a weekend with jason gray.

Well, the day has come and gone, and I've been trying to gather it all together. The truth is, I can't. No matter how hard I try and think about how I could possibly write a blog about this past weekend, I can't wrap my mind around it. So I will attempt to write a blog about it, and we'll see how it turns out. Here we go...

Four weeks ago, Jason sent me an e-mail, asking me if my church would like to have him come and play on a Saturday night. He said that he would be traveling around the midwest, and making his way down south all the week before, so since he was in the area he wanted to know if we wanted to host him. I spoke to the people at my church, they said they would love to have him come. With a lot more details then just that, and a ton of trust in God, we got him here.

I was going to have Jason stay at my house on Friday night, so with that and the planning of the concert, I was one busy girl, who was running on little sleep for about a month. I was painting the bathroom and putting the touch ups on the edging, when I got the e-mail from Jason on Thursday afternoon, the day before he was supposed to arrive here if he was staying with us, that he was in fact going to be. With much excitement, nervousness, and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I got the bathroom done on Thursday evening. Friday I spent the day in a cleaning frenzy. I started when I woke up and stopped maybe three or four hours before he pulled into my driveway. Meanwhile, I had a splitting headache, exhaustion was setting in, and by the time he was sitting at my dining room table, I had nothing left inside of me. It's a good thing he did most of the talking.

We got to feed him a home-cooked meal of baked chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and pumpkin pie for dessert. It was so great to be able to invite Jason into my home. He has done so much for me over the past two years since I've met him, it was the least I could do. It was great to get to hang out outside of a concert event, sharing with him a part of my family, and him sharing his many stories with us. We got to laugh a lot at some stories, and then we got to have more serious conversations. Something that you just don't get to do at a show.

I gave up my room for Jason to sleep in, and I slept on the couch. Even though I didn't sleep wonderful, it didn't phase me that much, because Jason got to sleep more than 4 or 5 hours. I was just fine with giving up my comfortable bed for a night, sacrificing my sleep, so he could be rested for the next day, and even the next to see his family and get ready to have a vacation with them!

The next morning we all got to have a leisurely morning, waking up, eating a late breakfast, and all sitting out on our back porch talking about music, movies, and books. I got to talk to Jason about things I would normally chat with him about on his message boards, but we actually got to talk about them on my back porch. It was so cool. I enjoyed it so much.

We got to talk a little bit about his music, the new record, what his favorite things about it were, what my favorite things about it were. I got to tell him things I kept reminding myself I was post on his boards, but never got the chance. Maybe that's the way it was supposed to be. Instead we got to talk about it in person, at my dining room table.

He got to do laundry at our house, our dryer ate one of his socks, and we got to eat cold-cut sandwiches together while going over power point for the show that night. All of the things I listed above, I was feeling nervous the whole time. You know, it's not everyday you get to have your favorite musical artist in your home, but around this time, I was starting to become more myself. I've known that Jason was a friend of mine, but there has always been that fan part of me in there. Not crazy fan or anything, just respecting what he does and his music. It was around this time, but not completely until later, that I realized that Jason and I are friends. Some people may not understand that, and that's okay. You don't have to. You can't fully understand until you've experienced it yourself. I'm grateful for the opportunity.

So, around 3:00 we packed up Jason's stuff in his mini-van. We were heading to the church with a couple of stops on the way. This is the part where I really felt as if Jason and I were friends. He cared enough to ask me about something that happened in my past, that has really defined who I am today. It is the cause of many of the fears and insecurities I have today, and the fact that he cared to ask and wanted to know touched my heart. He could identify with me on this subject, and we got to talk about something I don't think either of us talks to just anyone about.

We made a stop at Tropical Smoothie and had smoothies for dinner. Then we were headed on our way to the church. Then the madness began. I think that Saturday night was a defining moment in my life. I knew from the beginning that if this night went well, then I would know what God really wanted me to do with my life. I know that i've wanted to work in the music industry, but then somewhere along the way this year, I suddenly became confused with what it was I was to do with my life. So there was that to be nervous for, and just the fact that this was the first event I ever planned.

Things were hectic in the beginning, but then they just started falling into place. Jesus was telling to me trust Him once again, and I did. If I had tried to do any of this on my own, I have no idea how it would have turned out. It may not have even happened. Well, in the end, the night turned out more amazing than I could have ever hoped for. I know what God wants me to do with my life, and I know that many people were blessed my Jason and his music on Saturday night. It will be something that I remember and cherish for a long time to come. I'm so grateful for the opportunity. I so look forward to having Jason come and play at my church again, once we are in our new building. I look forward to the many lessons God has to teach me, and what He has in store for my life. Thank you Jason for your kindness. I think I will only ever be able to tell you how much you and your wife mean to me once we get to Heaven.