Wonderful World of ... July

In my desperate need, well desire, to see Hamilton again, I subscribed to Disney+ streaming service. Since we already have Hulu and they'll be nothing new on ESPN+ for awhile, I just got the wonderful world of Disney. Maybe just for July. Maybe longer.

If you see the fine print there, it's only $6.99 a month. I'd have to watch Hamilton like 9 more times to equal the live performance ticket price alone. So I delved into Disney movies first this evening – it's what you do when it's 90 degrees out – and watched the new Lion King movie. Pretty well done. There's also a ton of retro Disney, too, like Herbie the Love Bug, Witch Mountain, Mary Poppins, Parent Trap and The Muppets, to name a few. (See complete list here.)

There are also Pixar movies so I can watch the ones I enjoyed when Carter was little – Toy Story, Incredibles, Monsters Inc, Cars – and now watch their sequels, too!

Then there's all the Marvel movies (also included) that I had once planned to watch in order before watching Avengers Endgame. I did not watch them all but I did watch Endgame on my long flight to Seattle. Pretty sure there aren't any spoiler alerts I can't handle.

And as one more bonus, I could watch all the Star Wars movies – in chronological order of the overall story, not the movie release dates. I think that would take me beyond July!

But still, one month is only the price of one matinee movie around here. And my popcorn at home is pretty cheap. I'm not getting paid to endorse this product. Just letting you know about this reasonably priced option – especially if your kids have been staring you in the face for 121 days and you (or they) need an escape from each other or this heat for a few hours!

It's a wonderful world!

Hakuna Matata

We are counting down the hours now to see the Broadway musical, The Lion King. Tomorrow night, after picking up my sister Rayna (the lion queen) at the airport in Minneapolis, we'll head to the Orpheum Theatre.

We've heard from friends who saw it this summer that it is phenomenal. Incredible costumes and choreography.

Carter has seen a few stage productions through school field trips so he thinks this will be pretty cool -- though he says he's too old to be into The Lion King. He doesn't recall how many times he watched the movie as a "young" boy, singing "Hakuna Matata" around the house!

Last night, to get us in the mood and refresh our memories about the story and songs, we all watched the DVD together. Now we can't wait!

There is no school today or tomorrow so I am home with Carter. This morning I showed him the Web site for The Lion King tour (http://disney.go.com/theatre/thelionking/tour/) so he could get a sneak peek at some of the costumes. They're gorgeous! Right now, this boy who is "too old" for a kid story, is out in the living room watching the DVD again.

I have this sneaking suspicion he's going to enjoy himself Friday night! I think we'll all enjoy being kids at heart. Hakuna Matata!

Circle of Life

If you ever watched "The Lion King," you'll recall the Elton John song, "Circle of Life." The song and story -- as in real life -- illustrates the fact that as some people leave our lives, a new person can fill that empty spot in your heart. This has hit close to home over the past few days.

Last night we visited my friend Becky to see her new baby boy. I had no idea that at the exact same moment I was cuddling and rocking her newborn son, the mother of a close friend of mine was fighting for her life after a car accident. Unfortunately, Toni's mom didn't make it.

It was a cruel twist of fate. Helen had battled cancer and beat it. She was recently given a clean bill of health and the family breathed a little sigh of relief. They had hope again.

How unfair it seems when God unexpectedly takes away a loved one. When we're struggling in the depths of pain and grief, it doesn't make sense to us. But when that passes -- and it may take a very long time -- we realize we can and should celebrate that person's life. And be grateful we were a part of it.

This is why we must tell our friends and family we love them. And tell them often. Tell them today. Tomorrow may be too late.

Circle of Life

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life.