Izzoz Tacos Trailer Lunch

The other day I enjoyed a fabulous lunch at my first or our first Trailer Lunch spot. Austin has all these neat hot spots for lunch and they are GOOD!!! Somehow I always luck out when it comes to good food finds! This particular day I found a great coffee shop and taco stop. Anyway, if you drive down any major streets like Congress or 1st in Austin you will find these trailers lined up in a row offering all kinds of goodies. I even found a Crepe Trailer!

Some of the Trailer Spots have picnic tables with shade and some have an area for the kids to play. I know some of y'all are shying away from the idea of food out of a trailer. Yes, there are areas you probably don't want to risk trying the food. I agree! If you ask the locals(one that is of sound mind) they will give you an area that is typically really good and safe.

This place was AWESOME! My favorite from his menu is the Slow Rider Taco. These are not your typical tacos. The meat has a smokey flavor to it and he uses a unique cheese. The flavors together make a hearty taco. You could handle just having one of these. Now, his tostadas are very good. His shell part is very crunchy and flaky all at the same time. It appears they are homemade. I will have to do more research on it. You can order your tostadas 2 ways. Just plain which has beans, spinach lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and one more item that has escaped my brain or add any meat for a little extra. My mom and I agree the original way is the best. The owner which is also the chef is from Houston. Ha! How funny is that? He has four year old twins, boy and girl. He also has a house in Cypress that he is trying to lease out. We had a lot to talk about!! He is a very nice guy. I can't wait to take hubby!

The owner even had hula hoops, a rocking horse and a little merry go round. I would give this 5 stars for taste, location, price, and atmosphere. I must admit across from him on the other side of the lot is not the most attractive but just turn your back to it. It is not his fault since he does not own that side of it. Apparently he just expanded to a bigger size trailer because of the popularity of his tacos. One guy comes so much during the week to get tacos that the customers standing in line know him by name. He is a very friendly fan. A good sign is the owner always has a flex of folks coming in and out. If you come see me in Austin I will take you!

Faith Scripture, Bling, Spoons and A Blessing!

Before I left my home in Houston to head to Austin some very sweet friends gave me parting gifts. They came at different times throughout the summer but each mean so much to me.

First came..

A beautiful Faith scripture plaque for me to hang as a reminder of who is really in control-GOD! Each friend signed the back of this plaque. Sure makes a gal feel so special.

then came....

See those Beautiful earrings? They match my favorite necklace that I never got earrings for. My hubby and son 2 years ago bought me a heart shaped necklace from Brighton that had a picture of my sweet baby in it. Funny how that works out, huh? Along with these earrings was a gift card for Bed Bath & Beyond. I can't wait to be in a place of our own so I can go shopping for something special! Shopping is so much more FUN with a gift card!!!!! Don't ya think?

then came.....

These are not just your everyday average spoons! They come with a beautiful prayer.

"God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference."

I love to cook and my friend knew this about me so it came with personal thought behind it. Aren't they the most shiny and gorgeous spoons you've ever seen??? Oh trust me they will be for decoration!!!

then came....

This wonderful "blessing" of a decoration was given for me to add to my new home! My 2 sweet friends signed the back of this with wonderful words for me to read over and over again. This particular beauty holds deep relationships that were started from the day we set foot at Bammel. They have blessed my life beyond words!

Now look at them all together.....Interesting how they ALL fit together!!!! I am so excited to put these all in one place for my memory keepsake. When I pass by them I will be reminded of the love, friendships, laughter, tears, hugs, trails, joy and how God worked through each one.

Courage

Such a funny word to me. If you ask any random person what courage means to them you will get many different answer. Some may refer to a fireman or a police officer or even a solider when they think of the word courage. MAYBE some will say their mom(smile). I know my first thought is the infamous picture of a fireman carrying a survivor out of a blazing fire. Very dramatic! Or the picture of that sweet innocent white kitten walking across a line of doberman pinscher.

what does Courage look like to you?

Recently, an old friend came into town. We have not seen each other in over 10 years. We have kept in touch through the years but have not had the opportunity to see each other face to face. She even brought her husband! Funny part is my hubby and her hubby know each other so it was a good visit for all. She has been through some really really tough stuff. I could not even begin to describe what her life has been like these last 12 years. She has had to endure her husband being in another state for 4 years and here I thought a year was long. Ummm, NO! She has had to work almost 6 days out of a 7 day week. She has had to live with people whom she is not related to but knows through marriage. So, she has no idea what it means to have her own place for just the 3 of them. She has had to hear the opinions and judgements from "friends" and strangers about how they feel looking into her life. Some even offered for her to divorce her husband because they do not approve of him having to continue his education in another state. She has lived far away from her immediate family all these years and getting to see them is a challenge financially and in distance. Her mother passed away within her first few years of marriage. She has had to live in area where churches are very very few so her choices have been very limited. She has had to put all her hobby's on a shelf so she could work for her family. She has had to leave her daughter behind for a period of time so she can go help her husband. I could go on since there is a whole lot more to this story but out of respect for my friend I can't. It would be easy to sit back, read this post and even form your own judgements or opinions. We all do!

My friend still has a smile on her face. Sometimes it is a little worn and may carry a few more wrinkles but it is there. It has not been an easy road for my friend and her story continues on this road. I am praying for this chapter in her life to close so they can be a family again. It was probably one of the shortest yet deepest visits I have ever had with a friend. It is just where we are on our journey of life. We as friends have crossed again and we relate on a level that many can not understand. Our paths are different, even the circumstances but we have a new found love and respect for the other because of where we have had to walk.

After being able to see my friend and really see her life story up close and no longer through email and phone, I was encouraged by her courage.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Pure Joy

James 1:2

"Consider it pure JOY, my brothers whenever you face trails of many kinds."

It is easy to praise God when life is lined up right.

Your....... health is good.

family is happy and healthy.

bank account is in the plus after paying the bills.

marriage is strong spiritually and passion has never been better.

church is on a spiritual rise and people are excited about it.

job is the best it has ever been and you love it.

home is perfect in the sense that everything is working.

friendships are blooming.

kids listen to you.

relationship with your parents is Great.

coworkers are doing their job and doing it well.

cars are running right.

at your ideal weight and feel physically strong.

community is safe and happy.

parents are healthy and alive.

kids' teacher loves your child and they love school.

volunteer's are plenty.

kids get to experience what it means to have a Grandparent.

children believe in the Lord.

grandkids love you and live close by.

adult children call often and can't wait for the next visit.

parents make good decisions.

house sells fast and at the listing price.

I think you can fill in your own "Life" line ups!

So maybe the last one was about me. Ha!

It is NOT so easy my friends to Praise God in the pain.

I really don't remember anywhere in the bible where it

said it would be.You can feel free to correct me

if I am wrong. So, we know this right?

Don't ya just wish your heart could catch up with your head?

Or maybe wished for less emotions involved in

these Life Lessons? I know I do!

How do you get through it you ask? How do you "handle" the pain?

What is the next book to read or movie to watch that sums up the

experience or reaches deep into your soul?

How do YOU process the pain?

journal?

read your "go to" scripture?

go for a long car trip?

listen to music?

call a friend?

pray?

I wish I had an easy answer. A quick witty saying to make

you laugh. Or the perfect scripture

for you to grab a hold of to hide in your heart.

Friends, everyone processes

differently because everyone is different and each

experience has it owns unique

circumstances.

Let me ask you a really hard question. What if it never ends or

comes to a stop? I know it is a scary thought. Seriously, I do

think the more appropriate question is will we still

Praise HIM even if the storm NEVER lets up?

I am talking about true worship.

The kind that reaches so deep that tears well up not

because your tired of the situation

BUT you are in awed by HIS POWER AND GLORY.

Awed by how he has carried you.

Carried you in ways you couldn't have imagined.

There is a song I love by Nichole Nordeman called Every Season

my favorite line "I give thanks for what has been and what is to come."

Powerful stuff friends. Find the JOY and PRAISE HIM!

How Time Flies

I can NOT BELIEVE my time has come to go. I am still in shock that today was my last Sunday at our church. You know those strange dreams you have where you are watching what is unfolding before your eyes and you see yourself interacting with people? That is exactly how I felt this am. I looked around the pews shaking my head in disbelief. I must have hugged the same people 5 times in a row and looked into the sweet sweet faces of children that I have taught through the years. It is sometimes hard for me to grasp that I will not get the privilege of watching my friends' kids grow up right before my eyes. For me this is the toughest emotion to let go. If you didn't know it by know I get very attached to other peoples' kids. I have a connection with them and deep in my soul I believe it is a gift! Yes, I know "we" will keep in touch but honestly it just isn't the same seeing them from Sunday to Sunday or in between.

I have one particular friend whom is very emotional about this kind of stuff. I think that is why we get along so well. We really feel! I am getting together with her this week and I am bringing the kleenex. I know we will need it. Isn't it great to know you can be you? I pray that you have those sweet friends in your life that rejoice with you, cry with you, laugh with you and maybe even dance a little with you. This is very biblical! James 5:¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

My emotions are all over the place lately. My mind just keeps racing and it won't stop. Trust me it is all sweet memories. I have recalled the very first people I met when we got here to precious teens who had carried more Faith in their back pockets for me during a very dark time. 10 1/2 years is a big enough number to have multitude of boxes filled with beautiful stories. I am so grateful and blessed to have been part of those stories. So I "thank you" for the memories, good & not so good. If it was all easy & perfect then we would never know growth. Really I "thank you" for loving me enough to grow with me in my faith.

There is an old old song sung by Wayne Watson called Watercolor Ponies. I was at a camp when this song was first introduced to me. It is about cherishing those precious years with your family because time truly does fly! So my friends cherish your time & cherish the people in your life. Oh one more cool fact HE is from Houston! The only video I could find was really long so fast forward to 3:02 and the song will begin.

Lyrics to Watercolor Ponies :

There are watercolour ponies
On my refrigerater door
And the shape of something
I don't really recognize
Drawn by careful little fingers
And put proudly on display
A reminder to us all

Of how time flies

Seems an endless mound of laundry
And a stairway laced with toys
Gives a blow by blow
Reminder of the war
That we fight for their well-being
For their greater understanding
To impart a holy reverance
For the Lord

But, baby, what will we do
When it comes back to me an you?
They look a little less
Like little boys every day
Oh, the pleasure of watching
The children growing
Is mixed with a bitter cup
Of knowing the watercolour ponies
Will one day ride away

And the vision can get so narrow
As you view through your tiny world
And little victories can go by
With no applause
But in the greater evaluation
As they fly from your nest of love
May they mount up with wings
As eagles for His cause