For the last several weeks, my mother-in-law has been in a health care facility receiving physical therapy to prepare her to return to her home.  This after two trips to the hospital with complications from pneumonia.  She is getting stronger and more positive every day after a real low stretch in both body and spirit that lasted several weeks.  We do many shows in hospitals and nursing homes each year, so it was obvious that the best way to bless "Memere" was to do a show at the facility where she currently is recovering.  It was a no-brainer, too, that it would please her most if I came with my class (LOL) instead of just my family (Supreme Court Jesters).  So, my co-worker, Amanda, and I invaded Seal Rock Health Care in Saco, Maine, with 15 middle schoolers earlier this week.  Best of all, one of the kids we brought is Memere's youngest granddaughter, Rose.

Getting ready for the show was challenging.  We were running late, and when we arrived, we realized we would have a very small stage area.  By this point in the school year, though, the class has internalized something I preach constantly; "In ministry, the 'F' word is flexible."  So, without an opportunity to warm up or adjust to limited stage space and low hanging lights, we began.  The kids did great:  juggling, tumbling and dancing in the space we had.  When the choir sang, "Were You There When They Crucified my Lord", several of the patients sang along.  And my mother-in-law enjoyed every moment.

For the last three weeks, we have had Wieda, a short term exchange student from Taiwan in our class, and this was the only show during that time.  Of course, we had to work him in somewhere (there's that F word again) so he learned to produce our rabbit from an empty box, and also to spin four plates simultaneously.  The rabbit illusion also required some acting on his part, including three lines in a language he is just beginning to learn.  He was awesome, and he really enjoyed being part of the show.

When we were done, the students visited the patients.  Weida brought the rabbit around for them to pet, other kids gave out home made bracelets, and many of the kids prayed with patients.  Best of all, there was a steady line of kids introducing themselves to Rose's grandmother.  Both grandmother and granddaughter were made to feel very special that morning, and Memere has talked  about it every time we have spoken to her since.  It was a morning well worth the time and effort.