Dress Rehearsal

This semester Seth is participating in Junior Praise at his school. This is a choir for grades 3-5, and they perform several times throughout the holiday season. We "encouraged" Seth to join (that is a gentle way of saying we made him do it), but he has enjoyed his weekly rehearsals. Now, they are getting ready to take the show on the road.

Their first performance is tomorrow evening as the opening act for the middle school presentation of "Willy Wonka." Today was their "dress rehearsal" standing on the risers in the gym where they will sing tomorrow night. It's a much bigger stage than the tiny choir room where the 40 or so boys and girls gather each week to rehearse.

Reed and I arrived early for pick up and were delighted to catch them in the middle of their rehearsal. Unbeknownst to Seth, we peeked in to watch them sing their two selections: the classics "I have a cold in my nose" and "Hot chocolate." Not only do they sing with gusto, they have accompanying hand motions. It is so incredibly cute!

After they practiced marching in and marching out, they ran through their two numbers again, and this time Reed and I snuck in to watch from a seat in the audience. I was afraid our presence would distract Seth, but when he saw us, he smiled hugely without missing a beat.

I am so proud of Seth for giving Junior Praise a try. I am impressed by how he has learned his music, his lyrics, and the motions. I pray for his nerves tomorrow night and that he'll experience great joy in performing. And I can't wait to catch the rest of the shows in November (with performances at CAK chapel, a local nursing home, Dollywood, and the Fantasy of Trees).

If you happen to catch one of the shows, look for Seth. He's third from the right on the back row ... you'll know him by his huge grin.

Dodgeball Drama

On Friday Tim picked the boys up from school. I asked what information he got about their school days on the drive home. As usual, it wasn't much (they are their father's sons, so chit-chat isn't something they're prone to do). However, we did get a great peek into their playground personalities.

Seth told his dad that he has been given the nickname "The Peacemaker" when playing dodgeball and battle ball. I had all sorts of heartwarming thoughts when I heard this, thinking of Seth and his kind, gentle heart. Then, Tim filled me in that he's earned this nickname because he runs around making the peace sign while avoiding personal attack. Hmm, not as heartwarming, but pretty darn funny to imagine his spunk as he taunts his opponents.

Reed nonchalantly informed his dad that he hit two girls in the face during dodgeball that very day. "Did they cry?" Tim asked. Reed replied that one maybe did. Okay, some thirty years ago, I was that girl! (Really, we're still playing dodgeball?!) I won't hold it against Reed ... I know it wasn't intentional (he's moving too fast to aim). After all, in a (dodgeball) battle, self-preservation is key and the enemy is the enemy -- regardless of whether they have pigtails.

Finally Free

A dear friend introduced me to this beautiful song by Nichole Nordeman recently. I wanted to share it with you. Here are the lyrics (to listen, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf9WTToa-Us):

No chain is strong enough, no choice is wrong enough
No mountain high enough that He can't climb
No shadow dark enough, no night is black enough
No road is lost enough that He can't find

And if the Son has set us free, then we must be free indeed
Let the chains fall away, starting today
Everything has changed...I'm finally free

No pain is deep enough, no heart could bleed enough
Nothing but Jesus' love can make a way

And if the Son has set us free, then we must be free indeed
Let the chains fall away, starting today
Everything has changed...I'm finally free