Dear Mr. Lerche: Let's Get Married.

This, my friends, is Sondre Lerche. He is beautiful. Also he plays the guitar (and by "plays", I mean SHREDS). Also he sings. Also he made the whole soundtrack for Dan In Real Life, ergo he has met Steve Carell. Also he sings a song with Regina Spektor. Also he has great musical friends, like Kishi Bashi.

ALSO, I went to see him in concert last night!! I took that picture. I stood 10-15 ft away from him. I squealed like a little girl when he played/sang/said beautiful things. I enjoyed every single minute of that event, especially including the two opening acts, which were phenomenal! The first one was Kishi Bashi. He's great. The second was a band called Nightlands. Phenomenal. We got $18 tickets to a venue called "The Urban Lounge" in Salt Lake City, and there were probably around 50 people. No more than 75. It was very personal and laid back and a most unforgettable experience. I was blown away by Sondre Lerche. I was expecting Jack Johnson and I got Dream Theater! Ok, that was a GROSS exaggeration on both ends, but basically, I figured he would be a super chill, but brilliant musician like Sufjan Stevens. He IS a brilliant musician, but he was NOT chill. He rocked hard! And it was wonderful. It was all just so wonderful.

I could go on and on about that concert, but I won't. Especially because I've got a wedding to plan. Sondre and I will be married in the morning!

I want to blog today.

And so I will blog! About summertime. Now that I don't live in southern AZ, summertime is magical! The sun is nice and toasty, but the breeze makes it feel just right, and the nights are just cool enough to go for a walk or sit outside. Stores have all kinds of summer sales, the BEST fruits are officially in season, and the beauty of nature is literally everywhere. Activity options are endless! And there's good feeling all around! You get to wear sandals and shorts and go to baseball games and have picnics and be a little more cavalier about your hair and makeup... Just magical!

But I'm sure that there are quite a few people from the Eagar/Alpine area that aren't finding this summer quite so magical. Neither are those involved in the Yuma tragedy of just over a week ago, I'm sure. My heart goes out to all of them. I cannot imagine what that must feel like - to know or not know that your home has burned down; to lose someone you love because of the terrible actions of another. Not very magical at all.

But I think that we could all share a bit of our own summer magic with them through prayers. Indeed, there's not much else we can do.

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all choose between what is right, and what is easy."