As the months passed by, we became more excited, but as we entered the week of the concert, we faced several obstacles. On Tuesday, my mom, who was going to keep the dude for the concert, caught a terrible stomach virus. Wednesday afternoon, the dude began running fever. By that night, his temperature was 102.5, and incredibly persistent even though we were alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Thursday morning we went to the doctor, who said it was "just something viral," and it would need to run it's course. By Friday morning, the dude's fever was under control, but he now had a horrible rash on his face...it looked like really big fever blisters all around his mouth and the edges of his nostrils. At this point, it was taking everything I had not to just cancel the trip and sell the tickets. It seemed apparent that "someone" just didn't want us to go! We persevered, and by Saturday things had cleared up. The trip was a go!
Temporary side-track (it will make sense later, promise!): for the last few months, I've been reading Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. I highly recommend it; each reading (a Bible verse followed by a paragraph or two to get you thinking) is just the right length. What follows is the reading for Saturday, May 25:
"Be a Blessing Everywhere You Go
'He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindess and benevolence will go on and endure forever!' 2 COR 9:9
It is both good and scriptural to give to the poor--they should be one of your primary concerns. Look for people who are needy and bless them. Share what you have with those who are less fortunate.
But it is also good to remember that everyone needs blessings--even the rich, the successful, and those who appear to have everything. What you buy or do for these people is not the real issue; they may not need the gift, but they need the love.
We all get wear sometimes and need to be encouraged, edified, complimented, and appreciated. This can be done with words alone, but it is a nice gesture to add a gift when appropriate.
Remember, God blesses you so you can be a blessing--not only in a few places but everywhere you go!"
OK, back to the trip. Saturday night I asked God to just give me one more sign if He was truly warning me not to go. It sure seemed that was the case with all the sickness! Sunday morning rolled around, and no sign. On the way to drop the dude off at my mom's, a friend and new neighbor called to ask if we were still going to the concert. They had been given tickets and a parking pass (!!) by a family member but couldn't go today...the seats were really good and on the floor, did we want them? I asked several times if we could pay for their tickets, but they refused, saying they wanted to give them to us because they had been given to them. We very gratefully, and very excitedly accepted their tickets and headed to Baton Rouge.
As we left town, we agreed that we needed to pay it forward. After all, that is why God blesses us, isn't it? (Told ya it would all make sense!!) I posted on Facebook that I had two tickets to give away, and within thirty minutes I had a taker. A former teacher of mine who is a single-mom of two boys, and really deserving of a little blessing. She and her son were excited for the opportunity to go, just as we were, and we had the joy of giving.
So I guess God really did want us to go on our little trip last weekend. He knew the hubs and I needed the alone time to recharge ourselves and our relationship. We only stayed one night, and were very happy to be home with the dude the next day. I know it's a little trite and overused, but seriously, God really does work in mysterious ways!
A few highlights...
I'm a self-proclaimed cheeseburger connoisseur, I've been wanting the try Five Guys, and it IS National Hamburger Month afterall!! The review: Burger was dee-lish! Fries left a little to be desired--we ordered the "regular," but I've since been told that the cajun fries are where it's at. Also, we saw Coach Les Miles there, and the hubs worked up the nerve to tell him hello. It totally made his weekend! (The hubs, that it. I'm really not sure how the coach felt about it...)
View of the stage from our FLOOR seats! Neither of us have ever had those before. So neat! That's Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry on the big screen on the right of the stage. This group put on quite a show, and did some really great covers. Also, the hubs is in love with this leather-skirt-and-thigh-high-boots-wearin' woman.
Another pic of the stage and The Band Perry
Brisket nachos. People--this was the shiznit. Seriously.
Aaaanndd the hubs can have Ms. Leather Perry because up next was Luke Bryan and a whole lot of drooling from me! Yikes!
