Monday, January 26, 2009

I Wish There Were Enough Words...

This weekend, I went to Atlanta for the recording of Travis Cottrell's new album. I was meeting up with several friends who I have met thanks to the LPM blog and was planning on having a fun weekend. Little did I know how fun.

Ok. Now you know where I was, which means that it's time for me to attempt to coherently put together sentences that could possibly describe the awesomeness of the weekend. I'm on an"information overload / sleep deprivation / I witnessed Heaven on earth / I laughed so much that I'm sore today / I have wonderful, amazing friends" kind of high.

So here are some details.

Saturday night was a fantastic Italian dinner (with a cutie pie waiter named Floyd and a overly grumpy manager who wouldn't let us switch tables, pull up a chair to our existing table, etc.). Then it was back to the hotel for some deep down laughter. You know, the kind of laughter that most people don't do that often, but when you get a chance to, you realize how much you love it and how sore your stomach muscles are afterwards.

Sunday was filled with 2 church services back to back at the largest church I have ever been inside of in my entire lifetime. FBC Woodstock, you did not disappoint. After the services, we went to a room where we were having a catered lunch (yum). There was also a chocolate fountain. Pause for a moment of silence.

...

K. As we were sitting and eating lunch, we were surprised by a very special person, especially to all of us. Her name is Beth Moore. You might have heard of her before. She hung out with us for about 30 minutes before her jam slam packed schedule sent her elsewhere. It was an amazing blessing to get to visit with her for a little while.

After the lunch, we all flocked back to the ginormous sanctuary for the concert - which was the reason we were there. Doors opened, I got a FRONT ROW SEAT (yesssssss!), and the concert began.

Travis Cottrell, along with his band and praise team were joined by the FBCW choir (about 400 members) and orchestra.

Y'all.

They BROUGHT IT. They were recording the concert for CD and DVD, so there were lights and power point shows and Travis wearing makeup. They sang 15 songs. Most of them were brand new, a few of them were familiar (Jesus Saves, In Christ Alone, Mercy Seat), and some were new orchestrations of old faves - my favorite being a ROCK version of Victory in Jesus. The choir was amazing. We were worshipping and started to forget the zillion cameras and Travis in makeup. Then, Angela Cruz, one of Travis' Praise Team members, sang Mercy Seat. The Holy Spirit was already very evident throughout the concert. But during that particular song, the mood changed. We got a glimpse of heaven. From that point forward, the level of worship intensified times 10. It.Was.Awesome. Travis, if you and your make-up wearing self happen to read this, THANK YOU. Job well done, my friend. The Siestas were VERY proud of our Miesta. I pre-ordered the CD and DVD and will now sit on pins and needles until they are shipped to my house sometime in the unknown future. I also have told 2 friends and both of my parents that they WILL BE buying the CD when it comes out. I will be your unofficial marketing director because I am making it my mission to get this CD out to as many people as I can. It's gonna be that good and He will receive so much glory through it.

Gayle (my roommate and travel companion for the weekend) and I left after the concert and headed straight home. My level of tired today is unprecedented. Whoa I'm going to bed early tonight.

To my Siestas, Fran, Mary, Kim, Deborah, Melanie, Patty, Stephanie, Nesha, Lavonda, Gayle, Sheryl (Cheryl?), Nikki, Tammy, Tammy - aka Inga :), Lisa, Deedra, Charlotte, Abby (even though you weren't technically here - we still had Stick Abby), Sophie, Melanie, and Melissa I adore you. Your friendship means the world to me. I am a better person because of your example, your guidance, your hilarity, and your love for our Father. I hope we can hang out soon. I hope we can all go to the beach together this summer. And I SO hope we are all neighbors in Heaven. Because CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL THE LAUGHING FOR ETERNITY!?!? Sweet.

18 comments:

Cheryl said...

Just wanted to stop by and say hi! I so enjoyed meeting you this weekend!
Hope we can get together again soon!

Melinda said...

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed getting to hang with you this weekend. I've enjoyed you through words but, truly, the real deal is EVEN BETTER!

You are a blessing, girl. And thanks for my sweet note! :o)

Heaven indeed, friend. Heaven indeed.

Hugs through the screen,
Melinda

Gayle @ thewestiecrew said...

Love you my sweet friend. You are 765 kinds of awesome and I am glad you are my sister.

Anonymous said...

Robyn -- loved the note!! Made me miss you even more!! I had such a blast this weekend!! WE are so doing the beach thang! (and I've now used up my weekly allotment of exclamation points). And it was heaven -- I'm still singing Mercy Seat! (oops, that one slipped out)

ocean mommy said...

You are not kidding on Mercy Seat! Wow...it is still giving me chills when I think of it!

It was nice to meet you!!! What a weekend we had. :)

Blessings,
stephanie

Mocha with Linda said...

Well, fine. WE had Amanda Moore Jones and Lysa TerKeurst and Renee Swope and Missy and Lisa and Melanie and others in Houston. So there. :-)

Sounds like a blast. And I can relate to you on the tired after my Houston adventure!!

And yeah, just think - we'll ALL be up there in heaven!!

Emmy said...

Loved seeing you! So fun! I am still singing! : )

Unknown said...

Mercy Seat was awesome, wasn't it. I was even excited when they had to sing two songs over. I wasn't ready to finish worshipping with my brothers and siestas.

Blessings!

Sheryl

pinkmommy said...

Um, jealous! So glad you had a great time!

lavonda said...

Robyn!! It was SO NICE to meet you! After seeing your blog name the last year and however long over at LPM, now I have a person and a voice to put with it.
You are precious.
And you really aren't too far away -- 2 hours? C'mon back anytime to our ginormous church and you have a place to stay here at our home.
I promise to find you better Mexican food than what Sophie and Melanie somehow came across.
Yikes.

And, I'm seriously thinking about what you and Melinda were talking about with me Sat night... I'd love to start one. when I'm ready to do it, I may seek some advice/help.

much love from Woodstock :)
lavonda

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

I so wish I'd gone! It wasn't too far. Drat. Sounds like a life-giving time!

I love your last line. :) Looking forward to that myself.

Fran said...

I am singing Mercy Seat just like Angela sings it. Ok...maybe not, but dang that girl can do it!!!

If you find me a house in Bham and hubs a job...we'll be there. Ok, that sounds a little stalkery but I just think you are one cool gal.

So glad to know you.
Hugs,
Fran

connorcolesmom said...

It was an absolute BLAST!
I loved seeing you again and look forward to the next time :)
Love ya girl!
Kim

Deedra said...

I had such a great time! I was thrilled to get to meet everyone! Like you I have nowhere near enough words to describe how awesome that service was!! I also totally love the pic that's floating around of you looking up at Beth. Your face perfectly conveys the feelings of every woman in that room!
Love it!

twinkle said...

Robyn, I have sore ribs from all the laughing but the time spent at Starbucks was one of my favorite memories. Just sharing life with fellow believers who love the Lord. Can you believe how awesome this weekend was?!? Truly a present for the One who loves us so!

twinkle said...

Oops! Brain overload!
Truly a present FROM the One who loves us so!

Chel's Leaving a Legacy said...

Hi Robyn,

I saw your comment and found your blog through the LPM blog, and thought I'd hop over to see what you're all about!

Thanks for the laugh, because I can see you are all about making people laugh! Probably other things too, but laughing is a glorious thing.

Anyway, I was at there too (albeit NOT in the front row! :-) and have yet to come up with the words to describe it. I'm working on it, though.

Anyway, nice to meet you; I'll be back! (in a NOT-Arnold-Swarchenegger kind of way!) lol

GratefulinGA said...

Much older than yaa'll and still recovering. An awsome and accurate recap and that little glimpse of heaven, times a kazillion plus infinitey, yes we will so need us some heavenly bodies!

Videssa is ill that she missed so much and says she will mind her invitations more closely from here on. We simply must do it again, beach or no.
you are pure joy and remember, we will always have Woodstock!
ever your,
inga