Help! Any ways I could've promoted? :/

even down a piece in the first diagram you don't necessarily have to queen the advanced pawn to win.

R-a6 and if they play r-a8 then you trade rooks and play r-e8 going into an ending up the exchange and pawns on both sides of the board(in other words you win)

But, what else can black do productive?  Sit and wait loses  -does it not?  after rxa5 k-f6 then simply r-e5 protecting the rook.  The passed pawns on the queenside seem like they will tell (with the fact that the rook is tied down to defense of the pawn on e7)

Almost the best try after 1r-a6seems to be b-e4(sacrificing back the piece to get the e7 pawn with check...)Can't seem to visualize whether going into the 2Xrook endgame or just pushing the g pawn is more beneficial to you.  Going into the 2x rook endgame you will be up a pawn.  But, those rooks do get a lot of activity. 

Take out a board and look at the two positions(after either taking the bishop or playing g3 etc.) .  Which one do you think is more beneficial?  Personally in an otb I would probably play g3 as taking the bishop gave too much activity for my tastes imop(although I would first see whether the g file would become to much of a problem before playing the g3 line) 

Hmm, thanks. They were tricky situations for my puny little chess mind.

np...oh and I didn't look at the 2nd one before...

king has to protect queening square....so n-d3! followed by n-f2.  only chance for white is r-h8+ followed by r-d8 (I believe that is a draw.  But, at least you don't lose)