Happy Retirement to Sister Sarah!

If you've been reading our blog, it will not come as a shock to you that Sarah had been counting down the days to her official retirement. Well, count no more! In late October, Sarah bid ado to her adoring coworkers, turned in her badge and embraced retirement! 

Sarah went home... sat around, ate bon bons and watched reruns of I Love Lucy. 

NOT!

Sarah and hubby had been praying for God's direction in the next phase of their lives beyond the work-a-day world for over a year and the minute the retirement bell rang, things started falling perfectly into place. 

Within a few short weeks, they had sold their house in Richland and moved to a new home near Minneapolis and more importantly - near their grandchildren!

During this mad rush of activity, Sarah managed to find time to dine with the Girlfriends at one of our favorites, The Kitchen House. Elizabeth made the snowy trek from South Haven while Ruth, Sarah and I had only a few blocks to travel. 

We missed Rebecca who was helping her children and grandchildren prepare for a move and of course Anna, who is back in Florida for the winter.

It was so much fun to see the excitement on our dear friend Sarah's face as she outlined their plans and described how God had prepared a place for them, close to the family they have missed the last 10 years after relocating to Richland for their careers. We loved hearing how their Richland house sold in one day and how after looking at many houses near Minneapolis, the exact right house in a perfect location popped on the market and they were able to snag it. 

We laughed, listened, encouraged, praised God and so enjoyed this last supper with Sarah that won't require a MUCH longer drive!

In fact, at most restaurants, we may not have even noticed we were eating. However, food prepared at The Kitchen House is an amazing treat for the taste buds that demands attention. Although the portions are large, it's hard to take home leftovers! Three of us enjoyed the pork tenderloin prepared with a special sauce and Ruth had her usual Chicken and Mushroom Penne. 

With our stomachs full of food and our hearts full of love, we hugged Sarah and said our "see you laters."

As I listened to Sarah share her joy in what the Lord has done for them, I was of course reminded of my favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

May the hope of God be found in your future,

Miriam  

Life is Seasonal

It was my last dinner for awhile with our circle of Sisters and we enjoyed the evening at North 11. Miriam, Elisabeth, Ruth and I enjoyed the ambiance of the dimly lit, relaxing space. We immediately caught up with each others' lives including many new beginnings: ultrasound pictures of God’s miracles not yet born, new employment for a Son in Washington D.C., wedding photos for a Son and Daughter-In-Law, wedding plans for an upcoming wedding, all blessings from God we are so thankful for! 

We prayed for our Sisters Rebecca and Sarah who were unable to join us. The end of Summer is official now and we are seeing the glimpse of colors changing on the trees and cooler nights and early mornings. We discussed my parents and the change for me traveling soon to Florida.

Dinner was amazing, though Ruth had a bit of a wait for hers to arrive as it upended in the kitchen! Miriam and Anna enjoyed delicious salmon, while Elisabeth had white pizza and Ruth eventually enjoyed her regular pizza. Miriam, as thoughtful as ever had brought along delicious desert: chocolate cupcakes which were quickly devoured! It was the perfect ending to our meal.

It seems lately we all have been reminded of the fragile nature of our human form, whether due to the loss of a close friend, the loss of a dear parent of one of our circle of friends, or the passing of time watching the summer season coming to an end. 

I am reminded of a passage in James 4:14, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” This reminds me to live my life surrounded by close Christian friends, spending each moment praising God for our fellowship together and the reliance each of us feels when we share life together.

As humans, we cannot begin to understand His great plan, we can only await the day when we reach true understanding at Jesus’ feet. In the meantime, I am thankful for precious time with God and with my dear friends. I treasure each of them and our fellowship together. I am always thankful for the quick response to a prayer request to my Sisters in Christ, knowing instantly that I am covered by amazing prayer warriors. As time continues to pass by faster than I would like it to, let me remember to treasure moments with these special friends, trusting that we will be together in eternity with Christ Jesus. 

Until May, when I can join you again, my love and blessings,

Anna

His Ways are Not Our Ways

On Wednesday, August 17, the Girlfriends gathered once again to enjoy a meal together and share our journeys. As with most groups our size, not everyone can make each gathering. This was no exception. Our sister, Sarah, had a lot going on. She needed to take care of herself and her family. 

The rest of us have been there…work, sick family member, house renovations, returning from vacation…and the list goes on; it is easy to understand why she couldn’t join us. This time would be Elizabeth, Miriam, Rebecca, Anna, and me, Ruth.

We are all drawn to the water and sand and with Elizabeth living at the lake, it is the perfect place for summer gatherings. 

It was a beautiful afternoon with blue skies and a few high clouds, a great day for a drive to South Haven with friends. We arrived and used Elizabeth’s home as the meeting place. Earlier one of us had suggested dinner at Captain Lou’s. 

Elizabeth is very familiar with the local eateries. She wasn’t sure if there would be room for a group our size. We decided to walk by and see with an alternative location in mind if there wasn’t a table. Not a problem that evening, there were plenty of tables on the deck in a narrow hall between two buildings.

We tried a couple of tables before settling down and looking at the menu. Elizabeth suggested one of the fish entrees and we all ordered. About that time our telephones started ringing. We all had a message from the church. One of our members, a young woman, mother, wife, missionary, servant of our Lord who had been fighting the good fight with cancer for three years had passed away an hour earlier. 

Along with our congregation and many others, we had prayed regularly for complete healing this side of heaven. In our minds, this would have been the perfect time for a miracle. We all believed God could and would heal our dear friend. 

Not. This. Time.

Why? Why not? Why now? The tone of the evening quickly changed from one of laughter and fun to one of serious need for prayers. Prayers for the husband and children left behind, prayers to help us help them, prayers to help us know what to do, prayers. 

We finished our meals and walked back to Elizabeth’s home to pray. Through choked voices and tears we lifted our thoughts and petitions to the Lord. We admitted we didn’t understand. We admitted it didn’t seem fair. We admitted we know that God is in control. We asked why couldn’t this woman stay with us and continue to witness this side of heaven and make a huge difference for His kingdom. We asked a lot of things knowing that God loves us and already knows what is on our hearts. 

We closed holding hands. Elizabeth suggested a walk along the Lake. It was peaceful. It was reflective. God knew we needed to be together that evening and He orchestrated for us to love on and support each other during this most difficult time.

Since this time I have dug into my Bible about death and dying. There are verses about death and dying; however, in the end that is not what I got out of all those verses.

1. God is in Control. I did review a recent Bible study on the book of Daniel where I was reminded that Daniel stayed the course, even when tempted, because he knew that God was in control. His timing is perfect. I need to remember this even when that hurts, when things seem out of control, when life doesn’t go the way I believe it should. His timing is perfect. He is in control.

2. His ways are different than our ways. Isaiah 55:8 tells us “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Even though in my eyes our friend should still be here witnessing for the Lord, God knows better. Is He saving our friend from something? Will her death bring him more glory? I trust that God has done what was best for our friend.

3. All of our days on earth are numbered. Psalm 39:4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.” No one will live forever here on earth, but believers will have eternal life in heaven.

4. We are not meant to do life alone. We need each other, especially at times such as this. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” We need each other for love and support, to point us to God and His ways, and to remind us He is in control.

Until we meet again…

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 


Ruth

Praises Abound!

It’s a beautiful day in my little (new) hometown of South Haven, Michigan! I love living in such a cozy, tight-knit community, while we welcome the tourists that join us every year. I mentioned to friends earlier this year, I love living in a town where you can hear the church bells ring at noon and 6pm. Just feels good. God has blessed this state with some of the most beautiful beaches and lakes on the planet and my girlfriends from Kalamazoo came to visit South Haven for our monthly girl’s dinner in July. 

We met at one of my local favorites, Taste, in downtown South Haven. It is an eclectic mix of small plates, full dinner plates, scrumptious salads, and the best martinis in town! The chef, Joel, is famous locally, and gaining notoriety beyond Southwest Michigan. 

I don’t know why, but I can’t pass up my favorite dish each time I visit Taste. I love the red beet, pear, and goat cheese salad, along with the sautéed scallops in garlic butter, with wonderful bread for dipping! Yum! The girls branched out in their choices and partook of other wonderful dishes, like tip steak and fish tacos.

Our monthly get-togethers are very important to us, and force us to set aside time for friendship, support, laughter, and Christian fellowship. We know that we need each other, and this month our conversations were filled with many praises that we shared. 

Miriam shared that her son had a great trip to China and was getting ready to return to the US, so we all keep him on our prayer list for safe travels home. What a great experience for a young man! 

Sarah is counting down the days to her official retirement and we gave thanks for the circumstances surrounding her departure from her long term employer. Though it remains a bit of an anxious time with some uncertainties, we know that God has her back and is planning so much more for her future beyond the 9-5 routine! 

Ruth had a huge praise and announcement that her youngest daughter is expecting her first child, and Ruth’s 2nd grandchild. What a blessing! We pray for good health for both mom and baby! 

Anna also shared some wonderful news about her oldest son… he got engaged to his longtime sweetheart, and invited all the parents to participate in the engagement event! What a wonderful time for Anna to be part of this beautiful demonstration of love. Prayers for this young couple as they enter this exciting time in their life. 

Rebecca also had a big praise that her son had landed a fantastic new job that will set him up for great experiences in the entertainment industry. Also, her grandson is progressing well and is a happy, healthy 2-year old! 

As for me, my praise is that my youngest son is planning his September wedding, and that my husband and I have been able to find a place, and a new church in our new community, and we are starting to feel at home here! 

God is good, all the time!

We all remain concerned for a friend who is battling cancer at a very young age, but we continue to have faith that God will show us His will for her life. She has been such a strong woman through her illness, it gives all of us strength and encouragement as we continue to pray for her.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by these faithful, supportive women. I don’t think I could do life on this earth without them. Love you all!

Elisabeth.

Seize life!

Do you find joy in life? I sure do. I find it all around me. 

I find joy in a beautiful summer day, a wagging dog tail, a blazing campfire, a good book, a hug from a friend, and good food. I especially take great pleasure in food and friends! There is no better combination. 

On June 1st Miriam, Ruth, Elisabeth and I met at North 11 for ‘Ladies Night Out’. We’ve been there before for one of our monthly outings. The food and service are dependably good and during the week it’s always quiet enough for good conversation. I sat amazed that night at how much pleasure I get from spending time with my Christian girlfriends. I really love these ladies.

The following week one of my daily devotions included some scripture that really made me smile and think of them. Having grown up in a King James world, I occasionally enjoy reading The Message translation. This translation made this scripture come alive for me.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 (The Message) 

Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,
Drink wine with a robust heart.
Oh yes, God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
Dress festively every morning.
Don’t skimp on colors or scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love
Each and every day of your precious life.
Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange
For the hard work of staying alive.
Make the most of each one!
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!

Like earthly parents, our Father God takes great pleasure in our happiness! He wants us to enjoy life! Be happy! Seize life! Seek joy. (And don’t skimp on colors or scarves!) 

Seizing Life Daily,

Sarah

Laughter is the Best Medicine

It's been awhile since you heard from us, so I thought I'd put together a quick update of our last get-together. 

Girlfriends Breaking Bread met at Martini's in Kalamazoo last month. We had a small group with Miriam, Ruth, Sarah and me.     

Martini's is a locally-owned Italian restaurant that has a variety of food on the menu. It's started out as a small, neighborhood take-out pizza place in Portage and grew to the eat-in-take-out, full-service restaurant it is today, located in Kalamazoo, just south of downtown. 

We caught up on family activities and Sarah talked about her upcoming retirement that she was hoping would happen on the timeline originally planned.

I shared some details of my upcoming parathyroid surgery which had me a bit nervous. As I noted my symptoms, (tired, grumpy, forgetful), all the girls decided that they had those symptoms, too, which brought about a lot of laughter! They do say laughter is the best medicine and this sure helped ease my nerves.

I'm so grateful for these ladies and their friendship and the support of God and family.

Until next time,

Rebecca

Blessings All Around

When the girlfriends started to meet, eat and blog nearly three years ago, we were determined to include only restaurants in Richland Township as our rendezvous points. Have you been to Richland? Probably not. Let's just say it's a small geographical area and even including pizza at the bowling alley and Subway at the gas station the number of restaurants comes in at about 10.

In the past year we have drawn a bigger circle on the map, including restaurants  in nearby Kalamazoo both in its lovely downtown and retail west side. We've also met in some of the surrounding villages and townships.

For our most recent get together, we chose a spot in Comstock Township which sits between Richland and Kalamazoo. Bangkok Flavor is a tiny place with big flavor, located in a strip mall at the corner of Sprinkle and Gull Roads. As you may have guessed from the name, they feature Thai food. On this Wednesday evening, the restaurant was pretty quiet - but not for long with the girlfriends in residence!

Happily all girlfriends currently residing in Michigan were present! We missed Anna and look forward to her return from sunny Florida sometime in May.

We chatted about Sarah's upcoming retirement and she listened intently as Elisabeth and I gave her pointers on making this exciting transition. Ruth had news of her grown children to share as well as some new photos of her sweet granddaughter!  Rebecca had fantastic news of a new job for her son way out in San Diego! What a blessing that he has found work and an apartment so quickly after his move.

Dinner is a sideline activity for this happy group, but we studied the menu and asked for some clarifications from the waitress. One of the great things about this restaurant is the ability to request a specific heat level for the food. With a few, exceptions, any menu item can be prepared with mild, medium, hot or Thai hot spice. 

The waitress explained that "medium" was akin to the spice of a jalapeno. Armed with this knowledge, we all chose to take the safe road with the selection of mild. 

Within a few minutes, our friendly waitress delivered 3 dishes of rice and 5 steaming entrees. After a brief prayer, the table got pretty quiet as we dove into our food. We all agreed we had chosen well from the large menu and the spice level was just right.

As we marked our calendars for our next Girlfriends dinner and prepared to head home, I couldn't help but reflect upon how blessed we are with our families, our God and our girlfriends.

May you be blessed as well this spring season!

Miriam 

“Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?” - C.S. Lewis