Rhonda wrote:

Wow, thank you for responding, dear Jon, with all that's going on with you! You're at Regan's--how fun is THAT! I bet you guys are having a BLAST!!! A blessed one for sure! How wonderful!

No hurry, bro--enjoy your time there with Regan; with the other brethren and don't worry about any more response on this for now.

Much love to you both! --rhonda

____________________________________________
___________________________________
_________________________
________________
________

Well, back in Ohio with that usual walking on air feeling... a wonderful internationally flavored convention that had more blessing that I'm sure I can absorb. One of my favorite part was sitting 510 feet above the city discussing the Scriptures for nearly 3 hours with one of my favorite musicians and his sweet mother. Guess I never had a truth conversation before at that level...

The great North West was good to me and for me... the constant Seattle rain perhaps washed me a bit too... I found all the people (on the street and in the airport; restaurants; etc, very friendly... even when I was screaming up I-5 at nearly 80 mph in the rain trying to catch the brother I thought was ahead of me, but was really behind me, kindly waiting to help me not to get lost.

I met more new brethren at one time than I have done in quite some time... and witnessed the most intense/emotional baptismal service I've ever seen... experienced more providential signs of God's Watch-Care over his people... and I guess you could say, just flat had a ball. I look forward to doing it again.

perhaps sleeping in an Octopad was good for me too... not to mention the consumation of the peace bomb....

thanks bro, for your hospitality....

jonalfred

SEATTLE CONVENTION ECHOES

Dear Friends,

Peace to you in the name of our Redeemer.

I just spent the last several days with bro. Jon Hanning of Ohio, who came to my home to stay for the duration of the Seattle convention.  I've known Jon for years from the internet and through telephone conversations, and from all of his flowering words of Scriptural advice over the years, I just imagined that his wife of 30 years was so blessed to have him.  Now, after living with him for about five days, I can say that he is truly very lucky to have her.  [rim shot! ;=P]

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS,  after several years now of being isolated, and after several years prior to that of associating with the Associated Bible Students (those on the side of the High Calling being open), now I've finally experienced what the Epiphany Bible Students have to offer. I can begin to see some of what had been missing.  Now I respect my brethren of the ABS side of the ledger.  They are devout and sincere and they are blessed by the Lord.  They have a measure of the Lord's spirit and offer the Truth on many subjects, and are all in my thoughts and prayers.  The Epiphany Bible Students, whose conventions are arranged through the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, have even more.  And at the risk of sounding like an Evangelical preacher...

I saw miracles.

Now you don't need to have a parting of the Red Sea for a miracle.   I had just finished some chores around the house, hoping I might pass bro. Jon's "white glove test" when he drove down the driveway.  Well met indeed, here he was, bigger than life, and than I expected - 6 foot 2 and then some...  We talked for some time.  I had an appointment I was waiting for, but as the day went on I discovered that Jon had not eaten all day, so I canceled the appointment at the last minute and finally after nearly 3 hours we headed toward a restaurant in downtown Gig Harbor.

Now Jon has some dogs at home, which he showed me pictures of, that are a very rare Japanese breed called a "Sheba Inu" ( forgive me if I've misspelled it.)  This particular breed was nearly wiped out after the war when they became a food source on the island, and it was rescued and brought back recently in America.  I have studied dogs, and spent time in dog 4-H as a kid, where I trained them and showed them, and I have never heard of the breed "Sheba Inu", nor have I ever seen one.

We got downtown, I was just ready to turn left onto the road our restaurant was on but I had to stop and wait for a person in the crosswalk - he was walking a Sheba Inu - right across our front bumper.

I wasn't necessarily stunned, as I've seen such things on rare occasions, which I might call "synchronicities" or "link ups" where you just know that everything is in the Lord's hands, and that He is telling you that you are in the right place at the right time.  Still, I was somewhat amazed.  That was merely the least of many miracles I would see as the days progressed. 

The next day I told Jon that I had some teaching appointments I just couldn't skip.  I had tried to re-arrange the times, but this turned out to be the only time I could see them.  However when the day came, some called and asked for a later time, which would co-incide with another student's meeting, and so there were two coming at one time - plus a third, while Jon was visiting me.  They arrived and met Jon.  Now I won't share the details of the personal conversation between Jon and my client, except that almost right away she said that she believed that God had arranged for him to be there just at that exact time to speak with her, and she had an emotional conversation with him for the entire length of the music lesson I held with her daughter in the next room. 

Meanwhile a previous student of mine happened to be there, who had contacted me out of the blue after nearly 6 years away.  He played drums during the session and then we had a long conversation in which I could tell that he needed help and advice.  I felt Jon and I were there for that purpose.  He stayed long enough to where we invited him to join us for dinner at my mom's place, where the discussion quickly turned to the Bible and Bible study.  He sat very attentively and asked several very good questions and appreciated everything that was said.  He has asked me to study the Bible with him.  Of course I will, in hopes he will receive the Truth.  Knowing his character that seems very likely, but we'll leave that up to the Lord.  It was a sanctified evening.

Not bad for the first 24 hours!  We talked into the night and each conversation was itself a miracle as we discussed the Lord's Plan and purposes.  The next day was convention.  There were brethren from all over the world, from Poland, Russia, Germany, India, and all over the U.S. which in itself is another miracle.  The spirit of love and warm fellowship abounded.  The Seattle brethren were near flawless in their efforts to accommodate everyone, and everything ran perfectly smoothly as though they must put on conventions all the time - yet it was their very first convention that they had ever done. 

The talks were deeply insightful.  The Lord's spirit was palpable.  The Lord's arrangements were on display as bro. Ralph Herzig attended, who is the executive Trustee of the LHMM.  He was a delightful person to experience.  His question and answer session was most impressive, as he answered each question with a certainty and conviction that was authoritative and yet humble.  He reminded me of what the brethren must have been like in Pastor Russell's day, the way he spoke with seriousness and a sense of humor at the same time.  Later he joined us for a trip to the top of the Space Needle, which I'll never forget.

Some of the brothers from India handled the electronic sound and video expertly.  Meanwhile the sisters from India wore their native dress, and looked as colorful as butterflies. I thought they seemed like angels among us.  They added a wonderful dimension to the meetings.  And where in the past I may have been chided for my style of dress, here everyone was only welcoming and accepting of me, which was important for me to see.  None were more so than Jon.  "You is what you is" he smiled and said as I put on my funky jacket and rasta hat over my dreadlocks...

What I will take away from the convention is the overall thought that what had been missing with the other groups was what is known as "The Lord's Arrangements".  This was the brought out during at least two of the talks, which were very thorough, Scriptural and helpful in understanding the necessity for having respect for what the Lord intended when he gave us the "meat in due season" through That Servant, Pastor Russell.  It was not merely Pastor Russell's own ideas of successorship which were preserved in his last will and testament.  It was none other than the Lord Himself, through Pastor Russell, giving us the Lord's arrangements for His people to carry on in the Pastor's absence.  The Bible gives us the proper method by which we should assemble ourselves and conduct business.  After his death, there were schisms and splits that occurred precisely because the Pastor's will was not adhered to - except in one group - the LHMM.  The evidence of that was on display at the convention.  I now have a strong conviction that this is what is missing from other meetings and conventions I have attended, and this is the reason why so many errors and conflicting personal views prevail among the various groups outside the LHMM. 

If it was right to do away with these arrangements, as the Jehovah's Witnesses did through Rutherford, and as the P.B.I. and the Dawn did through their own leaders, then what else from the pen of That Servant is also dispensable?  Sadly for them, most everything is on the table for cutting and discarding.  For the LHMM, the words of our Pastor are, well, the words of our Pastor, and will remain such.  They are not to be discarded nor forgotten, as they are important to this very day, containing gems that still gleam in the eyes of those who are not ashamed to behold them! 

I am reminded of when a "High Calling" Bible Student on this forum ridiculed me and the Pastor, saying how he once wrote in the Tower that doves put into the rooms of sick patients helped take on their infirmities.  Meanwhile Just today I saw another news story about therapy dogs, therapy horses, and even therapy monkeys, one belonging to a woman who is now off of her medication because the monkey relieves her symptoms.  I told this Bible Student then and I am telling you all now, that our Pastor was prescient - meaning that while he was not a prophet, he could see down the stream of time and knew in general what was coming before it happened.  What a pity for the Bible Student or the Jehovah's Witness who has deluded him or herself into thinking that Pastor Russell is old news with nothing to offer us today, or that his teachings are mere dispensable opinions!

Each person I met at the convention was a miracle.  Just a few days earlier my mom had been talking to her neighbor about how they just couldn't use their DVD players or program their VCR's because they were just too old, and waited for the kids to do things like that for them.  Then at the convention I met Carlla Olsen, a lady who was somewhat older than those ladies, and it was her job was to record the talks in DSS format, then convert them to a wave file and then create MP3 files from that, after which she would burn them onto a CD-R.  She also converted reel to reel and cassette tapes to CD's.  When I brought my mom out to the convention on Sunday, she was stunned when I told her all this.  

There were too many people and too many miracles to recount, but I will save the best for last, which was the immersion.  Two young girls were candidates, and all gathered along the side of the hotel swimming pool.  The father of one of the girls did the dipping.  I won't describe the details, but afterward we were all invited to shake the hands of our new sisters in Christ and say something to them if we would.  I told them that in my lifetime, I had been to Disneyland and other amusement parks and had been on all the thrill rides.  I had seen all the most dramatic motion pictures.  THIS MOMENT, their immersion, was the most wonderful and emotional thing I had ever seen in my life.  It was beautiful.

My days following the convention have also been blessed in their circumstances, and so have my studies.  I have been invited to the Columbus Ohio convention.  Just tonight, arrangements have been completed for me to travel there in July.  Thus concludes what I believe has been the most wonderful week of my entire life.  Better than Disneyland.  It sure beat my honeymoon.  My best moments on stage don't compare, though almost . 

I don't think things will be back to normal for some time, in fact I hope they never will be, and I ask an interest in your prayers that this convention, the blessing and privilege of meeting with the Lord's people, will continue to energize me.  It is my hope that I will continue in the spirit of this event, with a renewing of my studies and my consecration, with the hope of being more of a help to my brethren in any capacity I might serve, as they have certainly helped me beyond words.

As for Jon's visit as my house guest, I'll say this:  I have the ability to turn my entire little house upside down in a single morning's activities.  When he arrived, I turned my house over to Jon and told him it was all his, and I slept in my camper.  After five days, the only evidence that he was even there was a small stack of neatly folded towels.  Besides keeping house, he has taught me a great deal this week.  And what an amazing miracle that is in itself!  That the Lord can use such a country bumpkin who looks through two big coke bottles for glasses as such an effective conduit for the Truth?  What a great God we serve!  Truly and sincerely, I am in deep, deep debt of gratitude to brother Jon Hanning, without whom this blessing would not likely have been afforded me.  There are no words.  He is my dear brother in Christ.  God bless him and all of you.

Yours in Truth,

Regan

I've been home now for a little over a week... it seems the sporadic rains of Seattle have followed me and are arriving tonight to lightly drizzle upon my greening lawn and heart. While I was in Gig Harbor, Seattle and the surrounding area my wife continually informed me on our daily call (3:30a.m. Seattle time) that the days were warm and sunny at home, with an average 72 degrees and sun, while I was in the land of cloudly overcast skies and perhaps somewhere in the 50's. However, I would not trade one for the other in that very significant week... significant to my faith. It was not only a faith building week for a certain bearded, dreaded guitar picking evangelist of a Seattleite... but also for the bumpkin-guy. We always view conventions as fuel stops and recharging stations; as mountain top experiences between the low and dark valleys of the daily drag; and I too got myself recharged in lots of ways. I shed quite a few tears over that weekend as I watch two very lovely girls (inside and out) symbolize their own death (of their wills) in a crystal blue pool, and my vidoes reveal the flowing tears from their own eyes as they met their Savior in the water... their embraces of this big-head with the glasses, they had never met before were intense... as they consented to my encouragement to follow always their heart of hearts and the Savior whom they loved. I shed tears as various brothers shared their hearts from the podium in talks of deep contemplation that no doubt involved hours of study... indeed, a lifetime of study; tears for the sympathetic spirit of the many testimonies offered; from the brother who had made a mistake in his talk and then arose before the entire crowd to tearfully apologize for his mistake; tears shed at the thought of all of these dear ones I've known who sleep in death and cannot attend conventions for now, though they were their in my heart.

I cried this week too a bit... when I realized that I had perhaps stumbled a young girl who offered me cake of all things. I was finishing up my meal that the dear ones had so attentively prepared when this young girl came to me offering a bit of desert. I told her, "Oh, you don't have to do that.... I can go and get my own." What a shame. It was so much like offering a drink of water to a thirsty man... it was what this little one could do... I used this as an example in a discourse Sunday... Why is it we often throw up the blockade almost instantly to those offering something on our behalf? perhaps to buy for us a book to help our studies... to offer money to help us with our expenses... to offer us a ride to the meeting... whatever the little seemingly insignificant thing, we are to be like Jesus who would offer us a hand up out of the pit. Shall we say, "No thanks Lord... I can do it myself?" Hardly.

I appreciated Regan's dog story. It was a fun little moment seeing this breed he had never witnessed pop into existance just as we were discussing that he had never ever seen that dog in his area. Now we should not be so surprised since Seattle is much closer to Japan than Nelsonville Ohio. They do give us some joy and have helped my wife with her empty nest syndrome. I had a little experience with them today.

I should have read the Bible first. There seems to be a verse in there for every situation of life. Philippians 3:2 - "Beware of dogs...."

Yes, it was Shiba Inu bath time in Ohio today. I took the little one first. Sheena is the ornery one too... I expected a little sprinkling I usually get for this chore, but today I rather received a little baptism of my own. BY the time I finished with #3 I was ready to pack them up and ship them to you-know-who.

I am basking in the light of last week still and contemplating the weeks to come that will take us to the Caribbean to meet with a host of brethren I've not yet met... who love me already as I do them, and who will forever be etched in my heart no doubt as we share their culture and their stories of love for the Lord. Then a little swing around middle-America to meet brethren old and new... then yet another convention in Connecticut and more visits to the north before the home convention here just down the street from my office. My west coast parallel-universe brother will be here then, and if the Shiba's done eat him I'm sure we'll get along fine (again).

God is good.... much more so than any of us deserve and yet we also must remember that "eye hath not seen, nor hath ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man those things He hath prepared for those that love Him."

a-man

jonalfred

a-men

Dear Jon,

Both you and Regan have brought me to tears (of joy) over your experience--what a blessing!

You know, I always think of how Mary anointed the Lord, not only with expensive oil, but with her tears. And how lovingly and beautifully the Lord received her gift (took Judas to task for protesting it at the same time): yes, Jon, to allow another to give to you is in itself a gift! What a beautiful way you express your heart in this matter for this dear sister! And your remorse over that moment will be repaid to her in blessing, and to you, over and over again. What beautiful hearts (that the Lord has given you dear people) are being revealed. Much love--rhonda

I always appreciate the story of Mary and the spikenard... O how I don't want to be the guy who comes too late and brings 100 pounds of perfume... but to give rather ALL I have now. John 19:39

I have been remiss to state that I have had some blessed experiences of late. I attended the Connecticut convention in May, and although my bro Regan was not there to poke at me with his wit, I enjoyed myself anyway. My lovely wife was also left behind again... this new career of hers is costing her something, but she is calmer these days and enjoying her work. Fortunately, our next convention is only 9 miles away from out house.

The convention was lovely, the program wrapped around some of the events of the Exodus. I gave a talk on the "Christian Worthies", which of course is a topic that most have not heard of. I was not presenting anything new, just playing off of a word usage of our Pastor that few seem to have caught before. See R5859, where Bro Russell uses this phrase 2 times in connection with this special class.

WE had another lovely baptism.. a young girl that I've watched come up from birth who has such a lovely sincere attitude... truly melted my heart.

Three days of bliss in spite of the continual airport blues.

Also, we two had the privilege of serving the brethren in the Islands in April. It was absolutley perfect weather. I have heard some tough stories from others who have served there about the intense heat and the difficulties it causes, but we had no such 'luck'. It was mid eighties and lots of breezes... lovely. The people - even lovlier. 4 days of convention in Jamaica with some of the happiest faces and some of the humblest attitudes I've ever encountered. This island is crime laden and very unsafe in many ways. They speak about it daily in their own newspapers. Yet we drove through the crowds and interacted somewhat with the people and had no such difficulties. A nice baptism there too... another lovely young girl who now refers to be affectionately as Bro. Uncle Jon. It would be hard to forget that smiling face. I heard some wonderfully prepared in depth discourses from this crew of speaking brothers that touched me in various ways... O how I wish all of my brethren here in the states could have this experience. This is a somewhat poverty stricken nation though our brethren seem to get along quite well. They are not dresses in rags and to have jobs with decent incomes and they did bend over backward to make sure that all of our needs were met. I ate things (fruits mostly) I had never seen before and will never forget. ONe of my blessed memories was introducing them to Regan's music... we were driving down a Jamaican mountain road at about 80 kph while listening to #9 on the Octoman CD.... the old brother in the front seat looked across at the driver and said, "Hey... that's our music!" "Yes, reggae!" was the reply. But they really rejoiced in the lyrics.... "The dead, know not anything...." It was kind of like a story I heard about someone who heard the Eagles on the radio while driving through a canyon out west. It wasn't only Regan's music... it was Regan's music in Jamaica. I gave one of the CD's to a rather Rasta loosing fellow in the Miami Airport who was catching a plane to the islands... he put it in his boom box and boomed it throughout the airport. I don't think he cared for the lyrics nearly as much but he was thankful for the gift.

We served also in Trinidad and had a blessed experience with those brethren there also... so tender souls they are and wonderfully spiritual. We passed through crime laden streets to get to our meetings (late for the first ones due to the presence of Mr. Obama and other dignitaries at the 36 Nation Summit) but were blessed none the less. I lamented having to leave these ones behind, but life goes on. We visited one of the famous leather-back turtle beaches on the Atlantic coast... saw the same beach on the news here at home last Saturday and my eyes misted up. These folks could love you to death. We shared our take on the Gospel with them and we all agreed it is just plain good news and the greatest event the world will ever witness is about to take place. O how wonderful to note that the Lord's people truly are everywhere around this great globe.

Now we're six weeks out from the Ohio Convention... I'm bursting at the seams...

Thanks to Jehovah God for it all

sincerely

jonalfred

when I said "out house' in the first paragraph, I meant our house... but then again, this is Appalacia

For sharing that beautiful experience with us. I got a "glimpse" and a "taste" of the overwhelming love and joy you saw and felt there, for and from these dear lovely people; our brothers and sisters in Truth; in Christ.

--rhonda

It's coming again.... another roundabout with dear ones here and there. We're anticipating the landing of the eagle... or perhaps that's an osprey... you know, from Seattle for his first stop in Ohio ever. Octoman will be tested no doubt as to his stamina and fortitude in the heart of the midwest... vacation, convention, shiba inus, music, food, airport runs and deep conversation... Uh-Oh, I'm tearing up...

Then a roundabout through the south, midwest and north visiting brethren both known and presently unknown... even a public meeting in Michigan. God is good. So get set for the echoes to follow...

Oh, and MR Octoman... give me a call.

quote from prev. post above...

...."We're anticipating the landing of the eagle... or perhaps that's an osprey... you know, from Seattle for his first stop in Ohio ever. Octoman will be tested no doubt as to his stamina and fortitude in the heart of the midwest... vacation, convention, shiba inus, music, food, airport runs and deep conversation...."

Well bless my buttons, what a time it was! A lovely convention and a rich time of fellowship. Did the Seattleite survive his Ohio Journey? Evidenlty, seeing that he was posting on this board this morning at about 9:30 a.m. PMT. I figuring he didn't land back in his octanest until after midnight last night as he had dinner with me in Columbus Ohio before scooting down the runway.

All of the Chronology was considered from start to finish and lots of other goodies too. Testimonies, praise, and even campfire music featuring Octaman himself with renditions of our favorites to which I plinked along. I enjoyed giving him and others some tours of the area and also some of the history. Looking forward to the next go-round in a couple of months.

I'm still not back yet, except physically. Got in after 1:30 AM, crashed, got up, did email and went to work, then crashed again. Here I am, but am I here? I awoke, but no longer in Ohio, and no more surrounded by three little red fox like dogs... Was it a dream? Wait, out of the whirlwind of memories, one thing I remember for certain now, yes it's coming back clearly I'm almost sure...

I MET BROTHER HAROLD! I MET BROTHER HAROLD! I MET BROTHER HAROLD! We sat together all three days, and I'm just so happy about that - and about all the friends and memories there. It was sublime.

More about it all later, time crash again and get back to normal Pacific NW hours. Don't you Ohio-ites ever sleep?

Bros. & Sr.s in Christ: One of the many blessing received at a convention of the faithful is the purity of the Truth that is provided for all who hunger to hear it. The Ohio LHMM convention certainly provided a great measure of that! Another blessing that we receive is the rejuvenation of our faith and the opportunity to share that in person with those of like faith who because of distance we see only at conventions. Then there is the uncommon blessing that is occasionaly had where those who we meet in the abstract on Bible Student forums such as this one come into a reality. It was wonderful to meet Regan at last, and to have had time and fellowship with him was indeed a blessing, not only for me but for my wife as well! It is a comforting feeling whenever one can be in the company of another who has placed the interests of Jehovah first above self interest, and to know that such a dedication is indeed a reallity! Yeah....we sat side by side for three days, and I tried not to let Regan see me taking occasional glimpses at his "dreadlocks." Each time I stole a glance I would think "how lucky is the fellow sitting to my left." "I have nothing but bare scalp atop my head, and here is this fellow with hair draping alongside his head that I am in need of!" Ah...well, we can't have everything in life, now can we? Everything at the Ohio convention was a blessing and meeting Regan for the first time was "frosting on the cake!"

Bro. Harold

Bro. Harold,

The joy of our first meeting I'll never forget. Harold, I may have some hair, but you are adorned with what is far more lovely. To have a wife like Sr. Julianne (Julie-Ann) is a blessing and adornment beyond anything I have ever had in my life. Both of you were so sweet and kind. And you are also blessed with a gentle spirit and a firm grasp of logic, plus a great ability to present it to the whole congregation from the podium. Meeting you has made you much more real to me at long last, with further added dimensions beyond what I was able to appreciate or comprehend simply from the message forum and telephone. I so much enjoyed our lunch together with Bro. Brandon at the local Bob Evans restaurant as we discussed the falacies of the evolution theory! I'm so happy to have been able to go to Ohio, all made possible by Jonalfred and his equally wonderful wife Sandy, and aided also by the tolerance of his three protective pooches. Jons personal tour of the area was accompanied by an awesome in-depth continual narration about people and places as we passed through the state. I'm already trying to figure out a way to get to Minnesota in September.

Yours in Truth,

Regan

P.S. I'll email you some questions about the hymns. Thanks.

....but only in short runs. My three little dog-like critters are still trying to figure out where you are hiding. They've dug up a couple bodies in the back yard but don't worry, none of them proved to be you. Was sad seeing you disappear in the airport, but I enjoyed our dinner and conversation. Until next time we'll just have to linger on the memories.

Back to work for me too... and that has been somewhat dreadful, but I did have a pretty good witness today in regards to eternal torment. Preparing now to go out the door for the testimony meeting with the local friends.

Wishing you a speedy recovery... Bro Harold too. I had that nasty hour drive home from the airport, but it seems rather insignificant does it not?

peace to you all

jonalfred

On the flight home from Ohio, a young girl in the seat right behind me kept urging her parents to look at this cloud. I snapped this shot through the window of the plane.

"Clouds" and their "silver linings" were a topic of interest at the Ohio convention.

I think I can see the silver lining sticking out on the right hand side there... lovely shot. Certainly you must be awake by now... It is rainy and gloomy here now... much like Seattle, evidently in your honor. Don't tell me it is sunny and bright where you are.... we might have to launch an investigation.

Off and running again for the last Convention of the season (US)...

God Bless

jonalfred

"I saw miracles.....Now Jon has some dogs at home, which he showed me pictures of, that are a very rare Japanese breed called a "Sheba Inu" .....We got downtown, I was just ready to turn left onto the road our restaurant was on but I had to stop and wait for a person in the crosswalk - he was walking a Sheba Inu - right across our front bumper....I wasn't necessarily stunned, as I've seen such things on rare occasions, which I might call synchronicities" .....The next day I told Jon that I had some teaching appointments I just couldn't skip."

What were some of the other amazing miracles?

Just read further.  However I somehow doubt your sincerity, so you would have to convince me of it to elicit a further response.

... Bro Regan had me up as a prestadigitator... no magic wand here... be we did experience a number of interesting turns of events in a very short time; not to mention we've found ourselves in a parallel universe.

By the way... my little female Shiba Inu is about to pop with puppies... all of which appear to be sold already (I hope)... There is nothing quite like a mess-o-baby-shibas... little grizzly bears that turn into foxes... quate a miracle if you ask me.