Is it Thursday already?

Sorry it has been a while since we have blogged! We have been a pretty busy but that is a great thing right? Yesterday was an awesome eventful filled day! Wednesday we were up and on the move by 9am and headed to the convention center to register for the Gathering. The kids were passing groups left and right, Lucas Manke at the front asking everyone where they are from and giving out high fives left and right! We went to the river walk mall for some lunch- some ventured out and got some good old New Orleans shrimp Po'boys and red beans and rice, while other stuck to the familiar favorites of Italian or chicken fingers. Regardless there were a lot of options! Pastor Peter led us on a walking tour of the city. We saw the Cathedral,Jackson square,Cafe Du Mond, bourbon street, and canal street. It was a hot one but everyone was such a trooper! We gave the kids the afternoon for some down time at the pool or naps or meeting new people in our hotel! We walked the whole two blocks to champion square, right outside the dome for dinner. Lines were long but they had some good vendors and entertainment! We headed into the dome for what I think was the highlight of the day! The energy of 36,000 people....no, LUTHERANS was simply incredible! They had everyone dancing the cha cha slide! Agape performed for us, along with the house band throughout the evening! Our speakers included the Bishop of the Texas-Louisiana synod, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and Mark Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. All the while we were rocking in the dome, there was a pretty serious storm occurring outside. They held us there till it passed. It was a fund run home in the rain.... Thank goodness we are only 2 blocks away! All in all a great day.... I will work on getting pictures uploaded later this afternoon. We are having such a blast! 'til next time! Pastor Mollie