Quote & Build Progress

"[In Jeremiah 29] God, through the prophets, instructs his people in a foreign city to construct houses that they will live in, to plant gardens, and to eat its harvest. It takes time to build a house. It takes time to plant and tend a garden. It seems to me that God is commanding his people to sink themselves deep into the fabric of that wicked city. To build a house is to choose to be a neighbor to people in the city."
- Darrin Patrick, Church Planter (228).

This one's a short post, & mostly for family who have asked... But thanks to iPhoto, we put together a handy-dandy 12-pic slideshow of our home's progress, from the day the dirt arrived until today. For perspective, they poured the slab the Monday before the entire state of Texas closed for snow last week - which means that the second half of the slideshow (which might be termed "the actual build") all happened this week.

Pretty amazing how fast it's moving, & really fun to watch. We're increasingly grateful for the opportunity, starting to meet neighbors, praying for our new home, & (to reference Patrick's quote above) excited to plant ourselves deeper into the city & neighborhood where God has called us to invest. Thanks for celebrating God's grace the progress so far - enjoy!