The Evening After the Wedding
Saturday, February 20
After each area of the rented church was cleaned, gifts were placed in a secure place, and guests had gone home or to their motel, Bob and Doris invited the Stauffers and Butikofers to a local restaurant where they had reserved tables for thirty people.
It was a nice place to relax following a busy few days. After the meal everyone was invited to Japheth and Aimee’s house.
Shortly after arriving at Japheth and Aimee’s, Val Yoder (whose family lives in Thailand) came to demonstrate a Thai Lantern. Most of us had never seen anything like it, so everyone went outside (or to a window) to watch.
From the Internet: Sky lanterns are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern floats back to the ground.
In Thailand, a multitude of Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom fai or khom loi) are launched into the air during the “Yi Peng” festival, which, due to a difference between the old Lanna calendar and the Thai calendar, is held on a full moon of the 2nd month of the Lanna calendar.
Northern Thai people use sky lanterns all year round, for celebrations and other special occasions. One festival in particular is the Loy Kratong festival in which lovers and partners gather on the riverbanks to float flowers and candles, launch fireworks and release sky lanterns together. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away. In recent times, Khom loi has become so popular with the Thai people that it has become an integral part of the Loy Krathong festival for Thai people in all parts of the country.
This was so beautiful in the night sky. I can only imagine what the sky looks like in Thailand when hundreds of these are released.
Then it was back to a very enjoyable evening of visiting in Japheth and Aimee’s living room.
The children quickly found books and laps of anyone who seemed interested in reading to them.
The older ones checked out scrapbooks.
The little ones had fun with the Butikofer boys, who still had lots of energy. Here they are tousling with Joel.
Johann entered the mix to assist Joel – or was he helping the children.
Titus and Johann demonstrated how they lift Joel when he makes his entire body stiff.
Gary, Mother, and Doris discussing a scrapbook.
By bedtime we chose quieter, calmer things for the children.
So ended a delightful, wonderful day.
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