Thirty-One Conference Road Trip

  • Post category:Vacation
  • Reading time:3 mins read

A couple of years ago, Stacy was looking for a way to make a little extra money to help out with our finances while still being able to be home with James. While she hasn’t made enough for me to become a stay-at-home dad, she has done fairly well as a Thirty-One consultant. One of the goals she set for herself was to attend the annual Thirty-One conference in Columbus, Ohio, and pay for the entire trip with money she earned from commissions. I’m so proud of her for setting her sights on something, working hard, and accomplishing it…while still giving James the excellent care she always has.

My sister recently joined Thirty-one underneath Stacy and she went with us. Although we warned her, I don’t think she was quite prepared for being in a car when most people are home sleeping in their beds. James travels better at night so we left on Thursday night July 27th at about 10 pm and made it to the hotel in Columbus by 5:30 am. We made some pretty good time. One of the benefits of driving at night is that there is very little traffic around the major cities. The last hour or so of the trip was a little rough on James. He slept for most of the drive, but woke up around 4:15 am, and started kicking up secretions, getting all gunky, and needing frequent suctioning. Once we got to the hotel and he was able to get some belly time, he was fine.

James and I spent most of the trip in the hotel room watching TV while Stacy and my sister were at the conference, but we did get out for food and wander around the convention center a bit.

 

Several bags sit on a light wooden floor, arranged as if packed and ready to go. The group includes a black‑and‑white polka‑dot bag, a colorful geometric‑patterned backpack, a gray bag with James' suction machine and tubing resting on top, a black‑and‑white chevron bag, and a paisley‑patterned bag with blue straps. Wooden chairs and a power cord are visible in the background.
All packed for our weekend adventure. How many Thirty-One bags can you count?

 

Inside a vehicle at night, Stacy, sitting in the front seat, takes a selfie, their face softly lit by the car’s interior light. In the back seat, James rests with sunglasses on and a striped neck pillow around his neck, surrounded by blankets and travel items. The dim lighting and relaxed posture create a calm, nighttime‑on‑the‑road feeling.
July 27th at 9:50 pm: Waiting for Daddy so we can start our road trip to Ohio

 

James and Stacy sit indoors beside a table covered with a red‑and‑white checkered tablecloth. James is in a wheelchair with supportive head and neck padding, wearing a light blue shirt with bold text on the front. Stacy sits close at their side in a bright pink shirt, gently holding his hand. Behind them is a white brick wall, a doorway, and a yellow‑and‑black checkered floor, giving the scene the feel of a cozy, everyday café or restaurant moment shared between the two.
James and Stacy waiting to eat

 

Stacy, James, and Jeff pose together outdoors at night beside a tall pink banner with "thirty-one" in white cursive lettering. James sits in a wheelchair while Stacy and Jeff kneel on either side, all smiling toward the camera. Behind them are an outdoor seating area, a building with lit windows, and trees illuminated by artificial light, giving the scene a lively, urban nighttime atmosphere.
Family picture outside the Greater Columbus Convention Center

 

A bronze statue of a muscular figure in a classic bodybuilding pose stands on a stone base engraved with the name “ARNOLD.” James sits in his wheelchair In front of of the statue, looking upward. The scene is outdoors at night, with trees, building lights, and a wall in the background, giving the moment a dramatic, spotlight‑on‑the‑legend feel.
James with the Arnold Schwarzenegger statue outside of the Greater Columbus Convention Center

 

James and Stacy pose beside a large open book display set up indoors. The book’s pages are covered in handwritten messages, and the printed center text reads “EVERYONE has a STORY” with a smaller line below inviting attendees to leave their mark on the 2017 conference. James sits in a wheelchair, while Stacy kneels beside him, smiling. Behind the display are partitioned walls and event signage, giving the scene the feel of a conference or community gathering focused on sharing experiences.
Everyone has a story. I am here to share James’ story with the World.

 

Stacy and her sister-in-law smile for a selfie indoors, holding a white speech‑bubble sign that reads “I ❤️ My Team.” Behind them are large pink and white event signs with partially visible text, set against a brightly lit conference space with patterned flooring.
Stacy with my sister at the Thirty-One Conference

 

Sunday morning, we packed up and headed back to Chicago. We decided to drive home during the day for two reasons: I had to work and James had school on Monday; and we figured that we could stop every few hours to give James some belly time in the van. He did good.

Leaving Sunday morning also allowed us to make a stop at Young’s Jersey Dairy for some ice cream per a friends recommendation. In addition to excellent ice cream, which James unfortunately couldn’t have, they had a little petting zoo so there was fun for all of us.

 

A large dairy farm complex sits under a sunny sky with scattered clouds. Several tall silos rise behind a cluster of barns and white buildings, including one with “Young’s Jersey Dairy” on the front. The foreground features a grassy area with picnic tables, benches, and decorative cow cutouts arranged for visitors. An American flag flies atop one of the silos, and the overall scene blends working‑farm structures with a welcoming, family‑friendly atmosphere.
Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm

 

James, sitting in his wheelchair, reaches toward a goat through a wooden fence. The goat, with a brown‑and‑white coat, stretches its head between the slats to meet the hand. James is wearing a purple shirt, a red cap with a blue star‑patterned band, and an orange wristband. The ground is dirt, and the setting feels like an outdoor petting‑zoo area, capturing a gentle interaction between the two.
Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm petting zoo

 

A small brown calf stands inside a fenced pen with a red wooden barrier and metal grid. It lowers its head to eat from a rectangular trough set on straw‑covered ground. In the foreground, James, wearing a red hat watches the calf. Other people are visible in the softly lit background, giving the scene the feel of an indoor petting‑zoo area.
Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm petting zoo

 

James in his wheelchair wearing a red, white, and blue visor and a purple shirt sits in front of a fenced animal enclosure. The fence is made of red wooden posts with wire mesh. Inside the pen, several goats stand on straw‑covered ground. Other visitors are nearby, including someone in a blue shirt and jeans and another in a bright pink outfit. The scene feels like a busy, friendly petting‑zoo area with people gathered to see the animals.
Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm petting zoo

 

James, Stacy and her sister-in-law pose behind a painted cutout board at a farm‑themed attraction, each with their face placed in a cartoon cow character. The left cow wears blue overalls and holds a drink cup, the middle cow wears a green dress and holds a sign, and the right cow wears a yellow shirt and red shorts while holding an ice cream cone. Behind the board is a red barn with white trim and a metal roof, along with farm equipment, giving the scene a cheerful, family‑friendly atmosphere.
Being silly at Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm

 

A dark metal roadside memorial sign with gold lettering stands beside a grassy area near a highway. Our red minivan is parked close by. The sign features a blue star emblem and honors the U.S. Armed Forces. Behind it, cars move along the road under a partly cloudy sky, with trees and open space framing the scene. The overall moment feels like a brief stop during a trip, taking in a historical marker along the way.
At a rest stop so James could get some belly time

 

After we got home, Stacy put together a dream board. On the board she put her name badge from the conference and the pins she’s earned over the past couple of years. In the middle she put a little note that reads “Director 2018”. That’s the goal she set for herself. By the time the 2018 conference rolls around, she wants to be a director. I have faith that she’ll do it. When she puts her mind to it, she goes out and gets it.

 

A dark gray fabric display board is covered with colorful pins, ribbons, and a name badge. Along the bottom, the words “Working it” are embroidered in red thread. On the left side are several round achievement pins with numbers and motivational phrases, plus a pink llama‑themed pin. Near the center, a small green arrow‑shaped tag reads “Director 2018.” On the right, a name badge for “Stacy Fulkerson, Consultant” is attached to a long vertical stack of ribbons in various colors, each labeled with titles or milestones such as “Consultant,” “Illinois,” “First Conference,” “Simply Blessed,” “$10,000,” “Dream Reward,” “Earner,” and “I gave to give.” The arrangement looks like a celebratory collection of accomplishments from a professional event.
Stacy’s Dream Board