-The adventure of traveling to a new destination with some of my favorite people. (Including the crazy kids who sing HSM songs until my ears bleed)
-The excitement of exploring a new hotel and memorizing all of our room numbers to make surprise visits.
-The girls luggage blowing up as soon as they put it down in the room. Seriously, it looks like they have been there for weeks instead of minutes!
-The shopping trip to stock up on food for lunches and snacks for the long days at the convention center.
-And the accompanying preparation of those lunches/meals in said tiny hotel room.
The late night pow wows that kept me up way too late.
-The early mornings. Getting up to beat the shower rush and breakfasts with Jenn in the hotel lobby.
-Is the hotel going to have enough food? They are new and have no idea what to expect… (Yes, this happened in Louisville)
-The scramble to get everyone in the bus or in various vehicles to make it to the convention center on time.
-The long days of performances at the convention center. (Maybe I won’t miss that one too much…)
-Running through the convention center to make it to every performance before the door closes.
-Guessing the human videos! I’m not the greatest at this, but we all know Jesus hanging on the cross! I wish I had a picture of Pastor Russell acting this out in Columbus!
-Puppets!
-In the hole, on deck, and up next.
-Going early to the convention center to sign up for practice rooms, because if left to the kids, it won’t happen, lol! (And standing in the wrong line due to lack of signage/instruction, but still getting to second pick because we are all fair adults)
-The rare moments of down time sprawled on the convention center floor.
-Watching my youth babies pray over each person before their performance.
-Sitting in the audience watching my youth babies performances with tears in my eyes because of how proud this mama goose is.
-The random items that go missing each year, like the box of rice krispy treats that disappeared in Louisville…
-Skipping the evening services because your feet hurt too much and you can barely keep your eyes open.
-The rare moment you have the hotel pool to yourself. You cherish this moment, because at any second a group of teenagers will run through the door.
-“Losing” a kid or two for a while. They always show back up, they know where the food is :)
-The fellowship with other people you may not always get to talk to at church.
-Giving pep talks when my youth babies get overwhelmed and stressed out.
-Grabbing a seat in the comfy theater, not to watch dance performances, but because it's cool and you need a power nap!
-Stalking a group from a random church you saw practicing because their drama/human video was good and you want to see the whole thing.
-Picking up results and congratulating jobs well done.
-Walking, walking, and more walking…
-Celebration service, where you get to see the best of the best. (And where you might actually be one of them or know one of them)
-The group message keeping everyone informed. (Just not the thumbs up, we all loathe the thumbs up!)
-Being surrounded by thousands of like spirited people. It's like one big family.
-The mid week grocery run, because you are in need of some real food and snacks for the trip home. (Or, nightly grocery run in during Orlando13)
-The T-Shirt! (Anything is better than the ugly, low quality Orlando13 shirt of a big black circle)
-The free stuff. Where am I going to get my supply of bags, pens, and sunglasses this year???
-The first night back home in your own bed after hotel rooms for a week straight.
Sure, I'll miss it this year, that just makes next year even better! Can't wait!!!
