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


 

Sharing Tests of Faith - and Weather!

It was mid-January in mid-Michigan when only the hardy will survive.  We've all been weather tested over the years so a few more inches of snow never stopped us from getting together for our monthly girl's dinner.  

 

Though we've had a somewhat mild winter so far, it seems January was trying to make up for the lack of snow in December!  We arrived at Hunan Gardens on the west side of Kalamazoo, so that I, Elisabeth, didn't have quite as far to travel from the lake shore.  The 40-mile jaunt down M-43 can be somewhat harrowing in the winter, and especially at night.  Luckily, for this visit I was staying with a friend in Kalamazoo, and did not have to travel back home in the snowy darkness!  

 

Hot tea, a warm atmosphere, hugs and smiles greeted us as we settled in for a tasty meal at Hunan Gardens.  The menu was a menagerie of wonderful Asian dishes with all the normal fixings, rice, wanton, egg rolls, and of course some hot tea!  The smell of all the spices was fabulous and made our mouths water as we checked out the menu.  I, for one, was sneaking a peek at the dishes being delivered to the table next to us.  Yummy!

We missed our friend Sarah tonight, who is getting ready for a big trip to celebrate her mother-in-law's 100th birthday!  Wow, what a milestone for this woman and to have her entire family help her celebrate with her!   Our sister, Ruth, is still in sunny warm Florida helping out her parents.  What a blessing for so many of us to still have our parents in our lives, and to be able to give back what they have provided to us throughout our lives.  Perhaps we don't always see it as a blessing, as our parents age and require more of our time and energy, but we all continue to pray for patience, perseverance, and being able to honor our parents in a Godly way.  

Even though some of us don't get to see each other so often anymore, as the physical distance between us has grown a bit, we still seem to pick up right where we left off the last time.  Kids and grandkids are the biggest topics of conversation, as we all share stories of our families, challenges and struggles along with joys and praises.  How difficult it still is to let go of the worry, even as we now all have grown children.  As much as we want them to make their own decisions (and mistakes),  it's hard to sit back and watch sometimes.  We trust God to guide them and keep them safe, but in our humanness, it can be hard to let go.  Conversation drifted into vacation plans, happenings at church, and of course the weather!  

I mentioned earlier about us all being "weather-tested", by Michigan winters.  I thought about how that applies not only to the weather, but also to our faith.  We've all had the ups and downs of plenty and want, joys and sorrows, confidence and fears.  Sometimes our faith does waver, as we are tested by things of the world.  But it seems the longer we continue to hold fast in our faith, and look to the Lord first and foremost, our faith can withstand those tests of time (or weather!).  

 

I know this because I've witnessed it with this group of women.  We are not perfect, nor are our families, but we look to each other for strength and guidance, with no judgement or bias.   It's such a blessing to be able to share our "tests of faith" with our sisters in  Christ, and know that at any time of the day or night, they are there, prepared to pray, prepared to respond, prepared to be by our side.  Everyday I thank God for these women, and the bond that we have formed together.  May God continue to richly bless this special group of women that I am honored to call my BFFs!

Stay warm everyone!

 

Until we meet again,

 

Elisabeth (writing this from sunny Alabama!)

Talking Trio

On a beautiful evening, a bit too warm to sit outside, Miriam, Sarah and I met at the Mission Pointe restaurant for our once monthly girl’s night out. We were small in numbers, but mighty in support of each other while discussing our latest updates on parents, work issues, and family trials. It seemed as though each of us had experienced a trying week and it is always so refreshing to know great Christian friends are there for you praying for you daily.

Mission Pointe is a nice setting and we were directed to an inside table near the fireplace. It becomes excitedly loud as the evening progresses and seating is reaching capacity. We chatted over chips and house made garlic dip while deciding on our meals. Miriam and I ordered Tilapia in a Mediterranean sauce while Sarah chose the Chicken Cobb salad.

The food is fairly tasty, although we all remarked that it was never outstanding and we were not overwhelmed with praise for the chef’s mediocre presentation. 

Miriam is soon to be going on a journey of a lifetime in Europe and we excitedly listened to her plans. Sarah updated us on the condition of her family members injured in a horrible auto accident; we are continuing to lift them up in prayer. We all remarked how we missed seeing Elizabeth regularly, but we are thrilled for her in her new adventure in her life! Ruth is traveling and doing some family visits this week and we all certainly know how precious time is with Grandchildren. We miss the other half of our group as always when they are not with us.

Miriam had kindly brought yummy cupcakes to celebrate Sarah’s birthday, and we devoured them as desert. Of course they were chocolate! It was great to celebrate with Sarah her special day- even our server got into the action, and we offered her a cupcake for later.

We decided upon the next date and location for our meeting and really look forward to having the group together again. It is our prayer that everyone enjoys the remaining few weeks of sunshine and warm summer days as cooler fall ones are around the corner.

Blessings to all until we meet again,

Anna

Mad Dogs and Englishmen?

It was an overcast, somewhat chilly evening in July when the girlfriends last met for dinner and a chat. Our dining choice was the North End Deli and Spirits, located just across from the boat launch on beautiful Gull Lake.

The NEDs location used to be a convenience store, in and out of business over the years, but sometime in the last couple, it morphed into a lively little restaurant featuring grinders and pizza with BBQ on Sundays.  NEDs does a big take out business and will deliver your meal right to the boat landing as well! 

Bicyclists doing the loop around Gull Lake stop here to refuel their bodies or wet their whistle - over 100 flavors of bottled beer lay in wait in the long wall of coolers. Shermans ice cream, offered in a couple dozen flavors, also makes NEDs a destination for the sweet-toothed crowd.

We arrived at 6:00pm and they were already busy and continued to bustle as we dined. Some of that business on a sleepy Wednesday evening was no doubt related to the upcoming Mad Dogs and Englishmen Car Faire at the world famous Gilmore Car Museum. This 90 acre historic campus is said to feature over 300 vintage cars, motorcycles and memories and on the upcoming weekend it was to be invaded by hundreds of British made vehicles, some offered for sale or swap.

Tonight, we were missing Elisabeth, who was in the final hours of preparing her home to turn over to new owners - a bitter/sweet day for our dear sister in Christ.

Cheeseburger and Tater Tots

After a quick menu perusal, we settled on grinders and burgers to quiet our tummies and the conversation began to roar.  

Mediterranean Chicken Grinder

Topics were widely-arrayed. Job concerns, aging parents, summer fun, retirement joy, upcoming trips, grandchildren and pets all found their way into the conversation. 

We prayed together for the concerns on our hearts and found comfort in God's presence.  ("For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20)

We laughed, cajoled and carried on like a bunch of school girls for a couple of hours, then feeling loved and blessed, we gathered our belongings and headed home. 

As I drove away, I thanked God for the gift of friendship and these amazing women who choose to be my sisters in Christ. 

May you be blessed with the gift of good friends, 

Miriam

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

Growing in Faith

The Girlfriends met not too long ago at Panera Bread to share a meal. As before, Anna is out of state with her parents for a couple more weeks. Elisabeth was also out of town celebrating with her hubby for his birthday. We miss them and look forward to the next dinner when we expect all to attend!

Nothing out of the ordinary came in conversation….husbands, children, work, church, life; however, the outlooks seem different, especially in our attitude toward events in our working lives. Within the group I have seen us experience harassment, age discrimination, new bosses with different ideas and employers reorganizing. 

I know if these same circumstances occurred at earlier times in our lives, our responses would have been much different than they have been. The Bible tells us in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking.” 

I believe we are maturing. I see us praying more, trusting more and submitting to His will.

Prayer. 
Praise God for Bible studies and small groups that help us learn and grow. God wants us to learn what He has for us and how to live our lives. One study focused on prayer. What a wonderful way for us to develop a personal relationship with our Lord. We can pray. Lay down our cares and concerns. Tell Him everything. He listens! Any time. Any where. About anything. He is always accessible and wants us to call on him. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Trust. 
We have studied and discussed Biblical characters who trusted God. Those stories remind us of our natural inclinations to be in control. We try to handle things on our own first and they don’t work out. We learn to turn to God first. He is faithful. He fulfills His promises. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Submission. 
Admittedly, I did not look forward to the study about submission; however, I gained a new understanding for just how much God loves us. He is our heavenly father. He was and is and is to come. He knows what is best for us. Jeremiah 29: 11 reminds us “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for evil, for a future and a hope.”

This meal Sarah shared about future uncertainties with her employer. She is concerned, but not worried. She knows that no matter what happens, God will provide. Sarah, like the rest of us, has been praying, she trusts God and is submitting to His will. 

None of us are perfect, far from it; however, we keep pressing on like Paul does in Philippians 3:13-15 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. [ Following Paul’s Example ] All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.“

May you persevere in maturing your faith in Christ,

Ruth

The Polar Vortex

St. Joseph Michigan Lighthouse Under Ice (Photo credit: RandomSpace)

Another tough winter. . . . . This has been one of the coldest and snowiest on record with only a few days above freezing so far this year. But, as the winter grinds to a close we can begin to look forward to safer commutes, warmer days, and the smell of freshly mowed grass.

Regardless of the cold weather, family and friends are always around to warm our hearts! A week or so ago Miriam, Ruth and I met for dinner at North 11. Miriam enjoyed a turkey burger, Ruth a traditional pizza (none of this white sauce or artichokes for her!) and I had a great steak burrito. The food at North 11 is reliably good but the restaurant always seems a bit loud. Our waiter was good, showing up when we needed him, but giving us space and time to chat when we needed that.

Elisabeth was supposed to have joined us but her brother-in-law passed away the night before and she was with family. Praise God – he was a believer! Grief seems easier when we know that there is sunshine and hope on the other side of this life. We lifted the family up in prayer. We missed Elisabeth that night. Dinner just wasn’t the same without her smile and encouragement.

We missed Anna too. She is still in Florida waiting for Michigan to thaw. We had more praises as we’ve heard that her foot is healing well and that she is back to walking two miles a day! God willing, she and her parents will return in about two months. Will it really take that long for Michigan to thaw?

Dinner conversation rambled comfortably, twisting and turning through things familiar to us; jobs, friends, parents, kids coming home over spring break. . . . . It’s that familiarity that I think we all enjoy. Each time we meet, the conversation turns to God’s plan. We always agree that we are blessed.

See you all soon, sisters. I love you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Giving thanks,

Sarah

Sun and Renewal with Sista’s

On Friday I had the distinct pleasure to greet and pick up two of the best Sisters anyone could have at Tampa airport. Elizabeth and Miriam had arranged a visit to me in Florida for a relaxing; much needed women’s retreat, though we missed Ruth and Sarah. We drove directly to the rental home and relaxed in the sun for the afternoon hours, topped off with a nice dinner at a local restaurant.

Saturday began with delightful conversation on the lanai and the three of us decided upon attending the Sarasota Art Festival at St. Armand’s Circle. We were pleasantly surprised with the depth of talent in the displays by the hundreds of artists and enjoyed live music as we mused throughout the tented collections. Walking and shopping in the many unique stores around the circle made us crave a nice meal and after window shopping menus, we decided upon Tommy Bahamas. The three of us savored crab bisque, and crab and shrimp salads, and coconut shrimp…delicious! Our car was a mile walk, which we all needed after the delicious seafood lunch.

Awakened to sunshine on Sunday morning, plans were made to go to the gulf and bury our feet into the sand and warm ourselves in the sunshine. We drove to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island, sunk our chairs into the white sand, and proceeded to enjoy the diverse beach goers and their activities. Elizabeth was not particularly fond of the aggressive seagulls that many were feeding, causing them to swarm and become attack birds. A late lunch of chicken salad sandwiches and fish tacos was our treat in the beach cafe', while we were serenaded by a local DJ and his eighty-something groupie line dancers. Pleasantly pink skinned, we drove home to relax over television and late snacks.

Monday was a dreary wet morning and cooler start to the day so shopping at the local outlet store became our amusement. Fortunately, some great buys were purchased, and we then met my parents for lunch.

Back at the rental home, relaxing conversation ensued with deep thoughtful discussions that were followed by a group prayer. God always blesses our time praying together in the most amazing way! We felt His presence so intensely, we all were moved to tears. It is such an honor to pray with close friends.

Miriam’s last day in the sunshine state was Tuesday, so we again ventured out for some fun at the beach, this time at Siesta Key. Elizabeth was amazed at the size and depth of the famous, Best Beach Award winner. We found our spots and enjoyed the sun and excitement of the children playing in the sand and waves. Elizabeth bravely tested the cool gulf and we all hummed “toes in the water, toes in the sand, not a worry in the world… life is good today.”

On the way back we found the local Jimmy John’s for a quick bite and relaxed on the lanai at the house. That night, we drove to Anna Maria Oyster Bar for great fresh oysters, salmon, king crab, and fresh Grouper dinner, Yum! What a nice send-off meal for Miriam, Elizabeth, and I to share together.

Unfortunately, morning came at 5:30 when Elizabeth and I drove Miriam to Tampa for her return flight back to the chilly north. Thankful for a renewed spirit in the company of amazing Christian women, we said farewell until Elizabeth and Anna return home. What a blessing it is to have friends!

God is good, all the time.

Blessing from the sunny south,

Anna

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