The South

Where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter; summer starts in April; front porches are wide and words are long; macaroni and cheese is a vegetable; pecan pie is a staple; Y’all is the only proper pronoun; chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy; everything is darling and someone is always getting their heart blessed. -unknown

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Lads weekend.....

Our Lads to Leaders weekend started off a little rocky......(I should have known something was up.)

Brent had to work, and was unable to join us in Atlanta until Friday evening.  I told him ahead of time that I had never stayed in a hotel room with the kids alone.  I had never stayed in a hotel by myself for that matter.  I knew it would be a new experience.

We hitched a ride to Atlanta with Brent's mom because she was going to visit the grandparents for the weekend.  She gave Reese some Dramamine ahead of time because he is likely to get car sick.  So off we go.  We get to LaGrange and travel 2 miles in one hour, due to an awful wreck.  Reese slept the whole time.  We stopped for supper and he told me he was cold.  (Sign number 1)  He only ate a little bit of food. (sign number 2) 
"Somethings a brewing"
We continued on our way to Atlanta and he fell asleep again.  (sign number 3)  When we got close to the hotel I woke him up and he just wasn't himself.  The traffic was AWFUL around the hotel.  I asked Melany to pull onto a side street and just let us out.  We could walk half a block to the hotel.  When we got out, Reese started shivering all over and crying.  UH OH!  I quickly unloaded all of our suitcases, loaded Brooks up with half and off we went.  I stopped along the way and gave Reese a pep talk that he could make it to the hotel.
Once inside, I got the boys to sit on a couch while I went and checked in.  The lines were awful!  I debated on whether or not to go to the concierge desk and explain that I needed help and into a room quickly, but I didn't.  We made it into the room and Reese just fell on the bed. 
I have written more details than I intended, but needless to say, I looked to my friends for help.  I asked on Facebook, in our church group, if anyone had a thermometer.  One of our elders went and bought one for me.  I also asked Julie to help out the next morning with Brooks while I stayed in the room with Reese.  She went above and beyond (as she always does in our friendship.)  It was so comforting to know that you have a whole family at the ready to help!
Even though he felt bad.....
What is weird is that Reese was fine by the next afternoon.  I guess it was just a virus.  This has taught me to always bring the entire medicine cabinet with me, including thermometers!!!
The rest of the trip was less eventful, but no less fun. 
Reese had Bible reading on Friday, and he did real well.  Brooks was part of a puppet group that competed Friday afternoon.  His group won first place!  They are such a talented group of kids.
Reese receiving his Good Samaritan Medal

Brooks and Reese hanging out with their friends.
On Saturday morning, we went to Brooks' speech competition.  There were less kids competing than expected.  As soon as the doors shut, I watched Brooks count the competitors in the room.  There were only three, which meant that they would all place in the competition.  He let out an audible "YES!"  He came in second.  He did really well and we are proud of him.  He even got to give his speech in chapel at school a couple of weeks ago.  This is something that I would have been scared to death to do at his age!!!

Brooks giving his speech

Both boys competed in song leading.  They both did well.  Again, I couldn't do it.  I asked Brooks if he ever got nervous, and he said no.
Sunday morning we worshiped with over 1500 others!  They even had to bring in more chairs!  What a blessed day it was! 

Now baseball season has started and we are off to new adventures.....


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