Confession: we're not a very religious family, in the sense that we have not attended church services in a very long while and are, what I often refer to as being, "in between churches" at the moment.
If you were to ask me to give you a reason why we aren't, at the very least, involved with some form of organized religion, it would be a very solid….I don't know.
We used to be.
My husband, Garth (not his real name) served as a deacon, while I taught Sunday school when our two oldest were in preschool and I was pregnant with our son when the church elders asked me to apply as the director of the vacation bible school that same year.
DID SO!
Aaaaaand, it may even surprise some of you to learn that I actually got the job (clearly, when I used to be much more organized and stuff).
Long story, short: we left the congregation soon after our son was born and then, a few years later, had our youngest daughter christened at the church where our oldest girls had attended preschool.
We haven't been back since, for what my husband and I now consider to be very boring and undramatic reasons.
The kids? Well, over the last several years, they have each been either asked to attend various religious ceremonies and youth groups with friends or have participated in church functions…with OTHER families.
I mean, why lay ALL our ecclesiastical baggage on them…right?!?
Right.
Soooooo, you can just imagine their surprise when Garth's (NHRN) niece and her fiancee asked him to officiate their wedding, this summer.
No, he did NOT become a minister, since in between those last few paragraphs, or anything that can be even remotely linked back to his college degree: Garth (NHRN) minored in religion, ironically enough.
My husband was dumbstruck — literally, he did NOT know what to say — I, on the other hand, was all like…SURE!!!…Uncle Garth (NHRN) would LOVE to marry you guys…because I am ALL supportive and brave (mostly, for OTHER folks) like that.
Garth (NHRN), on the other hand, is all…it's their wedding…I do NOT want to blow this.
So, this weekend, we were invited out to dinner to discuss the wedding ceremony with our niece and nephew-in-law-to-be and, well, funny how some stuff sort of seems a lot less worrisome…to some folks…when discussed over a pitcher of white sangria.
"So, what do you think Uncle Garth (NHRN)?!?"
Also, I may or may not have started answering for Garth (NHRN).
"SURE…that sounds like a GREAT idea…FUHGHETTABOUT what everyone ELSE wants…it's YOUR wedding…yada…yada…etc…etc…"
But, NOT for long.
"SHUDDUP, YOU!!!"
Aaaaaand, without skipping a beat, his niece pointed out how I effectively managed to reiterate the very reason why she suggested Garth (NHRN) solemnize their marriage.
"Seeeee, THIS is what WE have to look forward to!!!!"
Not just because he's lived with me for almost 23 years, which qualifies him for sainthood, in some circles…I'm pretty sure…more likely, because he is also smart enough to let me finish my sentence…FIRST.
[sound of crickets, chirping]
Right.
Saint Garth (not his real name): it's got a nice ring to it, don'tcha think?!?
© 2003 – 2013 This Full House
With a fan page on Facebook and everything!