Andy and Halima -- Part of our family in Christ!

And, of course they moved away after "five years!"  (See "Jenny Klouse" post!)

Editor's Note:  The Krugh family.  Aren't they cute?

Dearest Sarah,

Happy 40^th Birthday!  It is hard to believe that it’s been almost 6 years since we moved from C-U community and our Stone Creek church family.  We miss you and your beautiful family dearly!  We look forward to when we can all see each other again.  We would have lots of stories to swap, no doubt!

Sarah, you have been instrumental in our lives more than you know.  It was your friendship with Andy when you were all in grad school that influenced Andy’s decision to become a born-again Christian.  Through the years, you became a great friend to Halima also.  Halima will never forget all you did to help as she transitioned into motherhood, and the sacrifice you all made as a family to give Halima one more week at home with Anastasia before she returned to work when Anastasia was 3 months old.

Sarah, you embody what it means to be a joyful Christian and live a joyful Christian.  Not only do you weather life’s storms and challenges with grace, but you make joyful moments and memories out of life’s everyday ordinary situations.  Your hospitality is undoubtedly a gift – you have blessed us and so many others with extending yourselves, giving of yourselves, opening up your home, always welcoming one more.  We’ll never forget all the dinners and game nights, the Easter and Thanksgiving celebration dinners, and the infamous world-class Birthday parties – scavenger hunts, grocery store cart races, and all!

These are such treasured memories. We miss you dearly!

Our prayer for you: “Lord, please continue to bless Sarah, Steve, and their beautiful family.  Please let this decade be the best ever for Sarah and family.  We pray for the opportunity to reunite with our friends again someday.  In Jesus name.  Amen.”

We love you, Sarah Brown Rutledge!

Andrew, Halima, Anastasia, and Nadia Krugh

(family photo from July 2015 attached)

Suz -- The fact I can say "Suz" and Sarah knows exactly who I mean tells you something!

Editor's Note: Sarah and I sometimes tiff about who had the better college/early 20's friends. I admit, Sarah had (and still has!) a great group of fun, supportive pals.  And, I concede, my friends never hugged like this.

"Super Sara" Brown-
You are so loved by many.  This blog is such an awesome testament of that.  While we don't see or talk nearly as much as we would like, you really are so dear to me.  I'm so thankful for the fun memories, and the ability of always "picking up, right where we left off".

Of course, frozen cookie dough, Walmart games on Friday Nights, and our special Christmas party are fond memories.  Most of all,  I love the memories of you finding treasures in my moms  "archives"!  Only you, would want her 70's flower sundress, and actually wear it- to my wedding shower!  ;).

You are so much fun, and yet, I also love and appreciate your deep convictions of caring for others and your love of Jesus.  ;)

Until the next adventure!!!
Suz

Editor's Note:  These ladies all get together about once a year, still, dump the kids on their husbands (:>), and pretty much pick up right where they left off in the picture!!! 

 

Editor's Note:  There must be a story...

Shannon Liu Nee Mullis -- I hardly know where to start with these two! :>

Editor's Note:  Life always sweeter with Shannon!

Happy 40^th birthday, my dear superhero friend. I am not sure how we arrived in mid-life, but I am so thankful my journey has included you. We’ve known each other over half our lives, and while only a small portion of that was spent in the same place, your friendship is among those I count most dear. Our conversations, many of them too late at night, have shaped me, supported me, “heard me,” and challenged me. Although distance, kids, and life in general have made those conversations far too few these days, I hope you know that you are deeply loved.

You are the kind of friend I could conspire with in spying and “file-keeping,” could laugh with while playing the grocery store game (“please nothing perishable, like eggs, or things that can’t be put back, like from the deli”), could fight with during rounds of Taboo, could talk with until the early morning hours, and could confide in about everything from silly crushes to life’s great disappointments and struggles.

In honor of this auspicious occasion, I was reminiscing about birthdays spent with you - some that went well, and others that were, shall we say, well-intentioned. I have included pictures of a birthday well-celebrated – the great Super Sarah Extravaganza of 1994, complete with a Super Sarah costume and Keith Green boxed set CDs. I’ve chosen not to dwell on the years I filled your car with balloons, causing you to be late to some very important event; stole your CDs to make you a special mixed CD for your drive home (I’m sure I still owe you for the psychological trauma); and the surprise party at Denny’s when I lied to you, pulled you out of bed and insulted you in hopes that you would arrive in a presentable fashion. (“Sarah, please put in your contacts, I hate your glasses.”)

In college I made a scrapbook page about saying goodbye as you graduated early and headed off to France. I included three quotes on that page. I find they are still a true reflection of the kind of friend you have been.

“It is the friends that you can call up at 4:00 AM that matter.” – Marlene Dietrich

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.” – Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

Thanks for being that kind of friend to me, Sarah. Thanks for making road trips to Bedford and Wilmore and for making it worth every moment in the car to Oshkosh or Champaign for a visit with you. Thanks for loving me well in all my imperfections, for forgiving me when I’ve been less than a good friend, and for the blessing of being someone with whom I could be both serious and silly, with whom I could safely be myself. My life is richer because of you.

I love you. Shannon

Editor's Note:  Never before meeting Sarah and her friend Shannon have I seen such elaborately planned hi-jinks.  As boyfriend, male pursuant, I had to work verrry hard to compete with SHANNON'S creativity.  Yes, all the "Super-Sarah" regalia made by Shannon.

Editor's Note:  What?! A cape with insignia?  Shannon!

Editor's Note:  Do not be fooled by the docile, Nazarene-school smiles.....These two are quite capable of minutely planned shenanigans.  Or should I say, "Shannonigans"!  Great friends! Great laughs!