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.