This was a night that we have cleared on the calendar all year, but only as this year began we found out that Belle would be singing a solo during the cabaret performances. I love hearing my beautiful Belle sing, but typically it is with the radio in the kitchen as she washes dishes, and through a door and down the hall from her voice in the shower. Then came song selection, and we heard her plans of "Going the Distance" from Hercules, then we started hearing "Love in the Dark" by Adele. And when her decision was made, Adele was often heard from down the hall thru the door. But that girl will never just sing for us, and kept her voice as a surprise for us as much for everyone else that was there that night.
I really don't know what I was feeling as I watched the performances. They started out pretty painful, and in my head there was a lot of "Bless her heart" or "Bless his heart" or "I am proud of them for just trying". Then some of the girls started belting them out, and we had some good singing going on. But then Anabelle walked up to that stage, and I was just so nervous for her...don't trip, don't trip, don't trip...Do your best! And then a wonderful voice emerged unhindered by a hallway and door, and slightly amplified to flow over the crowd. And she had us all in the palm of her hand, full of confidence on stage that neither her mom or I had. When she got to the chorus "I can't love you in the dark, It feels like we're oceans apart"...Wow, crowd cheering at these big notes. Then came the bridge "We're not the only ones, I don't regret a thing, Every word I've said, you know I'll always mean, It is the word to me that you are in my life, But I want to live and not just survive"...and on that "survive" she had the Junkins in the crowd, but by the noise that erupted, I don't think we were the only ones. The second picture down is after that note...it was the only smile during that performance, but she knew she had knocked it out of the park.
From Katie's facebook post (love you sister!): A night I truly don’t think I could ever forget, nor would I want to. I knew my niece, Anabelle was a talented and beautiful young lady. But from the moment she stepped onto the stage, her confidence, her beauty, her projection, and her beautiful voice just put me in the most beautiful moment of awe of this young woman. The video does not even begin to encapsulate the moment but I had to share. I was in tears the entire song and most of the night after if I tried to talk to her. My heart burst with pride for who she is and her bright future. It was the first moment I didn’t see a little girl (the first little girl I ever feel in love with) but a beautiful confident woman.
From Magan's facebook post (love you wife!): This girl had a big night with her first solo sung on stage all alone. SO PROUD of her!!! Katie and I may have shed a few tears. It was the best night. Thanks to all our friends and family who were able to come out and see her. Praying for a safe night and weekend for everyone.
And this night continued on with some amazing songs. Cash Hamilton from church sang a really strange but funny song "Brain Freeze". Jameson Francis sang a really pretty song with a Dolly Parton country twang. But of course, our crew was blown away with our Freshman Belle getting to lead (front and center) the Chelsea chamber choir with the start of the Bella Final performance from Pitch Perfect. And she killed it, I mean it was awesome...all the other girls harmonizing around her...Wow, this broadway showtunes dad CAN NOT wait to see all she can do in the next few years with choir and theater. This was a fun night, and seeing that her singing of Adele collected over 2,000 views on Magan's facebook feed (Perhaps only 75% were me and Magan), it did make me feel a little better since she got more than that stupid lazy cat hitting at his toy in the living room.
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