It was a cloudless blue-sky day when I cheerfully welcomed the girls at the Tampa airport on Saturday afternoon - a very happy reunion of weary friends! The group of snow women was greatly awaiting sun and warmth for physical needs and soul building in the midst of an unbelievable cold winter in Michigan!
We began
our time together with a toast to our friendships, great conversation and
a meal together. Weather permitted us only a few hours of beach time;
however, we spent glorious days laughing and sharing, fellowship and faith
building. It was wonderful getting to know each other a little better
away from life's daily distractions.
Approaching
Lido Beach one afternoon, after hours in traffic and a great lunch with
delicious desert cupcakes, the sky opened up to reveal our Lord's majesty:
sunshine and ocean waves! How blessed we are!
Shopping in Armand
Circle brought us new little treasures to take home to remember our visit.
We met
new friends along the way during the week: Denise, our colorful waitress at the Seafood Shack in Fisherman's Village allowed us to pray for her, while Carol, a cashier at a
local grocery store asked if she could join us because we looked like, "a
fun group of chicks."
A great beach day of sunshine and snacks, followed
by dinner on Anna Maria Island one evening at Lobstah's restaurant
We all
really missed our friend Ruth, wishing she could have been with us for our
adventures. The last evening we shared dinner together at my parent's home for lasagna and great stories.
Hopefully,
Sarah, Elisabeth, and Miriam "thawed" their frozen bodies and chilled
spirits spending time enjoying Florida. Although it was not an extremely
warm week, I will never forget the special Christian friends who braved the
blizzard to travel to Florida for a few days of joy and laughter.
Hugs were
shared by all at the airport on a sad Thursday, the start of another very long
travel day.
Until my
return to a warmer Michigan,
Anna
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