Sunday night we took them to the Trinity church in Artesia to see the musical choir Lightshine perform "Joy in Jesus". It is a large group of people from different churches, denominations coming together to sing, hand motions, skits with just good laughter, tears of joy, and revelation that our Joy should be most in Jesus.
They loved the sunshine of Sunday, more than they had seen in months at home, even our rainy days are nice weather temperature wise..
Monday, if I remember right.. we just headed to Irvine and shopped at "the great indoors" and "kirklands" stores.. AND I DIDN'T BUY A THING! But Marlys did..
Tuesday not much was planned, and at lunch I threw out their options; I was going to go and watch Chase De Jong play baseball at and against Marina in Huntington Beach, game time 2:30pm and if they weren't interested in it, they could stay home.. or they could ride along and watch the game out iin the sunshine.. They chose to come along for the vitamin D and a good game.. It was a very good game and Chase pitched the last four innings, although after watching him pitch two it was awful cold for the parents and so we headed home. they were winning 10-8 at the time and they did win.
Wednesday Shane and his grandpa went to the Pick a Part location nearby and got the parts for fixing his windows that are electric but don't work.. The mechanic quoted him $500 for the new Honda parts and $300 for the labor. But he was the one who suggested pick a part for cutting the price down. So they hit it lucky and for $35 got the parts needed, and next week Tues it will be repaired. While they were gone, Marlys and I headed to Kirklands in Monrovia to exchange something purchased that had some damaged when opened. I asked the clerk what we could do in that area and she suggested the Arcadia Arboretum or the Huntington Library and wrote down directions for both. We had a quick lunch at a BJ's just up the road and than headed to the Arcadia Arboretum.. It was quite a bit of walking for Marlys and me too, but it was very interesting and beautiful. The sky was dark above the hills, yet cloudy & clear all around as well, which just added to the beauty as a backdrop to the flowering plants and trees.
sticks on fire
This "art" was built as in the ancient times using willow brances that are flexible and found in great supply in Northern Calif and they trucked in 6 loads of wood at the Arboretum
Thursday Greg took his dad along with him to see a new customer project in San Diego. Marlys and I had tickets for the Bonnie Hunt show(s) and left at 9:45am, having lunch before getting in line at noon for the show taping at 2pm. The first two guests were the actress Amy Ryan and the olympic skater Johnny Weir, he is really weird, he looked like a Liberace wanna be in the getup he wore... Now I am not a "Bachelor" watcher, but Jake Pivelco (?) and his pick Vienna were the first guests, and they were so fake it was obvious and they didn't get much of a welcome response from the peeps who were viewers and made it clear in some audience questions that he should have chose someone else, etc.. Heard gossip that he's already stepping out on her-gag me on the shallow of it all.
The 6pm taping was far better in that it was a touching inclusion of an actor Joey Panteleone who has done a documentary on depression, getting help. His motivation was himself who suffered with it a long time and just thought he was a sad person, only to find out that talking to someone about what he was feeling and getting on some much needed medication and he is feeling stronger and mentally clear headed. He is working with the Armed Services, as 18 veterans of Iraq / Afghanistan tours are killing themselves a day when they return.. That's not right and he is trying to get the intervention going with them ahead of there return and for those who are here already. Bonnie Hunt taped some PSA comments during a commercial break with him.. He is heading to Iraq to speak with the troops soon.
There was a family in the audience that Bonnie invited to be a part of the show from their seats. Chuck Campbell is his name, an ex-marine and only 45 yrs old. He is a husband, father of four teens, 2 boys, 2 girls. He works for a Mercedes Benz dealership in Maryland. He has developed COPD, only having 20% of lung capacity and is need of a double lung transplant. While there family/friends have been doing small fundraisers, Chuck needs to raise a million dollars BEFORE he can be placed on the transplant list. His insurance company will only cover $80,000 of the cost of the operation. He had three friends along with them who are coordinating the efforts and are co-workers of his. Please go to http://www.newlungsforchuck.com/ and read the story, the fundraising efforts and if possible become involved. They have two prizes for the raffle ticket winner, which is an incentive to get on board but he is desperately needing the transplant and get back his life free from oxygen that he is dependent on now.
Friday/Saturday were low key days.. and Shanes birthday being on Saturday March 6, we all went out for dinner after he returned from work. Good times and we missed Ashley for the first time without her being present. Ashley's birthday is on Sunday March 7 and she had a friend from Orange County Briana fly out to Texas and they celebrated in Austin for the weekend and that we are glad of that she is not alone..
