Day 65 (2013.04.03) Eating-Tour-Day-With-Abby
This is becoming more of an eating tour for Abby and me than a spiritual journey to the heart of God at Bethel Church. Nothing is wrong with spending time with my daughter, and it has been so good spending time with my daughter. We haven’t done this before, and I wonder why we haven’t done it earlier. I don’t know whose idea it was for us to spend time together in Redding. This was supposed to be Abby’s 16th birthday gift from me, but instead it is becoming a special gift for me. This father-daughter time is really doing a good thing to my soul. She is not a tiny little girl anymore.
picture of my family when Abby was just a little cute thing. We look so young
It seems though Abby has been playing violin all her life… almost (11 years)
Abby N hamster. Abby must have been 5 or 6.
Today’s plan was simply enough. Abby had few places she wanted to eat from in Redding before we leave for San Francisco tomorrow morning. She also had a Sozo session set up for her. Sozo is a Greek word for “salvation or saved,” and Bethel Church use that word for their inner healing ministry. Abby is also planning to visit the Bethel youth meeting in the evening.
First thing she told me in the morning was “I am hungry and I want pancakes.” The restaurant of her choice was Deja Vu Restaurant. It had a nice cozy atmosphere and the servers were very kind and helpful. Large portions and their biscuits with gravy was quite good. My waitress was filling my coffee cup constantly and we enjoyed our breakfast well. Another success in good meal hunting in Redding.
Abby smiling before the food came out
What I ordered. Eggs Benedict with home fries. Good portion and yummy
Abby is ready to dig in
Abby’s breakfast: Harvest Grain pancakes with sausage & biscuits with white gravy
When leaving, Abby pointed out where the dessert she wanted to eat at: Spoon Me, a frozen yogurt place a block away. We stopped by at the Bethel Twin View campus to be at the Worship Room. Most of the BSSM students were out on short-term mission trips and it seemed that the Worship Room was led by them. When we walked in, they were just turning on the the video-stream of IHOP’s prayer room and Laura Hackett was leading. IHOP’s 24/7 video-stream of its prayer room is making possible, at anywhere in the world, to have a prayer room. We soaked in God’s presence and in prayer for an hour or so.
I took Abby to the Transformation Center which was right across the Twin View Campus for her first ever Sozo session. I decided to go to the Bethel Church’s Hebrews Cafe to wait for Abby. After an hour or so came Abby’s phone call that her session was over. When I came to pick her up, she still had a teary eye. I asked, “How was it? Tell me!” And, I told her, “It was all my fault, wasn’t it?” She would only say, “It was really good dad. But I can’t tell you because it is personal.” “Did you see Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit?” I asked. “Yes, Jesus gave me a piggy-back ride and we rode elephants together. God the Father gave me hugs. Holy Spirit at first looked like dragon that filled the earth…” She had an encounter with the Trinity. Man, I was jealous. When I did my Sozo session, I couldn’t see anyone and had to deal with a lot of blockage & barriers in my life. You have to ask her yourself for what her encounters were like.
Now it was time for fro-yo. Spoon Me, here we go. It was cute, the atmosphere was warm with welcoming, and it was yummy. I had half a small cup of “cool cucumber,’ “natural tart,” and “orange-mango sherbet,” with little bits of roasted coconuts & walnuts. Abby filled her cup with her favorites. She was happy and that was all that counted. I had to take a picture of the lady making crepes. Another success.
When we came back to the house, Gary was working on his classic 1964 Ford Ranchero. It was sky blue and he has been rebuilding this classic beauty. Though retired, Gary kept himself busy with many hobbies.
We set out for a dinner before the youth group meeting. Abby told me that we had to go to Savory Spoon. What is all these “spoon” thing in Redding? Any how, we entered the restaurant with a lot of expectations since the reviews were great for this restaurant. It looked inviting from outside and inside was inviting enough. Interesting atmosphere. It felt like a restaurant trying to look nice and with interesting theme decorations. We ordered Garlic Fries, “Some Like It On Fire!!!”, and “Chicken & Dumplings Dinner” for Abby. The food was just “okay,” but little pricey for what we ordered. It wasn’t a total fail, but was little disappointing after all the good reviews we found in the internet.
Freshly Cut, Crisply Fried French Fries topped with minced Garlic
the soup of the day: cream of tomato with basil as a side dish
Roasted Chicken, Stewed with Onions, Celery, tender Carrots & Sweet Peas, topped with Delicate Dumplings
Some like it on Fire!!!! – Cayenne Seasoned with Fresh Jalapenos, Pepper Jack Cheese & Chipotle Habanero Sauce
Then we were off to the Bethel youth group meeting at the Twin View campus. We got there little early (just 20 min early), and already there were number of youths hanging outside the building. I could see that Abby was little nervous. She checked in with two youths sitting under a “newcomer” banner. A youth pastor greeted Abby and I left her in his good hands. I picked Abby up about an hour and 45 min. later. I asked her, “How was it?” Abby’s own words: “It was okay, but I think HOPE Chosen youth group is better.”
interest group info for youths at Bethel youth group
It was a good eating day. It was a good day hanging out with my daughter. Tomorrow we go to San Francisco for a serious day of father-daughter fun. Abby picked out at least five places she wanted to eat at. I can hear my stomach coming out. Then, she will fly back on home on Friday and I will have a full week at Bethel Church. I am enjoying every minute I have. It is costing me quite a lot, but Abby is worthy every dime of it. Hooray for good eat hunting!
PQ's Pursuits 