I'd apologize, but really, coordinators at national finals are needed to do a million chores to assist. I've been judging, attending meetings, helping our kids (I hope!), fixing problems. I'm averaging 4-5 hours of sleep, as our our "leadership team," my son Chris and our intern, Holly Ruebsamen, who will finally check in later.

The last Coordinators' meeting just finished and here I am! We turned in our paperwork and we're waiting like everyone else for the Award Ceremony tomorrow morning.

It's a different kind of eagerness for me. It's personal for each child and parent. It's grinding for each teacher, because they have an investment in each student. But I have a piece in each student too. They may see them again. I may not. It's tough.

We had the two group documentaries (Jr. Group from TUCSON !!! YEAH--our first one in five years!) and a Sr. Group from Chandler qualify for finals. This was really exciting. We sat through all of the runoffs both days, so that we could see how they stacked up. Our opinion? They were solidly "in there." These were all good. I'd hate to be the judges. I don't know how anyone could select a winner.

And for the ones that didn't break, there are still many prizes coming tomorrow, including some new surprises I can't announce yet. I'll leave that tantalizing piece of information out there!

I'll try to write tomorrow if I can get a connection after the award ceremony and we'll get the emerging NHD leaders on the line tonight.

Thank you Tucson for some GREAT kids!