Sunny Sunday

The weather was beautiful here today. Bright and sunny with temperatures in the 80s. Very rare for early August.

It was nice to wake up in my own bed again. After spending the previous two nights in Dallas, TX, it was nice to be back home with Darryl, my pillow, and all the noises that are familiar to me. Darryl was up earlier than me this morning to be at St. James UMC for Sunday School. This was the last Sunday for his teaching the combined adult Sunday School classes. I was up and at Druid Hills UMC by 10:20 a.m. to rehearse for the service. I sang Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" from Requiem with Janna Wofford, another soprano. Darryl picked up Lydia & Hugh (a friend from Pitts Theology Library and her S.O.) on his way from St. James to Druid Hills. The service was good. Our senior pastor is currently out of town and the sermon was given by Deborah Williams, youth and children's minister who is also a second-year student at Candler. She did a good job in spite of her nervousness. Janna and I sang for the offertory and the response was overwhelmingly positive. I am really enjoying singing in church again. Les Scott, the music minister, is thrilled to have me involved in the music ministry and is eager to employ my instrumental talents as well. He talked to me about putting together a small instrumental ensemble for hymns during the service, and I also volunteered Darryl's trumpeteering skills. I'm still not sure if he's happy about that. It's really nice being in a church that has such a strong and exciting music ministry.

After church we decided to join a group of young adults for lunch at Noodle, a restaurant in downtown Decatur. We thought it would be a good opportunity for Lydia and Hugh to get to know some people better. It was a nice meal with good conversation. After lunch, we took Lydia and Hugh back to their apartment and went on to Loken to visit with Darryl's grandparents, Ken and Lois. Lois seemed to be in pretty good spirits, wearing a very bright shirt. We were told by the caretaker that she had been a little depressed because this was the day that Linda & Bruce left for China. She enjoyed visiting with us, though. We took pictures of our kitchen and of my graduation to show them, and when we were finished she asked to see more. Darryl borrowed Ken's belt sander since his bit the dust---it won't turn on and he can't figure out what's wrong with it. Having a belt sander that works is essential to finishing the cabinet doors for our kitchen.

After our visit with Ken and Lois we were absolutely exhausted. We took a nap when we got home and relaxed a little before dinner. Since we went out for lunch it wasn't neccessary to cook a large dinner, so Darryl made sandwiches. After dinner we took a walk around the neighborhood, enjoying the rest of this beautiful day.

Marty is his usual chipper self now that he has recovered from his eye infection. He's particularly enjoying looking out our bedroom window and into the fig tree, watching all the birds and squirrels. He's also getting plenty of fiber from tearing up papers that I leave on my desk. Last night's casualty: my account statement from FSU.