Friday Night Lights

Yes, it's that time of year again. Plenty to time on the turf and single parent season has commenced. Thankfully the latter is mild and weekends still do exist despite the season. It's a time to be revel in time at home and enjoying your space more and more. The kids are at a great age. Reece in middle school and Cale still grade school/intermediate. There is something crazy for me about trying to get to the games among the scramble of work, lessons, and beyond. Friday rolled around this week and I seriously wanted to end up at the game, but I know God must have had other plans.

We scrambled around town, ran several errands, ending up at Walmart for just 5 minutes too long only to get stuck in the timely torrential downpour right as we checked out. A slew of customers began to gather inside the dual set of sliding doors, just watching as the rain beat down. Let's just say it was a total pant soaker. Those that ran inside from their cars were drenched, hair sopping, with little on them left dry. After 10 minutes, I just looked at the kids, threw on (thankfully) the jacket I had and told them to grab an arm. We made it in the same shape everyone else did. Scrub pants stuck to my legs, socks and shoes soaked halfway through, the purchases we just walked out with drenched as well. So much for plans, I thought and drove home to change and seek something dry. A friend was playing at Sharon's so I definitely thought the change of weather was welcome because I knew that there was more in the cards. After a simple change and savoring a few moments to read and let the kids relax, we went to listen to a 2 hour set. It was fabulous and welcome. I love the smell of bbq, the sound of soft rain, and live music. The kids agreed that was the best way to spend the night too. Reece even thinks that she needs to sing with the band for a song the next go-round. :)

Bellies full, heads whirling from great conversation, and hearts warmed by music and friendships, we headed home. It was a very simple Texas night. Loads of laundry waited and a sink full of dishes was calling. We started a Redbox movie and I went to town on the sink. There's something comforting about hand washing dishes and just getting it done. Nothing to unload later on. Dishes are something I do with my dad when we go visit him. It's time to ourselves and I love that time so much. Tonight it just feels honoring to wash and pray for him and wonder what he did with his day. There's so many things I want to say, but the time and day got away again and I know he's asleep.

Cleaning and laundry went late into the night. I waited on the text from Jody that says, Leaving, I'm driving. And then the one that says, At the high school, a few hours later. It means he's home with the team and off the road and my heart can settle in for the night. That is after the laundry is folded, towels are put away, and we are prepped and ready for a peaceful Saturday. These are sometimes my Friday night lights. Bringing him home when he's been out on the road with the team. Knowing he's safe and sound and has a clean house and heart to come home to. There's really nothing sweeter than these days and nights. Even the ones that bring a tiny amount of dread seem to disappear into the night when you clean, study, and spend time talking to God. I'm so grateful for this season stadium or home. Brought to you by football and Friday night lights from this coach's wife.

Just a few pictures. Top is my favorite of Jody with several Bulldogs. Scrolling is Cale with his Senior bulldog (YAY for year #2 with this great kid!). Lunches with the kids and sandwich between Cale's venture at catching a lizard on the back porch. Tiny but quick! 

Never

Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever told you 18 years ago that I would have the conversation I had tonight. Reece was tired from the fair last night and wanted to stay home from normal Wednesday youth. Yes youth. Crazy parents I know. It goes TOO FAST!  Hold on, lay down at night with them, take them for that coke they want to grab with you, paint toenails, and throw baseballs and softballs. Let them try out for whatever they want. It will go in the blink of an eye and you will be alone wondering what happened to the time. How. I'm already there.

Back to the conversation. :)
Reece ran with me to Market Street tonight grabbing groceries for the week. In the middle of the pasta, yogurt, and cream soda, she asked me something I never thought she was old enough to comprehend. (They tend to grow up overnight!)
Reece: "Mom. Can I ask you something?"
Me: "Sure thing."
Reece: "Do you remember where you were?"
Me: (thinking: yes. I answered this today on Jon Mark Hester's fb page. Anyone from Wayland remembers exactly where we were and what we were doing. We remember how we felt and the minute everything seemed to be collapsing around us.)   "I do remember. I was in biology class. Taking a test. The professor came in and turned the TV on and said you'll want to see this. We watched the headlines and smoking tower. Then he turned the TV off and said, Try to finish your exam and you can go. I went back to my dorm, Owen, with the other girls and waited for news in the lobby. It was a scary and uncertain day."
Reece: "Were you scared? I mean things like Pearl Harbor have happened. It's crazy."
Me: "Yes fear is always part of it. But I remember what we did as a campus that night. We gathered in the auditorium and prayed. We were on our faces asking God for peace. For control of air space. For Him to protect us all in the days ahead. We understood God already knew the future and He was the only one who could give us answers that day. And any day. You know that you can ask him anything? You know that He loves you right?"
Reece: "Yes. Mom how could you ever forgive someone for something like that? I watched a video today. A lady was on the plane that went down and she called her husband. She said they were fighting them off and taking down the plane. And to tell the boys she loved them. It was so sad mom!"
Me: (She got me there. Choking. Crying.) "Reece that is so sad. It's terrible. So many people lost their whole life that day. A day we should never forget. A day we remember to honor people and what honor and respect looks like.We must never forget no matter how much time passes. 16 firefighters who died that day. Their children became firefighters this year. They will never forget. That's what honor looks like."
Reece: "I know mom. But how to do you forgive someone for that?"
Me: "That may take time. We are not God. But that's what God asks us to do. To forgive. To not make ourselves sick with angry and bitterness and hate. To see the good in the bad. To find the light in the darkness. To be the light. To never let evil win out. Because of Jesus, it doesn't. Ever. Never forget that."


I was impressed she had the awareness to ask.

And right there, unplanned. We had church in the car. Jesus was present and real and made something tangible. She saw the tears and how much one remembers. She heard a lady's testimony in her final call and she woke up a little more to the world around her. She began to understand more that it doesn't revolve around her. Pain is real. But Jesus is very alive. That she knows. Talk to your kids this year. These stories are important to be told. They need us to lay busy down and hold their hand and pour into their hearts.