Why "the good land"

Coming up with a blog name was challenging.  When I thought back to when Austin and I first got engaged, I was reminded of our favorite Bible passage: Deuteronomy 8.  I know it's not a common passage, but it means a lot to Austin and I.  Here is Deuteronomy 8:7-11:

 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 

The book of Deuteronomy was written (most likely by Moses) as a series of "speeches" to the Isrealites outlining where they came from (the wilderness where they wandered for 40 years) and looks forward to the land that was promised to them (the good land...the "promised land"). 

To me, the description of "the good land" is beautiful.  Brooks and streams, valleys and hills, and an abundant harvest.  I can close my eyes and almost taste the goodness of it all.  The beauty that I can imagine exists in this good land is what my heart longs for; what I believe my heart was made for. 

To make a long story short, this passage has meant a lot to Austin and I because we believe that the Lord is bringing us into a good land.  From our engagement and marriage, to the great home that we were blessed to rent for the first three years of our marriage, to Austin's new job and our new house.  Although things haven't always been easy -- we have dealt with money and job issues, a "failed" business and more-- but in it all we have seen the Lord at work bringing us to where we are today.  We thank the Lord for all of our blessings and are very excited for the journey the Lord has us on; for the good land He is bringing us into.