A funeral and two weddings

This afternoon I sang at a funeral at Fillmore UM. Our choir director's 58-year-old neighbor man took his own life. He did not have any church affiliation or local family members, but his sister from Ohio came to take care of things. Judy (our choir director) talked with the sister, found out she's a Christian, and asked if she'd like us to host a memorial service for him at our church. I love Judy!

So that's what we did today - held a memorial service for someone we didn't know. There were four family members there, some neighbors, friends, and former co-workers - not a big crowd.  Our pastor facilitated the service in such a warm, loving way.  It felt really good to be a part of something so unusual, but very meaningful. 

Today Dick and I will be traveling east to Danville, PA for Alicia's wedding.  Alicia has been one of Jeremy's good friends for about ten years, was a part of our church family back home, and is kind of "one of our girls."  Jeremy and I will be singing "The Prayer"  together and I'll also be accompanying him on another song.  Dick will be the videographer with one of Anthony's camera's.  Jeremy and I haven't practiced together yet (yikes!!), so the plan is to meet at the church several hours early.  I'm excited to spend the day with him.

Here's a good picture of Dick with Alicia at another wedding several years ago.  Today it's her day!

Meanwhile, I am once again missing a niece's wedding that other family members are traveling to the Atlanta area to attend.  Several years ago I could not go to my niece Jill's wedding in Idaho and could hardly stand to miss out on all the family fun.  And now it's my niece Katie, my sister Rose's oldest daughter.  I can hardly stand to think about the rest of them together down there without me.  My sister Barb from Idaho can't go either, or my brother Dick or my stepmother Mary, so I'm taking a bit of comfort from that.  But yesterday Doris's family was driving down, Betty's family was flying from New Hampshire, Mary Ellen was traveling there after a week's vacation in Mobile where she used to live.  Like I said, I can hardly stand to think about it.  I'm the kind of person that wants everyone to stop talking while I go to the bathroom so I don't miss anything fun, and now they're all down there having a days' worth of fun without me, hahahahaha!!

Here's a cute picture of Katie and the man she will be marrying today, Matthew.  Aren't they the cutest couple?? 

Katie just graduated from college this week and she's getting married today.  I told her that someday she'll be able to say to her kids,  "When I was YOUR age I graduated from college and got married all in the same week!"