Change in Presidency picture

I finally got around to getting the picture of the new presidency of the branch AND I took it in the new building. (Like you ca
First Counselor, Jerry Stone, President Mike Morrow and Second Counselor, Miller McDowell.

Final update on building progress

Done, finish, final, kaput, end of, sewn up..whatever word you want to use. The building is done. It is ours!
Today after meetings, anyone that was interested, drove over to the new building and looked around. Keys were handed out to the necessary guardians of building keys and here we go, starting a new era for the Rockport Branch. Only one more meeting in the old building to say our farewells, then it is on to the new and testing the setup. Nothing is set in stone, but we will see how the initial setup works. Manuals will have to be read for the organ and keyboards. The sound system is going to be explained this coming week. Testing with the satellite system for broadcasts from SLC, etc, etc, etc.
So, I have been working on getting a really good picture of the building ( personally, I may never achieve what I am looking for with my current equipment, soooooooooooo) that I think looks fantastic. Many different angles and of course many different lights. This will be a work in progress from my point of view, so bear with me.
Here are a few examples for now.

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So, if you want to vote on your favorite one from above. Click on comments below and vote for your favorite. Meanwhile, I will continue to take more and find my favorite. Remember, you can click on the picture to enlarge it, then click again just to the side and it goes back to normal.  

FAB_- U - LOUS !!!!!!!

Is it really almost here??? The time to move into our new building??? Well, today, I went by to pick up some empty boxes to haul them off for Bob and got to empty a few more. The chairs, the tables, the artwork, the lamps, the pianos, the keyboards, the library material, the tv's....A SEWING MACHINE....a quilting rack. The list just goes on and on and on..... Our building is the very first model for this particular plan package building. So, we are PIONEERS. How about that?

It truly is nice. It will take some getting use to what with the different layout. We all came to love our little
green building, but I think with a little adjustment, we will really come to love and appreciate our new one.
All of the walls are insulated, all of the partitions are sound-proof. There is a modern up-to-date audio system.

The landscaping is looking fantastic. (Almost time for the grass to be cut) I was going to try and get some good shots today, but there were so many trucks in the parking lot. I want to try and get one of the entire lot without any vehicles. Haha, maybe I will and maybe I won't.....

Oh yes, another update....Miller McDowell was called as a counselor in the Branch Presidency this past Sunday to replace Chris Wood who moved to Durango, Colorado. So, welcome to Bro. McDowell and farewell to Bro. Wood.

Slacker, procrastinator ???????

Looks like that should be my new name..........although, I have been extremely busy.....I honestly have just been putting it off, trying to think of what to say.
Sooooooooo, I will let more pictures do the talking. It is getting real close now. Our very first sacrament meeting will be on November 11, 2012 in the new building. The landscaping is looking really good. Curtains are up, carpet is down, room dividers are in. I think it is all done except for maybe a few tweaking touches on the maybe the satellite system, etc.

On Wednesday, we will be unwrapping the new furniture that will be going into the building. So, I know I will have more to share then


Remember, just click on the picture and it will get larger then move your cursor or mouse away from the picture and click again for it to go back to normal size.

A Change of Plans

Well, as they say, "Best laid Plans........". In other words, there has been a slight delay on the completion of
the new building. NOW it looks like it will be November 4th, but it is YET to be determined, but definitely not October 14th as had been reported earlier.
So, since I was gone for a few days, the only other thing that I have to report is the diagram of the layout of the rooms that i will share with you. Along with each description of the rooms, there is a number that tells how many people or chairs for seating it should be able to accommodate.

So, there you have it. NO classrooms has been designated yet. The only ones we know for sure have been assigned already. As you will notice several will be pulling double duty if needed, for instance, the library and the kitchen as an example can and probably will be used as classrooms.

"Set in stone"

It's official, the church is now "Set in stone". Our new signage has been set into the side of the new building

                                                 for all of the world to see!!!! Yay!!!

The doors were locked and all of the workers gone home, so I could not get in yesterday to see the progress.
However, a lot of work is being done on the grounds. The forms for the concrete all the way around the building are being built. Tons of actual "dirt" is being brought in to cover the "sand". All of the materials for the irrigation/sprinkler system has been delivered.

Sooooooooooo, the date has been set for our first day of occupancy for Sacrament.................
"drum roll, please".............October 14, 2012. Mark that date and "BE THERE!"

It's getting closer................

Now this is really getting serious. We are almost there. The bricks are up. Looks like it is getting ready to put the name on the building. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the only part left.

                                           The lights in the chapel look A M A Z I N G!

                                            The class rooms are getting closer to being finished

The water fountains and the bathrooms are nearing completion..

So, are you excited yet?

This is the first week of September - time flies - October is almost here!

As soon as we get an actual opening date for the building so that we can hold our meetings there, I will update so that EVERYONE that can, will be there!

I know that we won't have the "Open House" until later until November or December, so the next few months will be BUSY, busy, busy.. So get ready to mark your calendars and make all travel arrangements.

We are excited!!!!!!

Another milestone

Today was a sad and joyous day. Our little group met another milestone. Our dearly beloved President Campbell and his counselors were released today and new ones called. It has been eight years for President Campbell in this little branch. Longer than normal for most. We will miss his leadership.
I knew right away when I walked into church that something was up when EVERY member of the Stake presidency was on hand.

So, for me, it was kind of sad, but heartwarming as well.
I just love President Campbell,( but he now says that his name is Brother Campbell...LOL...)
Isn't there something that says "Once a Bishop, always a Bishop? Same goes for President, I think!!!!
Anyway, he has a way about him and everyone that meets him knows that he loves the Saviour and he loves people. A very special man indeed and I am very grateful for all of the time and energy that he has spent on our behalf for the eight past years. Just let me say, Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I do know and believe that the Lord does truly know and call the right men to lead and guide us, thus, today, the new Presidency of our little branch was called, sustained and set apart. I know that all of them will do their utmost to carry out their duties and obligations to carry out little branch into the next few years.

So, now the reins of our little branch goes to....................Mike Morrow (in the middle) with his counselors, Jerry Stone (on the left) and Chris Wood(in the right). All very capable men who will follow the Lord's will and with His guidance, help our little branch to grow.

Now we have lots of things to get accomplished in the next few weeks. the building is coming right on along. (Got to get over there tomorrow and take more pictures) Stay tuned for more updates on the building this week....................................

Lookee, lookee, lookee!!!!!!

Whooee, it's coming together. The bricks are coming up and looking Gooooooooooooood. I can't even express how proud everyone here is of the progress that is being made on the building. Now it seems as if everything is going rapidly now. (Guess it has to...look, probably less than five -that's one, two, three, four, five!! weeks until scheduled completion.)
So, here we go...updates...

                                                                 Doesn't it look good?
Now, more updates on the concrete as well as the grounds. Lots of heavy machinery work going on.

Here is a picture of the site from the road coming into the site from the Bypass.

Till next week................................................

8th Birthday

Oh wow, it is the 8th birthday of the Rockport  Branch!!!! Hooray. The celebration took place @ the
park in Rockport just a few blocks from our new home to be. What exciting times it is. Next year, we should be able to have it on church grounds (probably depends on how the landscaping goes)
Anyway, back to the subject on hand. As usual, a great time was had by all. Plenty of hot dogs (cooked & grilled by Carl Hatton & Mike Martinez). Then we had wonderful side dishes brought by different members. We had potato salad, frog eye salad, fresh watermelon, chili, beans, more beans, a corn & bean pineapple & other ingredients relish kind of salad, a asian influence salad.....(wow, I'm getting tired AND full just talking about it). then we had corn chips, potato chips, cheetos, cheese puffs, strawberry cake, and did I mention homemade ICE CREAM?????? And of course, the wonderful Blue Bell ice cream. Really now...what more could one ask for? It was great as you will be able to see with everyone filling their plates and then enjoying the dishes. LOOK BELOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Remember to click on the picture to make it larger, then click off to the side to put it back to normal.

We sang our traditional birthday song which was written by our talented Niki Haley. I don't know where she comes up with these great words, but she does every time (birthdays, Christmas, etc). Thanks Niki for a job done well.

Finally visible PROGRESS!

Wow, went to the building site today and it's hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The hold up has been the white bricks that are kind of like a chair rail for the building. They are here and being put up AS WE SPEAK! So, while the inside has not been held up, the work progresses.
Here are pictures of the outside and the white brick.

Now on to the inside. More fantastic progress. going into the chapel one can actually see where the room will divided when it needs to be and how large of a room it is when completely open.
The cabinets have been added.

The tile work is being done. It covers the entry from all of the doors, around the water fountains, in the bathrooms, in the kitchen, in the fount and dressing area.

 The various classrooms have their wains coating done and any cabinets and chalk/dry marker boards put up.

We even have a library!!!!! Yea, we weren't too sure of this at first, so we are excited.

                                            And then that leaves us with the clerk's office

   And finally, the hallway, the water fountain area and a shot of the bathroom.

                                                                                               So, that's it for now. More later.

THE INSIDE UPDATE

I got inside to take pictures. WOW, they have been working. The rooms are clearly defined, wainscoating up (carpet) and drywall up. For the life of me though, I can't figure out why they would put the carpet up on the walls before they did the texturing (isn't that a lot of dust that can get in the carpet?) Of course, THEY know what they are doing and I'm sure that it will be just fine. Anyway, here are the pictures so you can see the updates.

Front main entrance

The clerk & bishops office

down the hallway
 

Chapel

Relief Society/Multi-purpose room

Font
Then we have the hallway and the wall for the fountains

Outside almost all of the parking lot is done, actually, the parking lot is done, the driveway is being finished.

So, there you have it.....for now....

Back from trip/Progress on building

Click on the picture if you need it to be a little larger

I was gone for a couple of weeks, so I was excited to see the progress on the building.........well, I was a little disappointed. It didn't seem like much, I think I expected all of the brick to be done and it almost finished.....so I have HIGH expectations. I can wish can't I?
Actually, the parking lot is almost complete. they are out to the street with it and just have a small portion that they are working on right now to finish it.

I noticed that the doors are being kept shut, so I imagine that the air is on inside and probably a lot of work is being completed in there. I will have to get in there next week for an update.

I know that a lot of work is being done on the landscaping now as well. Little dozers and other machines are moving dirt. Trenches are being built, probably for a sprinkler system on the subdivision side of the church, but I will check into it as well.