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!

ScottHale -- Not a typo! Great friend. Explanation follows!!!

So many things to admire about Sarah Rutledge! But I’ll mention just one, and that is this: that Sarah truly sees, and values, and cares for the “little ones” that Jesus talked about -- people that for one reason or another are easier to ignore, overlook, or dismiss. So many of us talk the Jesus-follower talk, but Sarah is one of those rare individuals that walks the walk and I can’t think of a better example from her life that demonstrates that than the time, care, and compassion she lavished on the neglected among us. Thanks Sarah Rutledge for your challenging but encouraging example!

On another note, it must be mentioned that Sarah is one of those people that is just plain fun to be around. Who can forget the often-quirky sense of humor, and her contagious laugh? And why call people by their first and last names? “Scott Hale, are you coming to group tonight or what?” “Scott Hale, where is that $5 you owe me?” I don’t know, but it always made me smile.

Happy birthday Sarah (Rutledge) – you are loved and admired J

Shar Bear--Sarah's sister and oft companion!

Sarah Elizabeth Brown Rutledge, the baby of the family with four older siblings to dote on you (when they weren’t dropping you on your head). You started out so sweet and meek and not so outdoorsy. You are still sweet but you’ve grown into a strong woman, albeit a bit stubborn at times and a fierce competitor. We no longer have to force you outside so you don’t look so pale and frail. We understand you were nurturing your brilliance by staying inside and reading all of those books but are so happy you broadened those horizons to join us on the boat, camping adventures, and all sorts of other crazy adventures. Some events you hold such vivid memories of don’t even exist for you though! We’ll credit your vivid imagination of being able to take events that you’ve heard about and make them your reality, to all those years of immersing yourself in C.S. Lewis adventures and others while curled up turning pages. My baby sister grew up to be my friend and partner in crime. Who else would treat a dear friend to a “chocolate” bean cake and run all over Wisconsin taking silly pictures with very large “art” pieces or travel all over Europe without a real set plan in place. At least we have some stories to tell like being stranded in Switzerland with no place to sleep and no way out until morning and risking our lives by going with a stranger and staying at his place. Good heavens, we better pray for our children that they don’t follow our ways! One memory I still laugh about is when I went to visit Grandma Brown in Van Texas. She was in her late 80’s early 90’s and still teaching Sunday school. I sat in on her class and she was introducing me. She brought up “Cricket” and proceeded to tell everyone that “Cricket” was her favorite. Yes, Grandma Brown did play favorites and you were it! Thankfully I was confident enough in myself that I did not get my feelings hurt and run off crying. I’m sure it was just that her memory was failing and she got mixed up ;  ) You’ve provided me with some challenges as well. Remember Sunday dinner out with Dad after some not so good college scholarship news? You were just developing those social skills that were going to be incredibly helpful to your future. Although, I think dad would have rather less of your free spirit and more of that little girl book worm at that point in time! You haven’t always followed the family pattern like graduating from Evangel University, but lucky for all of us, you stepped in line and married a STEVE! Now, I believe the next pattern is to have a baby at age 40! HAPPY 40^TH dear sister. We’ll be waiting…

On a more serious note, I want to let you know how proud I am of you. You have been such a blessing to so many people over the years. You have always done your best to see everyone through Jesus’ eyes. Love, Grace, Forgiveness, Generosity, Kindness, Accountability, Servanthood  are all words that describe how you live your life. You take your job as mom, teacher and wife seriously and do it so well. It isn’t easy with 4 young ones home all day and homeschooling but you do it with a servant’s heart and full of love. I think if you were to describe your life yourself, you would say “BLESSED” and I would say “BLESSING”.

Love you sis!

Shar Bear