On Friday, Dec. 10, we went to the village church for the girls’ Advent concert. Chris was not feeling well, so he decided to stay home. We arrived early, since the girls needed to be there for a last minute practice. It was a very nice walk from our parking spot by the library up to the church. Isn’t it just magical looking? 
We waited outside the church doors until we were allowed in. I was too busy chatting with my friend to notice how the kids passed the time. Haha.
We didn’t try and fight the crowd for a front row seat, but we were still pretty close. And I made sure we stayed on the outer part of the bench, in case I needed to leave with a crying Alexandra quickly. (There ended up being no problems.) Nick had the video camera to record the concert for Papa, and I had the regular camera. But the battery ran out on the video camera before the girls big performances, and I was so caught up in the beauty of the music, I completely forgot my camera also had a record feature. Oops. Sorry, Chris.
Sarah and Sophie, along with another girl from Sarah’s class, sang Jingle Bells in English, all by themselves. Three boys stood up and sang Jingle Bells in French, then Sarah and Sophie, along with another girl from Sarah’s class, sang it in English, and then the rest of the kids sang it in German. Then they reversed the order, having Sarah and Sophie sing it in English, and ending with the boys in French. It was so well done, and a total surprise to me. I had no idea they had a semi-solo like that.
All the girls in Sophie’s class sang another song all by themselves, which was very pretty. And due to our awesome seats, we could all see her easily. A couple weeks previously Sarah had a homework assignment to memorize a certain section of a poem. I heard her practicing it, and then didn’t think anything more about it. Well, imagine my surprise when, as part of the Christmas concert, she stood up and said that part of the poem! There were a few children in her class who had done exceptionally well at the homework assignment. They were chosen to each recite a part of the poem, in order, so that we all could hear it. The first boy got a bit of stage fright, froze, and couldn’t finish his part of the poem. Sarah gave him a few minutes to try and remember it, then started in with her section. The teacher went over after all the kids were finished and asked the boy if he would like another chance to say his part, but he just shook his head. Poor kid. 🙁
The whole concert was just really lovely, and the fact that it took place in this kind of setting, just made it even better.
I love our little village church! I decided while I was sitting there at the concert, that despite it being “not the norm”, if any of the kids or Chris died, I would want the funeral held here, rather than in our church building. It just feels like home here.