How The Deal Went Down, Video Version

Here's the video my buddy Rob did for last weekend's Overflow Weekend. If you watch it all the way through, you'll hear to oh-so-nice-country-pop-stylings-of-You-Gave-Sight-courtesy-of-producer-Mr.-Ross-King.

Not only was a great weekend, but the design quality of this thing was fantastic. From logo design to the highlight video, Robert's creative touch is totally spot-on. I hope you enjoy watching this as much as I did.

How The Deal Went Down, Part I-B, Primary Section

SUNDAY
After a very late night, Krist was kind enough to let me sleep in. I woke up around 8 and started getting ready.

In mid-dressing, Jonah had a major meltdown caused by intense exhaustion. That slowed us down a bit.

I finally made it over to the sanctuary a little before 10 to meet up with the band. We didn't rehearse much, just talked through the set a bit and got ready to do our thing.

We played How Great Thou Art (Baloche style,) which went over well, then Open The Eyes of My Heart, You Gave Sight and O For A Thousand Tongues. We took a break and then came back with Align.

After the service, Rob took us all to eat at a place called "Good Eats." We came back to the church, loaded up the band gear and Kyle, Adam and Romack all headed home. We lounged at the house for a bit before heading back to the Sunday night youth service for testimonies and the highlight video.

Came home, put the kiddos to bed and then hung out. I think it was the first night the Conns and the Wrights all got to hang together. We ate some Cracker Barrell - I washed my mine down with a nice Stewart's Orange N' Cream.

Robert spent the evening making me lust after his Mac and convincing me to join the iGoogle revolution.

We stayed up late talking, then went to bed.

How The Deal Went Down, Part I-B

SATURDAY
Woke up with the kids at around 6:30 and let Kristen sleep for just a bit. We all got up and started getting ready for some fun family time. Rob had to run around and video some of the home groups. When he got back, we all went to Chuck. E. Cheese for some arcade partying. (Didn't eat the pizza, just just thirteen bucks on games. Jonah used his tickets to buy cotton candy. God bless the kid.)

After the games, we went to lunch. Chinese food.

Now, get this: I've never eaten Chinese food. Ever. Ever, ever. It was okay.

After lunch, we headed back to the church. Kyle had already arrived and the sound man was setting up. Adam and Romack got there about 40 minutes later and we started setting up. Naturally, there was all sorts of confusion - somebody forgot to bring gear, FBC Sanger didn't have a lot of gear to spare, but we got it worked out.

It was loud. Really, really, really loud.

Practiced until about 5. I ran home, showered and changed and headed back over to the church.

In the first set, we played I Am Free, And Higher, Dancing Generation, You Gave Sight and Align. In the second set, we played All The Freed, Let The Praises Ring, Dancing Generation, I Am Free, Unchanging and Take Me Higher.

I don't really know all the correct slang, but I think its safe to say something along the lines of:
WE GOT CRUNK
WE HELD IT DOWN
IT WAS THE JAM
IT ROCKED

Or some such.

After much music, Robert took us to IHOP. I got the all-you-can-eat-pancakes and downed massive quantities of Diet Coke in an effort to fight off sleep. We checked the band into the hotel, then headed back to the church to work on levels for Sunday morning worship and decide what we were gonna' play.

All told, I left the church a little after 2am. Went to bed somewhere in the vicinity of 3.

How The Deal Went Down, Part I

FRIDAY
Left about 8 with the wife and kids and headed north. Opted with the Tyler/I-20 option rather than the 175. the 175 is okay, but there's always a chance you'll get behind a tractor or something. Came up I-20 and then took the loop around Dallas toward the CD duplication company to pick up CDs. We made pretty good time and then encountered one of the longest traffic jams of my life. (I'm very sheltered in this regard - Lufkin boys don't see a lot of traffic.) We literally got in traffic one mile from the place and we were stuck there for about 45 minutes. I could see my exit! i just couldn't get to it!

Got to the CD place and prepared to load them into the car. Imagine my surprise when they were packed in NINE BOXES! We hastily crammed boxes in our already crammed car and headed out for lunch. Opened box to check out CDs...they looked great, but no shrink wrap. I'm not sure what happened there. We ordered shrink wrap. Our receipt says shrink-wrap. But no shrink-wrap. (Don't worry, I've already sent them an email...should know something in the week or so.) But I wanted shrink-wrap.

Instead of heading straight to Sanger, we went drove to Grapevine for a very exciting lunch (and expensive) lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. On an unrelated note, I saw a blog from the Chandlers...yes, those Chandlers of the Village...that said THEY went to the same mall on Friday afternoon. I may have been in the same vicinity of Matt Chandler! WOWEE!

After lunch, we finally made it to Sanger. We unpacked the stuff, gave hugs all around to the Conns and then got ready for the DNow meal and rally on Friday night. We didn't play...I just made an appearance at the rally. Robert was kind enough to pre-pay for a 30 count box of CDs. Which was cool.

After the rally, we put the kids in bed and hung out for a bit. I played a little basketball in the church's new gym for a little exercise, then came back to the Conn's house.

Robert Conn is the man.

This is the promotional pic for his upcoming fall scavenger hunt.

It is awesome.

Yes, I am trying to think of a way to get to his church just so I can be a part of this event.

Great image, Robert!

Double Decker Taco - JASON FULLEN STYLE