Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Salt & Light

Just recently I was studying Matthew 5:13 - How to be the salt and light in this World.

Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

I had one of those flash back moments remembering when my friend Anita was moving home in the winter, her new home had a really long drive way that you could fit 6 or more cars on. Well we arrived to find snow covered lawn and ice 1/2 inch thick on the drive way all the way to the garage and back door where most the furniture was coming in through. Well we are all not a young bunch (more like the Brady bunch) but I was very concerned that someone was going to slip on this glass type ice and really get hurt, the younger ones were having a whale of a time sliding down it, as I looked on and held my breath - well it was time for action so I took off in my van to Walmart to pick up some bags of salt crystals - there I was holding this heavy bag at my side rested on my hip like I used to hold my babies, shaking my hips side to side to spread the crystals across as much as possible - it was then another friend (if I remember correctly it was Michel) took a lampshade and put it on my head "there Michelle, now you can be Salt and Light!" it gave us all quite a laugh. Or was that just Michel's infectious laugh.......

But isn't that so true, without salt we just could not live and without the light we would be in total darkness not being able to find our way. Another flash back to the black out we all experienced a few years ago. Salt is a purifier, and also a seasoning - what ever the season you may be in, try to be seasoning in the life of someone - be salt and light.

I hope you enjoyed a little laugh at my expense! God bless and take care until the next time.
Love Michelle

Friday, September 21, 2007

When I look forward to heaven......

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.....

There are moments in my life when things get so difficult, when I think wouldn't it be nice to escape and go to heaven.

Reflecting of the timing of my children, women generally have there children beginning in the 20's and around middle age have teenage children - now I have come to think this may not be the best option going through pre-menopause and dealing with teenagers, teenagers are in their own little world most of the time and being pre-menopausal mother has me acting like I am from another world and to honest, I would not like to meet myself at those times! and then there our husbands who wonder, when is life going to get back to normal? What is normal anyway....... and if they are smart, they would never actually verbalize such a statement to their wives. Have you ever read the book "My mother is weird" by Rachna Gilmore. I love this book, I find it very funny, helps me stay humble

Synopsis' My mother is weird. Some mornings when she wakes up, she has horns on her head and long, pointy teeth and claws. She speaks in a voice like a jackhammer. But after her morning coffee, Mom's horns disappear, and her teeth and claws shrink back to normal..'This is a book to help children understand their parents and their changing moods.

Well I am trying not to be that weird and I have come to appreciate the Lord's prayer more and more and often find myself reflecting on each line daily as I come across obstacles in my life and trying to live out my faith, whether it be working through forgiving someone for a wrong or realising I have a responsibility of making heaven a reality on earth. There are times when I want to run away from situations and realise by going through them I become a better person if I choose to take the right action based on the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For ever and ever, Amen.

Love to all,
Michelle

Sunday, September 16, 2007

I saw Jesus Yesterday, Today and will definately tomorrow!

Tuesday September 11 for many is a day to remember some awful in-humane actions, and remember some wonderful people who were lost in this tragic event, but for me this year it was the day for a planned surgery. As I tried my best to prepare myself mentally, I came to the realization that accidents happen and pre-existing medical conditions could complicate the procedure and I may not awaken to this world. May be a little morbid but I try to be realistic in realizing my time here could be cut short without notice, so if this was to be my time, I wanted to let my husband know how much I loved him and to let the girls know despite my nagging, it is with the intent to try to encourage them to become the best that they can be.

Well I woke to see Jesus, he was with me yesterday, today and will definitely be there tomorrow - no I did not go to heaven yet. At 6 p.m. I saw Jesus in duplicate, yes you are now thinking the morphine is talking, but I was still coherent (others may not agree) if not a little sappy, but there stood my husband and my best friend Louise waiting by my bed in the hospital after my move from the recovery room. Jesus brought me knickers Wednesday morning (in the form of Phyllis) - now who goes to hospital and forgets their knickers!!!! I did remember my nightie (which is a miracle if you ask my best friends who I am in ministry with when we room together at the retreats!), I woke to see Jesus holding Sunflowers in the form of a my dearest best friends Garry & Anita who serve in ministry together, and candles & candies from my best friend Cheri. Jesus called me from afar when he couldn't be there in person - Kimberley and my many friends, family and colleagues from Work, and visited me at home.

All the actions we do from a heart out of love for one another we do in the name of Jesus, for God is Love and I have been very loved and I wanted to appreciate everyone of you.

I give thanks with a grateful heart! Much love, Michelle

Jesus said follow me, be my disciple, do what I do - and you did......and no doubt will continue to do

We have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord. (1 Sam. 20:42)

You have a very special place in my heart.(Phil. 1:7)

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Sand, Sun, Bermuda Triangle, Dripping Tent and Deflated Air



Hi Friends,



Well what a blast this past weekend as 8 families and a few extra special guests joined us for a long weekend of camping. Most of us getting up in those years where a real mattress and a real roof over your head is preferred but we sucked it up and had a blast.



It would not be right if I did not mention how proud I was of 3 of our young people this weekend. Our precious Beth (13), daughter of who I call our extended family cut her foot the week prior to camping and had 4 stitches the ball of her foot, but she took care each day cleaning and strapping to keep it clean, it limited her ability to join in everything yet she was a real trooper and did not let this spoil her time. My own daughter Ebony (16) who is such a home body and a creature of comfort and also being in those teenage years where hanging with parents just can't be fun or cool, she was not a complainer either, and then Marine (14), who arrived in this country from Malawi in July to join her Mom who took up a new position here in December. Moving into a new country in summer and being a teenager is not easy and there is not much opportunity for her to meet people until she starts school in September so I invited her to join my family (she had only met Mike and I once) - so I think the bravery award goes to Marine. As well as the most mosquito bites!!! Hopefully we haven't scared her away and she will join us again.



It wouldn't be right not to mention my other daughter Lauren who is 14, she is just like her mama although she would hate to admit it at this age, but she is the real trooper, if there is fun to be had, I want to be part of it! She is the quick witted one, so you have to be on your toes to out smart her with a comment, because she is fully loaded to come back at you with both barrels having everyone giggling around. Well those who understand our relationship that is. She was the tent construction team although it was her break time by the time her Dad and I arrived at the site. She travelled with our friends Lance and Louise, Beth and Jamie.

My husband Mike said he didn't need a watch through the night, he could tell what time it was by the amount of air that had escaped the air mattress. By the time his rear was touching the ground it was 5 a.m., what was the best night was leaving all the coverings open and sleeping under the beautiful array of stars.


Warm water, sun, sand, volleyball and golf! I have to say I am quite the golf player and the heat didn't bother me at all! It was the Bermuda Triangle Golf in a bug tent with friends! Yes it was a card game that I was taught on the weekend and it is a real favourite - Thanks Jeff, Lori, Cheri, Peter and Rozanne, honory mention to John! Most of us were sitting around the fire and every now and then someone would disappear to look for someone and they never came back, so I also went to look and never came back!



Then there was the bug prank, I bought a real looking bug just over an inch in length and tricked a few people, although Joe gets the award for the most dynamic leap! Cheri and I had fun as we walked from site to site pulling pranks, and even strangers as I put the bug in my mouth with the antenas sticking out and chewing like I enjoyed it. These two young girls about 17-18 were totally freaked out, as I explained they are full of protein!



Sunday night we received all the rain that was meant for the whole Province as three storms came through one after the other! I had to check on my daughter and friend in the tent last year that leaked - thanks to the waterproofing spray from C.Tire they were kept dry. Unfortunately all our friends did not fare as well - 3 poles of Kimberley and Montgomery's tent broke, and John and Lisa's youngest were experiencing a shower in their sleep, we all met at the washrooms at 5 a.m. discussing our camping woes and so the three little ones jumped into the back of our stow and go van with their sleeping bags to get a little more dry sleep before the morning. Thankfully this was our last night and a few tents will be journeying back to the store from wence they came and we left a few behind that just will not make another journey.



I wonder what the apostle Paul's tents were like? We could have given him some business this weekend.



What was so nice is that it was like a huge family get together. This morning in my devotional I was reading Matthew 12: 46-50. As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside asking to speak to Him. Someone told Jesus, "your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you". Jesus asked "who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"



One profound statement that came from this devotional was sometimes we treat others as though our brothers and sisters and not as our brothers and sisters. I think we accomplished the latter this weekend!



Thanks for a great weekend everyone!



Michelle

Monday, July 30, 2007

In the Grip of Grace

This past weekend, I was so blessed to invite an old friend to stay for the weekend. This year she had been on my heart so much and Louise and I would often talk about our friend and wonder how we lost touch and how can we find her again. Louise had never erased a phone message our friend had left on her machine from maybe 2 years earlier, but no tel# was left. We had only had one of our conversations on the weekend over tea, when I went to a meeting on the following Wednesday to listen to a group of people who had come back from Zimbabwe and wanted to start a program where they could help fight the battle of the HIV and Aids Pandemic. As the meeting ended my husband and I turned around and there was our friend at the back of the room (I will not post her name for personal reasons) and my heart skipped a beat I wanted to cry on the spot. She stood there looking as radiant as ever with this beautiful smile across her face, she stood with another old acquaintance so it was double the joy. We had the pleasure of seeing the other acquaintance proclaim her new faith in Jesus when she was baptized in early 2000 or 2001.

I noticed she struggled to find some words and as we chatted she told us she could no longer drive because she was diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumor in March of this year. It was like someone had let the air out of my lungs, I was in shock wanting to cry but not wanting to make her uncomfortable so I had to put my drama skills into action. Yet as she shared she still held much hope, she had been to visit her son over Christmas and snook into her country, (she was forced to leave her country many years ago leaving her son behind) and ever since we had been praying the Government would issue a passport so he could join his mom. Well we are still praying and hoping that soon they can be re-united as the process seems a little closer but things can change so quickly in this country with corruption at every corner.

For the past 9 months I had feared for my own daughters life as she served in Baghdad, (a place we could not publicly say at that time as this could bring harm to her life) but now she has left, we are relieved, each day was a blessing each email message was a Praise to God - he kept her safe to complete the work set before her.

I find myself now wondering about my dear friend and what lies ahead - it is no coincidence that God's message in church is speaking right into my life, we are studying Paul's letter to the Phillipians when he was in prison. Philippians 1:20-26 For I live in eager expectations and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. For me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ, I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.

This is how I want to live my life for Christ, if I am to stay here on earth, then each day I want to serve Him. I want to be the better in other people's lives as they interact with me. My friend is already going through the process of volunteering at one of the hospitals in Toronto where she now lives. She is a true picture of humilty and grace, continuing to serve God in her time of suffering.

My dear friend explains how blessed she has been since her diagnosis, as she said, some people never get to know they only have a certain time to live, their life on this earth can be taken in a heart beat, to my friend everything has taken on a new light, she no longer rushes from one thing to the next but takes time to let everything take on a new light as though learning to see the beauty for the first time. Yes there are times when she is overcome but the Lord picks her up and whispers love into her life, that He continues to let her know He is with her in her suffering, and provides a circle of friends to lift her up.

What if we all lived like the song _live like you were dying? Would we not spend endless hours worrying about things we have no control over, wasting time fighting with each other, struggling and going into debt to buy things we can not take with us from this life, and passing people by who need a friendly hello.

I am hoping my friend will visit as often as she needs to so that she can have a break and we can love on her. We enjoyed our weekend together, we laughed and ate, talked our Africa, put the world to rights and took a trip out to the country. To finish our time together we went to a praise night where I could secretly cry in the darkness, pray, sing and lift Jesus name on high amidst the pain in my heart for my friend.

I am learning how to love in the midst of pain.
Please help me in joining in prayer for our friend, God knows her name, it is written already on His heart.

Michelle

Where Have I Been?


There is no excuse, it has been nearly over 2 months since I posted a devotional blog on my site. The problem is I sit in front of a computer all day at work, when I get home, my teenagers have taken root infront of the computer and then I forgot how to get onto my site to post a blog and get frustrated, so I just sit and read my sisters blogs. Now my home computer has crashed again for the 2nd time this year, I am even more frustrated at how our lives seem to be controlled by electronic gadgets.

Time does go faster as you get older - it just keeps ticking, I sometimes wonder about the first days of creation, some theologians say we don't know how long the day was in the first 3 days, until God created to Sun and Moon and created the day. Somedays I wish for one of those days that doesn't end and the energy to go with it so that I can catch up on so many things you just don't get to do working full-time.

Let me count my blessings that each day at work begins with devotionals, and I get to go to church twice a week, once at work and once in the weekend. I call it my topping up time on Wednesday's, although I am blessed each week, but there is something about being blessed with different speakers giving the message each week and learning to appreciate the different talents and worship styles as we sing, and learn more about being like Christ.

I have many blessing, I have a husband who loves me and his daughters, I have an older daughter serving in the mission field pouring out her heart for the Lord, a teen who is learning to find herself and her independence (not the easiest letting go) and a younger daughter who loves to worship, I have 5 wonderful friends in ministry, I work with such loving and dedicated colleagues/friends at work, and I have such wonderful friends outside of these areas. Many of whom we are going camping with this weekend. YEH!!!!!

So where have I been, I have been immersed in the Love of God, learning to appreciate so much that I have, and tonight I have my husbands laptop and after 10 attempts, finally worked out my password to post a blog. I suffer from a bad memory but I try really hard.

I love to read scripture especially Isaiah 6:3 - Talks about the angels 'in a great chorus they sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD almighty! The whole earth is filled with His glory!" Sometimes we don't feel like it because of evil and selfish desires we are bombarded with each day and because of our own choices, but God is at work and we can still see His Glory here on earth. We can bring glory to God by our actions and love to others.

Psalm 115:1 - Not to us, O Lord, but to you goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfullness.

I hope you experience the opportunity of giving God glory by helping someone in need.

With much love,
Michelle

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Tea at the Whitehouse

Well you would think I am special, like royalty to be invited to Tea at the White House. Well actually I invited myself and took my friend L. Her last name is White and so I always get a giggle saying we are going for tea at the White House, but this time, it is not a L's house - it is at the White House, but not the one that would come to your mind. This White House is a tea shop in Waterdown, Ontario that serves high tea, with scones, jam and clotted cream - well we are both from England and so this is a special treat to enjoy this time together outside on the patio. A last minute idea that meant so much.

On the table next to us was probably 3 generations of women, Grandma, Mom and her daughter I am guessing around 7, and possibly another Aunt. The little girl was dressed in a lovely yellow dress and she had her very own 3-tier sandwich tray with fruit, scones and little triangle sandwiches. I wonder if she realises just what a real princess she is. Well we had Coronation tea, from England, Earl Grey with Jasmine and a few other flavours, it is just so special to have tea with a friend, and the scones are to die for - I hope you visit. I actually bought some of the loose tea to bring home and enjoy. Tell me your favourite!

This day was my Friday off work and I had planned out many chores to accomplish that day - finish an album for Anita's birthday, vacuum, polish, laundry - oh the list was long, it still is and it always will be - but special moments with friends are rare jewels that you can not put a value on - I am so very fortunate to have many jewels in my life and they are more precious than any rubies, diamond or emeralds. Love, laughter and being a friend is what living is about. That means with your neighbours too!

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 3 John 1:5


This is a picture of the real White House, in Waterdown, Ontario.

Friends are the flavour of life!

His Eye is on the Sparrow


Reflecting still on Mother's Day even though this blog is a bit late, my quiet time just doesn't go away these days so I thought if I blogged it you would understand why.
Being a mother of teenagers, with additional job of unpaid taxi, cooking, handing out money here and there and the morning battles to be in the car on time so that I can deliver these precious parcels to school and I can hopefully arrive at work on time. Jesus knew what he was doing when I was given the opportunity of this new job, it is somewhat flexi-time so I can make up the minutes I arrive after 8:30 to the end of the day and no one is checking their watch when I walk in.
This mother's day had it's own challenges, my eldest daugher still in the Middle East and her life in the hands of God everyday, my middle teenager working and choosing not to spend anytime with me, and seeing a picture of myself in my daugher's garbage can on the morning of mother's day. Not a good way to start the day but I constantly had my conversation with God throughout all the moments of the day. Although there were moments I found it hard to keep it together, at any moment I thought if someone said the wrong thing (not even knowing what that wrong thing was) Niagara Falls would burst in banks at the very moment.
Well I have my days when I struggle with the fact "does anyone notice all the stuff I am doing, will it get any easier, will my children understand the reasons a mother has to do the things she does?". It brought me to read of a book called "The invisible woman, when only God sees" a gift from my beautiful friend and sister in ministry Louise. During the course of the book it reflects on the great cathedrals, the author once received a book on cathedrals with the inscription from her family "with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when only God sees". Many of these cathedrals were built by masonry, carpentry and stained glass trades people whose names history will never reveal. Many will have died on the job, devoting their lives and service to something they would not see finished. One story shared a man watching a carpenter carve a tiny bird into the inside beam that would be eventually covered over by the stone roof - the man asked by the worker was spending so much time on something no one would ever see and without a blink of an eye the worker told him "because God sees".
This book moved me to tears and an acceptance of my position in life with my family and my girls. I have started a work that I will probably not be around to see finished and all my hard work that often feels like no-one sees, God sees everything.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matthew 10:29 NLT

So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:31 NLT

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Genesis 16:13
Know how much you are loved.
Michelle

Jesus my Carpenter Friend

Well have you ever had a wonderful weekend and then you come home and you feel like have been hit with a 2 x 4. Sometimes life has a way of taking you off guard, well I had the most wonderful uplifting weekend with some of my favourite girlfriends as we went on our road trip to Rochester, NY for the Women of Faith conference. Yes we have a women's ministry but you just have to go get plugged in once in a while and be on the receiving end and we really enjoy our time together.

Well we had quite the ride, I was trying my best not to be the back seat driver but I couldn't help myself once in a while, and yes Anita and I were way in the back. Anita had emailed us prior and gave us all funny names before leaving - well when the air jets were going it was like blast off in our cramped little area - we can't complain really, since we are the shortest in the bunch, I couldn't image our Kimberley or Cheri squished back there, and we got quite the work out getting in and out climbing over the chairs. Always the optomist. Then when our van had been sitting in the sun baking, there was no air at the back we thought we would die in our little sauna. Our ride didn't stop their either, after breakfast our last day, we took a pit stop in at the "Go Karts" I knew for starters Louise would not be beat, she is determined for the finish line just like her faith. Then there were a few of us cut off just when things were going good - and I can tell you we didn't like it and there were grumblings. Well I have had time to reflect on my grumblings and being cut off and my back seat driving, I am sure God is looking down at me smiling as he keeps trying different methods to teach me to handle them as they come my way. Well my daughter is in the Middle East and being put in some very compromising positions with her security which is causing tensions all around.

I had to stop and talk to God and just put myself in the pit-stop for a while for re-adjustments, get some new tires so that I can get a grip on life and get everything in perspective. Things are getting better and we are all focusing on the right actions to take for the right reasons - we are not out of the storm but God is my umbrella and I have taken the 2 x 4 mentally and made it into a cross, since our Jesus has already conquered all. In my groaning, I am sure the Holy Spirit was advocating on my behalf.

1Cr 15:28
Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.


If you don't know Nicole C. Mullen you should check our her latest CD release - the songs have kept me going this past week as I sing them over and over in my car and in my head at work.

Thank you God for good friends and the stillness - where I hear your voice.

Love Michelle






Wednesday, April 25, 2007

I Stand at the Door and Knock

Well I have to share this little story that was shared at chapel today and it made me giggle so much at the same time made me think about not judging a situation.

A new pastor of a church thought one day he would go visit his parishoners, as his day went on he stopped by one ladies house and knocked on the door. He knocked again and saw a shadow through the sheers of someone cross the floor but no one appeared at the door to open it, he knocked again (now knowing someone was inside) but again nothing. So he took out a business card and wrote on the back Revelation 3:20 (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me).

On Sunday as the collection plate was passed around the business card was found inside the plate with another scripture added to it. Genesis 3:10 ("I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."). Who said God's word does not have an answer for all of life's situations! But I had to ponder, sometimes we judge before we know the situation.

Well I confess the above little tidbit gave me a good belly laugh and I hope it does for you. I seriously believe we have all the answers in God's word, we just have to know where to go and we don't learn that until we understand it, which takes time and guidance. I would love to help guide you to certain passages that may help you along your journey, pray with you, praise God with you and give Him the glory that is honoring only to Him.

My life verse: Jeremiah 29:11-15 - 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

CAPTIVATED - WOMEN WHO LOVED JESUS

Wow! We have all just got back from our April 2007 Weekend retreat in Niagara Falls Renaissance Fallsview Hotel where we spent the weekend being Captivated by Jesus and learning about the women of the bible who were captivated by Jesus. Not forgetting the laughter and fun we all shared - Ladies you blew me away with your participation in our first PJ Party in the ballroom - crazy fun!

I have to say I miss all you women who attended this retreat greatly and look forward to our time together next April and connecting with you by email or through this blog (michelle@AHFMinistries.com), Sunday morning was a sad day as we realised our time together was coming to a close but knowing our time to give our relationship with Jesus a greater importance in our lives was being re-focused.

Again we were very fortunate to have Blessings bookstore partner with us, and in doing so I picked up Charles Sheldon's book "In His Steps", while soaking in the tub I was inspired as soon as I opened up the beginning pages of a journey a church had decided to take. After a life changing and challenging experience with a destitute man, who was turned away by the pastor and yet while he was under a seat in the church, the pastor gave a message about following Jesus, he stood up and asked them "What does it mean to follow Jesus". He heard others singing a song "all for Jesus, all for Jesus, all my beings ransomed powers, all my thoughts and all my doings, all my days and all my hours. Yet no one offered to help him when he asked, until he stood in the church with these questions and then passed out due to illness and later died in the Pastors home. This lead members of the congregation deciding for 1 year they would not make a decision without first asking the question "What would Jesus Do?" Quite a challenging task I would imagine for us in the Western World. One that I am personally going to focus on.

I am looking forward to the journey through this book as it challenges me, inspires me and encourages me. I hope to share tidbits from this book over tea with you!

It was exciting this weekend to announce the new name of our ministry "At His Feet" where else would you prefer to be than at the feet of Jesus. Choose the best things for you - Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. He has a better life waiting from you if you don't already know Him, He is calling YOUR name! God Bless, Michelle

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Lemon Merigue Tea - Now you can have your dessert with zero calories.

I would have never thought it - it was like liquid Lemon Merigue Pie - all I can say is yummy! Thanks to one of my best friends and Sisters in the Lord Kimberley, she had this new delight to share with me. Bring it on in my china mug of course! Now as you get to know me a little better you will know that my English Grandmother passed down a few traditions or etiquette that just can't be beat. Drinking your tea from a real china teacup is the only way, not forgetting to put hot water in your teapot first to warm it, pour it out and push fresh boiling water in before infusing your tea. Then there is putting your milk in your cup first so as the tea pours on the milk it warms it and keeps your tea hotter! Then add your teaspoon on the saucer under the handle of the teacup and you are all set. I know for some putting milk in your tea is considered a sin, but I am talking Tetley Tea for a moment. I am now excited to collect little tea additions, special infusion balls for loose tea, a tea caddy, and my little silver tea spoons. Always on the look our for more teapots!

Thanks for good friends, good tea and a china teacup. Life's little ways of making you feel like a princess!

May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. Genesis 31:49 (NKJV)