It's Palm Sunday, a sunny and very windy day here in southern Spain. My host and some of her friends walked into town, to drink coffee there and watch the Palm Sunday procession, only the first of many elaborate processions that will happen here during Holy Week.
Maiki and I walked to the town centre with them, but then we headed back to the house again so that I could get ready for church. I looked around the house, though, and suddenly thought perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to leave Maiki "home alone" on her first day in a new place. Several of the doors here have beautiful door stops that look like stuffed animals - a chicken, a dog, a deer... I didn't want to think that Maiki would start exploring, mistake these animals for new toys and joyfully begin to rip their insides out (as she tends to do with teddy bears and other fluffy toys.) The only solution was to leave Teddi home alone and to take Maiki to church with me!!
And so, Maiki went to her first church service today. She behaved very well - standing when we were asked to stand, and sitting when we were asked to sit. I suspect that few visitors to the church have received such a warm welcome from the congregation. Probably several dozen people came to greet her and tell her how good she'd been. (I have to confess, though, I think I may have spotted her sleeping a little during the preaching.)
She'll get used to the animal door stops this week and I'll be able to leave her at home with Teddi when I go to our special church service on Thursday evening.
