So I told you about VBS a couple blogs ago. We have learned that our elder two were not the only ones tremendously impacted by the experience. The theme song for the week was this catchy Little-Richardish song called “The Power.” And every day on the way to and from VBS, we would listen to that song (and several others on the CD). Lo and behold, Benjamin Graham is FIXATED on this song. Honestly, the song is cute, but it got a tiny bit annoying after about 100 times. EVERY time we get in the car, Benny demands “Power!” Every time I turn the iPod on in the kitchen: “Power!” Every time we attempt to listen to any music at all (which is often–we are a major music family!): “Power!” We’ve actually seen a few very ironic tantrums over it the last couple weeks.But nothing beats last Thursday night’s thunderstorm. Keith was at the church, and I was trying unsuccessfully to get the kids to ignore a very violent thunderstorm which hit precisely at bedtime. I warned them that the lights might go out, knowing that the little lady of the house especially would not be happy if they did.

So imagine it with me–Benny and I were on the bottom bunk, Adam and Claire on the top bunk (not our normal sleeping situation, just FYI). Claire’s up there whimpering at every lightning flash and pound of thunder; Adam keeps repeating the same two sentiments over and over again, alternately–“Mom, the thunder is really loud. I can’t go to sleep.” and “Hmph. I guess we’re gonna have to go to the inside pool.”); and then there was Benny. Our fearless, exuberant Benny.

The thunder rolled and the lightning flashed. And then the lights went out in Ebina. The moment that I let the trigger word escape from my lips, I knew what I had done. I wished for a split second that I could take it back, but I’m so glad I didn’t. I said, “It’s okay, guys. It’s just the POWER….” (It doesn’t matter what came after that.) I said the word. And right there in the pitch black, Benny sang his song. Little Richard squeel, nasal percussion and all. Over and over. And over. And we all laughed. And then we all sang it with him, and laughed some more. I’ll never, ever forget it.

So here is a video gift from our family to yours. Power to the people.