Preparing

It would be so easy if I could just throw a few things in a suitcase the night before San Antonio and be off. But of course, nothing is that simple. There is much planning--both professionally and personally--for me to be away for an extended amount of time.

I've made the final travel arrangements and confirmed them. Hotel is booked. Shuttle to and from the airport is booked. That is a great load off my mind that I have all that out of the way. By the way, here is the hotel the conference will take place in and where we are all staying. It is the Wyndam St. Anthony. Looks like a really cool place!
http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/SATST/main.wnt



Now I need to get ahead on some web design work for a client so that I can focus exclusively on the NAECED conference without any distraction. I don't want to have to come back to my hotel room at the end of a conference day and have to work on web design if I don't have to.

Rock-A-thon this weekend is a huge planning process and I can say I am finally at the point where I just need to just gather a few more things from home for the event, haul some stuff over from the Tuttle House on Friday, and then the fun begins Saturday night. That will be another huge thing off my mind.


BTW, if you'd like to sponsor one of our teens, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board on the LPH. The money we raise goes to The Windsor Food Bank.

We have a great group of SYG this year. The dynamics of the group has changed tremendously due to the large group of seniors who graduated last year and the addition of several 9th graders. But I am enjoying seeing them interact and get to know each other. And what better way to get to know each other than being locked in a church overnight for 12 hours? We will have many team building games, activities, and of course...food. You can't lock me in with 12 teenagers without lots of junk food, for heaven's sake. That's just cruel.

Speaking of food, I want to thank those who were able to provide food based on my last-minute plea. The economy really affected our donations this year from businesses like Target and Walmart and Stop n Shop who usually donate a gift card that allows us to purchase goodies for events like this.

Christian Ed and SYG will be in good hands while I am away. Amy will be keeping an eye on things by herself, so if any issues come up, please seek her out. If I come back and find that the kids have tied her up somewhere, I'll know not to go away again.


After the conference ends on Friday, Feb 6th, I am using the remainder of my miles to fly on to Santa Monica, California (heck, I'm already that far west as it is) to stay with some friends and family whom I am missing very much. While I am there, I will be visiting St. Aidan's Episcopal church in Malibu (oh, to have THEIR budget!). Whenever I am there, this is the church I attend. This time I'll be arranging a meeting with their Christian Ed & Youth Group Directors (you mean there are two separate people that do that job?) to talk about their program. More ideas to bring home! I will be back home very late on Valentine's Day night.

Next entry I'll be posting a few of the workshops I'll be attending during NAECED. If you have a moment, please give me your feedback on those.