Highlights from this past week:

Meeting Mary's sister, Emily, at the party Mary hosted for her on Thursday.

A summer festival orchestra concert on Friday night at the IU auditorium. The program included the William Tell overture, The Pines of Rome, and Beethoven's 7th symphony. Absolutely gorgeous. I love the second and third movements of The Pines of Rome in particular, with the second movement's evocation of the catacombs and third movement's liquid, languid clarinet solo. Of course the Beethoven was stunning. The second movement of that symphony is almost enough to move one to tears. This time I found a new appreciation for the first and third movements, though; it was as though some huge, shining, overjoyed creature had escaped from backstage and come romping out into the concert hall.

Spending Saturday afternoon at Oliver winery with Scott, sitting on a blanket under maple trees, and reading part of The Story of the Champions of the Round Table and the first Father Brown mystery ("The Blue Cross"). His first introduction to G.K. Chesterton, whose inimitable style really shines in those short mysteries.

Later on Saturday, celebrating Eric's birthday by going out for sushi and then retiring to our house afterward to watch the extended Fellowship of the Ring with our (appropriately numbered) group of nine--Eric, Scott, Mary, Malory, Emily (Mary's sister), Lisa, Laura, Cindy, and me. We tried out mochi ice cream as a treat halfway through the long film.

And even though today is part of this week, not last week, seeing Uncle Scott and Aunt Anna at church today was definitely a highlight! The sort of lovely people who really communicate the love and joy of Christ, even as they prepare to return to hard work in the year ahead.