time year waiting exciting activity traditions forward presents delicious food anticipate waiting miserable state witnessing sort waiting nine-year-old daughter friend moving january crying periodically learned impending move months date grows nearer overcome sadness paralyzed talked days told tendency conjure anxiety anticipating things dreading worried longer productive worry sadness longer focus waiting hope week reading advent post waiting calendar shared email read good devotions henri nouwen waiting here's quote waiting person present moment believing moment moment refers advent people luke's gospel waiting actively knowing waiting growing ground standing place found important wishes live hope choose petty superficial wishes trust life precious meaningful eyes expectations begins happen talks choosing hope happening imaginings giving control future letting define life living conviction molds love holds tenderness moves sources fear powerful powerful true wait pointed wrong direction waiting friend move date looms large life she's waiting hope friend stay touch find friend understands enjoys playing pretending ways waiting evidence life precious meaningful eyes meantime pull mind-over-matter tricks present moment nine-year-old feels expect evidence life precious nouwen describes expectation told lonely felt jason absolutely love aspects story mind brought jason growing ground standing here's background story parent stand pain daughter forward waiting grow life 