nothing says I love you like a bunch of teenagers

For Valentines tonight Nate and I met up with two other couples and ate at our church's Youth Valentine's Banquet. We've been one other year and were quite entertained so we thought we'd do it again. It's only $25 for both of us and free childcare with dinner and entertainment provided. I had a great time laughing with friends and just eating a meal with no worry of having to get up so the next couple in line could sit down to eat an overpriced meal. But the best part was watching the youth perform.

These are I guess 13 to 17 year olds: jr. high to high school aged kids. The ones performing were in the youth choir, then there were the 'servers' and also the childcare workers. But it was the performers that got me. It was interesting to watch a large group of youth and see how some could be so confident and then others standing right beside them were so awkard in their skin. It made me a little uncomfortable watching the shy ones squirm and nervously move their lips (were they really singing back there?) as they obviously were in pain being on stage. But then there were the bold ones...clearly loving the limelight and thriving from the adrenaline rush of singing solo on stage.

It made me wonder what my boys would be like when they are that age. Eli...he so loves the attention of everyone behind closed doors and could steal a show with his dramatic interpretation of anything (or his Michael Jackson "Thriller" dance) but to actually get on stage and do that...I don't think so. And then Ian...I can't figure him out yet...he is constantly surprising me.

I heard a mentor mom tell our MOPS group once never to assume what your children would turn out to be like. Her son was extremely shy growing up and now well, he was the leading soloist in two or three of the songs tonight.

I honestly dread those years to come. Pimples, hormones, squeaky voices, girls...but I can't wait to see how they turn out. Will they be the waiters in the background or the stars of the show? It should be interesting either way I guess.