Scene and heard at church :: 8/25/19

The final Sunday of August 2019 was a pleasant one for us. 

Temperatures struggled to get out of the seventies -- and in fact, I do not believe they did, all day.

The skies were moody as we left church a little after noon, but no rain developed. That I know of.

Sitting in the pew behind my darling friend Joyce and her husband, as always, Audrey and I chatted with them during the interlude between Sunday School and the morning service.

Thou art the woman

Audrey relayed that on Saturday, after one entire week of school, Dagny had used a big word. She told her mother that she -- Audrey -- in some matter or another, was the culprit.

What? said Audrey. Where did you even learn that word?

At school, Dagny replied.

What does it mean? Audrey asked.

Someone who does something bad, Dagny said.

Well okay then. Shut the front door, open the back door, and let the dogs out.

We were still cackling about that when Joyce revealed that she had taken her seven-year-old grandson out to eat at McDonald's, where she had requested exactly two of his French fries.

Why don't you want more French fries than that, Nana? the boy wanted to know.

Because I'm trying to lose weight, Joyce said (and she has, and she looks fabulous).

Don't worry, Nana! responded her grandson. You can just call Jenny Craig!

Indeed.

Cue always needs a you

For church yesterday Dagny was wearing a jumper that is actually one of two identical jumpers I bought for Melanie and Allissa as their Christmas outfits in 2011.

The jumpers are of black grosgrain fabric and feature wide black satin ribbon bows and sparkly black buttons at the shoulders and on the front.

To be worn beneath the jumpers I bought pale pink ruffled turtlenecks. My only two littles (at the time) looked divine in these outfits and they are by far my favorite of all the dresses I've ever bought for them.

(If you care to, you may see photos of the girls wearing the outfits, in the slide show contained in this post from February 2012.)

Melly wore only the size six, but Allissa wore both of the jumpers. Dagny has now worn the size four (last year) and is wearing the size six, which will fit her throughout this fall-winter season.

Yesterday she paired it with a gray bell-sleeve top, and I think you'll agree that she looked special.

I told her to stand on the grass and let me take her picture.

Then I decided to have Audrey take my picture with Dagny.

I know; I look creepy. I can't help it. TG says I'm scary. (He likes me scary. But still.)

In my own defense, I was born with a theatrical bone and Gothic sensibilities. Go ahead and ask anyone. I will wait.

But the Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory resemblance? I wasn't going for that.

At any rate. It is what it is.

Then I wanted to capture Audrey with Dagny. Because why not.

Whatever else this life may be, it is most certainly not a dress rehearsal.

My middle daughter and her only daughter have such beautiful body language when they are together. They always have.

It's full of emotion.

It says: I need you like Q always needs a U.

I don't know why I didn't get TG in on this. Probably because he was several yards away, talking to someone.

Anyway. Not gonna lie: I hope that several years hence, Andrew and Brittany's as-yet-unborn daughter will wear at least one of those black grosgrain jumpers with the wide satin ribbon trim.

And then I dream of Chad and Erica someday having a baby girl, who in time will wear the jumpers too.

Speaking of Cherica, they are flying to Chicago for the Labor Day weekend, to do big-city stuff including taking in a Cubs game at Wrigley.

Doesn't that sound like good times? Even taking into account the Cubs' pitching woes?

TG and I won't be far behind them. We're doing the same thing later in September. Only, we will drive, not fly, to the Land of Lincoln.

Chad and Erica are not pictured here because while this impromptu photo session was taking place, they were leaving to have lunch at a downtown breakfast restaurant that closes at two o'clock.

We'll catch them next time. 

And that's the truth

Visiting for the first time at our church on Sunday morning was a gentleman named Lonnie. He is pictured with TG at the top of this post.

TG became acquainted with Lonnie earlier in the summer (it may have been late spring) when he rang the doorbell of the house Lonnie shares with his wife, to invite them to church.

They were new to the community.

For many weeks, on Tuesday evenings when TG goes on church visitation, he has attempted to set up an appointment to talk with Lonnie about the Lord.

Last Tuesday evening, at a pre-arranged time, TG sat with Lonnie in his living room and showed him from the Bible how he could be saved, and be certain that he will spend eternity in heaven.

Lonnie trusted Christ for the salvation of his soul, and came to church on Sunday to make a public profession of his faith.

For whosover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Lonnie was so happy to have made that decision. And we were happy for him.

I asked Lonnie if he had ever been told the truth about salvation, from the Scriptures, before.

He said that, prior to Tuesday, he possessed some knowledge of the subject but he'd never heard it explained clearly, as TG had done.

And he told me that he'd be glad to have his picture made with TG, and to be featured on this blog, after I said that many of my readers would rejoice with him.

Stripe a pose 

Back for evening services, I realized that Audrey, Erica, Dagny, and I were all wearing stripes.

There had been no memo. It was unplanned.

So we pressganged our Chad into memorializing the sartorially significant moment, before we all departed for home.

Meanwhile there was a pretty sunset melting through the tree branches at the edge of the parking lot, justice to which is in no way done by this photo, taken with my iPhone.

It (the photo) is not up to my standards. But at least you get the idea.

And I think we can agree that I do need to learn to relax. Lighten up, as it were.

I'll thank you not to snicker.

So here's to the waning days of what has been a wonderful summer -- we'll be Septembering in three, two, one -- to a coming season of glorious weather, and to my beloved B-E-R months waiting in the wings to bless us with their uniquely exquisite bounty and beauty.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Monday :: Happy New Week

Comments

[Mari]

Well - this is a wonderful post, from beginning to end.
The Weber ladies are all beautiful, in stripes or not!
And our Dagny looks adorable in the jumper. I did go back and see the girls meeting their Andrew while wearing the cute jumpers. Those jumpers are perfect to pass down and see on lots of little Weber girls. :)
Lonnie - welcome to the family! Reading that was a goosebump moment. I'm so thankful that TG followed the Lords leading and kept going back.
I say again - Dagney is such a blessing. Glad she loves her Mom so much, even though she is a culprit. :)
PS - just thought you should know, you don't scare me a bit! :xoxo

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... haaaahaha but you should be afraid! Be very, very afraid! haahaaha xoxo

[sally]

Oh goodness, LONNIE! I'm crying happy tears for him, and thankful that TG taught him what he needed (as we all have learned). True blessing!

Dagny? What can I say, she is such a beautiful and now I'm thinking precocious little girl. Culprit indeed. LOL

Reading this about her new word, makes me think I really should put 'together' the things that have come from the kids, starting with my daughter who is now 54. WHAT? :)

Correct me if I'm wrong, Jenny, is it four grand's now with another coming in December? Or did I miss someone. My mind ain't as young as it used to be, ya know.

Love to you, all

[Barb]

Well, unlike Mari, you do scare me sometimes because you're always so put together! Do I love those red shoes? YES! (and the polish...) The 3 generation of women portrait is special. Keep them coming. Your smiles light up my day. This was a wonderful Sunday from beginning to end. Enjoy your cooldown as you tiptoe into fall.

[Jane]

So good to hear about Lonnie
Dagny is adorable and the three generations picture is amazing

[Jennifer]

@Sally ... yes indeed, four grands, fifth on the way! You got it! And I knew you'd be thrilled for Lonnie as we were. He's a sweet gentleman. And yes you should write down whatever you remember, of what they said. It's so funny to look back on later. And Dagny is indeed the culprit, haahaha! xoox

@Barb ... haaaaha my friend, yes, you're right: I am always put together. If I'm leaving the house, that is. And red lippy/red nails ... well, that's just me. I probably have fifteen different shades of red nail polish and at least as many red lipsticks. But HOW ABOUT those red suede shoes? I got a bee in my bonnet a few years ago to add a few pair of brightly-colored shoes and purses to my wardrobe, because I mostly wear black clothes. My electric-blue suede mules, and these red ones, plus my mustard-yellow leather bag, came from that. I act on such impulses before they go away, ahahahaha! And I love all of the smiles too. Cameras are fun. xoxo

[Jennifer]

@Jane ... Thanks, friend. I hope you're feeling better. xoxo

[Barb]

Dear Jenny, I need to add that my mother loved red shoes and wore them with pizzaz. She was quite style-conscious. I don't know what happened with me...