Soccer in Autumn!

The little boy who used to go to the stadium only for the food is becoming an avid soccer fan! (I guess he comes by it honestly...) J

Today he proudly informed me that I would like the pictures he’d drawn at school!

(He was supposed to be illustrating autumn.)

And he’s right! I love the pictures!

Last week he insisted in getting all dressed up in his celeste outfit to go to the stadium. (Although we gave him the outfit on his first birthday, the shorts and socks finally fit him now!)

He actually seemed to be following the game that night! (A first for him?!) At one point (when the score was 3 to 1, if I’m remembering correctly), he started crying really hard and buried his face in my arm.

“What’s wrong?!” I asked, alarmed.

“We aren’t going to win now!” he sobbed.

(So many teachable moments in soccer – and life!)

#SomosCelestes  #ElEquipoQueNosUne  #UruguayNoMá

¡Celestes!

Hay que apoyar en las buenas... Y en las no-tan-buenas también...

#SomosCelestes #UruguayNoMá

Y a veces, ¡hay que llevar hasta “los deberes” al estadio! J

Celebrating Cédulas

Significant legal paperwork for our family was completed today. With renewed cédulas (now stating “residente legal”) for JM and E and DJ, we were feeling rather festive!

There’s nothing quite like European-style coffee – enjoyed at a little sidewalk café. (Although ice-cream from La Cigale, our favorite place, rates a very close second place! But we’ll have to wait for the next “celebratory” occasion for that...)

Autumn is right around the corner here in Montevideo, and the cool breeze this afternoon was a welcome respite after multiple heat waves this summer.

We’re thankful not only for today’s milestone but also for an outing (even on “official business”) with our favorite Little People! Life has been extra full these days...

We’re thankful...

“From Saul to Paul”

Of all the people who kept the rules, Saul was the best.

“I’m good at being good!” he’d tell you.

He was very proud. And very good. But he wasn’t very nice.

Saul hated anyone who loved Jesus. He traveled around looking for them. He wanted to catch them and put them in prison. He wanted everyone to forget all about Jesus. He didn’t believe Jesus was the Rescuer. And he didn’t believe Jesus was alive, either.

You see, Saul had never met Jesus.

So one day, Jesus met Saul.

. . .

“It’s not about keeping rules!” Paul told people. “You don’t have to be good at being good for God to love you. You just have to believe what Jesus has done and follow him. Because it’s not about trying, it’s about trusting. It’s not about rules, it’s about Grace: God’s free gift – that cost him everything.”

What had happened to Paul? He met Jesus.

Paul got a new job. He called himself a servant and traveled everywhere telling everyone about Jesus. He got shipwrecked – three times! He even ended up in prison.

“God loves us!” he wrote from prison. “Nothing can ever – no, not ever! – separate us from the Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love of God he showed us in Jesus!”

~ The Jesus Storybook Bible