this mama got out of town.

for a cooped up mama with no car on the weekdays, wednesday was a new kind of day.  the worship ministry staff at our church (my man is the contemporary worship director) was gifted a trip to Charlotte, a dinner and an Andrew Peterson Christmas concert.  it was almost too much.  i go from cleaning up dog pee and changing diapers, to being child-less, in a pretty city, with good people, eating delicious food and hearing my most favorite music from artists we love best.  and i still missed my babies like all good mama's do. 

we arrived somehow slightly early, which was no small feat.  we lined up a tag-team of babysitters (thanks grandma and auntie!), picked up a rental car (rental cars are so rad when you don't have to pay for them!), grabbed our posse, and headed three hours north to interstate 77.  dinner was not served until 5 pm; we found ourselves with a good 40 ish minutes to kill.  so we headed across the street to First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, walked inside, said we were Baptists from South Carolina and wanted a tour.  the receptionist told us that Ron would be right out to help.  Ron came looking slightly unenthusiastic with a black beanie on that said Security.  we softened him right up, though with some southern charm and he even took off his Security beanie. the church was built in the 1800's and is entirely stunning.

(shannan:  unfortunately i did not get a good picture of the naked angel baby cloud of witnesses on the stained glass.  and thank you for the sweater i'm wearing. : ) ) 

on to dinner at the King's Kitchen.  if you live near Charlotte or ever go, be sure to eat there.  Jim Noble, the chef had a vision to give people a new beginning.  the non-profit restaurant partners with local ministries to train the homeless to rehabilitate them; giving careers in cooking, waitressing, etc.  the food is signature southern cuisine and pleased every part of my palette.  plus, all profits go right back into the community to feed people.  fantastic!

best part of the day for last: the Behold the Lamb of God concert.  if you have not heard of Andrew Peterson, it's best you change that.  he is a phenomenal lyricist, story-teller and musician.  my man has a man crush on Andrew.  we have his books, cd's and i'm proud to admit that we know every single word to every single song of his. Behold the Lamb of God is the advent story, portrayed from the Old Testament to the New, through song.  in Peterson's words, it's "the TRUE tall tale of the coming of Christ."  not only did we get to see Andrew Peterson, but we saw Jason Gray, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn, Andrew Osenga, and Ben Shive, to name a few.  they are each incredible musicians and artists in their own right, but when they come together, to tell the greatest story ever told, beautiful, music is played that tugs at your heart in every which way possible.  i felt sad, grieved, and overjoyed all at once over the story of Christ from the beginning of time.

our posse.  these are the funniest, most talented people i know.  and what is up with my turtle-like neck arching out of the shell of my sweater?!  (i'm the one right below where it says lowercase, in case you couldn't tell.  don't want anyone else to be blamed for a turtle-like neck.  i take full responsibility.)

(leah: i'm really going to miss not hanging out with you three times every week. thank you for lending your eye to take the pictures of kelly and i.)

it was a day that was good for my mind, body and spirit.  i relaxed, my spirit felt nourished with Christ-centered music, and i had lots of adult conversation.  yes, indeed, my favorite part of the week.  and worth getting home at two in the morning for.  even for this mama girl.

linking with rach cause she rocks.

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