General Assembly, Part 2

I feel like today started a million years ago.

Quick rundown…

Went to see Monsters University, which was really great except for the 372 previews we had to endure before it began… except maybe The Lego Movie preview…  that one has potential merit…  Phil and Ian missed about the last 90 seconds of the movie, because no one should be subjected to the vigorous potty dance that Ian was doing in his seat.  Random thought.  Why do people leave before the credits are over?  Do they not realize that they miss things?  Anyway, I think this is the second movie that our entire family has ever gone to the theater to watch, together.  It was time (and even money) well spent.

One of the best parts of GA is catching up with friends from all over the country.  It was great to run into Kate and the kids and to see how they have grown into beautiful people!  I loved chatting with Pastor Jim and Marilyn!  Undoubtedly one of the best quotes of the day came from Marilyn, who said, “I’m so glad you guys found each other, because your kids are so cute!”  And eating at The Old Spaghetti Factory (Mizithra and Spumoni, oh how I enjoy eating you every four years or so) with Nicole, Ralph, Tamar, and Jadon was just great!  As an added bonus, we got to sit in the trolley!

I think, maybe, I was the only one who found it hysterical that the boys kept spinning through the revolving door.  At any rate, I'm pretty sure I thought it was funnier than the people waiting to get into the building...

Hearing Dr. Porter speak is always a highlight of Naz. events for me, and it sure didn’t hurt to close out the service with some Rend Collective Experiment!

Bedtime…  It’s definitely bedtime…

L.

General Assembly, Part 1

It is completely unlike me to be on a trip of any kind and to not be blogging it day by day.  I am going to look back on this one and regret it, because the truth is, I already cannot remember half the things I want to…

But I am tired.  I am crazy tired.  In some ways, I am more tired than I am at the end of a 16 hour day at the Magic Kingdom.  And that is really, really tired.  Have I made my point clear?

At this moment, with a cherry coke in hand (and I’m not a huge pop drinker), I am definitely hitting the emotional exhaustion button.  It’s not just about this week.  It’s about the whole quiz season.  I keep saying it (and I know, I know, some of you are going to stop reading my blog if I don’t post something original soon), but I am so proud of Seth and Grace and what they accomplished in quizzing this year, and we didn’t push them to do it.  They far exceeded any expectations we had.

I am the mother of the #64 and #12 quizzers in… the… world.  The word for this is overwhelmed.  Or maybe the word is blessed, because these are two really great kids, both inside and outside of the quizzing world.

Let me take a few moments to give a huge shout out to our regional quiz team!  The team was comprised of 5 Juniors, 1 Sophomore, 2 Freshman, and S & G.  These high school “kids” made S & G feel welcome and became their friends.  I hope that’s what they meant to do, because they are totally stuck with them for life at this point!

This is my favorite team picture...

Except not everyone is in it...

And here they all are:

In addition, Phil and I had a really great time with everyone involved!  I love being a part of the “quiz family”, and although we’ve been around the quiz world for a long time; this year was, in some ways, transitional for us, because we have spent much of the past decade+ away from our home region.  It’s always good to come home.

I admit that I may have resembled some of the crazy moms from shows like “Toddlers & Tiaras” over the past few days.  I promise that I will not wear my T-shirt that says “Seth and Grace’s Mom” on the back of it for the rest of General Assembly… although this has helped people to identify us in the large crowds…  Actually, someone caught up with me today and told me it had been fun to watch “Grace’s Mom” during the quiz.  I’m an introvert, but I cheer pretty loudly for my kids.  I am ever so slightly embarrassed...

Today we made the move from “Quizzing at GA” to just “being at GA”.  We trekked through parts of the exhibit hall and collected free stuff.  We ran into old friends and chatted in hallways and venues.  We enjoyed worship tonight (Miah and Ian both fell asleep, so… you know… I actually got to listen to the entire sermon… fancy that…)  But let me close out this “part 1” with one more thing about this quizzing adventure…

Today, the magnification of what these kids of mine have done in their rookie year of quizzing really hit me.  I think it hit me when I snapped the shot of the scoreboard at the beginning of the exposition round.  

Suddenly, I’m sitting there… on the floor…  taking pictures of my eleven year old daughter… whose image is larger than life on a jumbotron… as she sits on the main platform at General Assembly, chatting with the top quizzer in the world (2 years running) and waiting to start a round.  And I’m just blown away.  And the truth is, I can’t believe I didn’t cry!  

More good years ahead… and in the immediate future, more good days ahead!  Part 2 will most likely focus on the mindless things we do to restore sanity and give ourselves a break!

L.

P.S. 

Uh... yeah...  These guys are here, too:

Wonder what kinds of adventures we can have with this tired bunch...

Oh Yeah... You're the Kid with the Tiara...

... Grace is making her mark. I am afraid to ask whether this is a good thing or not, but every time she enters or leaves the Nazkidz area someone comments, "Oh, I know Grace, she's the one with the tiara," or, "I remember your daughter... Grace with the tiara," or just, "Hey, I remember you!"

Currently, Grace is at her last Nazkidz event, "Compassion Connection". If she walks out of there with one more bag of stuff I am going to have to buy a new piece of luggage to check for the flight home... seriously. Added to the nearly $70.00 that I just dropped at NPH for quiz materials (for just Seth and Grace) as well as a Children's Christmas program preview, we are probably not going to fit everything in just the bags we brought with us. I should have checked an empty bag for the flight here... ah... hindsight...

I hope that whatever service projects they have going on back there are really going to give these kids a chance to make a difference in Orlando. I feel that this is one of the most important things that could be taught here this week... service to others... Kids can make a difference in the world!

We did find a few more friends this morning! Pastor Jim and Marilyn, as well as Marilee and her husband and daughter! I am still searching for friends that I know are in the area!

I'm going to pick Grace up in about an hour and then head to dinner... I really want to return for the evening service tonight, as it is Dr. Porter's message, but I don't know if we're going to be able to make that work with our early morning upcoming tomorrow for the quiz.

Out again...

Lisa

Catchin' My Breath...

Ah............

That was nice..........

OK, so Grace and I are currently at General Assembly! We actually arrived at the right time this morning, which was a nice change in pace from yesterday! Grace is participating in the Nazkidz convention and learning about missions around the world at this moment. And here I am, enjoying my free wi-fi... It feels great to be back in touch with virtual reality, let me tell ya! Have already chatted with Monica and Robert this morning, and I hope that very soon Skype will be re-installed on my computer so that I can see Phil and the boys!

It occurred to me last night that I have taken precious few pics. on this trip. Actually, it is probably a normal amount for most people, but I feel like I have captured hardly anything on film. I cannot currently get movie maker to save files, so there will be no video updates. However, I do have a few pics. to share from our trip to the Magic Kingdom:


As a word of explanation, we are NOT on a Disney Vacation. However... our flight situation netted us a couple of extra days in Orlando, and we ARE on a dining plan, so we have had some theme park experiences in the midst of the mass chaos that comes from attending this convention in Orlando!

Yesterday, after Grace participated in the Discipleship in Action program, we made another trip to the airport (that brings our MCO count to three) because Alamo charged us for insurance that we didn't need, and they insisted that we bring the car back to inspect for damages before they would drop the charges for the rest of the trip. Well... when we got there, nobody inspected the car at all... didn't so much as glance at it... and then they took the optional insurance off for the next few days. I really think they could have accomplished this on the phone.

We also made reservations for "Hollywood and Vine", because due to the dining plan we have to choose so many "table service" meals, and I feel sort of pressured to choose the most expensive meals, since they are included. After eating dinner I thought, "Gosh... that wasn't very good (minus the cheesecake of which I ate four pieces... uh... they were NOT regular sized pieces... just so you know). At any rate, they bring you a bill for what the meal would have cost, and when I saw it my eyes popped out of my head! Without the dining plan the meal would have cost $50.00! That is just for me and Grace! Oh... wow! Well, it was an experience! Since "Hollywood and Vine" is at Hollywood Studios, we did catch The Little Mermaid show, and then we headed back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep!

Grace is really enjoying the children's activities here at the convention and looking forward to quizzing tomorrow! We are planning to get in early tonight in order to review and get a good night's sleep!

To this point, I have been unable to locate very many friends here, which is kind of disappointing. We did find a few friends from Ohio this morning, and I have seen several people that I know by name but whom I did not really feel like chatting with. I am going to have to do a better search for my Iowa friends if I can later this afternoon! If you happen to be reading this, I know you're here! Send me a facebook message so I can find you!

Alright... gotta restart the computer to make Skype work! I will probably post again later!

Lisa