Perth - Bon Iver

To me, it's not about getting over things and moving forward, it's about going through the sadness, taking some of it with you and being made whole because of it. I cry every time I listen to it.

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.

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!

 

 

 

Opening Act - Octopus Project

 

 

Passion Pit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

More pictures from last week...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice, practice and more practice!

 

 

I babysat sweet little Sarah for Abby last weekend - so fun!

Dog Shaming - Poor Curious George

This is the second time that I have come to a torn up George - he lost his eyes again and now more fingers and toes. Poor Nolan.

First Day of School

Can not believe how fast this summer went for our family! I was expecting to be super emotional about Hudson starting Kindergarten on Monday but it really went very smoothly and was uneventful except for the rain!  Hudson was such a big boy. He just marched right into his room and put up his stuff and started coloring.   He acted like he had done it a million times before!   I guess that's the difference with the second child.   He is already so familiar with the school, the staff and how everything works.   It was different for me because there aren't all the unknowns like I had the last time around.  I'm not one of  "those moms" anymore - new and confused and stressed - like I was on Nolan's first day three years ago. What's even funnier is I don't even notice the new moms.  I remember feeling like I stuck out like a sore thumb when Nolan started.  Like everyone knew I was a newbie and that I didn't have a freaking clue how to have a kid in elementary school!  Now I realize that no one cares or even thinks twice about it!  I am so glad that the boys love their school and that I can feel so secure about such big steps in their lives.  Nolan barely let me take picture this year and couldn't have cared less about us even being there to walk him to his room. :(  He really is such a big kid and it's so sad to me. I think I was more sad about Nolan being so "adult" than I was about Hudson starting school!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the random stuff I have been meaning to post...

 

Hudson playing with silly string while "watching" Tinkerbell in the backyard.

 

 

Nolan made Roy a little guy for the wii - too cute.

 

 

The boys and I braved the traffic to check out the new outlets on a mad serach for the perfect pair of Vans.

 

 

It was not a planned trip and as you can tell the boys dressed themselves.

 

 

My little snacker!

 

 

We went to see Aunt B which always ends in dress-up or other shananigans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kara was a good sport!

 

 

Two adults taking six kids out for ice cream...we are crazy but I am loving it! It's been such a fun summer!

 

 

While school supply shopping the boys talked me into going to HobbyTown USA. I hate this store - but I sure love my boys so we went and spent an hour checking everything out and playing.

 

 

 

And this last picture of our sweet Roxy girl - she is my cuddle bug and I love her so!