"He who finds a true friend, finds a treasure"

My very good friend and breakfast buddy Deanna is emigrating to Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirate's capital.

Her husband started working there last month and Deanna and her 4 children will be moving to Abu Dhabi early next month.

On one hand I am happy that this wonderful friend of mine is moving to new horizons but on the other hand I am saddened by the distance put between us.

Sure there is the Internet, and communication has no limits via the PC but the old fashioned fellowship over a cuppa will never the same.

I met Deanna many moons ago at Ballet school where our girls were twirling and tapping their very young toes. We clicked right away and had much in common - love for good food, love for God (although we were of different denominations, it was never an issue), Youth ministry, collecting stuff, the list is endless.

Just one phone call and we'd re-adjust our schedule to meet for breakfast. When hand phones became a necessity, our breakfast rendezvous would only one SMS away. It was important for us to eat well and enjoy our time together because we had endless stories to share.

Good coffee was always the criteria for a good meeting place and so was our short and meaningful prayer to thank God for our chance to fellowship which was fundamental to our friendship.

We decided to meet at her house this morning. I offered to bring breakfast so I made another bento after I finished with the bentos for my girls.

In the back left box I did the same gourmet roll up sandwich which I did for the girls except that for this one I added a fried omelet.

On it's right, I had Babybel cheese, crackers, marshmallows, raisins and some Japanese rice crackers.

In front is a mixed salad and Japanese sushi ingredients chopped and topped with Kew pie mayonnaise. I cut up two Kiwi's to fill the box. Of course, I made a flask of my 'powderful' coffee! Yeah!

We had a wonderful time as usual, amidst the sadness was also a sense of joy, excitement and anticipation for greater things to come. We parted with the promise that we would meet again for breakfast next week.

~ Emo ~

Last night, hubs and I went for dinner at a friend's place. Another mutual friend was sharing that she had attended a funeral of a young 9 year old girl the previous day. She was the daughter of an old office colleague.

My heart took a somersault when I heard that. The little girl died of Leukemia. I may not have known her personally but I mourn not only for her but for her mother too.

Apparently 9 months ago, the little girl injured and broke her knee while crouching. That was the beginning of the nightmare that was to come. The fevers came and the broken knee wouldn't heel (the symptoms), the doctors diagnosed Leukemia and it just took her over with such overwhelming force that she never had a chance.

I have an 8 year old girl whom I love dearly. Some days, she drives me up the wall with her antics and I come down quite hard with the discipline. However when I hear of stories like the one my friend shared, my heart is pained and I just want to hold on to her and hug her and not let her go.

But I have a God! And in my fear and insecurity, I pray that He continues to shower his grace and protection on this family of His.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Inspired

I attended a talk by a Priest at a local church last night and he was explaining about how marriage is not a profession (some of us think so) but a vocation. It boils down to the LOVE in the relationship.

"When things get tough, remember how you fell in love with each other the first time" he said. "Remember this love story well and keep it in your heart and play it back, it would be what will get you going when things aren't looking good".