travel log : cornerstone festival

josh has been to cornerstone for ten years in a row except for last year, & we really missed not being there last summer.  so when he was asked to play again this year, we knew it was the right thing.  heron's already been two times (2008 & 2009), but this was our first time taking two kids.  with family in tow, survival is the name of the game.  the days are less about what bands we want to see & what workshops or seminars we want to attend, and more about keeping the kids cool enough, fed, & napped in 100-degree weather surrounded by screamo bands & poison ivy.  (this time we drove around in the car so they could nap in air conditioning & thus not have meltdowns during josh's 9:30 p.m. show, then ended up at a swimming pool in bushnell.  i know, not very cornerstoney of us...)  but... it's also about connecting with friends, & we were certainly able to do this.  jpusa friends, muncie friends, philly friends, anderson friends, lancaster, PA friends.  so many lovely people were here, & in our 40-hour stay we were blessed with sweet & meaningful conversations.

we camped with muncie folk.  the kochs, lisa, julie pryor, gina & david judah, the AWC workers/interns.  jay kirkpatrick & jason brewer (& his family) of his backing band camped with us, too.  the kochs had their three kids along, & heron & sheppy loved playing with them at the campsite.  little zion is shepherd's age, so they tried their best to share toys.

: sam & kristie with their littlest :

: even in the heat, the kids needed cuddles :

: heron & sheppy, sweat pouring down, loved the art-rageous tent :

: josh had a little forest campsite practice with his backing band :

(left to right : jason brewer, scott knies, josh, annalisa nutt, jay kirkpatrick, all appear on josh's latest album)

: here's a little video i shot of their practice :

: josh performed saturday evening on the gallery stage :

our last day i got to hang out with one of my favorite people on the planet, michelle mcever.  she's a truly joyful girl, & i was so excited to hear from her heart now that she's home from her ywam trip to iceland and kenya.  heron adores her, so they enjoyed some moments together.  

we're so glad we made it this year!  thanks to gina & michelle for watching the kids during josh's show, & to lisa for helping me with merch!