Trip notes - the unedited version.

I have to tell you how wonderful it was to spend time with Margaret and her family. I feel so blessed to know them and to truly have a new friend. Her children are delightful and her husband was fun to talk to and very kind to allow “internet strangers” into their home AND to allow his wife to schlep them all over the place for 3 days!

I also got to spend a good bit of time talking with Danielle Bean. It turns out her husband was one of my son’s teachers in 8th grade. Small world!

PLUS I got to meet Ana Braga-Henebry and chat for a few minutes. We had one of those “hey I know you - hey I know you!” moments.
Lastly, as always, I was thrilled to meet several ladies from the online homeschool forums and I am always grateful for the kind words of those who use my planner and find it helpful.

BUT. . . for all of you who feel jealous about those of us having fun at the conference this past weekend I thought I would give you a reality check. This isn’t me complaining - it’s the unedited truth.
I got up at 5:30 am Friday morning to leave by 6:30 for the airport. I had gone to bed at 1 am (I didn’t feel well that day and ended up having to stay up to get everything packed and ready.)

Traffic was pretty heavy to the airport that morning.

Lugging 4- filled to the limit (50 lb. each)- bags and a baby and a carry on with diapers, snacks and whatnot is hard - easier when you have your 21 yr. old son along to help - but still hard.

We got to the gate only to be told that they had no seats for us as the flight had been oversold. We had to to wait nervously until everyone was on the plane to see if we could get on. Thank you Timothy and Jessica McCoy for not showing up - we got your seats!

The floor under us (on the plane) was soaking wet - something we didn’t realize until the baby carrier backpack and carry on bag and contents were also wet.

Northwest gives you a tiny cup of drink and no snack. That’s right, no little bag of pretzels or peanuts - nada!

We waited and waited and waited for those 4 bags to finally come through to the baggage claim. My son had taken the baby for a stroll so I ended up lifting them off the carousel myself. One of the bags handle would no longer go up so it couldn’t be pulled but had to be carried - all 50 lb. of it. The bag is brand new - I bought it Thursday.

The conference is held in a very large gymnasium. It’s a very nice space but it isn’t air-conditioned. It was stifling at times.

My stomach and gut does weird things when I travel. No matter what I eat I suffer for it - I don’t know why. Further, flying makes me retain water so I get to look even fatter than I already am.

My hair looked great when I left Margaret’s house (see most recent picture) but it promptly went flat in the heat of the gymnasium - I didn’t even bother to try the next day (see pictures with babies below).

The flight home was delayed - we sat on the tarmac for some time. There were 2 fussy babies on the plane. Mine, and a 7 month old two rows back.

I missed the exit coming home and had to turn around.

We had no milk or juice in the frig when I got here (and someone drank my iced green tea that I thought would be waiting for me when I got home). Timothy went to the store at midnight - thanks son!

I have a ton of work to do today to catch up and all I want to do is crash. Pray for me please.

All of this is why staying with a friend and meeting old and new friends is even more of a boost. It makes something that’s exhausting and difficult - a little more doable. Margaret went out of her way to make me feel welcome and help me in any way she could. She was a wonderful hostess and in case I didn’t mention it before, so was Alicia last month.

Really, I know how many of you would love to be able to come to a conference and share in the fellowship. I always think of you at those times and I DO remember you and all of your intentions in my prayers.