

Monday we packed up and headed back home.......until next year!  (I'm a once a year camper)  

The girls "WELCOME to our campsite" drawings

Josh & Sophia playing a little ball

Abby & Josh hiking around

Bacon, eggs, pancakes.....mmmmm good!

Dude & Sophia

Gilbert, Sophia & Calvin washing dishes

Our campsite

Claudia & Abby chillin in the tent

More ball throwing/catching

Pre-hike

Our cute kids on the hike!

Me & my honey

View on the hike

Someone was tired of walking

Beach day!

Gil likes to tickle Josh & later you'll see, Sophia
(they both are VERY ticklish)

Biking with my baby girl

Playing the number game around the campfire

It's tricky with so many kids!

But we did it!

Peacefully playing BINGO

Until the tickling starts

Can't stop laughing

Uncontrollably laughing!

Zoe & Abby

They were just chatting away on the hike, like
old friends (they just met like 30 minutes earlier) 

More games

Peterson's

Dodson's

Gunn's

Claudia & Sophia

Cooking up some grub

The girls Monday before heading home

Abby wrote this on the whiteboard in the garage when we got home

Sophia's Spring Concert

Sophia is a Rock Star!!

She received that award along with first chair position.  Way to go girlie!!  She plays the flute beautifully and it was so fun to hear the improvement of the band as a whole.  Look forward to hearing this fall as 7th graders!

There was a nice group of supporters at the concert (Vang's, Hosley's, Lissette, Pops & Grandma).  Of course we had to go out for ice cream after.

Waiting for the concert to start 

Proud parents!