Updates

Life has been busy at the Leffler household. Jared and I got back Sunday night from a leadership conference with my team in Dallas, TX. What an amazing time to get to spend together and with the wonderful people I work with.

I'll be honest, I wasn't thrilled to be going at the beginning. Why you might ask...well:

1. I HATE flying! Now for those of you who know me really well and know all the traveling I've done you might think that statement is incorrect....it's not...you read it right. All it took was one bad flight and honestly I'd be ok with never flying again.

2. I don't like leaving Shy and Chan for long periods of time. Crazy...I know, but really they're my kids right now.

3. I had so much to get done at work. Having a major tour start in March equals tons and tons of orders and letters to get out.

4. I don't really like getting out of my daily routine. I love my home and my bed....hotels just aren't the same.

5. I knew that when I got to the conference I'd have to get out of my comfort zone and meet a lot of people face to face that I only knew through email.

But I went and I'm so thankful I did. God was in this conference from the moment we stepped on the plane in Colorado Springs to the moment we landed back in Colorado Springs.

1. Both flights we were on were incredibly smooth and we were able to sit together at the front

of the plane (I don't do well in the back of the plane).

2. Shy and Chan did really well with the new dog sitter. No acting out, no potty messes, no keeping him up all night crying.

3. Work was still waiting for me when I got in on Monday morning, but I have been able to plow through and keep the stress level to a minimum.

4. I'm slowing getting back into the daily routine. Dinners are still hit and miss but it's coming.

5. I can't say enough about the people at the conference. Amazing men and women with such a heart for Compassion and the volunteer work they do. Wonderful conversations, lots of laughing and serious discussions. We all left with a renewed vision for Compassion and passion for the work we do.

We were privileged to have the Aaron Ivey Band lead us in worship while we were out there. They were great! Aaron and the band have such a heart for Haiti and adoption and the work that Compassion does. I would encourage you to listen to some of their music....they won't disappoint!

We had our very own team member Jim Ed Hardaway lead our session on Sunday morning. This guy has the gift of speaking. He was so honest in what he had to say and didn't sugar coat his struggles in life. He was so real and at the same time encouraging to get through those rough patches in life.

It was great!

Now we've been trying to get back into the swing of things just in time for Jared to take off next week for a training in Atlanta.

Still going strong with no Starbucks. I even managed to resist Monday morning when Jared stopped at Starbucks to get a mocha before work. Woo hoo!!

-AKL