in all of life

isaiah's school christmas concert was on friday night. a school wide concert where he had two songs to sing. the girls dressed in their fancy christmas dresses, daddy proudly showed them off to colleagues and parents of his students.

isaiah and his classmates were dressed as lambs. he was handsome even dressed up. i loved watching him in the back row with all his classmates. my son -with his friends - apart from me. laughing, playing, talking. waiting until it was his turn.

the older kids filed onto the stage, the conductor readied them. the music began, the choir started to sing, the conductor waved her hands. and sweet sophia on daddy's lap, stood up, waved her hands and started to sing as well. i watched from the left as daddy encouraged but shushed our budding songstress. my heart full at her joyful response to the music.

when isaiah's time came and he paraded down the isle i felt that burning pride. that feeling that no kid could ever be so handsome. later i found out he was saying to himself as he walked, 'why am i doing this? this is so embarrassing!' it's was a grand chapel, with bright lights. i guess i could have prepared him a little more.

but he sang out - unafraid. signing the words he sang. words about Jesus our beautiful, wonderful savior. the king of everything.

his sister, not really aware of concert etiquette, yelled out to her brother. alaythia waved and called, seemingly desperate for him to know that she was there. that she loved him and was proud of him - all things she told him over and over in the car on the way home.

as we snuggled before bed and recounted the night isaiah asked us to name our favorite part...second favorite part and so on down the line.

you isaiah. you alaythia. you sophia. you are my favorite parts. not just about the concert, but in all of life.