More thoughts on Christians in the military, fighting evil, taking lives, etc. later. Thanks to those who have already shared their thoughts - keep them coming, people. I like to hear what you think.

But, on an absolutely different note, last night I got to help out at a wedding. It was a bit of a last-minute thing, but I was available, and so I got to be a part of helping things come together. From helping a bridesmaid safety-pin her dress, to cuing the bridal party down the aisle, to finding the dimmers for the lights in the reception hall, to interacting with the bartender, caterers, and DJs...I loved it all. What a privilege to get to be a part of such a special time. Though I had not met the bride and groom until about 2 hours before their wedding, it was a delight to share in what the Lord had done in bringing them together. Some of my favorite moments:

- After being cloudy all day, the sun broke through about an hour before the ceremony, and its rays seemed to shine directly on the lawn where the ceremony took place. It was still cold, but it was beautiful.
- Just before the ceremony, I was waiting with the groom and the officiant. I asked the groom if there was anything I could get for him, and he replied, "just my wife."
- Standing to the side of the dance floor in the reception hall with my friend Gabrielle (who did the coordinating and had asked for my help), watching the guests have a blast, knowing that the hard part was over, and it was just time to party.
- Interacting with the DJs. These guys were quality. DJs can really set the tone for the reception, good or bad. I've been to some weddings where the DJ just took over, making it more about himself, and to some weddings where the DJ didn't do anything, and so people didn't dance. These guys were a great team - they had enough personality to make them approachable and fun without completely taking center stage. And their setup was impressive, too. They played great music, and kept people on the dance floor until the very last song.

Is it weird that after standing for about 6 hours straight, running back and forth between reception hall, facility office, and ceremony site, not eating, interacting with a bunch of people I didn't know and some that I did, and having a million details running through my head...after all of that, is it weird that I was energized? I was exhausted, yes, but when I got home, I couldn't go right to bed - I had to wind down a bit first. Hmm...

The only downer, and one which seems to be consistent, is that the day after every wedding and big event I've done, I wake up with a headache and my body is completely fatigued. It's like my own party-coordinator hangover. If I'm gonna do this for a living, I've got to figure out how to do it without being down for the count the next day.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for sharing in my excitement. That is, if you did. I suppose many of my male readers don't share in my excitement about weddings. But thanks for reading anyway.