It was a wild and wonderful weekend.
Blake had a friend from AZ come and spend the night on Wednesday and Thursday. We walked downtown with them on Friday night to enjoy some outdoor dining and a little Pleasanton hospitality. Later that night, they joined a mutual friend who lives about an hour away whose wonderful family took them to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. Rough. 🙂
Saturday morning yet another precious neighbor took me to a local little breakfast place. And it wasn’t just the food that was delicious. The conversation continually gave each of us a case of goose bumps – an indication I’ve discovered is often associated with experiencing a “God thing”. This woman has a heart of gold and shared that amazing heart with me over eggs and bacon. Delectable!
Later that afternoon, Mark and I went to see my friend Amy’s parents at Mount Hermon Camp/Conference Center who invited us for dinner and a concert. We sat with Fernando Ortega (awesome guy!) over dinner and then stayed to hear him play and sing. Fantastic night of laughter and worship. Thanks so much, David and Carla, for your sweet hospitality and generosity. It was great to see and catch up with you!
Yesterday, Mark and I went to Blue Oaks church (our new church home!). On the way, we had said to each other, “Would’t it be awesome if someone talked to us today?” We were joking (kind of). We walked in and sat in the second row, eager to enjoy the music and teaching that happens there every week. What we didn’t anticipate was the couple that was sitting directly behind us. Karen and Doug.
They introduced themselves during the service and then after church invited us to lunch. Little did we know that they had just been praying for friends as well. They normally went to the earlier service but had “randomly” overslept and so “just happened” to be at the same service we were at. Coincidence? I don’t think so… Lunch was full of lively conversation and laughter and when we left we made plans for Karen and I to have coffee this morning and for all of us to meet up for Music In The Park on Friday night.
I’m tellin’ ya…this place is overflowing with people who have open hearts and generous spirits and every time I think I’ve seen it all, someone else comes along who just blows me away.
After 11 moves over the years, both Mark and I would love to call this our “forever home”. We just dig everything about this place, this neighborhood, this house. But I don’t know what God has ahead for us. I have no idea if we’ll be here for two years or thirty. (My vote is thirty plus – please, please, please!)
Which leaves me with only one plan: To live every day here as if it were my last. Loving the incredible people that have been placed in my life with all my heart. To share my faith, my time, my life with them. To look for opportunities to reach out, to touch and to help.
My tendency is to want to cling tightly to this wonderland that God has led us to. To refuse to listen if God asks us to move again. But I can’t. I have to be willing to “take what He gives and give what He takes”.
And though my grip needs to be loose, my love can be fierce. My passion can flow. My heart can beat loudly and wildly as I do what He’s asked me to do right now. Today.
He’s given me this day in Pleasanton, California. And today I choose to live it fully, freely and with great abandon.
Join me???? 🙂
John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – Jesus
