Book Convention day 2

Only two people left  a comment on yesterday's blog about what Christian authors they read. Does this mean the other 48 people don't read Christian books, are too shy to comment or were just bored by the post? Hmmm.

Today was day 2. Other than a visit by Bob and Larry, the convention really felt quiet and a bit boring. I don't know if any of you reading have ever gone, but in past years(but not the past 2-3) the floor was crowded, noisy and full of life. Bible Man came. The Penguins came. Hermie and Wormie came. The kids followed  them as they paraded around the convention floor. Christian performers sang during the day, Children's events were held at the booths and so on. I guess it's the economy, but it's not like that any more.

Publishing houses, book store owners and authors still come, but business is carried on in a more subdued way. The energy is missing.

Still, we got to talk to some favorite authors and other people today.

We started the day getting a signed DVD from the creator of Veggie Tales, Mike (I won't try  to put his last name with no cheat sheet, but you all know who he is).

And we got a photo with the veggies together. Yesterday we didn't do that.

Well, actually  the official ICRS photographer took one, and there we are in the top left picture of today's convention newspaper.

This is one of my favorite authors, Terri Blackstock. She writes solid suspense books.  If you're  looking  for a good read,try one of her books.  Brandilyn Collins is another good suspense writer, but she wasn't here this year. Of their books I'd recommend Predator (and if you have teens on internet, make them read it too!), Intervention, Deceit, Exposure and Dark Pursuit. The first two are by Terri and the other three by Brandilyn.  

This is Tricia Goyer, an author who is adopting some little ones from the state. 

We got Scripture tattoos.

I made these photos extra large so you could read the verses.

Karen Kingsbury signed a new picture book. She also announced that she and Kelsey  will be having  some greeting cards coming out with Dayspring next spring.

That's all the authors we got pictures with. We talked to a lot more like Robyn Caroll and Irene Hannon but I just didn't pull my camera out.

Tonight they had just a preview of the new Veggie  Tale Christmas DVD coming out in October. It is going to have Si from Duck Dynasty on it as Silas the Okra. For real. He was in the preview. I couldn't even make that up.

There was a premier showing of a Janette Oke movie that will be on Hallmark this fall and Jasmine lasted about 15 minutes of that. Yeah, yeah. Me too.

Then since the life of an author is so glamorous, we came back to our hotel room and had a hotdog (me) and a frozen dinner (heated up of course, Jasmine)

And then Jasmine practiced on her practice pad.

So that was our day.

Okay, so those of you who didn't say what you read,  do you watch Veggie Tales?  How long have you watched them and what's your favorite one. (And those who do read can leave comments too!)

Jasmine's favorite is The League of Incredible Vegetables. She's more or less grown up on them as have most of our kids.

Book Convention

TheInternational Christian Retail Show kicked off Sunday evening with a worship service led by Laura Story, Stephen Curtis Chapman and Max Lucado. Next there was a music showcase with a lot of new Christian musicians, but it didn't really get started until almost 10:00 so we only stayed for a little of it. It was hosted by Matthew West. Republican Rick Santorum spoke and so did Danny Goke from American Idol season 8.

Getting ready to register.

Monday morning kicked off with a  20th birthday celebration for Veggie Tales. 

Cake at 8:30 a.m.

Jasmine filling a bag for the homeless in St Louis.

Jasmine with the author of The Shack. He is one of the friendliness authors I've met (although I'm not actually a Shack fan). He signed book 2 today, and I have a friend who really wanted it.

You never know who you'll see at ICRS.

With Tosca Lee

Randy Singer

With Karen Kingsbury's daughter and SIL.

With Karen Kingsbury.

Singing her a song.

Getting a caricature done. A father and son team were both drawing them.

We volunteered Torry for it too. Who better for a caricature?

With Kathi Macias

It's a cutout advertising an upcoming book.

Randy Alcorn

Two long term Christian fiction writers-Lauraine Snelling and Lori Copeland.

We got books from a lot of other authors but didn't take pictures of all of them. 

We're back on the floor again early tomorrow. 

Who's your favorite Christian author? 

St Louis and Peanut Camp

Yesterday Jasmine and I went to Six Flags in St. Louis. We are not the best ones to be at this park because most of the rides are roller coasters and other rides that go upside down or have large drops. It's probably my age, but I get headaches too easily to do those rides, not that I'd want to be upside down anyway, and Jasmine just doesn't like them. But we found enough else to do.  

We did the Scooby Doo ride, two water rides on which we got drenched, and several others.  We went to two shows also. 

Here we are, brave adventurers on the train. They had a water park but it was a very hot day, and the water park was wall to wall people, so we decided it wouldn't be worth it.

Today we went to Grants Farm. It was packed too.

Feeding the goats is my favorite part.

We bought the fun pass that includes two bottles for the goats, a carousel ride and a snocone.

I don't actually like snocones, but I sucked the banana syrup out of it :)

We left when it started raining hard. It turned into a big storm after we got back to the hotel, and we had no electricity for two hours.

They posted  more camp photos, but there were none of  Kaleb. The photographer must be on Kayla's team and just take pictures of the other teams when she can get away. Or at least she certainly favors Kayla's team.

It looks like they took the kids to sing somewhere.

This is probably when they are taping the team presentation for the DVD.

Tonight is the commissioning when the first group of older kids is sent out to their countries. The little kids commission to go home and spread the good news. Rick, Jessica and Adam are there for it and to bring the twins home.

Jessica has had to deal with too much stuff at home while I've been gone. Some are taking advantage of me being gone either to do whatever they want and come in way too late or to do nothing and let Jessica do it all. Sometimes when I'm gone nothing gets done unless she does it :(  I will have to do something special for her when I get back. Other people are going to face the consequences of some things that happened while I was gone. But at least with her there, I know things will be taken care of. 

She will be home alone for a week while the rest head up to Indiana, and I think she is looking forward to a break from dealing with people. 

Book convention kicks off tomorrow night with the worship service and the music showcase.