Half-pints Everywhere!

So this evening, I've been asked to run sound for a pre-school graduation ceremony taking place at Immanuel Church. It's about 30 minutes before the ceremony is to begin, and I'm sitting here in the sound room, quietly chuckling to myself at the kids and the parents. And I'm also flooded with memories of the many ACCC graduations that I assisted with those many, many years ago (talk about coming full circle).

It also gives me pause, as I reflect on our journey so far to parenthood. It's been a little over a year since Anita and I began our paperwork for our adoption, and almost 4 months since our application was "logged in" at the Chinese consulate. There are many times I look around - at a mall, a restaurant, walking around our neighborhood - and I feel myself getting a little frustrated with the whole process. I've accepted that we're unable to conceive, and that both Anita and I feel called down the path of adoption. I'm not always happy about it - especially during this painfully long waiting process - but I trust that God's timing is perfect, even if my patience isn't.

Being an observer at this function also let me watch, in virtual anonymity, the parents and families of the little cherubs. These folks seem to come from all walks of life - there are white collar and blue collar families. Single parent families as well as two parent families represented. And their kids are just as varied, with many ethnic backgrounds represented. Impressively, there have to be close to 200 people here this evening. And the look of pride in the eyes of most of these folks is kind of fun to watch. There are too many reports on the news of kids being abandoned and abused, growing up with little direction in their lives. But here, tonight, this room is filled with pride and love and hope, three things we desperately need more of in this world.

Well, only a few minutes now until the ceremony begins. I'll try to post some thoughts along the way, if and when I can.

The kids have entered - let the pandemonium begin!

Okay - sing-along time with the 1-year old group isn't going as well as planned. Maybe the addition of the 2-year old class will help out. Actually, it did, much to my surprise. I think crying amongst toddlers is like sneezing amongst adults. It seems to pass from person to person with no real explanation or reason.

And there it is, ladies and gentleman, the first attempt for the microphones. How is it that kids this young seem to inherently know what a mic is and what it does? Some of these guys have more stage presence than most of what you see on American Idol. There's a duo of boys up there now who are working in tandem around one of the mic's, and if I didn't know better, I'd say they practiced this routine.

I'm now watching one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time - fifteen 4-year old children singing "Awesome God" at the top of their lungs, complete with the sign-language. I can only hope that the worship that happens in this sanctuary on a weekly basis comes close to the enthusiasm that these kids have just displayed!

Well, time to sign off. More to come shortly.

And I'm back. This was a pretty cool evening. There were 12 'graduating' pre-schoolers, and each one of them were given an award of some form - from "2020 American Idol winner" to "Best Storyteller" to "Most Improved at Everything." They walk up on the platform in their little cap and gown, get their diploma and their award and return to their seats. To my surprise, only one of them turned to wave to Mom and Dad in the process - the 2020 American Idol winner - go figure.

I can only hope that this group continue to serve this community for years to come. The kids certainly seemed to be well on their way for school and life, and the families represented also seem to be genuinely appreciative of the care their kids are receiving at this pre-school. I'll have to put this one on my list for down the road.