"In the end, we're all fruit"

Can you guess what I just watched, with my ears, on TV? Yup, "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding"! For some reason, that movie never gets old for me.

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I just hung up from chatting with Cliff and we both came to the conclusion to use the Fellowship Hall vs. the new classroom building for the Ladies' Advent Service. It was quite iffy whether or not we'd even have temporary electric power back there and no heat, and heaven knows I need my heat! We'll simply use the Fellowship Hall and pray we get everything cleaned up properly for preschool the next morning. If we are packed together a bit, that means we had a great turnout, right?

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We also had to discuss some of the selections for the construction concerning the floor coverings and such. One of the older ladies, Fran, told me today that she was just soooo happy about the amount of painting they got done on Saturday. And then she has the nerve to thank ME for my work!!!!! Oh please...............

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Justin came to Good Shepherd today to hear our songs and worship with us. The first hymn was "Jerusalem, the Golden" and I went to sit down next to him while it was sung, because I was afraid I'd throw the musicians off if I stood back at my podium to sing, and weep. I did just great through the first stanza but cracked up a bit part way through the second:..."Forever and forever are clad in robes of white. Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest where sings the host of heaven your glorious name to bless." I can just visualize those gone home before us enjoying the blessed feast and singing hymns of praise unending, ever in the presence of our Lord.....wow!

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The congregation also sang "In Christ Alone", and I could hear Kathy and Brian singing in harmony from behind us. I can't say if Justin heard it or not because it would have been coming on his left side, the deaf ear side. (I just realized that I had tears dripping onto my shirt from my previous paragraph yet!) I leaned over and told Justin to add this one to my funeral hymn list and he said, "I already did", as I told him this about 100 times before. Lynn, my sister, said today that she heard it this morning on one of the area radio stations, and has also listened to it on youtube. I told her about Pete's website so she can hear the "new" tune for "Jerusalem......" so hope she finds it tomorrow when she is at her computer. She's not heard it yet, the Thaxted melody.

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Garnet was in church again today so I 'tracked' her down and told about being at the dog track on Thursday and how I wagered on her dog. She said they'd been sick, some kind of kennel illness, and weren't at the top of their game recently, but hey, the dog I bet on won so it's great! I encouraged her to attend some of the upcoming social and devotional events and she said she'd try. I hope she does find the time to come at least to the Ladies' Advent Service Sunday night. Wow, that came up quickly, didn't it?

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Following worship, another of our members came up to me, a man who is, much of the time, on the shut-in list, and asked if I was "Kim". Now, we've already established this more than once but, knowing his poor health, I just went along. I said I was Kim, thinking he was going to say something about my sitting behind him and singing, which is what he usually thanks me for. But this time, he told me how much he enjoys the newsletter that I send out, "Keeping the Faith" for those members away from the congregation for whatever reason. He says he likes to see the pictures I include. I was on a roll today, let me tell you!!!

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The ladies who have agreed to play the keyboard and flute for the Ladies' Service met with me after church to decide who would play what, a process that went quite quickly. I am absolutely delighted that one young lady, the flutist, is going to contribute for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that her playing will so enhance our worship. Sadly, our wonderful viola player will not able to attend as she is going camping over the ThanksLiving long weekend and couldn't promise she'd be back in time. I'm sad, not only because she can't play but also because she can't be with us. Sigh.........

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Justin and I will be pleased to have our "old" friends, Wendy, Jonathan (who goes by the name Jon now) and Joshua at our festive table on Thursday. We also asked this other lady and her son to join us but she'd already accepted another invitation from someone in her son's class, otherwise she'd have loved to come. Brian and Kathy asked what we were doing for lunch today and I said we were coming home for chili and football......................so guess what! They came over and enjoyed chili, rolls, and lousy football with us until they just couldn't stand to watch another minute and went home! Ohhh, the Jaguars stunk today, it was almost sickening. Lynn called about 20 seconds into the game to see if we were watching because it was going all wrong in the first two plays of the game!!!! But, we loved sharing our lunch with them anyway, makes up for lousy football!