I picked up my cousin on the way.

With a coffee and Red Bull to get us going

we picked up right where we left off.

A big thank you goes out to my sweet little girl

who came along so she could help and play with the babies.

Mom said she couldn’t have done it without her.

We drove away from mom and dad’s

and booked it down the road to catch the train

riding our way into downtown Chicago.

We rolled safe and sound into Union Station.

The first thing we did was use the bathroom

and then we found a place to eat.

We texted and Facetimed

all the missing loved ones

with my still new iPhone.

My baby sister had made Coldplay shirts for all the girls.

She did a great job.

After we were done eating

we did a lot of sweating

and a lot of walking.

And more sweating…

And more walking…

I did my best to keep up with the group

but I was also trying to pay attention

and use my new iPhone to keep track of this

Okay, does anyone else think Soldier Field

looks like an alien space ship in this picture?

At some point we realized we needed to run

if we were to avoid getting completely drenched.

Wouldn’t be the last time either.

Side Story:  When you grow up your entire life hearing your Dad talk about how much he loves Chicago style pizza, you make a decision, no matter how much of a nuisance it might be, to carry the pizza leftovers through the rest of the night and all the way home.  But as fate and rules would have it, I was forced to abandon the mission at the stadium, where no food was allowed to be brought inside.  The pizza ended up in a box full of umbrellas. Moral of the story:  Good intentions alone can’t get you where you want to go.  You need a Higher Power.

~~~~~

We finally arrived at our seats

after a long and soaking storm delay.

The storm had cooled the air

so we didn’t have to sweat anymore.

Here we are enjoying the view

waiting for the concert to start.

Still waiting…

Here we go…

Every song made your heart pound.

Every last lighted second was amazing.

And my cousin made a great date by the way.

When it was all over we said goodbye

and tunneled our way through the crowds.

Here’s where the story gets a little hazy.

Our group got separated, and half of us, I kid you not

were stuck in the middle of a Zombie Herd.

What happened after that

our flip flops and change of plans and

the Two Mile Sprint through the city streets

is the kind of stuff brothers and sisters are made of.

By the amazing grace of God

ever present and leading the way

we made it there and back again.

I’m so happy we went.