Sittin at the Dock on the Bay

Warm sunshine blessed us as we gathered at the Dock for dinner. It was so wonderful to have our whole group back together and “catching up” was the first order of business. 

Conversation always flows freely with the common topics of family, activities we have been involved in, and the usual concerns and stresses with work. Everyone seemed so happy to see better weather and spirits were raised immensely. 

Shrimp Basket for me and Elisabeth

We ordered drinks and meals.

French Dip for Ruth

Fish Sandwich for Miriam

Grilled Chicken Breast Salad for Sarah

 





All meals were acceptable and tasty, but the central focus is meeting with friends and fellowship with Christian women. It is refreshing and renewing for all of us to know we are being lifted up in prayer especially during our most trying times. Prayers are being answered; we all feel stronger in unity with one another.

Proverbs 27:9
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (NLT)

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering - friendship is very near the top."—Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth

With the reassurance that we have wise counsel in the company of friends, each one of us leaves renewed and better equipped to face what lies ahead. Praise God for friends! 

Summer begins soon and life just seems easier. If we get through the rainy season without having to float a boat, we will all be blessed! 

Looking forward to our next adventure in July, 

Anna

My Christian Sisters Help Me Weather Life's Storms

The past six months have been a roller coaster ride for me at work. My employer announced a major reorganization. At the time, I had little idea of the actual impact on me. In February I learned that my position would be terminated later this year.

Some days I have a level head. I know the decisions are for the business and nothing personal. I know I have my education and experience to help me in the hunt for a new job. I pray continually for God to show me His plan for my life. I pray that I will listen and be obedient. I pray for Him to open the door He wants me to take and to help me be patient as I wait for His timing.

Other days I don’t have a level head. It feels personal. It feels like the company doesn’t want ME. That something is wrong with ME. This is Satan. My prayer has changed to include that I recognize Satan and rebuke Him; that I don’t let him get a hold of my thoughts.

One day in particular I could tell I was not having a level-headed day. I cried out to my Girlfriends to pray for me. It didn’t take long and I knew each was praying. One reminded me to fight Satan with the Word. Jer 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’ 

I was encouraged by another with a written prayer just for me...

“Father God, 

Protect my sister Ruth from attacks by Satan this morning. Lord, it can be such a battle at times. He’s strong and powerful! He knows exactly where, when and how to attack us. We rest in the glory of your love – knowing that you are more powerful and that you know exactly what we need. We know that in this battle we are on the right team! Thank you God for being our Great Protector!

Let Ruth feel your power this morning. Bring her peace and comfort. Let her feel your presence. Put a smile on her heart knowing that ‘in the great plan’ for her life, all is good and right.

Lord we thank you and give you all the glory for all that we have and for the protection that you give us each day.

Thank you, Father.”

Within minutes I felt the weight of Satan falling off my shoulders. I was able to gather my thoughts and focus on God and His plan.

Another day, Miriam sent an e-devo that spoke to me about being patient and waiting for God. She has been in similar shoes and just felt the need to send the message. As it turns out, I was having another not-so-level-headed day and the message was exactly what I need to hear. I thanked her and she didn’t take any credit. God had put me on her heart and she was being obedient.

I believe in the power of prayer. I believe God answers prayers. I praise God for these Christian Sister’s in my life. I praise God my Sisters are willing to take time out of their busy lives to lift me up in prayer when I really need it. God is good. ALL THE TIME!

I am blessed.

Ruth

Congratulations Elisabeth!

Earlier this week, we broke bread (and toasted with a bit of wine) to celebrate Elisabeth's retirement from a very fulfilling 35-year-career! Her work as a project manager for a global company took her to various cities in the U.S. as well as other countries. 

Now she is looking forward to spending time in Michigan with her family and friends and completing some of those home projects that have been hanging out on her list for awhile. 

Desiring a festive location for this celebration, we chose to meet at the Wine Loft in downtown Kalamazoo which is owned by the Millennium Restaurant Group. This destination also fit into our goal of 'buying local' as the Millennium Restaurant Group was formed by a group of restaurateurs from the Kalamazoo area. The group owns eight other restaurants, each with it's own theme, mostly in Kalamazoo, as well as an event center. They also do catering from box lunches to fine dinners and are well known for their high quality food and service. 

The Wine Loft is nestled in the ground floor of the historic Haymarket Building and furnished with dining tables as well as cushy couches with coffee tables divided by curtains for more relaxed, intimate seating. The menu offers tapas for a light dinner or snack as well as salads, soups, flatbreads and full entrees. As you would expect, the wine list is extensive - both by the glass and the bottle. 

We arrived at 6pm on a weeknight, but the restaurant already had a scattering of guests. It's location, just a block from the Radisson Plaza Hotel makes the Wine Loft a natural stop for entertaining visiting business clients. After 10 p.m. it fills with the young and beautiful, dressed for an evening out and the music gets turned up a few notches. 

As usual, the girlfriends enjoyed hearing each other's latest news. Sarah updated us on her possible work trip to Germany this fall as well as her new volunteer opportunity to coach men and women who have been out of the work force for various reasons as they prepare themselves for new employment opportunities. 

Ruth shared some great photos of her trip to New York and the beautifully presented (and presumably tasty) food she and her husband enjoyed while there. We chatted about her upcoming status change to Grandma and how to balance helping with the new baby while giving the new mom and dad time to enjoy their new roles and bond as their own little family. 

We prayed for Anna who was not able to join us as she was busy nursing her mom back from a fall. We trust God to hear our prayers and heal mom as well as give Anna the capacity to show loving care during the healing process.

But what about the food? Ruth and Sarah each ordered a Flatbread which is much like a square, thin-crust pizza. Elisabeth and I were food twins, ordering the beet salad and crab cakes.

Beets are one of those things people either love or hate and you can count me among the lovers! With some smoked blue cheese, cipollini onions, honey roasted walnuts, beet juice vinaigrette and flat leaf parsley added to the mix, the salad was divine. The crab cakes were a perfect compliment, filled with blue crab and covered with a light crunchy coating.

To complete the celebration, Elisabeth and I ordered deserts to share. We parted ways on our desert selections. Elisabeth chose chocolate lava cake and I picked three Small Bite Cupcakes from The Cupcake Zoo, which is located just a couple blocks away from the Wine Loft. Both choices were delicious and paired with some decaf, they were a perfect ending to a great meal.

Once again it was great fun to fellowship with these Godly women and I can't wait until next month when we head back to the Richland Pub. 

Blessings until then,

Miriam

Girlfriends Dinner at North 11

Tonight the Girlfriend’s met for our monthly dinner.  Our number was down by two as Anna remains south soaking in the sun and Elisabeth had last minute plans with family.  So Miram, Sarah and I gathered together at North 11 for a nice evening of dinner and fellowship.

North 11 is located at 5585 W Gull Road in Kalamazoo, Michigan, about 4 miles west of Richland.  It is a great place to gather for food, fun and friends!  That is what they advertise, and they are right on!  The evening we met they were hosting a KalamazooWine & Canvas event.  Wine and Canvas is an entertainment event much like a concert, dinner theater or movie theater.   No talent or experience is necessary.  Their talented instructors will guide you step-by-step!  You will be amazed at your very own work of ART!  Or so they say.  It was interesting to observe....maybe a future evening together!!!

Sarah and I each ordered a different one of the pizza’s while Miriam had a sandwich.  The waiter gave us plenty of time to enjoy our drinks and a little conversation before our food was served.  Of course, I could eat pizza almost any time.  

I’m a traditionalist and had Traditional Old standby; marinara, pepperoni, mushroom, mozzarella and Parmesan. It was delicious!  I even had enough leftovers for lunch the next day.  Yummy!

Our conversations move along the same lines each time we meet:  family, work, and studying the Word.  In our very busy lives this time together helps us slow down and recall what is really important.  Life isn’t about the “what we do” or “how we do it.”  It’s about the relationships we have and how we do them.

I am truly blessed to know these Christian women.  I am blessed to call them friends.  I am blessed to have their counsel.  I am blessed to have them praying for me.  I am blessed to have them hold me accountable.  I am blessed.  

Thank you, God!

As I wrote this blog post, I couldn't help but think of the following Bible passages from Ecclesiastes (NLT)

⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Blessings!

Ruth

A Visit to the Sunshine State!

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

brought about a surprising serenade before our meal from our server, Big G, not to mention great seafood!

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

Blessed by Faithful Friends

October has come and gone.  With Anna out of town, the other four of us met for dinner at Mission Pointe Steak and Seafood House. It is a locally owned and operated business that serves a nice selection of steak, seafood and pasta dishes.  They have nightly dinner and drink specials.  The evening we visited the establishment was busy with tables full of ladies.  While the food wasn’t excellent, it was good.  Sarah and Elizabeth had pasta dishes while Miriam and Ruth had fish.

The best part for me of every meeting is not the establishment, it is not the food, it is the gathering with friends and breaking bread together.  God has blessed me with these Christian women I call friends.  They are faithful women who love God.  They continue to grow and learn on their journey.  They serve God and others within their local churches as well as their community and abroad.

These women are real. They have families. They work. They have challenges. The difference between them and other women is that these women don’t do any of this alone.  They have God on their side. They love Him. They lean on Him. They are learning to trust and obey Him more every day.  They are an excellent example to me and those they meet.  They point others to God.

Each time we meet the conversations move between what is new at work, what is happening in our families and what are we going to do next.  This particular evening the controversial subject of same sex marriages came up.  We discussed same sex couples we knew, both family and friends.  While we recognize everyone will read and interpret the Bible for themselves, we also recognized that the Bible is very specific on what it has to say about this.  We also recognized that God calls us to love the sinner, not the sin.  That is what He does for us and expects us to do for others.

On a lighter note, another controversial subject was that of Endorsements on Linkedin.  We had some laughs over who has been Endorsed and the subject of the Endorsements.  For an interesting read on the topic, go to: http://www.corebrand.com/news-views/blog/747-why-i-dont-like-linkedin-endorsements. 

The evening ended with plans for a trip to visit Anna.  She will be out of state for some time and has invited us to come for a visit. We are hoping to visit her and have dinner sometime in mid to late January, pending confirmation of work schedules.  Although we keep in touch via email and text messages, we are all looking forward to that gathering!

Until next time,

Sister’s in Christ,

Ruth

End of Summer Park Party

Meeting with girlfriends in the park in Richland on a most beautiful, warm and sunny summer evening after visiting our local Subway for our selected meals - life doesn't get any better than this!  

Delightful conversation followed as Miriam and Sarah tried the pulled pork and Ruth stuck with her Subway standby, the Italian BMT. I chose the oven roasted chicken and we all made it a meal by adding our favorite chips and cold drinks.  All meals were tasty, with many healthy veggie additions! 

It was a really comfortable evening on the picnic table in an active town square. We talked and laughed over the details of a recent excursion on the Kal-Haven trail, bicycling in monsoon rains that Ruth and  Miriam bravely attempted.  We were very proud of their efforts, however, in getting out there.

We all discussed those friends we had who were going through health challenges and prayed together, missing our friend Elisabeth, who was out of town.

Work and life challenges were again topics of concern, as well as our children and families. Updates on possible retirement areas we have considered were examined also. Wow, we can't possibly be saying that!  We're all way too young for retirement.          

It's great knowing each of us can depend on the prayer and support of our entire group! We all seem to be refreshed and lifted up after sharing time together.  

Looking forward to our next meeting and the next update,

Anna

Buying Local at the Richland Farmer's Market

Since our goal is to Buy Local in Richland, Michigan I thought, what a better topic than the Richland Farmer’s Market!  Now that’s taking the ‘eat local’ concept one step beyond the restaurant to buy fresh goodies for your home table. 

I make it a point to get to the market almost every week and fortunately my schedule allows me to get there just after opening so I get the best selection of everything the market has to offer. 

My first stop is always to get a nice cold glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade to keep me cool and quenched while I shop. You see, there is a young lady who makes and sells it to fund her summer camps. It always makes me feel good to help a young entrepreneur. 

My next stop is the Fruit Man from Ferndale. He is typically on the right side about 3 booths in and in my book, he has the best fruit around. This week I picked up a 10 pound box of blueberries which I will freeze to enjoy this winter. I also grabbed peaches and huge, beautiful blackberries. Yumo!

Next, I picked up a peck of pickles from the folks at Russell Farms to make Sun Pickles. They also offered zucchini, onions, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, and so much more!

Next thing I know, I'm at Jane’s booth where she sells hydroponically grown wasabi. Yes, you heard me right, wasabi. No, not that green horseradish stuff you get at many restaurants! This is the real thing which is actually a rhizome that you simply grate to add a bit of heat (without the sinus clearing action of the green paste). She also sells the leaves which make a lovely pesto and the stems which are fabulous in a salad or (I’m told) a bloody mary!

In addition to lots of fresh fruits and veggies, there are ready-to-eat items. Succulent pasties, spicy tamales with chips and hot sauce and local honey are just a few items. I am in love with the strawberry cupcakes from Sweet Helen’s and I always pick up a bag of Kahoona Kitchen’s freshly made granola bars. 

There are even booths with fresh meats, jerky, colorful scarves and organic soaps. 

As I was leaving, The Hoot Owls were just beginning to fluff their feathers and I wished I could stay to listen, but it was time to get home and put away my haul. 

The market is open every Wednesdays from 3 - 6 pm through Mid-October. It’s conveniently located behind the Gull Lake Middle School on M-89 in Richland where there is plenty of room for both booths and parking. 

What are you waiting for?

Here's to enjoying the bounty of God's green earth. Blessings to all!

Miriam

In Honor of Friendship Day

My calendar indicates that today is Friendship Day, which made me think of Girlfriends Breaking Bread!

So, I found a couple of Bible verses about friends and thought what a better way to share them than on our blog. I hope these verses help you celebrate the joy of good friends. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

John 15:12-15

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Blessings to you and your friends!

Ruth