Tractors, Trucks, Trains, Lots of Love and Boy Things: September 2012

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Prayers

I have so many friends and family going through really hard, hard times right now. Some of these things will be resolved in the near future – we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I see the bright and shiny for them or at least I know that they are headed in the right direction and will eventually see good in something that is so bad right now. Others are not so fortunate. They will have a lifetime of hardships and struggles with what they are facing. It is so hard to be on the sidelines watching someone you love hurt. I try to be positive and encouraging but realistic for them – sometimes things just suck. I’d like to think I am pretty good in a crisis – I am a “doer” by nature. So when the $hit hits the fan (pardon my French) I can step in and help with all the tangible issues that pop up – childcare, money, food, labor. Those are a no brainer and come easy for me. You need something done – just tell me and it’s done. The harder part is when there is literally nothing I can physically do to help the situation. I am so lost on those. I feel like I fail them when I can’t figure out how to help fix it. I have spent a lot of time in prayer about those type of problems. Sometimes the only thing I can do is crawl down in the hole with them and sit in the muck and love them through it. I know deep down that I can never “fix” anyone’s problems; but waiting and trusting that somehow it will all turn out okay is tough. Sometimes prayers just don’t seem like enough. Especially when I see a lot of time pass and no change in the situation – my prayers become weaker, less trusting, less faithful. Truthfully I think I just begin to lose hope. That is a dangerous place to be and somehow I find myself there a lot over certain problems. I know that’s where my faith in God must grow. I seem to be able to do it in my own life most of the time but when I see someone else struggling day after day - I can’t stand it!! Last night I started thinking – oh great, so that’s why all of this bad stuff is happening to other people – so that MY faith will grow. I certainly hope not – but in that moment, that is exactly how I felt. Lord I am waiting and I am trusting; but oh how hard that is!! These situations are overwhelming and all consuming for the people I love so much and I realize it’s completely out of my hands. Please step in – please move mountains – please let them draw near to you for the things that only you can heal and please let them begin to see the silver lining in their hardships. I am hurting, they are hurting – we need you.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Nolan's first concert - Passion Pit!

I took Nolan to his first concert this week. Passion Pit is a band that we’ve liked for a few years and they are touring for their new album and had a stop in Arlington at the new UTA College Park. Since it was an all-ages show, non-smoking, not a bar and so close I figured it would be a safe concert for Nolan and it was! Aunt B even tagged along and bought a ticket a few days before the show. (Luckily there was a single seat on our row so she was able to buy it and everyone just slid down one seat so she could sit with us!) The concert was great. I don’t think Nolan realized how lucky he was to have such good seats front row to the pit area. There were two opening acts so it was a pretty long night but all and all he did great and we had a fun time! He wanted to pick out a concert tee and ended up with a hoodie. I am pretty sure he thought he was the coolest kid on the planet when we bought it. He has been very into all of his clothes for the first time this year. It’s pretty cute! We were able to get side stage for the encore and were seriously about 15/20 feet from the stage. Pretty cool first concert experience I’d say!