Amazing Grace

Many couples getting married find themselves deeply emotional at their rehearsal in the church, their first time hearing and repeating the vows they will make at their actual wedding. Some claim the rehearsal is helpful with getting it all out so that when they are in front of family and friends at the service, they can hold it together better. My friend's husband-to-be cautioned her not to start crying at the altar during the actual service because he would cry, too, and his entire persona of Mr. Cool would be ruined! Well, that is how I felt today after worship, like this was the wedding rehearsal and I should get it out of my system. The children and grandchildren of my friend, Gordy, whose funeral will be held on Tuesday, were meeting with The Maestro. Two of the grandsons play the same instruments their grandpa played, the saxophone and clarinet. Terri, his daughter, had found musical arrangements for hymns which had been written by her daddy many years ago, and that is what the boys were using for their rehearsal, so they can play at the funeral service. We are having an orchestra!

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They were playing/practicing while many of us scampered about taking down the tree, Nativity set, wreaths from the doors, etc., and vacuuming up the mess from the tree removal. I heard portions of "Amazing Grace", "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", and "How Great Thou Art" being played, and as I took apart the Nativity scene, tears were running down my cheeks. I saw one little boy looking at me, and I just smiled at him, saying how much I love those hymns. He just sort of nodded and walked away. Most people at church are accustomed to my tears flowing anyway, but today especially, since we were preparing for the funeral service of our departed friend and family member.

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On the up side, many of us were thinking "Packer game" today, with Cindy wearing every piece of Packer apparel she owns...well, maybe not, but she was dressed to the nines! Their pipes froze overnight due to the cold temperatures, so her hubby had to go outside with a towel which he had preheated in the dryer to defrost the pipes so he could make coffee. And it worked! It never occurred to me that our pipes here could freeze, which would be a disaster, but our elevator is doing funny things instead of showing the numbers for the floors--showing instead double letters of the alphabet! First in ascending order and then descending order, thankfully not showing "XX" when it gets to my floor! I was concerned that it might not be operating properly but it picked me up and dropped me off at the correct floors. Fine with me!

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Last night was awesome with a blast of culture, beginning with dinner at Juliette's. Justin got there well before me, somehow arriving nearly 30 minutes prior to our reserved time. I arrived in the dining room right on the money so I did not have to feel badly about him waiting there. We ordered from the quick serve menu that they use on "show nights', with each of us having the roast pork with raisin sauce, sweet potatoes, and julienne veggies. He ate half my meat, half the potatoes, and all the veggies, plus half my cheese with broccoli soup. What a guy! I ate half my cheesecake but he did not finish it off. We made our way across the street to the symphony hall and waited for the doors to open so we could find our seats.

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Rachel, from Victory, had ordered the tickets for us wwaayy back in June, as she had privileges due to being a season ticket holder. Justin and I were not sure if we would sit with Rachel and her hubby or not but we found ourselves in the second from front row, right side, just below where my box seats used to be. Justin teased Rachel when she came that we had to sit down the stairs now instead of up above. Her brother, Joel, came with her, since her hubby opted to stay home with their little guy and watch TV. Joel appreciated the offer of being able to see and hear Itzhak Perlman play with the orchestra, or the orchestra play with him. Justin was not blown away but, as I told him, some day he will appreciate what he experienced. He is often like this, like his mama, with high expectations. Mine were met---his, well, he did not know what they were in the first place! Perlman played divinely, totally by memory, not one piece of music in front of him. He walks with canes or braces on each arm, and the Concertmaster, Phillip, held his violin and bow for him as he made his way across the stage. Wow, what a show and what a talented man! Once I got home and under the covers, I was still wound up and took a while to get to sleep, going over the events and fine time spent with my favorite guy, two of my other favorite people, and Itzhak! More amazing grace!