A Vision for the Future - Amazing Traveling Plans!

So, Summer is around the corner. For those of you who don't know, Leif will be graduating with his Bachelors Degree in Public Administration in May. Not that his education journey is complete (that's for another post), but I think he, okay -We, deserve a moment to celebrate the achievement. After all, Leif has been going to school full time and working full time consistently for the last, good heaven's, almost five years! Amazing!

With that in mind, today Leif and I played a game. Well, it actually started with me daydreaming about some grand surprise for Leif. I randomly told Leif that I wanted to get to know him better (true). I asked him to give me some ideas of fun things that he would love to do/see if given the opportunity. His list consisted of the following:

• Visiting theme parks and riding several great roller coasters
• Going to a water park
• Bowling
• Mini/Real Golfing
• Body boarding
• Playing Ping-Pong
• Fishing
• Camping for a few days
• Participating in the arts (a big production concert, a play, etc.)
• A cruise
• Deep sea fishing
• Traveling to a famous place, thing, event, etc. ("the Statue of Liberty, Italy... the worlds largest potato in Idaho... :)"
• Attending a concert... Andrea Bocelli, etc. 

So with this in mind, I went to my trusty friend, Google. The first thing I searched was "Andrea Bocelli" and I discovered this:
THE WORLD’S MOST BELOVED TENOR ANDREA BOCELLI GIFTS NEW YORK CITY WITH A ONCE IN A LIFETIME MUSICAL EVENT

FREE CONCERT WITH THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC TO TAKE PLACE AT CENTRAL PARK’S GREAT LAWN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 Internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli will perform a free concert on Central Park’s Great Lawn, Thursday, September 15th with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by its music director Alan Gilbert, as a special gift to New York City (tickets required for entry). 

Uhhh, WOW! Need I say more?

Then I googled "Jon Schmidt." He's another one of our favorites and I thought maybe we might find something neat just a little closer to home.  Well, he's going to Israel this Summer, does that count? 

So then I googled "Paul Cardall." Our boys' sleep music was Paul Cardall's music for years. His music very-well may be the background music to my Mother Heart. He has an amazing story to share. HERE it is. Well, it was with Paul Cardall that I found a "Dream Come True - Traveling Extravaganza" type journey for Leif and I to envision.  Take a look at this (keep in mind that Leif served his mission in Milan, Italy):

Northern Italy with Paul Cardall & Keri Evans – September 12-22, 2011

Join us this autumn as we explore the beauty of Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Milan, the Lake district in the Lombardy region, and Cinque Terre along the coast of the Mediterranean sea.  This trip offers it all – main historical cities, quaint villages and hill towns, the beautiful lakes up north, and breathtaking sites on the coastline.  The perfect combination of cities to experience the many different landscapes, cultures and cuisines of Italy.

 Oh Dear, Dear, Dear, how we would LOVE to join this tour!

Before I showed Leif my "Vision for the Future", I encouraged him to join me in the fun (without giving him any idea what I had come up with.) I gave him one hour with his computer, $3,000, and any time frame within this year to come up with a trip for us to enjoy together. He had some fun too. He came up with a cruise to Mexico and a tour to Italy.  But I still won! 

When I showed him what I had found I won the game, Hands Down!

- Some day we will travel the world together! Our Vision is Set! -

Until then, We'll stay the course and take an occasional break a bit closer to Home: