Parents’ Weekend at Grove City College

The first weekend of May Willis, Hannah, and I drove to Grove City College for Parents’ Weekend which included some wonderful times with Bethany and Ben and friends. Here’s a list of our weekend activities:
 Dinner at Mary’s Restaurant in New Castle—excellent Middle Eastern cuisine; Bethany has eaten there so many times the server recognizes her and asks if she wants “her customary meal”
 Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Concert Band in concert; Bethany played several different percussion instruments
 Dessert and coffee at Eat ‘n Park
 Theta Alpha Pi May Day Luncheon; Bethany’s sorority—nice luncheon and time to re-connect with Bethany’s friends and their parents
 IM Rugby game; Ben played and it was a muddy mess in the rain; I have no clue what this game is all about
 Spring Coronation and Dance Show: Experience the Magic
 Thirty-Sixth Annual All-College Sing; Our favorite 3 songs:
 Beta Sigma (Greek Men) “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
• Ben sang
 Rho Rho Rho (Independent Men’s Group) “Copacabana”
• Bethany directed, Josh played guitar
 Theta Alpha Pi (Greek Women) “It’s Raining Men”
• Bethany sang

We so enjoyed meeting Josh’s parents Walt and Pat; we shared most of the above activities with them. We had to leave for home Sunday morning but Josh and his parents attended a voice recital Sunday afternoon in which Bethany participated to cheer her on; that was a special blessing to us all!

Casting Crowns concert

A month ago Willis and I drove to Murray, Kentucky for a concert featuring John Waller, Leland, and Casting Crowns. Willis had won “Meet and Greet” tickets in an on-line bid so we were privileged to meet the band members (from Leland and Casting Crowns) prior to the concert, and we sat on—how cool is this?—the FRONT row! One of the highlights for me was meeting Melodee DeVevo who sings, plays violin (and some other string instrument which I haven’t identified yet) AND shares my name! She’s only the second person I’ve ever met who spells her name like me. Thank you, imaginative parents!

The concert was wonderful! We were glad to be introduced to new music and—in the case of Casting Crowns—very familiar and much loved music. It was truly a time of worshiping God. We loved every minute of the music and sharing, however the MOST special part of the concert came at the end when each of the band members sat on a stool along the front of the stage and prayed for the people in the audience, each for a unique element of the audience. Megan’s prayer for the marriages in the audience was so completely a confirmation of God’s Word: she prayed Ephesians 5: 22-33 which had been our lesson in our Community Bible Study class that very morning.

50th Year, 1st Quarter

A report in brief, without commentary, of books and movies which have been a part of my life this quarter. (Not a complete sentence, but less than twenty-two words, which was my goal.)

Print books: A Life Well Lived, Charles Swindoll;
The Death of the West, Patrick J. Buchanan;
Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper.

Audio books: Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane;
Paradise Lost, John Milton;
The Coldest Winter, David Halberstam;
Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis.

Most meaningful movie: “The Namesake”;
honorable mention: “Rendition”, “The Pianist”