Pride

     Tonight my family went to a friends 30th birthday party. It was your typical birthday party for our area: cookout, in a barn, couple of kegs, and karaoke. Now karaoke didn't start until a little bit later into the night and it was met with lots of laughter and a little resistance. The birthday boy was trying to encourage people to get up there and break out a tune but nobody would, that is until my 4 year old daughter did! I was at the table talking with friends and Jason was doing the same thing only with all the guys around the grill. All the sudden I hear a little girl start singing You Are My Sunshine. I was wondering who it was when I looked up to see my daughter standing at the front of the barn, microphone in hand, nervously singing. My world stopped. She was beautiful... and brave... and so innocent as she stood there and sang. The whole place got real quite as everyone stopped to watch and listen to her sing. She literally captivated the entire party with her simple song. When she finished, she ran right into my arms. I was fighting tears as I hugged her fiercely. My heart was swollen with pride for my beautiful daughter. It turned out, Alli sang because nobody else would and the birthday boy wanted people to sing. She thought if she did then other people would too.
     As I look at my daughter and reflect on the young lady she is learning to become, I can't help but feel tremendous pride in her. Both Jason and I expect a lot from her in terms of behavior and work ethic and she has always met our expectations or exceeded them. She has a caring heart, funny personality, and brains to boot! I have no idea how I got so lucky to have such a great daughter. But I do know, I wouldn't change one little hair on her head for the world. I love you Allison Noel Schneeberger!