12:01 am.

Yep. That's what time it is. And David and I are leaving at 7 am for a music conference for the weekend. Haven't packed a single thing yet. But my blog is now up to date. And every stitch of laundry in the house is done. And the guest bed is made up. And the house is clean. And the bills are paid. And the dishes are done. And so it's probably time for me to start packing now.

We are super excited. We went to this conference last year and LOVED it. Not only because of the great music we were able to hear and listen to and sing and enjoy, but for the incredible time of refreshment that it was to us. To get to be ministered TO. To be in a room with 1000 people that are doing the same thing you are. To hear that your church isn't the only one struggling with __________ (fill in the blank). And frankly for the time away as a couple. Doing the ministry together that we love. It's definitely a work weekend - we will go from 8 am until 9:30 pm each day without much of a break (other than to eat great food!), but it is SUCH fun. We'll each get to go to three workshops as well, and I'm super excited because one of the biggest names in children's music is going to be there. She's the one that has written most of the children's musicals we've ever done, so I can't wait to meet her and hear some of her tips!!!

Some friends of our are moving into our house for the weekend to stay with our kids. (Remember when I kept my friends' 4 boys for her to steal her husband away for a week for his 40th birthday? Well it's pay back time - they offered to watch our kids for the weekend). The kids seem to be fine with it. I'm hoping they do okay and really are fine. Hoping the older ones look out for the younger ones - particularly Caleb and help explain his "talking". Hoping they have fun and get along.

So I'll be back later on this weekend - pray that we have a wonderful weekend of refreshment!!