Stadium of Fire

Wow, I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post! Crazy! Mike made it back from Uganda in good health and we are very happy to have him back home with us. I almost feel like this is a journal that I need to update what we have been doing the last month, but let's be honest, that's not going to happen because it would be a ridiculously long post! Although, I hope I can get Mike to write at least one post about his experience in Africa.

Anyway, happy Independence Day everyone! Mike and I were able to go to Stadium of Fire this year to watch Carrie Underwood! It was awesome. I was surprised at all of the different things included in the event from giving away motorcycles, five different musical acts, to a very large court of honor.

It was a fairly emotional evening for me. I lost count of all the times I teared up throughout the night. Let me just recount a few..

• They represented each military branch with a small troop in uniform with each branch's flag and song playing as they marched on to the field. Oh and when each branch was called, people of the audience stood up if they were a part of it.
• Four military jets flew overhead right after the national anthem was sung by Carrie Underwood... I don't know why either.. My thoughts must have been along the lines of, "Oh cool!! Real jets!"... then tears built up.
• A 98 year old man that was the founder or something of Boy Scouts of America starting the court of honor ceremony.
  
• A 2-3 year old girl dressed in a red, white and blue dress with glitter and ribbons in her hair sitting next to us getting excited about the concert and watching her parents faces light up with excitement as well.
  
• A gorgeous firework that I could only describe as a celestial chandelier. It wasn't big either, but the fans of white sparks against the night sky was a spectacle of beauty like I had never seen before in a fireworks show.
  

Seriously, I could add several more to my list. Probably what touched me the most was a particular song sung by Carrie Underwood. Let me just say she is AMAZING to watch live. She brings so much spirit, power and talent to her performances. She precluded this song by saying of all the songs she has written, this is her proudest work as a song writer. So, I thought it was going to be a song I was familiar with, but it wasn't. I hadn't heard it before. Though, I'm sure many of you have. It is called Temporary Home. Literally, tears running down my cheeks. A new round of tears came with every verse too. I felt rather lame because no one else was crying around me... haha oh well! Here is a link to watch it on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraOiHUltak

Anyway, Stadium of Fire was awesome and if you get the chance to go, I highly recommend it.