The Best Night Of My Life!

I got to hear my 13 year old daughter say those words last night.  After a very long day of rolling, addressing, stuffing a grand total of 825 T shirts on Saturday, Hannah and I took off for a special night just for girls.  Alyson Stoner and friends presented a “girls party” I Pour Life- an event that celebrates purity and respect.  We parked our car downtown and stood out in the freezing cold for 25 minuets before heading inside the theater.  There were hundreds of excited moms & daughters packed from top to bottom anticipating the night to start.  I had no idea what to expect, but there was a buzz inside of screaming, cheering, chanting teens!

We had the fun privilege of hearing Johnny Diaz sing and several wonderful speakers all geared to encourage young girls to love and respect themselves.  The biggest surge of energy happened when Alyson Stoner stepped out on the stage.  She is 16 years old and spoke passionately from the heart about her love for Jesus and inspiring girls to respect and love themselves just the way God made them!  She talked for an hour and I think she did an amazing job, but the proof was my daughter who sat on the edge of her seat and gobbled up everything Alyson said earnestly!   She kept her camera on and caught her favorite things on her cell.  They even treated us with chocolate covered strawberries.  Oh, what a party!

After the conference, they announced that Alyson Stoner was going to take pics & autographs up in the balcony.  I turned to tell Hannah that it was time to go, when I saw the look in her eyes.  I quickly explained how tired I was from T shirt craziness, but she pleaded to stay.  I pleaded my case that I had an hour drive home and it was 10:30PM.  Hannah gave me the look again.  “Pleeeaaseee mom, I’m dying to meet her!”  I told her we would try.  We shot out to the lobby and scaled the stairs with hundreds of crazy teens.  I was caught up in the swarm and ended up on the balcony with one ecstatic group of girls.  I asked Hannah one more time if she was sure she wanted to wait in this insanely long line.  She did.  I made a decision right then and there that if my girl wanted a pic & autograph that badly, I would wait with her.  She chatted and shared and anxiously waited for the line to move.  One hour later, we made it to the front.  She was giddy and nervous to meet the adorable Disney star posing for pic after pic.

Our turn finally came and Hannah stepped forward.  Alyson stopped and starred at my daughter.  Hannah didn’t move, but wondered if there was a problem.  Finally, Alyson smiled a huge grin and said, “Oh my, we totally look alike!  We have the same hair and eyes!  Just look at us… we could be sisters!”  She chatted warmly with my star struck girl.  Hannah was speechless and just smiled up at her brand new hero.  They took a photo together and Alyson signed her T shirt.  It was my turn, and I asked her the question Hannah forgot to ask (this was all planned waiting in line) “What is your favorite verse?”  Alyson didn’t miss a beat.  She shared that she had many favorite verses, but right now she was meditating on Matthew 6:25… she quoted the verse perfectly.  I was soooo impressed!

We took all our treasures and headed out to the parking lot.  Hannah turned and smiled so hard I thought it would break in the frigid cold…. “Mom, this was the best night of my life!”  I told her it was my best night too just being with her.  She thanked me and told me she was so happy we came together.  I melted.  It’s wonderful and challenging having a teenager, but the combo is priceless.  I told Hannah on the drive home, that I was so thankful she insisted we stayed or we would have missed out on the sweetest blessing from the Lord.  He planned that all out for Hannah and I almost missed it because I was so tired.  I had the energy of 10 moms on the drive home.

Special note just for moms:  One of the coolest things Alyson shared was her Mirror of Respect.  She covers her mirror with little notes, Bible verses, funny anecdotes and favorite quotes to remind her everyday that she is beautiful and worthy of respect.  Hannah and I both agreed that she needed to start her own Mirror of Respect at home.  We are going to put her special photo, autograph and Alyson’s favorite verse up on her mirror right away.  Your teenage girl can text or email Alyson Stoner and ask her any question at respect@ipourlife.com.

More Beautiful You- Johnny Diaz

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