Only 24 hours to go!

We still have a long list of stuff to do, but we're back from our weekend adventures in northern Ohio. We had a wonderful time at the first wedding. Our friends Chris and Kate are beautiful people. They have a great sense of humor as individuals and as a couple. It was one of the first times that I've been to a wedding where I knew both the bride and groom well and knew they were meant to be together in that way people seem suited to each other. They seem right for each other--quietly and calmly right. They met several years ago in graduate school and since then, it's just been right. The wedding was lovely--not a single wrong note. Even the Catholic mass was good; the priest was remarkably warm and genuine in his homily. I did the first reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians. It is a wonderful passage: poetic, quiet and firm, reassuring.

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.

Have no anxiety at all,
but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

The emphasis on kindness, prayer, and peace is calming to me. This line is my favorite: "Have no anxiety at all" but, you know, keep on praying to keep the anxiety at bay. It's wonderful to think that someone is watching over us, and I feel reassured by the idea that we need only persist.

And, you know, Chris and Kate seemed to embody the words of this passage, which is nice.

Then I got to make my annual attempt to dance the Electric Slide (and fail miserably, as always). It made me laugh until I was out of breath.

After the reception, we headed to my parents' house for my dad's birthday celebration. We had overnight french toast for brunch on Sunday, and my sister's present made everyone cry. It was an excellent love letter to my dad in the form of a This I Believe essay. Now the pressure is on for me to come up with something... My dad has written several drafts of different essays, all of which are great. Not sure I can come up with something as good. We'll see.

All right. Back to packing and cleaning.