A Bountiful Evening

We had a delightful time yesterday afternoon and evening, meeting David and Carol Ray to see Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's production of The Trip to Bountiful by Horton Foote. It's a simple story, about an elderly woman who wants to return to her home in Bountiful, Texas, after being trapped in a small Houston apartment with her son and his wife for 20 years.
But "simple" does not mean "not substantive." The play explores family dynamics and the longing of those who are older to experience again the joys of a younger life. It's a compelling experience to see just six actors portray a story so real you can't help but be touched. It resonated with my ongoing coming-to-terms with the changing world around me, and I was very glad to see such an excellent performance. (This production provided an added dimension by casting the whole show with African-American actors, giving nuance beyond the playwright's original intent.)
Evelyn and I had seen the movie made from the play, starring Geraldine Page, more than 25 year ago, which is one reason I wanted to see the stage version. (The movie is available on Amazon for any reader who's interested.)
We met Dave and Carol at the Playhouse for the 4:00 performance and then after the play walked with them to Mount Adams to grab sandwiches and salad at one of their favorite haunts there. The weather was cool but pleasant, and we enjoyed being out with them.

But the weather today is taking a nasty turn. We had a brief but beautiful snow shower at lunchtime today. I tried snapping some pictures of the snow-laced trees on the way home from church. But now, as I finish this post at 10:00 this evening, the snow is pouring down outside, the sidewalk is covered, the trees are all flocked, and we're wondering what the morning commute will bring.

One Fine Day

This morning Trevor Devage told the story of Jesus  and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).
Sin leads to
SHAME,
STONES, and ultimately, a
SAVIOR,
he said.
One of the memorable points: "I think Jesus got down at eye level with that woman weeping in the dirt. I think he looked her straight in the eye and said, 'I've got this one.'"
His challenge: "We're going to be a church that gets in the dirt, eye level with sinners."
He asked us to pray for one, invite one, and move for one and announced that we would move from four services in two hours to five services in three hours, starting the week after Easter.  Our church is growing, our services are full, obviously there are many, many around us who don't know Jesus, and we must do what we can to reach them. It was a moving, challenging service, and we're full of anticipation about what the future months will bring.
Dave and Carol Ray visited this morning  and we invited them the grab brunch with us at Bob Evans after the first service. Lots of laughter, but serious life sharing too.
Jennifer is in town this weekend. She came this way a few days early before she heads to Louisville for an NACC 2014 executive committee meeting. So it was a great time with the five of us at lunch.

This afternoon I paid bills, took a long nap, went to the grocery store, and came home to make vegetable soup for supper. It was so yummy. Jen asked if I could pick up some pimiento cheese at the grocery store; she was used to finding a dozen different varieties of it in Nashville, but it's an unknown quantity in Philadelphia.
Oh, it is so good on three-cheese bread and crackers with that hearty minestrone-style vegetable soup.  And we have leftovers!
Settling in and watching the first episode of the History Channel's miniseries, "The Bible," to end a good day.

Friday of Wedding Week

Today was our wedding rehearsal, preceded by a stop at Memorial Hall to take plants and sound system and other goodies for decorations at the reception. It was blazing hot, and all of us were sweating at Memorial Hall, despite the presence of air conditioning, but that was a small negative in light of the perfect way the hall has turned out, under the able direction of Carol Ray with David, Jan Cummins, and Shannon Penrod adding their help, along with Wendy and Evelyn, of course.

The rehearsal was a relaxed and nostalgic and pleasant experience, led so well by Bobby Jackson who will perform the ceremony tomorrow. We shed tears at the magnificent processional played by Geoff  and Emily Plank. I was glad I got to hear Lisa sing, because I probably won't get to tomorrow (she sings before the bride and I enter). And the whole rehearsal was special because we got to be with Byron and Katie Cartwright.

Just as we arrived at CCU for the rehearsal dinner, the sky opened, and we had to hustle inside under umbrellas through the downpour. Later we learned that the storm at our house had caused one side of the pear tree in front of the house to split off. And when Matt got to Dan and Cindi Cooper's house to spend the night, he discovered that they're without power!

But the dinner was what Jennifer wanted, I think, a relaxed, fun time together, with lots of laughter and way more food than we could all eat.

Scott, Amber Lyn, and Amber Jo Aulen 

Ken and Susan Aulen and Lisa Sweeney-Taylor 

Wendy Wagoner, Jana and Greg Perry

Rays of Sunshine

This is the third night in the last four that we've had company for dinner. It doesn't seem that heroic to me, but then again, I haven't been doing the cooking! (Well, I did cook on the grill Saturday and Sunday, come to think of it.) Each evening has been enjoyable and memorable and full of laughs, none any more than tonight when we welcomed Carol and Dave Ray for the evening.
Carol (and Dave!) is staging Jennifer's wedding reception, and this evening she came to see all the "props" Jennifer has gathered to decorate the room. It was the perfect excuse to eat together, and Evelyn fixed an old stand-by, "Party Chicken." The Rays are one couple we had never served it to before! After a hot day, the evening became dry and almost cool, and we ate dessert on the deck, visiting outside  till 11 o'clock!