We have lived hours or plane rides away from our parents and other family members since getting married and having kids. Each city, we have been thankful for the community the Lord has provided. In Cleveland it is no different. A consistent prayer when we knew we were moving from Seattle to Cleveland was for close deep friendships fast. I know I have said it before but so thankful for the Lord's grace in providing us with deep, close friendships who we also worship with weekly at church. It was the people we met as soon as we moved. They trickled in over the last 4 years. It almost blows my mind to have friends who are fun to be with and also likeminded in their relationship with Jesus.
(Morgan Heberle, Jim Kohl, John Heberle, Jackie Kohl, myself, Wes, Devon Guertin and Matt Guertin)
- We often remember Paul for his belief in the sufficiency of the Gospel and his willingness to die for it. But what we overlook is his emphasis on friendship. "Paul was relationally wealthy. He traveled with friends; he stayed with them; he visited them. He worked alongside them; he preached alongside them; he was beaten alongside them. He even sang in prison with friends. He encouraged them, and was encouraged by them. At times, Paul disagreed with his friends. And at times, he reconciled with them"
- In our gospel-centered lives, we should mimic Paul’s preaching the grace of Christ but we should also highlight his deep commitment to friendship.
- Paul's constant interactions with his friends were signs of maturity. He needed friends just like us for companionship as Tim Keller says "God made us in such a way that we couldn’t even enjoy paradise without friends. . . . Adam had a perfect quiet time everyday for 24 hours a day. Yet he needed friends."
- We also like friends for comfort (2 Cor7:5-6) "We need these kinds of friends because our hearts are fickle; because sin never sleeps; because Satan rages; and because the gospel is of first importance. We mustn’t underestimate the importance of coming alongside one another in the fight of faith."
-And for joy as the article says "aul tells the church of his desire to see them—in person. He’s just written them a long letter, but he wants more: “I want to enjoy your company” (Rom. 15:24) and “be refreshed in your company” (Rom. 15:32). Even though Paul could communicate through writing, he knew that deeper joy and refreshment could only be experienced in person. The apostle John says something similar: “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12)." In person fellowship not just internet or texting friends...
- Loyal gospel friends are priceless gifts from God. And they are made possible through our union with Christ, the ultimate Friend (John 15:15), who has covered our multitude of sins.
Anyways, during the holidays it is nice to be able to spend time with friends when we are away from family.
Pizza night and hanging with friends at the Kohls.
And supporing John in his Bay High School alum hocky game. It was fun and Levi was happy his friend Lotti was there as her dad was playing too.
Two of my friends, who also love the kids well, are Mary Grace and Rachel. They are pediatric nurses who live in our neighborhood and also come to Local church with us. They invited us to the Zoo lights. We had a really fun time. Two other single girls, Andrea and Jordan came too. Levi really likes hanging out with Rachel and even got my phone for a bit to take selfies.
We all rode the carousel included in the tickets!
Advent-ing...waiting until Christmas day for a few days at home together was sweet. We filled it with haircuts, grocery runs, soaking baths for Sadie, coffee shops (if open!), Christmas movies, FaceTime calls for Leighton with friends, puzzles, and board games. I gave in and let them open the gifts they bought each other too on 12/23 and 12/24.
Matinee movie on Christmas Eve ... we had theater to ourselves.
Christmas Eve Feliz Navidad celebrations at the Guertin's for tacos and White Elephant games in PJs.
From December 21 to 26, 2022, a historic extratropical cyclone created winter storm conditions, including blizzards, high winds, snowfall, or record cold temperatures across the majority of the United States and parts of Canada. We survived staying in and didn't lose electricity. Not a lot of snow but negative degree temps and wind chills down to -25. We ran outside for a few minutes to take a picture and quickly went back in!
Finished up Christmas shopping also the week before Christmas. The tree was beginning to a look a little droopy after a month of holding up ornaments, lights and icicles.
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