Momentous Evening

Yes, it was a momentous evening! I went out with two ladies for fun....not a chapel event....though those CAN be loads of fun...but an invite to just go BE with grown up ladies! 

We've had families over and been invited over to visit other families. We've had staff over. I've met moms at parks...but this is the first time since moving to CA that I was invited out, without kids,  to  be with other women....and it was fun.

I picked up Rachel and we sat in the parking lot of Mi Pueblito and waited for April.  I can never get enough time to chat with Rachel, or  my "other grand kids," as Michael calls her children.

April met us and we drove to  Kingdom Builder Books in Roseville.  This is a store which sells home school curriculum and offers various classes to the home school community. I'm sure the youngers are going to be thrilled to see my loot. We needed a bit more seat work as they mentioned they need work to take to PWOC. This is as good as it gets for three home school Moms on a night out.  {Ed. note: Yep, Stacia just said, "GOOD something to do at PWOC." } 

We had our priorities...shopping first; but then we were hungry. We landed at Olive Gardens. I want my waiter sons to know I DID find vegan food and our waiter was gracious. I enjoyed a salad with the NEW Caprese toppings that are amazing (I simply asked them to keep the mozzarella bites) and instead of the famous Olive Garden dressing (which has Parmesan cheese in it) I sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. It was a yummy dinner, I stayed on my  plan AND I didn't have a migraine when I left. SCORE.

The conversation was fun and lively while we ate and on our way home....a very nice evening....and now that I write about it... ::blush:: I don't know that I WAS invited...April mentioned she was going to Kingdom Builder Books and I think I invited myself to go with her. ::snort::  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I'm going to count it as my first friend out night anyway.

These were so pretty to come home too. Because I have a husband and children I love dearly. And Michael just likes to make me smile.

I love tulips!

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Following Naked

A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body, and they seized him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. Mark 14:51

These are the types of passages which capture my imagination. Obviously, I do not plan to base my entire theology on this verse.  I do ask questions: 

• WHY is he in the garden dressed like this? Didn't his  mother ever warn him to put on a clean toga in case of Roman capture?
• WHO is this? 
• HOW did he here that the action was in the garden? 
• WHY is this shared in the Word?

Mark's gospel is the only one to record this story. This has led to speculation that the young man following Jesus and stripped naked was Mark himself. 

We do know this was a young man determined to follow Jesus. Nothing stopped him from his quest of abiding fellowship with Jesus. I can learn from this nameless, naked, young man. 

This reminds me of a more dignified challenge in Hebrews 12:1b - 2a  "....lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...." 

I believe this young man's eyes were fixed on following Jesus. Nothing stopped him from following.

Following Jesus may lead to strange actions from me (how long would it have taken to throw on a toga?).

Nothing can be allowed to distract me from following Jesus. 

Following Jesus will often leave me feeling stripped naked - and that's good. 

Choosing Joy!

©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...