Bible Bee Nationals Stories

Tell me if this is unnecessary, and I'll delete it. But I thought it would be fun to share our Nationals stories. What I mean by that is anything you want to say about Nationals - whether it's a whole big long story from the time you boarded the plane to SA to the time you boarded the plane back - or just little tidbits that you'd like to share - you're welcome to do so here!

I'll post mine. This is really, really long, so I'll keep posting more and more of it as I work on it. I've only written the first part, but here it is, if anyone wants to read it!
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After months of hard studying, we left on our trip to Nationals on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. We had previously chosen – or let God choose – who was going to Nationals. The way we allowed God to choose was this: Mom and Dad came up with 6 different options of who would go. We wrote them down on a piece of paper and numbered them. The options were:
1) Everyone goes
2) No one goes
3) Dad stays home with Moriah
4) Mom stays home with Moriah
5) Dad takes Hannah and Caleb
6) Mom takes Hannah and Caleb
We rolled a die, and it landed on 5, meaning Dad would take Caleb and me. So, that Tuesday morning, we packed our stuff and crammed a little more! Tuesday afternoon, I had orchestra practice along with my younger brother and sister. As soon as we got home, around 4:30, the whole house flew into action. We crammed all our luggage in the back of the van, and the whole family started out for our friends’ house.
Some of our friends were also going to Nationals, since one of their children qualified for Nationals. Our whole family was going over to their house for dinner, and then everyone but Dad, Caleb and me would leave. We three that stayed slept down in the basement at our friends’ house, since we were flying with them to San Antonio at 6:00 the next morning. We all had to get up around 3:45 AM, so that we would have time to drive to the airport, go through security, and board the plane.
Needless to say, I had a very hard time going to sleep that night. I finally fell asleep around 11:00, but woke back up about 1:30. I tried to sleep some more, knowing that I’d need it, but I found it impossible. I finally quietly got out of bed and went to the other side of the basement, away from the beds. I was full of energy and not tired at all, and felt that I needed to do something active, so I stretched and began doing gymnastics. Yes, you read it right – at 2:00 in the morning, I was in our friend’s basement, cartwheeling and front-walkovering and flipping and rolling all over the place.
After a little exercise, I went over to the nightlight which our friends had left on for us, grabbed a book out of my bag, and began to read by the dim light. For a while, I alternated reading and doing gymnastics, until Dad woke up around 3:00. No, I did not wake him up. :P
We figured it would be at least 30 minutes before our friends awoke, but they had left the light to the basement stairs on (the basement had a door that kept out the light.) I went up there and sat on the stairs to read for a while, until I heard three alarm clocks go off, almost all at the same time. Our friends came out of their rooms a few minutes later. After a quick breakfast of muffins and granola bars, we were off to the airport! I talked and talked and talked to my friend the whole way there. She thought I was very energetic for 4:00 in the morning.
After going through security and waiting a while, we boarded the plane. I was excited, but also a little nervous – this was my first flight. We had a layover in Nashville and we ate lunch at the airport there, but it still didn’t seem like very long before I heard the pilot announce, “Welcome to San Antonio!” I about freaked out. It was so hard to stay sitting still in my seat until the plane was stopped and we were allowed to get out of our seats. After renting a car, we drove to the JW Marriott Hotel. I was so excited.

I think this thread is a great idea Hannah! I love hearing about others experiences at nationals!

I already posted this on the Google hangout, but here's a funny story from Nats. xD I'll probably post more stories later :)

Sooo my mom sent me to Starbucks to get her some coffee. I went up, and ordered a mocha. Well… apparently there is a difference between a mocha, and a mocha frappuchino, because what the man gave me was NOT what my mom wanted. The Starbucks man was really nice, and helped me translate into "coffee language" what it was she actually wanted, and gave me the other thing for free. My mom ended up drinking both, but if she didn't I was gonna see if Rachel C wanted the mocha. xD Moral of the story, there's a difference between a mocha and mocha frappuchino xD

The second part of my story - enjoy!
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As soon as we got into the hotel, we saw Bible Bee friends. Caleb and I went over and began talking with them while Dad registered us in the hotel. After a few minutes of chatting, we went upstairs and got settled into our rooms. Next we registered for Bible Bee. While we were registering, I saw a girl that I knew – at least I thought I did. I smiled at her, trying to get her attention. Oh, I got her attention, all right. She looked at me like I was really weird. I smiled again, hoping she would recognize me. She didn’t. I felt really stupid. :P However, when we got to the place she was helping out at, she did recognize me and said “Caleb and Hannah Wright? Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” I just kinda stood awkwardly and was like “Hi…..” :P
When it was suppertime, we drove with our friends to a restaurant called Chili’s. After eating, we went back to the hotel. After attending the BB meeting thing that we had to go to and meeting several more online friends, we went to our rooms. Dad suggested that Caleb and I try on our Bible Bee T-shirts and golf shirts to make sure we had the right size. Good thing he did, too! I tried on my golf shirt, and it fit fine. Then I took out the t-shirt – the one I had to wear the next morning – and tried it on. It was two sizes too big!
I quickly told Dad. We realized it was 8:55 – and Bible Bee Headquarters closed for the day at 9:00! We ran downstairs as fast as we could, and just barely made it in time. We explained that something had gone wrong. They checked for shirts that were my size, but couldn’t find any more. They did find one that was only one size too big, and I took it. Better too big than way too big! :P
We went back upstairs and just spent the rest of the evening studying and making sure that everything was ready to go in the morning.

My story— the First Year!
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So there was nothing too fancy, and I don't remember that well, but: So we all went—Mom, Dad, Me (Arabelle), Kasana, Tesa, and Seanan (Shon-an). We packed a lot, but finally the day and moment came when we left, and my sisters and I (he was too little at the time) played on the tablet. After little while had to review, didn't want to. Had to, so did, but not much. Had to do more, then played on tablet. Pattern went on the rest of the day. Then we stopped at a hotel (but not the hotel) for the night. that was Day 1. See Day 2 in next part!

Ok, so on Day 2….

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We got up and I believe that some of us had some things downstairs for breakfast. We then loaded the stuff we unpacked, took some lollipops, and we were off! Everything was packed and our seat belts were buckled, the tablet in someones hands—and if I remember correctly, I had to study first! Again, had to review, didn't want to. Had to, so did, and mabye did a little more. Then a tablet break. Then study. More study. Lots of tablet. A little study, but lots of whining and complaining. By then, it had started to get dark. After some painful verses, I played on the tablet for a while. Then, had to go bathroom outside and I'm a girl! Finally, we were pretty close. I remember waiting in traffic, under a bridge, listening to There Were 2 Trees. So after a while, we finally reached the hotel. Then, as we waited around, I talked to some Juniors and Seniors. Finally, we went inside. While waiting to be checked in, my sisters and I talked to a Senior. Then, we went to our rooms and got ready for bead. We were so tired and were glad to sleep…….see next post— Nationals.

I will get the next part on soon!!!!!!!!!

Nationals!!!
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So we got up and got ready for the first round. After awhile I was called to recite. I had to "pass" the last one they asked me. After everyone recited, we were made to sit in the one room that you go to for important things. I would have been bored had I not had so many friends! After the looooooooooooooooooong wait, we did the computer test. Then I went back to my room, though I think I played games first. That evening, we practiced for the next morning. The next morning, I went up onstage for the Semi-Finalists to be announced. I didn't make it. I placed 40th or 40-something. I don't remember the rest of the day. The next day we watched junior Semi-Finals. The day after we watched Finals for all the divisions. Next day, I believe we left…..time for the next post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great stories everyone!