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

Flashback Friday with the Girlfriends

One of the great things about our lovely little community of Richland is that we are within a few minutes drive of Kalamazoo, home of two campuses of higher education, several theater groups, a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues as well as one-of-a-kind retail shops.

Tonight our destination was two-fold. Dinner at the University Roadhouse, followed by a play at Western Michigan University.

The Roadhouse, as the regulars refer to it, is operated by The Housler Restaurant Group which has been family owned and operated since 1989. The varied menu, lively upstairs pub and outdoor-patio seating make the Roadhouse a popular spot any night of the week for students, parents and townies.

With so many choices and a couple great-sounding specials, it was hard to choose our entrees. After much deliberation,

Ruth went with the Gyro and Sarah chose the club sandwich with sweet potato fries. Elisabeth was home nursing a virus (it’s been a long, cold, sick winter in Michigan) and feeling a bit puny as well, I chose the tomato soup and half a turkey sammy.

The food at the Roadhouse is consistently tasty and filling, although not award winning in the creative department. But that’s OK for three girlfriends more interested in the conversation than the grub.

And converse we did. Sarah and I caught Ruth up on our adventure in Florida and Ruth gave us a rundown of her busy week while we were away. While we were with Anna searching for sun, Ruth was spending a great weekend with her hubby and their three young-adult offspring.  We chatted up our past theater-going experiences and our familiarity with the topic of the upcoming play based on the 80’s movie Nine to Five.

After dinner, Ruth drove us over to the WMU Gilmore TheaterComplex, home of the “nationally award-winning department of theater” and we settled in to enjoy the play.  As the lights went down, the stage erupted into a rousing rendition of the musical theme song of Nine to Five. The costuming was a fabulous flashback to the 80’s with frilly to frumpy dresses, masculine-styled suits for women and BIG hair! As the play unfolded, it was entertaining to remember the days of typewriters and secretarial pools and at the same time disconcerting to see the womanizing actions of the top executive, Mr. Hart!

We laughed and booed and were amazed at the talent of the students on the stage and behind the scenes! No wonder this theater program is known as one of the best in the nation!

Before we knew it the lights came up and it was time to head home – well after our typical bedtime! We all agreed however, that it was a great evening and we must see what the WMU theater students are up to next season.

Until next time, when the girlfriends get together to break bread…

Blessings to you and yours.

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

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

December is a crazy, busy month isn’t it? With the trimming of trees, prepping of Nativity Scenes, practicing for the church musical and shopping for Christmas gifts, it’s a whir of activity and let's face it... stress!

Which is exactly why taking time to enjoy a meal with the girlfriends was so important. We managed to find an evening that worked for the four of us and made it a date.

To continue our theme of staying local in Richland, Michigan, we chose Kare’s Village Diner. The proprietor, Kare (pronounced like the word “care”), dreamt of owning her own restaurant since childhood and happily opened her diner in the spring of 2007. You can read more about Kare’s here.

Since it’s opening 6 years ago, Kare’s has become a popular breakfast spot in Richland, located just across M-89 from the Gull Lake Schools campus. It’s a pretty small place with little more than a handful of tables. 

We knew they were open for lunch as well, but were happy to learn they are open until 8 p.m. most days, serving breakfast, lunch or dinner! On Friday nights they have a fish fry!

We arrived at 6pm and had the restaurant to ourselves. It was not Friday, so we checked out the menu and after some chatting with the waitress, all decided to order a hand-pattied burger. Ruth went for the basic burger with cheese, lettuce and tomato. Elisabeth continued her search for the best olive burger in Richland and Sarah followed her lead. I chose my favorite burger species - mushroom and swiss.  Hand battered onion rings or hand cut fries accompanied the burgers. 

True to the promise, the burgers were fresh and the onion rings crispy-fried masterpieces. Although the jury is out on the BEST olive burger in Richland, Kare’s has a place on the list of finalists. 



As the evening progressed, the conversation moved from excitement about the season to checking on personal concerns and discussing logistics for our upcoming trip to visit Snowbird Anna! As we watched the snow fall outside, we chatted about pedicures and beaches in our future. But it was the friendship surrounding us that made us feel warm that night.  

We reminded each other that Jesus is the Reason for the Season and to just... slow...down. 

Even though we felt stressed when we walked in, we enjoyed lots of laughs and love during dinner and left feeling supported and calm. Isn’t it amazing what good friends can do for us? That reminds me of a Bible verse: 

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

May you experience the blessing of Jesus today and always,

Miriam

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

Where is Richland, Anyway?

Welcome back to Girlfriends Breaking Bread!  Maybe you’ve come across our blog accidentally and don’t know much about our little village so I decided to share a bit about the area.  

Richland is in the southwest corner of Michigan about nine miles northeast of Kalamazoo and sixty miles east of Lake Michigan.  Richland Township has about 7,000 residents, while the village of Richland has less than 700 people.  

On the surface it looks like a typical, small, middle-class, Midwestern town and it is; but to those of us who call it home it is very special!  This isn’t where I grew up. In fact, I’ve only been here about 12 years, but in that time I have fallen in love with this little, peaceful community.  It seems quite appropriate that we have chosen to eat exclusively in local restaurants.

This month we met at Liz’s Parkview Café. Liz’s is located in the heart of downtown Richland, just a few steps from where we enjoyed our Subway sandwiches last month. Liz’s is one of eight restaurants owned by EMA Enterprises (owned and operated by Mike Leeuw), based in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Interestingly, EMA stands for Elizabeth, Michelle and Andrea.  Those are Mike’s daughters and the names of several of his restaurants, including Liz’s Parkview Café.

I’ve been to Liz’s before for breakfast. I was anxious to try them for dinner! Elisabeth and I had burgers, Miriam had a wonderfully fresh-looking salad, Ruth had a thick bowl of soup and a loaf (!) of fresh bread. Anna had a chicken breast sandwich. The food came promptly and was nicely presented. We all enjoyed our meals enough to consider returning for dinner in the future.  

Our server was young and adorable. We fell in love with her instantly so it was easy to overlook her slight imperfections as a waitress. She seemed amused by us taking pictures of our food and giggling like school girls and probably thought of us as quite strange ‘old ladies’. 

We topped off our meal with delicious chocolate cupcakes that Ruth brought to celebrate Anna’s birthday.  

It was a fun evening. Conversation was probably much like that of any other group of 50-plus-year-old women. As we always do, we talked of family, jobs, retirement, as well as day to day frustrations and struggles. I think what sets us apart from many other groups of women is our faith in God.  We pray together, we talk about our faith and we celebrate answered prayers! 

I am so blessed to have such wonderful Christian women friends. Often, I am reminded of a Christian women’s book club that we all used to belong to. It was called koinonia. Koinonia is a Greek word which is used in a variety of ways in that language. Wikipedia does a nice job explaining the many uses of the word, please click here if you are interested to learn more than the following. 

Koinonia “identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ.” The first use of koinonia in the Greek New Testament is found in Acts 2:42-47, where a description of life shared by the early Christian believers is given.  

The NIV translation says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. <snip> All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. <snip> They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

This week we also said good-bye to Anna, the snowbird in our group! Travel safe and be well. We will miss you. See you in the spring! Remember, it's less than 6 months away!

Until next month,

Sarah