Women's Weekend in South Haven

Last month the girlfriends met at NED’s (North End Deli) in Richland for dinner.  I said I would write the blog for this gathering and never did.   Now, I can’t remember enough of the evening to do it justice.   

Forgiveness.  That is one of the MANY attributes I LOVE about my Christian sista’s.  They are loving, kind and forgiving.  Thank you, God, for putting them in my life. 

On to the latest gathering….

Groceries at Bloomingdale's Bulk Food and Grocery:  $6.36

Lunch at Taste of South Haven: $18.48

Shopping in town: $60.00

Weekend get-a-away with Christian Sista’s:  Priceless!

Elisabeth and her husband purchased a condo in South Haven to enjoy in their retirement.  Since making the purchase they have been busy with updating the condo to their liking and helping plan and enjoy their son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. 

This fall things have slowed down a bit and Elizabeth invited us for a women’s weekend in South Haven.  Unfortunately, Anna is already out of state for the winter and Sarah had other commitments so they were unable to join us.  We missed them.

Elisabeth, Miriam and I met at Elisabeth’s house early Saturday morning and drove west, the back way, to South Haven.  It was late fall so most of the leaves were already down, but an occasional splash of color dotted the woods.  It was overcast and windy, but not too cold.   

We drove through Alamo, Gobles and Bloomingdale and Elisabeth said she wanted to make a stop at a quaint Amish grocery co-op.  We wandered up and down the aisles looking at spices, baskets and baked goods.  We picked up a couple of things to eat later and got back on the road.  The conversation continued from one thing to the next and it wasn’t long until we arrived in South Haven.

Elisabeth has created a warm, welcoming get-away.  The condo has two floors, the lower with two bedrooms and a full bathroom.  She let us pick which room we wanted to sleep in and continued the tour to the upper floor.  It has an open concept living room, eating area and kitchen.   It is a beautiful place to call home.  They will make many memories there with family and friends.

After getting acquainted with our weekend surroundings, we went downtown.  The main street is lined with great shops that have household goods, clothing, bakery goods and much more.  I always enjoy shopping out-of-town hoping to find a unique gift to give for Christmas.  This trip was no exception.  I bought…oh, wait!  I can’t tell in case my daughter’s read the blog! 
 
We had a variety of options for lunch.  Elisabeth suggested Taste of South Haven.  She and Miriam have eaten there before and enjoyed the food.  If I remember correctly, they both had Chef Joel’s signature tomato bisque with Parmesan cheese and a blend of herbs followed by Bay Scallop Scampi with garlic bread.  I enjoyed the corn tortillas filled with grilled tilapia, homemade creamy slaw, corn & avocado salsa.  We had no agenda for the weekend so we had a leisurely meal enjoying every bite as well as great conversation and a glass of wine.

We had a chance to walk to the beach just as the sun was coming out from under the clouds and setting in the west.  The water and wind were wild!  There were snow fences on the beach to help control mother nature later this winter.  The sand was blown through them and up and over the road.  The water swelled in the channel up and over the walls.   

The sand was dotted with clumps of weeds and shells from Lake Michigan.  From a distance they looked like sea animals on shore.  The wind pushed the water this way and that crashing onto the shore.  It was a beautiful display of God’s power and beauty.  I see why Elisabeth and so many enjoy the shoreline.  As the sun set we walked back to the condo and enjoyed pizza, a girly flick and more conversation.

One of the nicest things about being with my Christian Sista’s is that we can talk or remain silent and it is okay with everyone.  We had great conversations regarding our bodies and how they are changing.  We talked about recent events at church.  We shared family joys and sorrows.  It was a relaxing weekend that was much needed and much appreciated.   

Thank you, Elisabeth, for sharing your space with us.  Thank you, God, for friends.

As we come to Thanksgiving I was reminded recently at church to always give God thanks for His many blessings. 
“Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

And in that spirit, thank YOU for reading my blog post!

Ruth