Taking Time For Tea

My dear friend Delight feels the same about her mother and her daughters as I do about mine. She is very faithful about taking time for tea.   Here she is sharing tea with her sweet girls.

My mom only lives 3 miles away and we can always e-mail or talk by phone, but there is something special about visiting face to face.  I hadn't been to her house for several weeks so we arranged to have tea Friday afternoon.  I always come away blessed after visiting with my Mom.  Her house is quiet and clean and her heart is warm and understanding.  The conversation is animated as she has many interests and we share the love of our family and many people we've known through the years.  She likes to read and is always interesting to talk to.   She understands me and wants the best for me as much or more now than when I was a little girl.  She lets me into her life and  shares her heart, allowing me to be her friend, too.  When I share things I know that she will take them to our Heavenly Father in prayer.  


Some years ago after her three girls were grown and on their own, she wrote an article about parenting being a 20-year investment.  We got to talking about that Friday and she said she realizes now that it isn't just 20 years, but a lifetime commitment.  Not only is She still caring about and praying through for me, but she also is praying for my children and grandchildren.  She actually carries prayer burdens for many more now than when she just had the three of us. I used to think it was busy and challenging when I had 20 years of pregnancy and nursing but I realize now that those years were a breeze, when my children's needs could be met by simply cuddling and nursing them or changing their diaper.  Now I find myself actively involved in spiritual battles for the souls of my children and the futures of my grandchildren. I thank God that I am not alone, but that He has placed me in a godly family where My Mother still partners with me in love and prayer.  

Not only do I have my wonderful Mom, but I now have my older daughters sharing in the spiritual battles and blending their hearts and lives with mine in intimate friendships.  My Mother and my daughters know me intimately and still love me, they know my history and they are happy to share my future.  We speak each other's "language" and have learned to graciously pass over the flaws.   Then there is the joy of building for the future with the younger ones and the grandbabies!  I am so blessed by God's design for a lifetime of love within families. I hope my girls will always take time for tea with me and be as blessed as I am when I take time to have tea with my Mom!!

 

A Day With Davie

Grandbaby cuddled close
Big blue eyes burrowing into mine
Hair damp and curling
Our hearts entwine.

We rock and fall asleep
Quietly doze, cuddled up close we rest
slowly we wake
Our hearts are blessed.

Playing's a way to learn
Turn the page, learning the names of things
Animal sounds laughed
Our hearts on wings.

Stacking the blocks so high
Now your turn, You knock them all away
Stack them again now
Our hearts at play.

Sitting in your high chair
Cheerios grasped with your little hand
I "zoom" the vegies
Our hearts feel grand.

Grandbaby, the day is done
keys in hand, I say "good-bye" and sigh
I have to go, but
Our hearts stay nigh.

Springtime Blessings

141 - Two Robins, a sure sign of Spring
142 - A work trip for Brian to Texas
143 - God giving him courage to fly
144 - The garbage in the yard picked up
145 - The camaraderie and feeling of belonging at KEY
146 - A letter in the mail from a faithful friend
147 - A young friend full of passion for the LORD
148 - Another young friend sweetly sharing her spiritual journal and trusting me to keep her accountable
149 - peanut butter and tea with creamer
150 - Sweet little ones cuddling close at storytime

So Much to Be Thankful For!!

131.  Millions of Frost Diamonds sparkling on the grass, bushes and trees.
132.  Time to hold and love my Grandbabies
133.  Date night with Brian, holding hands and watching a movie
134.  Scriptural promises being fulfilled before my eyes
135.  God's hand picking up where I have fallen far short
136.  Melting snow and bare hillsides
137.  Girls to laugh and work with - Spring Cleaning underway with music and laughter
138.  Frozen strawberries and blueberries with milk - date night treat
139.  My children's bright young minds
140.  Good books to discover and read aloud

Treasured Days to Savor

Today my Dad will come to watercolor paint with me.  We've made a practice of painting Saturday mornings for months now and I look forward to each time and treasure the time together.  We don't necessarily say a lot but we will occasionally comment on each others work or a warm smile will pass between us and those moments carry me through the week.  I always feel privileged that He wants to take time with me.  Because he is on hospice with lung cancer each occasion we are together I am acutely aware of the preciousness of the time.  What a blessing it is that God has given us this awareness so we can slow down and savor it.  

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Notes from a message by 

Keith Dehn

* When we're confident that God is with us, we can face anything.  Genesis 45:1-15

  Joseph trusted in God's sovereignty.

* When someone wrongs me I can believe that God is in it and will redeem it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1.  Be born again - understand we've been forgiven. 

Be filled with the Holy Spirit

2.  Let go of the pain

3.  Trust in God's sovereignty - accept what come from God.

4.  See the offender through God's eyes.

5.  Move toward the offender instead of moving away.  Serve and pray.  Serve or give to the one who has hurt me.  ( He gave the exception of physical or emotional abuse).

6.  Pray for miracles to happen in my heart and the others.

7.  Romans 12:19 Revenge not yourselves.  Leave vengeance to God.

I found this message to be very helpful and timely.  I hope it is a blessing to you, too.  If you want to listen to it you can use the following link:  http://kitchi.astitch.biz/sermonpg.htm  It is Forgiveness Part III  from February 6, 2011.  I also highly recommend Part I and Part II.  I noticed when I went back to listen again that I missed a lot of good things in my notes, so I hope you get time to listen to this wonderful series of messages.

116.  Adversity that makes us cling to God
117.  Melting snow making rivers in the driveway
118.  An Eagle's nests and mating birds with their tinkly calls - signs of Spring
119.  Faithful, uncomplaining daughters who think up incredible food with what's left in the freezer
120.  The ice thawing in a daughter's heart
121.  Words of hope from Rachael for a situation that seems almost hopeless to me
122.  Wonderful books and evenings of treasured time to read aloud
123.  Dad feeling better this week - less fluid retention (a turnaround the hospice nurse has never seen)
124.  Blueberry coffeecake
125.  Strawberry kiefer
126.  A helium balloon, chocolate, new books to read, and a new wallet - a happy birthday!
127.  Beautiful pink roses
128.  Fayetta home
129.  Laughter over the dishes every night
130.  My friends at KEY