Setting up the Pins

Well, the wedding is now over and the bride and groom are officially hitched.  Bella and Elias loved being part of the wedding and looked so cute.  Isabella loved everything about being the flower girl - except the walking down the aisle and throwing petals part - so basically dressing up and being with the other "princesses", as she called the bridesmaids.  Elias loved going down the aisle and participating in the wedding, but wasn't as excited about the dressing up part after we were outside.  Though, I can't say I can blame him.  He was in a full tux and the temperature was in the 90s.  The ceremony was very beautiful and meaningful and, besides the fact that I had to walk Bella down the aisle, it went very smoothly.  And the reception was air conditioned - we were all never so thankful for air conditioning.  I forgot my camera, because I got the kids dressed there and was so afraid of forgetting part of their outfit, that the camera was not a priority - until about 5 minutes after I left the house .  The bride let me use her camera, so I got lots of shots with her camera.  As soon as she shares the photos with me, I will try to post them.  The kids danced the night away and we stayed until around 10 pm.  When we left, Elias and Bella went around and hugged all the people in the wedding party.  Elias even hugged the bride's father, which I think took him by surprise.
The kids and I are going to have a mellow morning at home, while Josh is helping a friend move.  Then we are going shopping when he gets home.  To get Bella to walk back down the aisle at the end of the wedding, I bribed her.  So I owe her some lip gloss.  Also, Katie gave both kids a gift card to Toys R' Us for being in the wedding and it is burning a hole in Elias' pocket! 

On another note, my kids have a new favorite song and they want to listen to it constantly in the car.  I don't mind too much, because I love it too.  It has a great beat and the words always seem pertinent to our face-paced life, as Sara Groves songs usually are for me.  Even yesterday, I was thinking of it, because even in the big events it is all really just another day in our lives.  It may be a big day for one person, but just an average day for someone else or even a day of sorrow for another.  When I got on Facebook yesterday after the wedding, one of my FB friends just flew to spend her last days with her grandmother who is in her last days of a long battle with cancer, an acquaintance from the church we attended in college just found out that their 9 year old son's cancer is now terminal, and yet another friend has separated from their spouse - and it is someone that I can't even imagine ever getting to that place.  Life is always full of ups and downs and all we can do is "sing for the beauty that's to be found; in setting up the pins for knocking em down" - so that is why my heart feels happy to be spending this average day with the ones I love and let my heart rejoice for the bride and groom who have began their life together yesterday.  The bride and I have always shared our love of Sara Groves music, so it feels appropriate to include one of her songs on my post today.

Setting Up the Pins by Sara Groves

Man in a silk tie heads downtown
Setting up the pins for knocking em down
People in cars all rushing around
Setting up the pins
Let's get rich, find a way around
Setting up the pins for knocking em down
We'll get gadget with a whirring sound
for setting up the pins
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
You can find joy in the fertile ground
Setting up the pins and knocking em down
You can try to fight it till you're anger drowned
Setting up the pins
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
It can feel simple but it's really profound
Setting up the pins
Rent a tent, build a stage, throw a party, get a gown
buy a ticket, rent a car, pack a bag and leave town,
cook a dinner, clean the kitchen hit the light
brush your teeth, read a book, say a prayer good-night
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
It can feel simple but it's really profound...
My grandmother had a working song
Hummed it low all day long
Sing for the beauty that's to be found
in setting up the pins for knocking em down