This month some good friends offered us the opportunity to attend a concert in Calgary. They had an extra set of tickets to the Paul Brandt concert and invited us to go along. We accepted the invitation. About a week before the concert we met them at Echodale park and had a picnic and boating outing. It was a perfect opportunity to catch up on each others lives and to get the tickets.
It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Even more so, however, the kids really had fun together. We had Charity and Breanna with us, and their kids, Evan and Kya, were close to the same ages. The dads and the kids boated together playing bumper boats in the water and then we had a picnic lunch. Later we all walked over to the swimming area where the adults visited as the kids played. At dusk, it was hard to convince the kids that they needed to go home, they were having so much fun playing in the water.
Before we left the park, Charity took some photos of us...
What a wonderful day...
While we were playing in the water and visiting, our older kids were having the opportunity of a lifetime at Moroni's Quest. Each was required to dress in Nephite attire to participate. They looked so good all dressed up and ready to learn like never before about the Book of Mormon. They were gone for 4 days - Friday through Monday.
The following weekend, Chad and I traveled to Calgary for the Paul Brandt concert. Having never been one to follow a specific singer, this was an opportunity I likely would never had taken on my own initiative. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the concert... even though we only knew about half the songs. It was so much fun to watch Paul Brandt in his complete enjoyment of performing. He involved the crowd and the enthusiasm and energy he created was palpable. The music was good and it was clean. The lights and special effects were amazing. All together it made the experience a good one that we will remember fondly for a long time.
Now, among the crowd, there were some examples of very poor conduct. Since we were seated behind a couple that were engaged in each other more than the show, it was difficult not to notice the distasteful nature of their behavior in public. I cannot express how deeply grateful I am, that my husband treats me with dignity and consideration at all times. I am always treated as a woman of worth, and I am so thankful for his respect and honor. It is amazing how witnessing such a contrast to what I have been blessed with makes me so much more grateful for that blessing. ♥
Along with the concert, we also got to spend some time checking out the attractions at the Stampede grounds. As for me, I have never been to the Calgary Stampede before, and we found it interesting to visit the different events that were going on. We also rode the C-Train for the first time. I've ridden the metro in Quebec before, but it is all underground, so the Calgary LRT was a new experience for us both. I must say though, that despite the crowded condition of the train, it was very pleasant to just ride .... for you see, I despise navigating heavy traffic EVEN when I'm not driving. On the LRT we rode from city center to the southern outskirts of the city in good time, and didn't have to worry about ANY traffic! It was wonderful!!!
There is much good in the world, but for all the good that is there, there is also a great deal of lesser activities that one can indulge in. The Stampede and all the events that it offered was a real life example of this principle. With all that we enjoyed on our days adventure, there was a fair bit that we also avoided and found distasteful. I loved the art! I enjoyed the animals - pigs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats and chickens. I even found a few things at the market that interested me, though I didn't like the high pressure sales tactics of some merchants. I loved the sunshine, the country dancing and the companionship of my dear husband. I did yearn however for healthy food... I never found any... I yearned for a little shade, and a little later I yearned for a quiet place to relax. At one point we even had our picture taken courtesy of Enmax!!! What a fun day! ☺
The friends that gave us the tickets, are people that we worked for several years ago. It is amazing how a good impression will stay with people. Chad left a very good impression, he always goes the extra mile for his customers, and they were no exception. When I thanked them for the tickets and offered them a small gift of appreciation, I was told that that was not necessary. I insisted that it was, and I was told that we had done more for them than I knew. I believe, knowing Chad's good heart, that that is a true statement. I am so blessed to have such a husband. Not only does he bless the lives of all those he serves, but his serving nature blesses the lives of his children each and every day as well. We are all so blessed to have each other. I thank the Lord for my good family each and every day of my life.
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