Friday evening's and Saturday's marriage prep went quite well. We had 20 couples and a few familiar faces amidst the lot.
Isaac performed wonderfully. I brought the playpen, a Snugli, the carseat and the sling, all the while knowing that I should have left all but the sling at home. He took all of his naps in the sling strapped across my chest. He actually slept in the sling for an hour while I gave a talk. I can't say enough about that sling - it is magic. The funny thing is that there was a man there from our church who told me that, when he first saw me wearing Isaac in the sling at mass one Sunday, he thought that I had broken my arm and that I had a special dress-up sling for mass. Until he saw a little arm and foot emerge. Too funny.
Logistics aside, the talks went smoothly and some of the engaged couples' guards came down. Lots of them arrive terrified that they are going to be subject to a public confession of sorts and made to wallow in their guilt. They are pleasantly surprised when they are met by humour, love, fresh faces, and acceptance, not approval, but acceptance.
Moreover I am always warmed to see them move their chairs a little closer together, place their arms around each other and learn, often for the first time, that they have a calling, a vocation, and that that calling is to great things. Some respond and there are standing ovations in heaven.
Thank you for all of your prayers. Keep them up. We have one more full Saturday on the 26th and that is when the harder teachings are brought out. Pray that we all stay well. Isaac came down with a fever on Sunday morning that was gone by night and Ben was a little under the weather today. We need to keep it together til at least Sunday. Actually, nix that: we need to stay healthy til Monday as Dave is running half-marathon on Sunday. Maybe just pray for him;)
3 comments:
Thank you for the update, Elena. We'll continue praying for you -- for all your (and your family's) needs -- and for the couples hearing Truth from someone who cares enough about them to welcome them warmly and to speak gently.
I hope Round Two went well too, and that everyone is well. Did you have two students from the Academy in your classes? Bethany told me that they were doing marriage prep locally, and I told her what you were up to.
Sue, I think that Round 2 went well but we got hit with the flu and I had to go it alone. And then I had to boot it home to help Dave out with the kids so I don't know what the reaction was. And, yes, we did have the two OLSWA students - always a blessing. We were going to ask Bethany to babysit for marriage prep but it was spring break so we looked elsewhere.
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