Weekends

I never got around to mentioning that last weekend (Friday, 17th) JM and I made it to the opening night of Romeo and Juliet. It was a production by a county community theater group that involved students from two local high schools and home school students. The result being that JM and I knew Benvolio, being played by the pastor's daughter, and the three dancers ("extras" from the Capulet family who provide entertainment at the party), who are members of BRTC. I enjoyed the performance--it was very well done and went smoothly. My only complaint was that they chose to play up some of Shakespeare's cruder innuendos and taunts more than I felt necessary.

This weekend was Jeremy and Jessica's wedding on Saturday. As usual, I failed to take my camera. Hopefully, others will post pictures that I'll be able to enjoy and remember by.

Sunday morning was a special children's service. I helped with the short puppet skit by playing Theo the dog. I forget how much fun puppets are! I also forget how much endurance it takes to hold your hand above your head and manipulate a puppet for even just 2-3 minutes. The particular dog puppet they have I find a bit frustrating, as I can't really do anything with his "arms." It feels like I should almost be able to stick a finger in each of his front legs to use them, but the puppet doesn't actually allow that.

Sunday afternoon, I took the time to stop by the visitation for Mary Ellen. Seeing the MANY people there expressing sympathy and support affirmed how loved she was and how tragic the loss is. But at the same time, there was the steady reminder that, as a Christian, she is now in the presence of her savior and her family has the knowledge that she is healed of her earthly pain and problems and that they have the hope of seeing her again someday.

One of the sobering thoughts during the wedding Saturday afternoon was that exactly 48 hours later, the same church auditorium would be filled with those attending her funeral. Many of the same people who were celebrating the vows and the beginning of a new family were at the same time sorrowing for the death and loss of another family.