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

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

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

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

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

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

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

visit my photography blog!
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

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

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

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

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

visit my photography blog!
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

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne