Adam's Story {on stage with U2}

Last post on this, then I'll shut up. I just wanted to share with you my favorite picture (where Bono realizes Adam can play decent and goes big). Also, my 2 favorite news segments so far.

Adam Bevell on stage with Bono : Nashville, TN July 2nd 2011

Here's a link to hear a few interviews with our friend Adam's sharing his story of going blind and achieving his life long dream of playing with U2 last Saturday night.

xoxo,

In Case You Missed It...

In case you missed yesterday's post, and because I still get teary watching it, U2.com has posted their video of Adam playing 'All I Want Is You' while Bono sings. Such a fabulous moment, Adam's still floating. Definitely watch the entire video to see what happens at the end.

Btw, he's on facebook (Adam Bevell) for those of you who want to tell him congrats yourselves. :)

Dream Big!!

God Bless America & Blind Man Sings...

Happy Fourth of July!!

Enjoy this video of our blind friend Adam Bevell playing guitar while Bono

sings 'All I Want Is You' at Saturday night's U2 concert.

Blind Guitar Player...photo credit: U2.com

Adam has a macular degenerative eye disease that caused him to go blind. He is a huge U2 fan, he's said that teaching himself to play guitar and U2 songs helped him when he was going blind. Adam's been to many, many U2 concerts (several on front row), and as I mentioned in this post once gave Kimball and I front row seats,  and this time he was invited onstage with Bono at the close of the show.

Watch the entire video to see what Bono does at the end...priceless!!

Way to go Bevell devil...you killed it!!

Blissdom Remembered {Wrap-Up}

{The Hotel}

The Opryland Hotel was enormous and so beautiful!!

{My Roommate}

I couldn't have hand picked a better roommate. Patty from Finding Serendipty is not only beautiful, she's  "hate me" in shape, warm, so kind hearted, patient, friendly, fun, smart, humble, makes you feel at ease and has more talent than she realizes. She's a licensed physical therapist turned stay at home mom/fitness instructor/photographer & writer...in other words, she's not an axe-murderer. :) We had so many great tickle fights ha! I mean talks...I'm going through withdrawls!!

{Our Room}

The rooms were nice, and the view from our balcony was serene.

{The Perks}

To my surprise, at every turn there was some sort of fabulous giveaway. The lovelies on the right are adorable handouts from other bloggers such as necklaces, flower pins, book thongs, handmade rose earrings and homemade fudge. 

Fabulous keynote speakers: Scott Stratten and Brene Brown

Authors of: Unmarketing & The Gifts of Imperfection

{Long Time Favorites Bloggers}

Center : Edie from Life In Grace

I've been following the blogs of these talented ladies since 2008. You all know how much I love Edie, so I'll start with her...thank you so much for your friendship! Surprising me at the airport because you knew how nervous I was (in true Edie fashion). You are smart, gracious, classy, selfless, unique, brave, gifted with words and so beautiful inside and out. Thanks for incouraging me to stretch myself and step out
of my comfort zone.

 The Nester and Emily (if you don't already know), are sisters. The Nester inspires me to make my home beautiful and cozy by 'shopping the house' first as to not break the family budget.

 I relate with Emily in that she's an introvert but has her extrovert moments. She writes beautifully and incourages women to find their inner beauty and God given talents. Thank you both for being so sweet and friendly!!

{Forever Friends}

Ruthanne, Ruth, Brooke, Melissa S., Patty, Polly, Melissa M , Deanna, Shannan and Edie.



If I haven't convinced you to go to Blissdom 2012...

that's because I saved the best for last.

I had such anxiety about going, "What the heck were you thinking!?!?" went through my head more times than I can tell you. Having never met any of these bloggers in real life, I had all sorts of worries and insecurities. Besides that, I prefer to be in small groups not rooms full of five hundred plus women.

The night before I even cried out to my mommy on facebook, (which did me no good)

...she was half-way around the world!

When I got to the airport, rather than going through security, I found myself eating, shopping & wandering, 

in other words...

stalling!!

 My heart was beating out of my chest, my nose was sweating (as it does when I'm nervous), but I soon  realized, the stress eating, sleepless nights and self doubt were all for nothing!!

Most of the women there felt the exact same way,
and if they didn't,

they remembered those feelings and reached out with their motherly souls;

 calming my fears, boosting my confidence and making my
Blissdom experience unforgettable!

What I learned from Blissdom?

• Vulnerability is the key to loving with your whole heart
• When we exercise vulnerability we are courageous and brave
• Never let anybody steal your voice
• I am enough
• I can do hard things

Thank you friends for a fabulous weekend.

xoxo,

Blissdom Remembered {The Concert}

My first time at Blissdom was so blissful I'm going to have to break it down for you throughout the week, today I'll start with the
{Mat Kearney Concert}
because let's face it, that deserves a post of its own.

Blissdom was awesome, everything about it...but this was by FAR the best event. Mat Kearney (my FAVORITE songwriter/musician) and Michelle Branch (who I also really like).

I was determined to get a good seat so I pulled the old 'front row sit on the floor' trick...best seat in the house. ;)

Photo credit: Life In Grace

Apparently Edie and I not only share a love for 'all things Favre', but 'all things Kearney' too!!

It was sad really....squealing like school girls.

SO FUN!

Oh and don't think we didn't get a picture with him...cuz we did! {insert three squeals} 

Mat did not dissapoint, with lyrics like this how could he? He was funny as all get out, and SO SO nice. I think we have a date next time he's in Phoenix...

'for the singing'!!

(inside joke...I know right!!?!?!!!?). :)

*********

If all that wasn't blissful enough, I got to come home to these four lovey doves!

Stay tuned for the next Blissdom Remembered post

where I'll show you all the amazing women I met.

And because I heart you all so much and I want you to heart Mat Kearney (if you don't already), I posted a playlist of

'All Things Kearney' below.

xoxo

linking up with Snapshot Sunday and Mussings of a Housewife

Our December

December was maddness I tell you! We had SO much going on, usually I try to keep it low-key so we can focus on enjoying the Christmas spirit but this year we were crazy busy!!

Jaxon and Kade were in The Best Christmas Pagent Ever this year. They had a million practices, rehersals and 13 performances at the Mesa Arts Center. It was a really great show and in Kade's words "a great experience". It was a huge commitment on both their parts and mine as well since it required so much time and driving. Kade's going to try out for another play coming this March, Jax on the other hand would rather not commit to something that big again.

As I mentioned here we went to Minnesota to stay with friends and watch the Vikings play the Giants. My parents had planned to spend Christmas with us so they came out early enough so we'd have someone to watch the kids while we were gone. Thanks Mom and Dad!! It was a great time, here's some of the things we did...

Mom made Sophia some cute tutu's to play dress up. She LOVES them...thanks mom!

Stopped to take in the view of Canyon Lake.

We went on a little fieldtrip up the Superstition Mountains to Tortilla Flat. We had lunch in the saloon with the walls covered in dollar bills. Had fun looking through the shops and bought some candy. 

 The weather was beautiful for pretty much the entire month, Arizona's mild winters are the best!

Mom was a lifesaver and did all the laundry and dishes (our dishwasher was broke)...the girl has some mad domestic skillz! It was like having a sister wife in the house...kinda, sorta. Dad helped Sophia and Kade with their bike riding, and taught Kaden to shoot the basketball (and make it). Kade even scored the first point in our Christmas basketball game.

I did a ton of baking...and paid the price on the treadmill later! Kade helped with these Oreo Brownie's. The recipe can be found on my friend Jenny's blog Picky Palate.

Hiking was another way we burned off all the extra calories. 

Besides my (almost seventy year old) dad's 6X a week workouts, he rocked the hike like a champ. No ski pole's walking stick necessary! He put the other seniors to shame.

We even came across this triantula!!

Yes, I'm painfully aware of how silly these giant sun glasses look on my already round face. I've vowed not to wear them again, the bright side is they only cost me $3, they were a desperate purchase when Kimball and I were in Little Italy, NY.

Christmas Eve, the kids opened their annual Christmas pj's...always a favorite.

Grandma Kay made Soph's day by getting her a robe so she could be like the rest of the kids.

Christmas dinner was just OK, I guess after the big basketball game at the park I wasn't on my 'A game' when it came to the rice and rolls but at least the table looked pretty and we had a nice evening. I was already bugged that my dinner didn't wasn't perfect, so I may or may not have bit Kimball's head off snapped at Kimball for purposly positioning his face behind the candle light...again. Ha ha, so funny! :)

Sadly, on Christmas morning I hopped into blogland for a minute only to find out my blog friend Edie had lost her home and all her possessions in a fire earlier that week. She lives in Tennesse so there wasn't much I could do to help right that second, but it sure was hard to enjoy the holiday knowing my dear friend was experiencing such a devastating loss.

Thanks again to my mom and dad for spending December with us. The kids say it was their best Christmas so far. They came all the way from Texas and are now off on a three week vacation to Fiji, Australia and New Zealand...not too bad! Have a great time and hurry back!

Joining Sweet Shot Tuesday