AJ and I will be heading in to St. Paul on July 19 to see Neil Diamond. He begins his summer tour there. Tickets went on sale this morning and I was online waiting to purchase them. He has a new album coming out next week. He will also be on American Idol this week. We have actually seen him in concert twice before, both times in Billings.

Another event we will be purchasing tickets for will be the Star Wars exhibit at the Science Museum, also in St. Paul. That should be fun as well. I suppose we will be getting four tickets for that....we will take the kids.

Yesterday was my "first First Communion" in my new parish as Faith Formation Director. We had practice on Saturday morning and the liturgy yesterday at noon. There were 30 of this year's kids at this celebration. Next Sunday we will do it again for the remaining 28 kids. There was also one older girl who chose to receive her First Communion separately at the 10:00 am regular parish liturgy. So in all, 59 kids. I think the largest group I ever had in my previous parish was 36, so this is a little different. But it seems easier, simply because the pastor takes a much more hands on approach here and pretty much directed the practice. And since it was my first time here, it was much less stressful for me. I always look forward to these sacramental moments with the kids...these "firsts" are some of the best things about a job like this.

Last weekend we were in Moorhead/Fargo for two of our daughter's  musical performances and a college day for Aaron. On Friday night we attended Courtney's jazz choir concert. You can hear one of their songs here   and her solo   here   Both thoroughly enjoyable

On Saturday AJ and I headed over to NDSU for a college day for Aaron. We got to tour the engineering complex as well as most of the rest of the campus, meet some of the professors, and eat a college lunch. I hope in the end he chooses to attend there because it is a very good engineering school, very well respected, and the cost is reasonable. Besides that, it's close enough yet far enough away from home!

Sunday found us back at MSU-M for Courtney's senior recital. She shared her recital with another soprano. They alternated sets, then closed the performance with a duet. I thought she was wonderful! Of course I'm her mother and I am allowed to think that.

After jointly serving a simple cake and punch reception with the other mother, we headed out for home. AJ had to get to Duluth for a conference yet that night. So it was just Aaron and I at home the rest of the week, until AJ returned on Thursday afternoon. Then Aaron left for Colorado on Thursday night for a band trip and returned this afternoon. Even though I was busy at the church this weekend, I had enough free time to do some chores around here and feel as though I am pretty much caught up. That allowed me to pretty much take today off and relax, do a little reading, watch some HGTV, and buy my Neil Diamond tickets!!

peace

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