Richardson Ramblings: Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes

This past weekend we went to Lads to Leaders which was held at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. This was our first year to participate in Lads to Leaders - in years past we have participated in LTC (Leadership Training for Christ). Lads to Leaders is a program that prepares our youth and helps develop their overall leadership potential. It offers year round events that help the youth be more involved in the work of the church. Our youth have worked very hard over the last several months and all of their hard work paid off with MANY awards. It was a GREAT weekend! I always look forward to this weekend each year! I took a lot of pictures, and believe it or not, I did weed through some of them. But, as usual I will post way to many :)

When we got to the hotel Friday afternoon, Butler came to hang out with me and Courtney. He thinks we are cool. Or maybe he just likes to play games on my phone. Either way, we enjoyed him.

We ate at one of the restaurants in the hotel Friday night before the awards ceremony

Big kid table

Little kid table

The hotel had several trains set up around the atrium, and the little guys enjoyed watching them

Hailey and Courtney before the awards ceremony

The awards that were handed out Friday night were for pre-convention events, most were non-competitive. Most of our kids participated in several events such as GIFTS, PEARLS, Know the Books, Year-Round Bible Reading, Year-Round Song Leading, Good Samaritan (service work), Oral Bible Reading, etc.

Courtney and Hailey....being Courtney and Hailey

Receiving awards for Good Samaritan

Courtney receiving her award for PEARLS

The girls receiving their awards for GIFTS

the boys receiving their awards for GUARDS

This sign shows that we had 38 seats reserved for our congregation. I know we had at least 43 there at one time or another

Hailey and Courtney with their awards from Friday night

Saturday morning Courtney gave her speech. The speeches and songs of praise were divided up by grade. Little did I know Court was giving a FIRST place speech!!!

All of our girls that gave speeches. Each girl competed with other girls in their grade

We had a few minutes between speech and bible bowl. So we went back to the room. Butler came with us and we had a little egg hunt. I would hide them from him, and then he would want to hide them from me.

He had a little help from Courtney. They hid them in hard places!

Then it was time to head back to the convention center for Bible Bowl.

Colton, Bryson, Hailey and Courtney were one of 3 Bible Bowl teams we had

Courtney leading her song of praise

Our kids before the awards on Saturday night. For some reason, Reese is not in it - we had 23 kids there!

So very proud of our girls for getting 2nd place for group scrapbook!!

Ryan got 1st place in his grade for song leading!!

Hailey received 3rd place for 10th grade girls songs of praise

Courtney received 3rd place for 11th grade girls songs of praise

Autumn received the Bartimaeus award. This award is given to a special needs child who participates in an event. Autumn did not want to go on stage alone, so Courtney went with her.

and Autumn was SO EXCITED to get her trophy!

Courtney receiving her 1st place trophy for her speech. I was so excited while they were announcing it, that I couldn't get my camera to work to take a picture.

11th grade high scores for Bible Bowl

The elementary Bible Bowl team

The high school Bible Bowl team

After the awards ceremony

If I remember correctly, we had FIVE 1st place trophies. All the first place winners will compete in "Winners Circle" next year with other 1st place winners. We had many 2nd place and 3rd place winners as well!

Autumn with her trophy

Several of us stopped by the Java Roast for some ice cream before heading back to our rooms

Courtney made friends with this 19 year old boy from Freed Hardeman that just happens to know her brother. He was there all weekend passing out information about Freed. Maybe we will see him next weekend when we go to Tennessee.