Our Stray Kids concert road trip from South Carolina to Atlanta and Orlando began as a fun getaway — two cities, two shows, and a lot of excitement. But what I didn’t realize was that somewhere in the middle of the confetti, chaos, and amazing performances, something inside me would shift — and I’d come home changed.
One month ago, my sister, my 17-year-old daughter, and I packed up the car in South Carolina and set out for a whirlwind adventure: two concerts, visits to theme parks, and countless memories. It was a crazy trip filled with lots of driving and lots of rain, but it definitely was worth every minute!
The Road to Atlanta
Our first stop was Atlanta, where we were set to see Stray Kids on June 10th. We listened our favorite songs during the drive, everything from “S-Class” to “Mountains” and more. We could not believe that after all this time, they were actually in the United States and we were going to see them live in not just one city, but two!
It was hot, humid, and STAYs (fans of Stray Kids) were everywhere, from all over the country. We met so many incredible people at the hotel and the venue. Everyone looked amazing in their fits, trading freebies, sharing stories, and just having fun together. Although the venue had mismanagement issues that made the experience chaotic, (nothing to do with Stray Kids), once the concert began, that all faded away. Nothing could dull the thrill of seeing them live. In my life, I have seen hundreds of concerts, but honestly, their performances, pyrotechnics, lighting, and everything was beyond anything I have ever experienced. And while it was amazing, I had no idea what was in store for us at the Orlando concert.
From Atlanta to Orlando: Turning Up the Volume
The next day, we hit the road for Orlando. This part of the trip was like a mini separate vacation. We stayed at Universal’s Loews Sapphire Hotel — our first time at Universal (I’ve always been a Disney loyalist-in fact, I always referred to it as “The Dark Side”). And honestly? Universal understood the assignment. The theming, the rides, and especially the new Epic Universe park were absolutely incredible. But that’s a story for another post!
We spent a couple of days exploring, laughing, making more freebies for Stays, and soaking up the warm Florida sun. But even with all the magic of the parks, I could feel this strange feeling under the surface. June 14th was coming. We were a combination of excited to see them again, while feeling the sadness that this would be the last time we would be able to see them live for the unforeseen future. Now we were keenly aware that something commonly referred to as PCD or post-concert depression would hit us. We just didn’t have a clue what to expect that night or when it was all over.
The Night Everything Changed
Stray Kids. Orlando. June 14, 2025. Over 45,000 fans packed into Camping World Stadium.
From the moment the concert began, you could feel this night would be different. There was a different vibe than we felt in Atlanta. It was as if level 10 was the highest and the crowd and the guys were on level 1 million. It was intense the entire night. Towards the end of the concert, when the festival version of “Chk Chk Boom” began, the energy was off the charts – flashing lightsticks, bass you could feel in your chest, and red confetti pouring from the sky to the point you could barely see. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen or experienced at a concert.
And then it happened. Right there in that stadium, with all the music, singing, color, and light, I felt the unmistakable presence of God. Not in a whisper, but in a wave.
I heard Him say to me, “You’re still here. You were never gone.”
The real me. The fun, carefree, passionate girl I thought I’d lost to years of life, responsibilities, motherhood, and always being “on” for others. She wasn’t gone. She was buried, masked by years of functioning in a depressive state that only immediate family knew about. But God. He never lost sight of her. And in that moment, He used music, a group, and yes, even a ton of red confetti, to remind me.
I stood in the crowd with my hands lifted to the sky, spinning slowly under the downpour of confetti, thanking Him with everything in me. I wasn’t thinking about the song anymore. I never gave a thought to what anyone was thinking as I did that. It was just God and me. I was somewhere else; a sacred in-between. A moment I now call my Heaven on Earth.
Our First Encore
When I got back home to South Carolina, I started to process everything that had happened. I realized that my moment; the one that broke something open in me, had occurred during the first encore of the show.
That word stuck with me. Encore.
I think we’re living in our first encore — the part of life where we reappear, not as who we were before, but as something fuller. Freer. Unapologetically more ourselves.
And now for both of us, it’s time to discover who this woman is… after nearly a quarter of a century of her being hidden.
Why This Trip Mattered
This was more than a concert. It was more than a girls’ trip. It was a reminder. A testimony. An awakening.
It reminded me that every mile holds meaning — even if you don’t recognize it until you’re standing under a sky full of confetti.
If you’ve ever had a moment like that — one where you felt seen, restored, or reminded of who you are — I’d love to hear your story, too.
Because every road leads somewhere beautiful. And sometimes, it circles right back to you. That moment reignited my passion for creating designs that speak to the heart of the fandom (and beyond) — celebrating the beauty, hope, and fun found in their lyrics. If you’d like, you can explore those pieces in my shop, STAY Heaven.
It’s just one more reminder that on this journey of life, God can — and will — meet you right where you are. For me, it happened in the middle of a Stray Kids concert — confetti falling, music blaring, hearts wide open. And honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised. Their music and mission have always been about reaching people exactly where they are — no matter how lost, overlooked, or in-process they feel.
Yesterday I was bagging up bits of that concert confetti to send to other STAYs in Florida who didn’t get any. And today, months later, I felt something under my foot — one last piece of confetti from that night. To me, it wasn’t random. It was God’s quiet reminder that the moments He marks us with — through music, memory, and mercy — keep showing up long after the stage goes dark.
