I know I originally said that I was going share how I survived 24 hrs. with 17 teenage girls … but it was 19 teenage girls!  There was 19 girls and 7 chaperones … not a bad ratio, but an adventure was had!

Let’s start from the beginning ……… We left Friday, close to 5pm. On the road to Philadelphia!  I should up to the church with my Dunkin’ Donuts coffee … Fabulous Kelli asks, “Didn’t you get me one?”  Opps, I assumed she would’ve stopped and got one … she always has a coffee in her hand!  I wasn’t such a Fabulous friend at the particular moment in time.  Now we’re on the road … We hit traffic in Allentown (like that surprised us!) and then traffic on the Turnpike (don’t have to be a genius to figure that one out!).  In other words, we didn’t arrive by 7pm for the beginning of the event.  The girls remembered that the past 3 years we always show up late, due to traffic … so who am I to break tradition!  So, for the 4th year in a row, we up held the tradition of showing up late!!!

We’re on the PA Turnpike and we hear … I have to go to the bathroom … you don’t make that announcement when you’re on the turnpike!  There’s no where to turn off or pull over.  Thank the good Lord it wasn’t an emergency!  When we were finally able to pull off, we stopped at a gas station.  Yes, the bathroom was not the best, but it served it’s purpose.  The weird thing about this bathroom was that you had to put a quarter in this silver box thing and turn the big silver lever and then the door would open. Very odd, so I took a picture of the sign on the door … thinking no one would believe us if we told them.  At this point, now 3 of them have to use the bathroom.  Wanting to conserve our funds … we used one quarter for 3 people.  So when one was done you couldn’t let the door slam shut or you would have to put more money in.  With that odd event done, we’re back on the Turnpike, heading to Philly.

Speaking of the Turnpike …. just so everyone knows - I’m vertically challenged.  Yes, I’m short.  Only 5′3″ …. actually 5′2 3/4″, but I like to round up that 1/4″ to 5′3″ … I wear a lot of heals!! With that piece of information shared … when ever we pulled up to the tolls on the Turnpike, I had to unbuckle my seatbelt … attempt to lean out the window & grab the ticket.  By the way, leaning out the window didn’t work … I then had to open the door, stand on the running board and get on my tip-toes and reach for that little piece of paper.  Yes, it’s embarrassing!  Now with Fab Kelli being my co-pilot .. announces that she has the arm length to just reach out & get it.  Fab Kelli is like 5′9 or 5′10 … I’m a little jealous!!  Either way, everyone got a good laugh at me going through this like at least 4 times.

We finally arrive at the arena …. the group heads in.  I go up to the nice guy collecting our tickets and hand him the stack.  No, I did not rip them apart … just handed him 25 tickets still attached to each other.  He was a sweet guy and did not seem to mind that I did that to him.  So, he very nicely said everyone just head in while I rip the tickets … he rips them and hands them back to me and says enjoy yourselves ladies!  Now, you are all saying “Wait a minute!  You just typed 25 tickets and up top you said 19 girls and 7 adults!”  I know 19 + 7 = 26 … yes, 26 were in our group.  Yes, we only had 25 tickets!!!  (Unfortunately, the Revolve Tour shorted us a ticket! We ordered 26 & paid for 26, but only received 25.)  We realized this once we got in & I started to hand out the tickets to the girls for their seats.  That means I had to stand for over 2 hours & watch the show from the concourse that night.  Did I mind, No … it’s all about the kids! As long as they had a great time, I was happy!  Now the problem is, we had to produce these tickets the next day to get back in!!  We figured we would deal with that bridge the next day when we had to cross it!

After the show we head to the church that was generously opening it’s doors to us, to let us stay there (to help us save money, so we did not have to pay for a hotel).  This church was so much more than we expected!!  It was amazing!! The woman that opened the church up for us was the sweetest woman around … Joanne you rocked!!!  It turns out that our group was the 1st group to use their new fellowship hall!  What an honor!  Joanne shared with us that the congregation wrote scripture on the tiles, before the new carpet was laid down … we were sleeping on God’s word, pretty awesome!  Joanne leaves (locks us in the church) and goes home to her nice warm bed.  Most of the girls brought air matresses, some brought regular sleeping bags.  Remember my oldest daughter is on this trip, so she has her adult sleeping bag.  I have my 6 year olds sleeping bag & 7 year olds comforter.  Yes, my Kindergarteners sleeping bag (a youth sleeping bag, which I didn’t fit in) that has care bears on it and my 2nd graders Cinderella comforter.  I did bring my own pillow, which had snowmen all over it … it matched the snowman pajama’s I had on.  Everyone got a chuckle out of me.  My snowman pj’s was no match for Fab Kelli’s pj’s with coffee cups all over them!!  I need to get me some of them!! ( I wonder if Dunkin’ Donuts has pj’s??)  Anyway, I didn’t sleep … being in a strange place with 19 kids that you’re responsible for doesn’t make for the ideal sleeping time.  On top of all this our cell phones do not work inside the building!!  (another reason why I didn’t sleep!)  All was good!

We get up in the morning …. you now have 26 females using 2 bathrooms!! Don’t ask me how we did it, but we all got ready in an hour and 15 minutes (that included eating breakfast too)!!!  That’s a miracle!!!  Remember, I did tell you all in my last post that this is an amazing group of girls!!!  We pack up and leave this very generous church and head back to the arena.

We arrive at the arena … I collect all the girls tickets and stack them together and then we bombard the ticket guy (more like we rushed him)!!  I hand him the stack of tickets, have all the girls start walking in, he starts to count the tickets, I make small talk with him (yes, I was trying to distract him!) … we’re in!!  They all take their seats and I assume my position on the concourse again.  Fortunately, after the 1st break a few seats by our group were empty … so I finally snagged a seat!!!

What I forgot to mention is that I’ve been without coffee ALL DAY!!!  That’s be a crime!!!  We did keep count how many Dunkin’ Donuts we passed … like 10!!  Note to self, bring you’re own coffee pot & Dunkin’ Donuts grounds next year!!!

The event is over & now we’re heading for dinner … Wendy’s!!! It was a nice way to end the trip … everyone sharing a meal together!  We’re back on the road and Fab Kelli & I can no longer take it … we had to do a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru!  We did this in a 15 person passenger van!!  Finally, with coffee in hand and doughnuts for the girls … we make our last leg of the trip!

We arrive back at the church … remember I said these girls are amazing … they cleaned out all the garbage in the van and cleaned it up for us!!!  Yes, they did this without being asked!!!  They rock!!

An AMAZING time was had and the girls are excited for next year!  They were even happy that the venue is going back to Temple University … they asked if I would take them next year & I said, it would be my pleasure!  I’m uploading pictures to Flickr tomorrow!!

God has truly worked in these ladies lives this weekend!!  It was my pleasure and honor to spend 24 hours of my life with them!!

May God continue shower them with blessings!

The Domestic Mom