Family Dinner

Nice to hang out with the family in Poipu!

Celebrating the Birth of Baha'u'llah

Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, each of whom has founded a great religion. The Messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. The latest of these Messengers is Bahá’u’lláh, who brings new spiritual and social teachings for our modern age. He taught that there is only one God, that all of the world’s religions are from God, and that now is the time for humanity to recognize its oneness and unite.

http://www.bahaullah.org/

Family Reunion

Sometimes you just gotta try something new!  Here's how we celebrated Grandma Susan's 90th birthday. Missing from the cruise were Aaron and Jamison Habermann. The rest of Grandma Susan's kids, grands and great-grands were aboard!

A family portrait with moustaches!

And without.

Happy Birthday. Gryphon!

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!
One Year Old!

This was also an opportunity to have a partial family reunion!

The party was held outside of Portland, Orgon at my nephew Tim and Ursulla's house.

My sister Norma and her husband Jim flew up from Florida and their son Douglas and wife Steffany came up from California and Tom, Jen and Marquez were already in Portland. It was a grand day, full of activities and fun for all!

Gryphon's fortune.

After touching the thread (indicating long life) on two separate attempts, it became obvious that the right object was not on the table. A musical instrument and a knife were added to the selection.

More images and videos are located here on Michele's Picasa album. And
on my Facebook album

In the evening, we were joined by my dear friends the Smith/Green family.

Tim and Phyllis Smith and Alexandra G. live in Portland and son Alex Green attended the University of Hawaii where we all got to see him play football for the Warriors. It so happened that we were all in town at the same time and got a chance to get together to enjoy some fellowship, food and fun!

Joyous Ridvan!

The Tongue of Wisdom proclaimeth: 
He that hath Me not is bereft of all things. 
Turn ye away from all that is on earth and seek none else but Me. 
I am the Sun of Wisdom and the Ocean of Knowledge. 
I cheer the faint and revive the dead. 
I am the guiding Light that illumineth the way. 
I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty. 
I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight. - Baha'u'llah

 

On the Occasion of Naw Ruz

We call to mind our fellow Baha'is who remain steadfast in the face of severe persecution and injustice and pray for the deliverance of the all the world's peoples from the yoke of injustice.

http://www.bahai.us/angels_of_iran_documentary_series

Naw Ruz message to Iran's people inspires launch of online documentary series about human rights

March 20, 2011 - 11:00pm Three short films released today, featuring interviews with Iranian Baha'is whose families have been persecuted by the Iranian government, mark the launch of a series of mini-documentaries – titled "Angels of Iran" – that focus on the country's human rights record.
Executives chose the day celebrating the ancient Persian new year, Naw Ruz, as the series launch date to send a message to the people of Iran that the springtime symbolized by this occasion is destined for Iran's struggle with human rights as well.

The company behind the film series, Single Arrow Productions, plans to explore the subject of human rights in Iran told through the stories of individuals who have suffered at the hands of the Iranian regime or through interviews with experts on the subject.  

The first three films are available on the website: http://www.angelsofiran.com Additional videos will be posted there in the coming weeks.

Joyous Naw Ruz!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/20/president-obama-s-nowruz-message

Naw-Rúz

(Naw-Rúz, March 21, is the first day of the Bahá'í year.)

Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee.  Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the Fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.

Since thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the Fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor.  For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest.  Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the Fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the Fast.  And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the Fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.

Thou art He through Whom the ensign “Praiseworthy art Thou in Thy works” hath been lifted up, and the standard “Obeyed art Thou in Thy behest” hath been unfurled.  Make known this Thy station, O my God, unto Thy servants, that they may be made aware that the excellence of all things is dependent upon Thy bidding and Thy word, and the virtue of every act is conditioned by Thy leave and the good pleasure of Thy will, and may recognize that the reins of men's doings are within the grasp of Thine acceptance and Thy commandment.  Make this known unto them, that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: “All dominion is Thine, O Thou the Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)”; and Thy Friend (Muhammad) crieth out: “Glory be to Thee, O Thou the Best-Beloved, for that Thou hast uncovered Thy Beauty, and written down for Thy chosen ones what will cause them to attain unto the seat of the revelation of Thy Most Great Name, through which all the peoples have lamented except such as have detached themselves from all else except Thee, and set themselves towards Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and the Manifestation of Thine attributes.”

He Who is Thy Branch and all Thy company, O my Lord, have broken this day their fast, after having observed it within the precincts of Thy court, and in their eagerness to please Thee.  Do Thou ordain for Him, and for them, and for all such as have entered Thy presence in those days all the good Thou didst destine in Thy Book.  Supply them, then, with that which will profit them, in both this life and in the life beyond.

Thou, in truth, art the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Bahá’u’lláh