Note - I filed the first part of this at 3:30 home time. I won't be able to do this after today so don't come looking! :)

I awoke at 10:30 home time – 7:30 here. My wife, an early riser, is fond of saying that by 9:00, half the day is over. By her clock I still have some day left today.

In my morning devotions I happened to check out “Our Daily Bread” for today, and what the writer for today wrote fits well for this upcoming week. Anne Cetes said this:

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for,” said British statesman John Lubbock (1834–1913).

A good attitude and the right focus help us to handle life joyfully, even though it doesn’t change our circumstances. Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their trials: “Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

So what’s unseen and eternal that we can look at? The character of God is an excellent place to focus. He is good (Ps. 25:8), He is just (Isa. 30:18), He is forgiving (1 John 1:9), and He is faithful (Deut. 7:9).

Pondering God’s character can give us joy in the midst of our struggles.

Thank you Lord. May I indeed look at the things which are not seen during this time of General Convention - You.

Some Pictures from last night at the John Wayne Airport:

A Great American from an era of American Greatness.

First thing on my to-do list today was to register for this Convention. Here's what it looks like from the front of the hotel:

And here's the view in the other direction.

The convention center is very nice. Impressive. Big.

We are using the main Halls B, C, and D downstairs as well as various rooms and smaller halls on the second and third floor. Registration and the exhibit hall is Hall C. Here's what you see when you go in the door.

The House of Deputies is using Hall B.

As in BIG!

South Carolina has great seating this time around! Facing the stage, we are on the third row on the very left-hand side.

New Jersey is in front of us, and San Joaquin is behind us. This is a shot taken from our table, looking at the stage:

This is the booth we will use to speak to the House:

This is the room which will be used for all Convention worship services:

Yes, we all sit at tables. Assigned tables, at that. Did you see the extra Cross?

The one right here:

It's boxes, of course, but from the back of the room it looked like a cross!

A funny typical happened while I was taking this box shot. A deputy comes strolling by and says, "Taking pictures of boxes??" I said, "The boxes are arranged like a cross! Isn't it great?! You can find Christ in the oddest places!" She gave me a funny look and said, "Oh. Ok." And she walked right on off.

The Bishops will be up on the third floor. Here's what their House looks like:

As I was lining up the shot taking this picture, one of the "helpers" in the room said, "May I help you?" I didn't answer. She said again and louder, "May I Help You??"  I said, "No, I know how to use this camera. But thanks anyway."
She very curtly said, "There is to be no photography in this room!" I said, "Why? There is no one here!" She said, "Those are the orders."    Mercy.

Here's our hotel taken from the Convention Center:

Here's what you see when you walk in the center front doors of the hotel:

- A bar.

Here's how you tell you are in California.

I got a message saying there was a package for me at the UPS center here in the hotel. (This place has a food court, shops, restaurants, a Starbucks and the UPS store...)

It was a surprise package from the staff at Holy Cross! Awww, Thanks!

On the way back to my room I heard a loud voice say, We're from South Carolina! The voice belonged to Haden McCormick who was arriving with Reid Boylston and David Thurlow:

Some more SC are here. Alleluia! We're planning to have dinner tonight.

I went back out exploring. This is on the extreme right hand side of the Convention Center:

The arena is where the Anaheim Ducks play hockey. Elvis Presley played here twice in the 1970's shortly before his death.

I thought DisneyLand was just across the street from here. It is, but it's a back entrance.

and it isn't open.
I guess you have to enter from another side. I'll leave that for another time.

Here's the some pics of the back side of the Hilton and the side of the Convention Center:

Steve Wood just called me from downstairs. He's going to be joining us for supper tonight. This is getting better all the time!

Just got a call from my wife. It's now as good as it can get. :)

Dinner with the many of our delegates/deputies was a fun time! Met in the front room bar and were joined by Wade and Eunice Logan. Eunice would not let me take a picture of her as you can see.

In fact, out of the dozen or so snaps I took, this is the only one I think I can show:

I'll get some more of the delegation tomorrow.

Saw our great diocesan friend Tony Clark from Central Florida.
Truly one of the good guys.

Sorry for the bad picture - blurry. ugh.

And here's Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Martin!

We do have a few friends still left at Convention. A few.

Heard from Boo Pennewill who got stuck in Atlanta. Didn't get to leave ATL until close to 8:00 PM. She won't arrive until the wee hours of the morning home time. Lydia Evans will be coming tomorrow morning. That just leaves Lonnie Hamilton and we'll be complete.

By the way, you owe it to yourself to check out Lydia's blog if you haven't yet. It is really a fine piece of work. The url changed from Sunday. The link above ought to get you there.

Goodnight from Disneyland!