Weekly Wrap-Up: The One After The 2:1 Conference

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Weekly Wrap-Up

Happy Friday, y’all! I don’t know how to say this without taking the chance that it will come out wrong. My family and I have been so saddened by the tragedies that have unfolded this week in Boston and Texas. We have been praying for all those affected. For our own family unit, however, this has been such a blessing-filled week.

I knew we wouldn’t want to come back from Washington late Monday night and jump into school on Tuesday, so I planned to take this week off. When Brian heard that, he requested the week off, too. There’s nothing quite like a week at home with the whole family off. It’s been so enjoyable and relaxing.

Brian, Brianna, and I had a wonderful time at The 2:1 Conference and in Washington, D.C., but both Brian and I have said about fifty times this week, “I am so glad to be home.” Even the dogs, who stayed with the grandparents while we were gone, appear to be immensely happy to be back home. And, the cats, who stayed here and were checked on daily, are happy to have their people home.

Every time I’ve sat in my chair at my laptop this week, I look up to find myself surrounded by creatures.

The 2:1 Conference was fabulous! I so enjoyed getting to see friends like Amy, Jamie, Cheryl, Stef, and Toni again and it was such a blessing to finally meet Jimmie in person after chatting with her online for years.

2to1confphoto4

photo credit Jamie Worley for 2:1 Conference

The Hilton Washington Dulles Airport was phenomenal. Despite some technical glitches at check-in, everyone was super-friendly and helpful. I thought we were supposed to have a mini-fridge in our room – you know, for my Chick-fil-A sweet tea. We didn’t, but when Brian called the front desk to ask, they said they’d bring us one. In no time, my precious tea was safe from souring. Oh, yeah, and we could keep our water cold, too.

sweet tea

It’s kind of a toss-up as to what my favorite part of the weekend was. I loved mingling! I’m usually not very good at that, but this year I made a concerted effort to try to sit with a different group of people each meal. I met some wonderful ladies, including Melissa and Dee, who doesn’t have a blog, but was there for Mardel.

I also really enjoyed being on the blogger-brand panel. It was all the excitement of talking about something I love without the stress of preparing a presentation. Fun!

Blogger Brand Panel 2

photo credit Jamie Worley for 2:1 Conference

Then there was running the sponsor booth for Lexercise. I loved having the opportunity to share with people the service that has made such a huge difference in my family’s life. Really, y’all, if you think your child may have dyslexia, have him do the free dyslexia screener. Lexercise has been a lifesaver for us.

Lexercise

photo credit Jamie Worley for 2:1 Conference

Just ignore the expression on my face in that photo, please.

And, the live tweet-up was, like, the most fun ever! It was a Twitter party with all the participants (except the trolls) in the same room together. “Fast-paced” doesn’t even begin to describe it! There were lots of giveaways, but when the Bee Attitudes t-shirts came up, I told everyone at my table that I wanted to win that prize – and I did! (I’m wearing it now, as a matter of fact.) I just love a cute t-shirt.

Bee Attitudes t-shirt

And, finally, there was the fact that I got to see Washington, D.C. with Brian and Brianna. I was totally, completely in awe. I tweeted or Facebooked or something at some point that I must be getting sentimental in my old age, but there was really nowhere that I would rather be at that particular moment in time.

Kris and Brian at White House

Are you ready for total transparency? Thursday morning, I was not excited about this trip at all. I’m such a homebody and I would have gladly just stayed home. Then, the people who were already at 2:1 started tweeting and I started getting excited. I had so. much. fun!

Sunday morning, as I was missing my church family, I was so blessed to be in a room full of women (and a few men) who were gathered together to worship God and I thought, “This is it. This is the heart of 2:1, and I love it.”

It was so powerful to be in a room full of people worshiping God because they love Him and that’s exactly where they want to be at that moment in time. And, I can’t wait to hang out with them again in 2014…in Chicago, y’all! I’ve never been to Chicago and I can’t wait!

I hope to meet some of you there next year!

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

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13 Comments

  1. This is my favourite weekly wrap up of yours I’ve ever read. Your enthusiasm is palpable, even on the screen! So glad you had a lovely weekend, and so weird to see the faces behind blogs I’ve read for years ALL IN ONE PICTURE!

  2. I loved reading about the Conference because it helped calm my nerves. I’m an introvert and was so nervous going to BEECH which had way less people than 2:1 but am thinking seriously about going to 2:1 in Chicago. Since you’re being transparent, I will be too. I had decided that I was just too scared to go. I’m a pretty small town girl and Chicago seems like such a huge city and the thought overwhelmed me until I read your first post about going with your husband. I told my husband about it and he said that if we could find someone to stay with the kids, he would come with me. So all because of you sharing, I might be there next year so thank you!

    1. I hope you’ll come if you can, Sharla. The ladies at 2:1 are so open, friendly, and welcoming. I think you’d have a great time.

  3. Makes me all happy and stuff seeing my photos in your post. 🙂
    It’s always hard to figure what to do in wake of a big tragedy like that, but I think a very God-honoring reaction is to appreciate happy times and family and friends even more. So hurray for a good week with your family, right down to the furry kids.

    1. I think that is a great perspective. Thank you for that. And thank you for being the fabulous 2:1 photographer!

  4. The conference sounds fabulous! I love the way you describe being on the panel (the excitement of talking about what you love without having to prepare a presentation) – it does sound fun!
    Thank you for hosting It’s A Wrap.
    Lucinda

  5. I’m so glad that you pushed your comfort level a little and ended up having a good time! I’m the same way… stuck in my same old, same old and when I do manage to try something new I’m usually glad I did! Have a happy weekend!

  6. So fantastic!
    I love that area. Lived there the longest I’ve lived anywhere. So much to see.
    Plus – being around that much love for homeschooling makes me somewhat jealous — and I also NEED that swag. Dangit! haha

    Blessings,
    Em

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