This blog is an ongoing love letter to our children, their birthmothers, their grandparents on both sides of the continent, and our extended family and friends.
Someone keeps thinking they are entitled to take the shrubs at our church. On August 9th they took half a dozen.
Then last Saturday we noticed a bunch of the bricks to the retaining wall had also been taken.
I'm not saying I know who did it, but one of our neighbors has made a lot of recent improvements to his front yard with shrubs and bricks that look awfully familiar. . . .
On Friday night we went to see Jason Mraz in concert at the Freedom Hill Amphitheater. It was a warm, somewhat humid summer evening, and the venue was packed. We saw people of all ages there, from babies to the senior set, but most people were in their 20s and 30s. A lot of folks wore fedoras in imitation of Jason Mraz’s signature accessory. The opening act was G. Love and Special Sauce, K’Naan, and Bushwalla. One of the groups sang a song Hallie thought was catchy called “Booty Call.” Too bad the subject matter was R rated. Jason came out as the sun finally set and the air got cooler, and his back up musicians from Austin, Texas, gave the songs he sang a Latin flair while the backgrounds and stage props evoked a combination of Japanese print art and “Endless Summer” surf vibe. We had pretty good seats considering we were in the middle of the amphitheater and not right up front like we like to be (we were about 150 feet back). There was a large screen behind Jason and the band members that showed them performing, so we were able to see everything really well. The music was loud, but in a good way, and you could feel the bass without it overpowering the melodies. He played for a little over an hour, and then he was gone. We must have spent easily five or ten minutes clapping and clamoring for an encore, but he did not appear on stage.
Then Hallie let out a whoop when she saw that Jason had come up into the crowd right below sound booth, so now the action was happening about 50 feet from where we were standing (everyone was on their feet swaying and singing and carrying on for most of the concert). He did a long encore set that was a combination of older and newer tunes, and we really enjoyed that part. Getting out of the parking area was a nightmare. It was like trying to untie a pretzel, but we did eventually get out after midnight. Hallie was enough impressed that she thinks she’ll have to see him again the next time he comes out. Mike thought it was hilarious when he realized how much Jason looks like his brother-in-law. Suddenly it made so much more sense why Carly (a big Mraz fan) married Shad (not so much). Here’s a link for you to decide for yourself!
And here's a short video from the concert for you to enjoy:
I am not sure if this picture looks desirable but it sure as heck tasted GREAT! Thanks Mom for sending me the yummy Martha Stewart recipe. I guess it was meant to be that when Kroeger had 5lbs of blueberries on sale that I bought them and we froze them. Sure came in handy to make this dessert. Elder Wood was so entranced he accidentaly broke his fast when he ate the cobbler.
Today we went to Greenfield Village for our monthly Macy's 2nd Monday trip. The theme this month was Trains. We did not get any pictures this time of our riding the train or doing the activities. Maybe because it was so hot and sticky that you just didn't want to do that. We did ride the Steam Locomotive around the park and while on it the heavens opened and it started raining. We brought Elders Wood and Grubham with us and we all ran for cover when we got back to the depot. There we got to the stroller and benches and ate our Subway lunch. I had fun, hopefully everyone else did too. Every now and again on the way home from The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village the Elders want to go to 7-11 and so that is what we did today. Below are some of what I consider to be some cute shots of Landon getting his days worth or more of sugar.
We had our Adoption Yard Sale. Some of the pictures are posted below. One of the most amazing things about our Yard Sale is the young boy pictured below with Landon, his name is Miles. Miles is going into 7th grade and he is the hardest working kid I have ever seen. He helped us every day of the sale and even before hand getting us tables and a dolley. Landon loves to see Miles and tries his best to talk to him whenever they are outside. Landon becomes incoherrent when he sees Miles. Miles is so kind to Landon we are grateful to have his family as neighbors.
Thanks Ross family for adding the bowtie to the pile. He loves it! He wore it to church and now Zeke wears a bow tie too! Needless to say we could not sell it.
For some reason Landon thought he was supposed to squat when I took his picture. He is talking more and more these days and it was amazing the other day when he said, "Please Mom!"
Friday was a BEAUTIFUL day to have a sale. Too bad not a lot of foot traffic.
Saturday was not so hot. It rained from 7:30 am - 5:00 pm. Even with prayer the Lord thought it was not to be. Here are some pictures of our stuff on the porch and covered on the grass. We thought if we just sat on the porch it would eventually stop. No luck! But we put forth our effort. Landon was a marvelous trooper through it too. Thanks Diamond for helping out with Landon. It made things a lot easier.
So I get to the branch building this morning and find that six more of our bushes were uprooted and spirited away by an enterprizing local landscaper. He was in a hurry and left a big old mess behind. Later Damon and I went upstairs to the security DVR, and Damon found out that the guy had come at around 1:15 in the morning. Grr. Perhaps facilities management might be interested in seeing whether Steve would like to chat with Mr. Gardener-Thief. There's a house on Algonquin St. around the corner that has some suspiciously familiar-looking shrubs. As it is, Nathan Ellsworth can handle it. He was sustained and set apart as our new branch president in church today. He kept Tim Black and Damon Kalcich as counselors, but other changes will come soon. Until then, Hallie and I are looking forward to sleeping in on Sundays again. We would have loved to have today's sun yesterday for the garage sale, but summer has finally arrived in its full muggy, sultry force (90+ degrees with 90+ % humidity--lovely). Air conditioning, so delicious.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
After having a lack of a Yard Sale today the missionaries shared this message with us tonight.
Here is my favorite quote from it, "Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you]."
On August 14, we are going to go see Jason Mraz. After seeing his videos from being on the Today Show I am now more than ever convinced that this was a GREAT purchase and I can't wait to go. Check out the video below.
Today I corresponded with Mrs. R from the R House blog. She is the coolest lady, and does a TON for adoption. She was telling me how she "makes her own disasters". Boy did that totally resonate with me. I think I should be pricing things for the Yard Sale and not playing on Facebook or watching America's Got Talent. But that all sounds like so much more fun.
3 days and counting until the big Yard Sale.
One last chance for anyone that wants to donate I am taking donations til Thursday.
Shout out to Karen D from the GrossePointe Moms Club who donated items today.
I am also now counting down the days, oh that reminds me need to update Landon's chalkboard where we will have a daily countdown until Elise, Lily, and Emerson come to visit. I am so stinking excited family is coming I can hardly stand it. My to do list is long but looks short because it is on my phone. I pray I don't make my own disaster with this.
