Saturday ends with the big awards ceremony and we had a great time celebrating accomplishments made by everyone.

LB started off the night with a first place win in scrapbook!!!

She also got second place in song leading!

Our K-2 participants!!!

Carter won a Bible Bowl high scorer!!!

LB's Bible Bowl team was a finalist!
Gran and Mrs. Joan were her coaches.

LB and Carter's puppet team won third!
Here they are meeting Coach Bonnie on the floor afterwards!
They were so excited!

Third Place Puppet Team!!!

What a year! Can't wait for the great things that they will learn next year!

The Best Part of L2L

I love seeing the kids interact with others during the weekend.  They have already made such special memories and have "traditions" with different kids and families.  I am so glad we have this weekend to create those special bonds.

Waiting for ice cream with Presley, MG, LB and Payton

Saturday afternoon always calls for play time on the
Grand Staircase

Carter hung out with the Youngs while LB made finalists for song leading!!!

Which included a ride on the Delta Boat!

LB and Katy . . . so many memories between these two at L2L.
This is Katy's last year to participate.

Loved our time with Josh, Micah and MG as we walked around the hotel before the awards
Saturday night.

A Full Day at L2L

Saturday began bright and early with LB and Grandad off to Bible Bowl competition.  This year's books we studied were James, 1 Peter and 2 Peter.  Not easy ones to tackle, but they did well. I am proud of them just for learning about the books!  After Bible Bowl, the kids did their speeches.  I was not able to go with Carter, but Grandad did a great job snapping shots for me! I don't know what I was doing when LB was doing her things today because I have NO pictures of her giving her speech or leading her song - sorry, LB!!!

This great crew came to hear Carter and Cade give their speeches.  This is one of my favorite things
about L2L all ages supporting each other!

Kennedy, LeighAnne, and Laura Beth getting ready to give their speeches.

The crew that came to support LB and LeighAnne for their speeches.

 While we were out and about on Saturday, we ran into Jack Zorn - founder of L2L.  LB and MG got their picture with him, but Carter (surprise, surprise) would have nothing to do with him!

Thanks to Gran and Grandad for helping out A TON this weekend since
Damon had to work.
Thanks to Carter for the crazy smile in this picture.
I am ready for this phase to be over!

Friday Night Awards

One of the highlights of L2L is seeing the kids get recognized for all of their hard work.  Our convention did a great job of not emphasizing the competition as much this year as in the past.  Our elders do a great job reminding and emphasizing that it is not about how you place, but what you do to be better for God.

Girls are ready for the awards ceremony to start!

Good Samaritan Award for Laura Beth

Carter gets his Good Samaritan Award

Laura Beth participated in Storyline for the first time this year with the
BIG kids.  She was so excited! They won first place with their video!

So proud of LB's Year Round Song Leading Award. She went to nursing homes and Bible classes
learning how to lead singing!

Fist place for her Decorative Bulletin Board

and here it is!!!!!

She won second place for Teaching Bulletin Board

and here it is!!!!

What a great night and way to start off convention! Now . . . off to bed! It is a busy day tomorrow!

Friday at Lads to Leaders

Easter weekend took us to Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN, for the annual Lads to Leaders Convention we attend with our church family.  We were so thrilled this year to have more of our friends join us along with my mom and dad who usually make the trip to support the Grans.  One of the best things about the weekend is seeing the kids interact with each other and helping each other with whatever needs to be done.  While I went to judge scrapbooks, Mom and Arika took the kids around the hotel to see all the sights.

Another thing I love about L2L convention is seeing all the support that is given.  Here you see the support for the K-2nd graders who did Oral Bible Reading.  Thanks, Tucker, Rhett and LB for showing your support!

This was the kids first year to do puppets and they loved it!! Technically, Carter was not old enough, but someone had to drop out and he was asked to fill in.  They had a great time and their team did a great job!

After puppets, LB changed clothes quickly and took off to do her Oral Bible Reading.  She improved her score from last year, so we were thrilled with her!  She is growing into such a lovely little lady!

A proud Gran with her granddaughter

I love my girl!

Our congregation took 140 plus people to convention and we always try to get a group picture - TRY being the key word!!!!

What a day and we had not even gotten to the awards ceremony that night!

Book Review: A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina

My college friend, Annalisa Daughety, has written another great book. She was so kind to send me a copy for read and then tell you about it!  I have to be honest . . . I have been anxiously waiting for this book because I want to go to Charleston sooooo badly! One day . . . . one day . . . .

This book was wonderful!  It was very different than most because in this book the main characters are already married.  You meet Summer Nelson is a wedding director in Charleston, SC.   She and her husband, Luke, met when they were younger, fell in love and married despite the differences in their backgrounds.  Throughout the book, you see that life has happened to Summer and Luke and they are facing the realities that marriage is a lot of work.  They have faced many obstacles, but have not overcome them - each having to deal with the obstacles in different ways.  Not sure what is in store for them, Summer gets the busy wedding season focusing on one BIG wedding where she is given full control.  Luke does not know what to do after they decide to separate for a time, but he knows it is a mistake.

Annalisa does a great job pulling you into the characters' lives before the book and at the time the book takes place.  She is really developing as an author - each book getting better and better.  Her take on this romance is a wonderful one because we all find ourselves facing the realities of life in our marriages at times.  We all realize that life and marriage is not easy.  Seeing how Summer and Luke handle these obstacles is very real!  Throughout the book you find yourself cheering for them, praying they work it out and wondering just how it will end.

Take a vacation to Charleston as you read about different landmarks in the city and take in the history of this wonderful city.  You'll be so glad you did!

A Stop at Honeydukes

A last stop at the party was a trip EVERYONE was looking forward to - a trip to Hogsmeade to Honeyduke's Candy Shop.  The kids loved spending their Galleons in the shop.  This is what they had to choose from . . .

Star Pops

Sour Snakes

Chocolate Frogs

(I used chocolate almond bark, melted it and poured it into

frog molds that I bought from Amazon)

Levitating Lemon Drops

Bertie's Botts

Every Flavor Beans

Acid Pops

(I bought Blow Pops, dipped them in honey, and poured

Pop Rocks on top.  Then, I wrapped them in small clear bags)

What a SWEET way to end a wonderful party!!!

Transfiguration Class

As one of the activities, we had Transfiguration Class during the party.  Transfiguration Class is where Harry and his friends would learn how to change things from one something to another.  Jud came and set up his photo booth for the kids to change from Muggles into Wizards or just to have fun and fun was had . . . .

The Young boys enjoying the party . . .

Even Anna Catherine and Jessica got in on the action!

My little Cecily is growing up so much!

Even Gran for in on the action!

Thank you for coming and celebrating with us!