National Youth Gathering

Every three years our synod (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) or LCMS has a National Youth Gathering.  It as been every three years in many different places...Washington DC, Denver Co, San Antonio, New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando... I have been to many of these both as a youth, a college student, a DCE and now as a volunteer (Since I am not working as a commissioned DCE).  It was easiest to go as a college student, just had to go and not worry about anything.  It has been the hardest going as a volunteer (oh the lesson's God is teaching) but I don't have the time blocked to to work on the nitty gritty details.  Yesterday I spent over 7 hours working on odds and ends for this trip while interacting and yelling at children.  It was very frustrating.  But I got what I needed done and now look forward to next week.

This year our National Youth Gathering  is in New Orleans.  It was suppose to be there three years ago, but a certain hurricane came through and well you all know the rest of that story.  But this year it is back.  This year over 30,000 youth and adults will invade the streets of New Orleans to show them God love and Grace for them.  They will walk the streets boldly to stay this is what I believe in.
So next week Tim and I (Tim is my most trusted fellow youth leader here.  He and I have been through thick and thin with our youth for the last 12 years. ) will leave our families behind and head to New Orleans with 5 amazing youth.  Each with our own stories, faith and questions.  Each one looking for something to clam as their own, each looking for what they Believe in.
Leaving our families behind, yes if I take one, that still leaves 4 of my kids behind!  And all is taken care of.  Even though my husband has know about this trip for a year, and was told no traveling allowed for those two weeks, some how traveling snuck  in and he has to be gone 4 days the week I leave.  But thank goodness we are able to fly my dad up to help.  Leila will be with her Grandma and my dad will have the three younger ones.
So when my husband travels, he packs his bag, and leaves.  There is not much in terms of kids or house preparation he has to do or really think about cause that is my area.  But when I have to leave, there is a lot of work. . So when Dan has to travel too and you bring in someone else to help there is even more work.  So not only do I have to get my self ready, and Jeremy ready, make sure my group is ready, I also have to prepare my house for my dad to be here.  And while the kids love him and love being with him, he doesn't know the ins and outs of our house.
But I can't change my husband's travel schedule and I am not giving up my National Youth Gathering.  So I now finish my preparations for the National Youth Gathering.  I get ready for my Dad to come up (Which I am very excited about, just wish I was here for more of the visit!:)) Then Jeremy and I adventure off to the wild blue yonder!