My mom and I flew home from Tampa last night and I drove back to my house this afternoon. And as I drove I thought about how to put the weekend into words and decided there were two problems with that-
1. there are no words and
2. there are far, far, too many words.
I don't think words can really do justice to the experience which is perhaps why the LPM blog puts together a video/music clip without any talking points. The video seems to capture everything you see and hear and feel and think and hope and pray while you sit and listen to Beth Moore teach. I think I will just say if you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak in person, don't miss it. You're welcome.
I will however say a word or ten about the music. I was a fan of Travis Cottrell before the weekend and I have a couple of his cds but he and his band are just incredible in person. And I have to mention in particular a woman who sings with him who I think might be named Lici... my word, she can sang! I had to look her up when I got home because seriously she rocked the house. The music and the teaching and the whole weekend...incredible!
The event ended about noon on Saturday so after lunch my mom and I drove out to see a friend of mine who I met in England.
My friend V lives about 40 minutes outside of Tampa and it was so great to sit in her beautiful home and catch up in person. I haven't seen her in almost two years but it felt like yesterday. Don't you love friends like that?
Our flight home on Sunday wasn't until 2:15 so we went to a 9:30 church service. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the former Youth pastor from the church we belonged to in Maryland (almost seven years ago) is now the senior pastor of a church in the Tampa area. I'd been in touch with him on facebook and he said he wasn't preaching Sunday because their Youth pastor was preaching but he would be playing in the band so we should come on over. And may I just interject here and say that I think Youth pastors are some pretty special people...anyone agree?
I think there are times when God places a person in our lives at just the moment we are needing what that person brings. Such was the case with J. We all loved him and his whole sweet family but he sparked something in my oldest daughter's life in particular that was timely in a way that only God can orchestrate...our lives intersected for just a season but he helped set her on a path through her teenage years for which we are grateful. And sometimes it feels good to say to a person that you felt their influence, that they planted a seed that grew, and that you appreciate it more than you can say.
And while I was away my hubs took care of all the teak furniture, participated in a charity walk for cancer, and built a mini patio outside the garage door so the pup no longer has to trek thru mud when she comes into the garage and then the house. He has the energy of his younger self but unfortunately not the back of his younger self. He says it is aching today. Ya think?
I'm pretty sure he's a keeper.
