Wow!!

Night one is in the books and boy was it amazing!

We arrived at our hotel around 3:30pm. The kids did a great job following instructions for getting off buses and getting into their rooms. Another huge thank you to my wonderfully kind and generous chaperones for helping with that process!

Back on buses at 5, with our Jimmy Johns, to head downtown. Took awhile to get into the stadium. But once we got in and For King and Country took the stage it was incredible! They are such amazing musicians and their music is super fun. Check them out if you have a chance. I do have some videos on my Facebook page l.

Beautiful reflection on the Road to Emmaus followed by prayer. 

Got back to hotel. Had snacks, kids chatted with their group leaders and in their rooms by 11:45.

Tomorrow we are loading buses at 8am.

Posting some pictures - I’ll keep adding as we go!

Peace,

Annie 

 

We are on the road!

Good morning! 

We are on the road and I have to say thanks to all the families of our students because everyone was ON TIME this morning and loading buses went incredibly well! Thanks to our adult chaperones for stepping in to help check kids in and help put bags under the bus.

Thanks to Deacon Ray Larsen and Deacon Brad Kneeland for blessing our buses before we departed.

We are currently about to Bloomington and will be stopping for food soon. I’m on bus 15 and our bus driver, Sheri, is awesome! We made a quick stop at a as station and I challenged my kids to be done in 25 minutes or less and I would give them each $1 - they were back on the bus in 18 minutes. Guess I need to get some $1’s!!

Will try to update and go live once we hit Lucas Oil Stadium tonight you see FOR KING AND COUNTRY! 

Come, Holy Spirit!

Annie 

One Day More!!!!

If you know the musical “Les Miserables” you will understand this title and perhaps even sang a little bit when you read it.

Today is the day I start to get emotional about NCYC. Knowing we are just hours away from what I hope will be a life changing experience has me in tears at 7:04am!

Although I have lots of stuff to do today, I will make some time to pray in the chapel at Columbus and ask God to open our hearts to His presence this weekend. I will bring the list of teens and adult faith leaders with me so I can remember why I have worked so hard to make this trip happen - it is all for these teens! I will pray that they experience Christ in a totally new and unexpected way at NCYC. 

The road to Emmaus story comes to mind every time we prepare for NCYC. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” I think we are like those disciples on that road. We are on a journey. We will meet many people along the way. Will we know Jesus if He’s walking beside us? I think we will. I think our hearts will be burning - I know mine already is. 

I ask that you pray for our group and all teens and adults traveling to NCYC. We will be praying for you!

Come, Holy Spirit!

~Annie 

3 DAYS!!!!!

I AM SO EXCITED!
After more than a year of planning for NCYC 2019 - it is almost time!!!

Trip participants - a couple things:
1. Please be at ST.EDS by 5:45am on Thursday
2. Bus and hotel lists will be sent out via email by Wednesday at 5pm (if you signed up for a room then that is who you are rooming with. Buses are seniors on bus 15, juniors on bus 14, some sophomores on bus 13 and all freshmen and some sophomores on bus 12. Reminder that the bus ride is a VERY small part of the experience. Bus assignments cannot be changed per rules of the bus company. 

PARENTS - please help reinforce this. EVERYONE is with

 their friends on a bus!

3. PACK YOUR SHIRTS/HATS/TRADE ITEMS. Wear whatever on the bus. Blue shirts on Friday. Maroon shirts on Saturday. Comfortable shoes!
4. Looks like 40-50 degrees with a chance of rain a few days in Indy. Packing an umbrella or even better a cheap poncho might be smart. FYI - 20,000 people carrying umbrellas seems like someone might get their eye poked so if you bring an umbrella, please be careful and remember YOU have to carry it all day.
5. Bring a bag to carry water bottles, snacks, etc. We leave hotels at 7:30am and won't return until 10pm or later each night.
6. GET EXCITED AND BRING YOUR BEST ATTITUDE WITH YOU!
7. Download the NCYC 2019 app. It now available for both apple and android phones.
8. Have you joined our Remind text group. If not - text: @ncyc20192 to the number: 81010

If you are following this blog and are not a parent/NCYC teen, please pray for us! And please watch along at home! Our morning and evening general sessions will be livestreamed. http://www.ncyc.info/livestream  Morning sessions are from 7:30am-10:45am EASTERN TIME. Evening sessions are 7:30pm-11:00pm EASTERN TIME. It will give you a look at what we are experiencing!

Please pray for us as head to Indy on Thursday. We will be praying for all our family and friends back home!!

Here is a great photo from NCYC 2017

PEACE!
Annie

We are SO CLOSE!!

Holy cow it is crunch time!

NCYC is just over 2 weeks away and I am so excited! More than a year of work is almost done and soon we will be loading buses and heading to Indianapolis.

As you can imagine, there are still lots of details to take care of, so I’m very busy until we leave. If you need to contact me, email, text or message me on Remind. 

The goal is have all your goodie bags done by Monday the 11th. CHS kids listen to the announcements for pick up instructions. West kids, I’ll bring your bags to school some day next week. I’ll let you know what day!

If you go to East or CF, I’ll text you to make arrangements to get your stuff to you.

Remember to make getting to mass a priority the next few weekends. Also, make time for prayer! Our hearts need to be open to how God is calling us. This trip can change your faith life if you let it!

Go to: www.ncyc.info and click the  “schedule” tab to start looking at workshops. If you can make a plan ahead of time - it will help you be less overwhelmed.

I cannot wait to share this experience with you all! NCYC is the BEST part of my job and I can’t wait for us to be Blessed, Broken and Given.

Peace!

Annie 

 

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!

It’s the final countdown!! (I hope you sang that!)

I need to see you all before we leave. Group meetings are set for the following days. All meetings are at BLESSED MARIA at 6:30pm. 

Tuesday, Oct. 22

Wednesday, Oct. 23

Monday, Oct. 28

Monday, Nov. 4

All high school youth and a parent are REQUIRED to attend ONE of these meetings. It is highly important as this is the last time I’ll see most of you before we leave and there is A LOT of important information I need to share with you. I promise to get you out in 45 minutes.

Please bring $15 CASH per person to the meeting. This will cover evening snacks, tips for our bus drivers and our hotel housekeeping staff. I will have envelopes for you at the meetings.

If you are behind on payments - I really need you to get caught up as soon as possible. I can take your money at the meetings - we can even take credit card payments for a fee of $3.00 per transaction. It is important that everyone be paid in full by November 21st. 

Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Email me with questions: anniezeets@gmail.com

Peace, 

Annie 

33 Days to Indy!

I'm baaaack!

Can you believe NCYC 2019 is just 33 days away???

I am working on getting trade items ready, t-shirts ordered, a snack plan for each night at the hotel, bus lists, first aid kids and lots of other small things that need to happen before we hit the road to Indy.

As we begin to prepare for this journey, I hope you are adding prayer into your daily life and getting to mass each weekend. Our hearts must be open if we have any hope of encountering Christ at NCYC 2019. He will be there, ready to embrace you in His arms if you are ready!

Please feel free to share this blog with family and friends. I will be updating as we get ready for our journey and while we are in Indianapolis.

I ask that you pray for our group of 161 teens and 39 adult faith mentors (largest group in the Archdiocese of Dubuque!) as we get ready for NCYC 2019! We will be praying for you too!

Peace,
Annie