we got to go tonight to hear eric's friend, alan, play in a band at guero's tacos, close to downtown. we went last month (always the 2nd sunday), and since the kids had such a good time, we invited friends this month! one of the families from church took interest this morning, so they met us down there.
they're a couple we hadn't gotten to know too much thus far, but from what little we knew, we liked. she is a nurse (what's not to like?!?) and he is in grad school (majoring in library sciences...another win!) and substitute teaching when his own school schedule allows, which is more often than not. they've got 3 kids, one pretty close to kaleb's age. and noelle, their 11-year-old, is one who helps in ellie's class at church from time to time. ellie calls her, "miss noelle" - it's pretty funny :)
it was a great evening of getting to know one another a bit more...they were high school sweet hearts, and they met in youth group at church since they went to 2 different schools - hum, sounds a bit familiar...
after the music was over and we'd finished tacos and the cold front started to blow in, they introduced us to a new ice cream shop so close to home. it was called "lick" - great name for such a store! and yummy ice cream, too.
even in recapping our somewhat rocky journey from fredericksburg to austin, it's good for me to voice again and again that i know with all certainty that He'd have us be nowhere but where we are now. and truly to believe this. truly, we were called away from there and to here for His purposes - regardless of the circumstances which got us here. His plans are bigger than ours, and His ways are not at all like mine.
God is good to continue to confirm our presence/status right now where we are. He is gracious to continue to bring new friends into our midst to walk with and be supported by and to encourage one another on this journey, and tonight was an affirmation, yet again, of His goodness.
a couple of weeks ago, i ordered our 2011 blog entries in book form to keep for recalling in future times, for my kids to read through one day, for sentimental reasons that i can't explain. and it came friday. ellie and i read through the book (it started in august, as that's when i started blogging again, after our move to austin), and i was reminded in the few pages there were of how good God is to provide for us.
and in His provision for us, He provided atonement for my sins to allow me the privilege of spending eternity in His presence - the only provision that matters, really. thus, my 'way out' of death for my own sins came in the form of a baby, His son, during this season we celebrate as Christmas...such a great reminder for me to know that as we've talked about this advent season:
God created all things: for His purposes and His pleasure
humans sin and bring sadness to God
God always keeps His promises (noah and the ark)
God is faithful and expects the same of us
He answers prayers (truly...sarah and abraham were way too old for kids...so they thought!)
He protects us
He is ALWAYS with us
i've enjoyed the jesse tree of advent this year, as it's allowed us as a family to talk about these truths. it's opened my eyes to seeing the need for a Savior from the very beginning of creation, just about. it's funny how loudly Jesus' name is screamed in the stories of the old testament without ever being mentioned...
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