Tea Talk--How Many Are Your Works!

Welcome to my home!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm having...flavored black tea in my Pfaltzgraff tea cup. The tea was a sample given to me by a neighbor, and it is passionfruit flavored.  Since it was such a little sample, I used half the amount each time I made tea, and steeped it longer, so that I could stretch it out and make it last longer!  It's a delicious tea.

I'm feeling...still achy with my back, though I finally learned today that I should sit on a pillow when I'm at the computer desk.  So that's what I'm doing right now!  I still need to stand and walk around frequently so my back doesn't stiffen--very painful--but it is slowly healing and I feel so much more capable of running our household now!

On my mind...is our state's homeschool convention this coming June.  I know it is a long way off, but it is on my mind since I just finished organizing and sorting through all the workshops I will be managing for families homeschooling special needs children.  I have volunteered for a number of years now at ICHE (Illinois Christian Home Educators), and for the past two years have served as the Coordinator for Struggling and Special Learners.  One part of my responsibilities includes finding and scheduling special needs speakers for our annual state convention each June.  The fun part of that responsibility is getting to manage everything at the actual convention--all my speakers and this year I will be handling 12 workshops.  I love logistics.  :)

I leave you with...a short verse from Psalm 105, which we read at dinnertime devotions tonight.  After David exclaims all the works on God's hands--all the things He created--during the first 23 verses, he then exults:

O LORD, how many are Your works!

In wisdom You have made them all;

The earth is full of Your possessions.

Psalm 104:24 nasb

We shared a lively discussion of His creativeness in forming all of His creatures, including man.  We spoke of His creativity in making this earth, in telling the sun and the moon where to go, and in commanding the sea to come so far and then no more.  And He knows me--such knowledge is too wonderful for me!

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--It Will be Healing

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm having...Earl Gray in my Pfaltzgraff teacup (Ocean Breeze pattern).  This is loose tea that I've had for a long time.  I don't know why I haven't enjoyed this tea more recently--it is delicious and hits the spot on this chilly end-of-December day!

I'm feeling...the same as the past several days.  I continue to slowly recover from my fall up the stairs two weeks ago.  Afternoons and evenings are more relaxed, since I have worked out the stiffness by lunch time.  But when I first wake up, I'm so stiff and sore!  I'm trusting the Lord to work His healing in me, unless He has a better plan.  When I see the splendor with which He displays His creation--such as in the frosted trees in the photos below on our drive to the chiropractor this morning--I know without a doubt that He is working in me!

I'm thinking about...the few priority items to do this week--pulling together the rest of the special needs portion of our state homeschool convention (ICHE--Illinois Christian Home Educators) for June 2011; and getting our own homeschool lesson plans in order for the rest of the school year (mostly for Danny who will be graduating next June).  I also have to update my business accounts, and get some house cleaning projects completed.  The first two major items will be done by tomorrow--and I always say "Lord willing!"  :)

I leave you with...verses in Proverbs.  As I ask the Lord to heal me, I realize that He brings healing in various ways.  These verses in Proverbs have to do with healing:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8 nasb [emphasis mine]

Healing and refreshment come from doing these things:

• Wholly trust in Him with my situation
• Don't trust my own understanding of the situation
• Acknowledge Him in everything I do (or try to do, or even can't do!)
• Don't think that my wisdom is best
• Give the Lord my reverent respect
• Turn away from sinful desires

I'm asking the Lord for strength to do these things.  May you be blessed as you follow Him!!

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- His People to Deliver

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...a cup of Earl Grey decaf at my dad's and mom's house (this past Sunday), in one of my mom's mugs.  She has a nice variety of tea/coffee mugs that she has pulled together over the years.

I'm feeling...pretty good.  I actually went out for a walk yesterday in the 15-degree (F) weather to the bank to open a business account for  Christine Anne Photography.  I was glad to hang out at the bank while working with an account representative just for the chance to get warm again!!  :)  I love my bank--they offered me the use of a "business table" in their lobby that I can reserve for free for two weeks to display my business!  So last night I ran out to Kohl's with a $10 off coupon and bought a couple of photo frames for display purposes.  And frames were 50-60% off!  Yah-hoo!  I love sales with coupons.

On my mind...oh, you know me; I'm always making mental lists, and I don't think that will ever end!  My mind is always thinking and organizing; sometimes I do wish I could turn it off!  I do have a couple of books to read to consider whether our state homeschool organization (ICHE) should carry them in our bookstore.  And winter is a great time to read!  I'm also looking forward to Jacob's and Danny's college semester ending next week.  Poor Jacob got a nasty cold/flu bug this week, so we "drugged him up" and sent him to those classes he couldn't miss.  He is feeling much better now, thank the Lord!

I leave you with...two verses of our church's "hymn of the month."  We are singing this hymn each week as we await the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  I love these words!

Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light,

And usher in the morning;

Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright,

But hear the angel's warning.

This Child, now weak in infancy,

Our confidence and joy shall be.

The pow'r of Satan breaking,

Our peace eternal making.

He comes, a Child, from realms on high,

He comes the heav'ns adoring;

He comes to earth to live and die,

A broken race restoring.

Although the King of kings is He,

He comes in deep humility;

His people to deliver,

And reign in us forever.

God's goodness and blessings to you during this special time of waiting!

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--A Child Will be Born

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...a cup of  Provence rooibos, a "red bush" tea with fruity flavors.  Yum!  I'm using a winter mug that I think my mom gave me for Christmas.  I've had it for a while and it's nice to have a little bit bigger mug of hot tea on a c-c-cold day.  :)

I'm feeling...okay but I know I have lots to do.  There's something niggling at the back of my mind, and I keep feeling that there's something I forgot to do, someone I forgot to call...  Maybe that's just me, though.  I have a pretty detailed to-do list, which I check often.

On my mind...are the bags of gifts sitting in front of our fireplace, and our bare Christmas tree in the front living room.  Most of my family (extended) gathered here for dinner on Tuesday, then headed out to Target en masse to purchase gifts for two needy families for Christmas.  My dad chose two families from a program (at his church) which helps needy families at Christmastime.  We had fun going all over the store, looking for shoes and coats, then some fun things for the seven children on the list:  boys and girls, ranging in age from 22 months to 16 years old.  Boy, was that interesting trying to figure out what a typical 16-year-old young lady would like!  Now we need to wrap the gifts and get them to my dad so he can bundle them all up and bring them to his church.

We were so excited about participating in this program this year, since the whole family decided to not exchange Christmas gifts this year.  What a peaceful feeling I have, knowing we don't have to figure out what people want, search all over, spend a ton of money, etc.!  We will enjoy this quiet and thoughtful advent of Christ's birth.

I leave you with...Scripture for the advent season.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God,

Eternal Father,

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--Thanks Forever

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...a cup of strawberry rhubarb tea (in the photo below).  I drank out of this beautiful teacup that belongs to Lori when our family visited her house for Friday Game Night last week!

I'm feeling...a bit overwhelmed with to-do's.  That hasn't changed since last week, though.  I wish some of them would just float away!  But that won't happen, either.  And in the midst of the list, the laundry, and the dishes, and the...await me!

Lori's single-cup tea ball

On my mind...is our family get-together this Saturday evening!  All 11 of us (with my dad as the patriarch) will share a "breakfast at dinnertime" potluck this Saturday.  My sister-in-law plans to bring biscuits and gravy, which I can't wait to try.  She is a great cook!  We're getting together before Thanksgiving, because my brother and sister-in-law will be sharing that special day with her extended family, and will miss Thanksgiving at my parents' home.  Thanksgiving will start to be on my mind next Sunday!

I leave you with...a Bible verse of thanks, in honor of this wonderful season.

So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture

Will give thanks to You forever;

To all generations we will tell of Your praise.

Psalm 79:13 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--The Riches of God

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...a cup of organic Jasmine silver needle, loose tea given to me by my heart-sister Lori.  A perfect perk-me-up tea to give me energy for the rest of the day!  My tea steeper, from ingenuiTea, makes two cups of tea.  Once the tea is brewed, I place it over my cup.  As it presses down on the rim, it filters a stream of tea into my cup.  It's the neatest thing!

I'm feeling...safe in His arms, for He is rich in mercy.

On my mind...I'm always making mental to-do lists.  I have to go to the post office and the library today.  Praise the Lord that they are across the street from each other!

I leave you with...portions of verses in Ephesians that I studied this morning with my heart-sister Dee.

But God, being rich in mercy...

Ephesians 2:4a nasb

...the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us...

Ephesians 2:7 (middle) nasb

...(but you are rich)...

Revelation 2:9 (middle) nasb

In these passages, the Greek word for rich is plousios; its derivative had the connotation of "flowing, abounding."  God is rich, and has untold riches, but they're not just sitting there.  They are constantly flowing, being transferred to and poured out upon His people.  And those riches are not drained--they are a never-ending source and a constant supply.  I'm not talking about money here!  These are His riches:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with

every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly places in Christ...

Ephesians 1:3 nasb (emphasis mine)

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--Girded with Strength

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...a cup of Provence Rooibos, a blend purchased at SereneTeaz (I love their store!).  It is slightly fruity with the typical rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss; meaning red bush, from Africa) flavor.  I'm using my everyday china cup; teatime is special when it's fancy!

I'm feeling...tired but safe in the Lord.  The name of the Lord is a strong tower!

On my mind...a to-do list that keeps growing!  I cross off two or three things, only to add five or six more to it.  Lord give me the strength and grace to get things done!!

I leave you with...a verse about a Godly woman--may it be me today!

She girds herself with strength

And makes her arms strong.

She senses that her gain is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.

Proverbs 31:17-18 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Tea Talk--Character Exhibited

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...peppermint tea.  My tea cup is the Pfaltzgraff Ocean Breeze pattern, and matches our everyday dishes.  It is shown below (not with peppermint tea!) with a breakfast of cinnamon apple puff (recipe tomorrow).

I'm feeling...tired but calm, and looking ahead to a day filled with activity.

On my mind...I'm asking the Lord for His grace today.  So many mishaps and little accidents have occurred around here this week that I'm wondering what the Lord has in store for me today!  And I'm praying that He gives grace to help me yield to Him throughout His plan for my day.

I leave you with...a quote I just found, which describes my week.  May the Lord grant me grace to submit to His loving plan for me, be it easy or hard, simple or complicated, smooth or full of pits.

Character is not made in a crisis; it is only exhibited.

Robert Freeman

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--Joy of My Heart

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...my regular Scottish breakfast tea, robust and enlivening for this morning.  Since I have only a few different tea cups and mugs, and I've already shown then, here is a shot of breakfast on Tuesday.  For some reason, I love taking photos of pancakes--goofy, I know.  Thomas instigated things for this shot, however.  He arranged everything on his plate and hollered, "Hey, Mom!  Go get your camera before I pour the syrup!"  How can a photographer mom resist that??

Blueberry-strawberry pancakes with strawberry topping and syrup

I'm feeling...calm but busy.  We're in a decent routine, and home and homeschool life have settled into a comfortable rhythm.  However, there are still several items on my to-do list, and they're tapping insistently at the back of my brain.  And yet a few more have been added this week.  I need to check a few of them off!

On my mind is...going out to get more cream!  I ran out when I had my cup of tea this morning.  For me, this is a crisis, as I always have my morning tea with cream.  It's the same thing with ketchup for our boys--if we run out, panic sets in.  ;)

I leave you with...a verse from Psalms that I came across this morning.  It lifts me up, and I hope it encourages you, too!

I have inherited Your testimonies forever,

For they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111 nasb

inherited -- to get as a blessing
testimonies -- admonitions, ordinances, or warnings
joy -- exultation, rejoicing, gaiety, gladness, rejoice greatly

The Lord's commands are a joy, not meant to put me under His thumb, but meant as my inheritance of blessing!

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--Come and See

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...my usual, Scottish breakfast tea, in my usual morning tea mug.  :)  Since you've seen it before, here is a picture of this morning's breakfast:  blueberry pancakes with apple-chunk filling, drizzled with syrup.

I'm feeling...tired but hopeful.  My back aches in several spots--consequences of working in my kitchen for three days straight--but I'm hopeful that I can begin to see our life at home as God sees it.

On my mind is...seeing with His eyes.  I get so bogged down in the everyday stuff, that I usually fail to see God's hand in it.  I have been spending more time with Thomas, my baby, and I keep stumbling around trying to understand him.  I'm now praying that I see Thomas' unique and special personality through the eyes of the Lord, who loves Him so much more than I will ever be able to.

The verse I leave you with is...in Psalms. Since I've talked about seeing with God's eyes, I thought I'd share this verse that invites me to come and see!

Come and see the works of God,

Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.

Psalm 66:5 nasb (emphasis mine)

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk--"Doers and the Deluded"

Time to share a cup of tea with Ruth, the lovely hostess for this meme.

Please click on her button above to find out how to join us!

NOTE:  I create blog titles that catch your attention and make you wonder, and want to read further.  I hope this particular title causes you to do that.  :)

I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's organic decaf tea, with honey and cream.  And a bowl of popcorn.  ;)  Actually, this was what I had last night for our family movie night.  (Of course I shared the popcorn with everyone!)

I'm using...an everyday ceramic mug, four of which were given to our boys for Christmas by my mom several years ago.  She filled each mug with packets of hot chocolate and other goodies.  Yum!

I'm feeling...tired but productive today.  Planned for the rest of the day around homeschooling:  laundry, bread baking, and sewing.

On my mind is...ministering to an acquaintance this evening by helping her de-clutter her condominium.  That's the really big task for today, and I'm praying for energy for both of us!

I'd like to share with you...a verse from our studies at dinner a few nights ago.  Fernando leads devotions at that time, and we have been working our way through the book of James.  He is reading a lot of the side notes from his study Bible, and I have been abundantly blessed by them.  He pauses patiently while I write notes, underline words, and circle key phrases in my Bible.  He calmly repeats a definition, a word, or an explanation as I try to soak it all in.  I love "dig-deep" Bible study!

But prove yourselves doers of the word,

and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

James 1:22 nasb (emphasis mine)

Doers of the word stood out to me, and in the Greek, the connotation of this phrase is that the entire personality of a Christian should be characterized in this way.  Someone should be able to look at my life and say, "It's obvious she's a Christian."  Oh, that it may be so!

The word delude was used in mathematics to refer to a miscalculation.  This implies that if I think I can just hear the word, and not do anything with what I've heard, I've made a serious miscalculation.  A sober thought to ponder.

Back to life,
Christine

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TT--A Calmer Week

A hot, but lovely, day on which to share a cup of tea!  If you'd like to participate, and to find out more, click on Ruth's button above!!

I'm having...a rare cup of coffee today.  My ds Jacob sells Organo Gold coffee and I'm having a cup.  It's pretty much a lot of sugar and cream, with a little coffee.  (That's why I rarely drink it!)

My teacup is new!  Long story short, I bought some Gibson "everyday" china, and ended up getting a whole set free.  I love using the teacups when I have company for tea.  Being a practical homemaker, I love the fact that I can use the teacups--and the dishes--whenever I want to go fancy.  Plus, white goes with everything!

A quick "funny"--I've already sipped some coffee out of the above cup!  I have a habit of filling my cup literally to the brim.  I then bend down and delicately slurp out enough until I can safely carry my cup to my seat.  :)

I'm feeling...much calmer this week.  I think we're starting to settle into a comfortable routine with homeschooling and housework.  I'm still trying to fit exercise into a workable routine, hopefully over the next few weeks.

On my mind...I'm always making mental lists, some of which get transferred to paper.  My list of to-do things is growing, but I keep plugging away.  I know that the Lord will allow me to do those things that fit appropriately into my day.  And on the days when I feel like I haven't accomplished anything on my list, I know the Lord had His list for me!

Leaving you with...a quote I found by Martin Luther.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace,

so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it

a thousand times.

Be sure to visit Ruth's blog to stay for a cup of tea!!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Tea Talk--"Power Relaxing"

It's so nice to relax over a cup of tea, and share my thoughts with you!  To join this time with us, please click on the button above to visit Ruth and to learn how to participate!

I'm having...my standard Irish breakfast tea.  It's a strong tea, but caffeine doesn't really bother me and I like the taste of a bold tea in the morning.  I usually drink mine with a little honey and cream.

A photo of...my tea mug!  I'm so happy to be able to show you a photo of my mug.  This is my everyday mug, discovered at a garage sale this summer for 50 cents.  (I love garage sales.)  My kitchen is more navy than this mug's bright cobalt, but blue is blue.  I love its rounded shape, and the flower and butterfly designs.  Notice my pretty little teakettle?  That's also a garage-sale item, which a lady told me once belonged to her grandmother.  The silver kettle looks so pretty sitting on my stove, against a silver and white tin backsplash in the background.

I'm feeling...relieved that this week is almost over.  It has been very hectic, with Jacob almost missing a college class (twice), me making unneeded and unnecessary trips, and both Jacob and Danny waiting until the last minute to begin work on an "essay summary" assignment for their college class.  This little Tea Talk break today is my "power relaxing" time, as I've not had a moment to breathe all week.

On my mind is...several tasks that need to be done by this weekend!  Wrapping a wedding gift and making a card--praise the Lord I finished modifying my dress last night--and more organizing of homeschool science supplies.

Scripture to leave you with...we finished my favorite book--Ephesians--and have just started reading through Philippians.  I pray these verses for you all--and for me--today.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more

in real knowledge and all discernment,

so that you may approve the things that are excellent,

in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness

which comes through Jesus Christ,

to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Thursday Morning and Time for Tea

To participate in "Tea Talk" today, please click on Ruth's link above and read her blog for more information!

I'm having...just a plain old cup of caffeinated Irish breakfast tea this morning.  I'm using my garage-sale mug, white with a cobalt blue design around the sides.  I love its uniquely rounded shape.  And if you've been reading any of my blogs, any day now I'll be able to take a picture of it!  I spotted it in a recent garage sale for 50 cents, and it is my everyday tea mug.

A photo of...breakfast from earlier this year--really, new pictures will come soon!!

I'm feeling...invigorated.  Last week I was fighting a sore throat and the blahs, but I'm healthy once again.  I've also spent several little chunks of time--and one big one--de-cluttering and cleaning and organizing, and that always invigorates me!  I'm looking forward to another "Suspenders" time with Helen tonight to complete even  more projects (click here to find out what I'm talking about!).

On my mind is...I love cool September mornings--the crisp snap in the air, the fresh feeling of life.  Even though spring is the season associated with newness and re-birth, I always feel like the autumn air brings a breath of renewal and energy into my life.

Speaking of renewal, here is something I encountered this week in my morning devo's with Fernando:

Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ,

excluded from the commonwealth of Israel,

and strangers to the covenants of promise,

having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off

have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For He Himself is our peace...

Ephesians 2:12-14a NASB

May Jesus truly be your peace today!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne