Photo Essay Japanese Tea Garden

Pre-Birthday Poetry

a rose from my garden

geraniums

giant moth I found on my lavender--unusual for him to be out in the daylight!

In honor of my birthday tomorrow, here are two acrostics.

Born in 1968
I think it was great!
Ready to celebrate?
The baker will decorate
Hundreds of cakes,
Dollops of ice cream lakes
All to feast this special day!
You'll never guess what I'll say.

Please
Remember
Eleven
Select
Exhibits
Named,
To
Sarah

Report on my Kingdom Assignment

What a glorious day it was Saturday! I had friends praying with me for a day of beautiful weather, and it was just that! Saturday was perfect, then Sunday, Monday and Tuesday it rained! So, I know that prayers were answered. Carla and I had hoped to raise 1000.00. We did! In fact, we raised more than that...a few checks are still coming in.

The whole thing was just wonderful! The things that Carla and I learned along the way have grown us in our faith. I learned more about trusting God. Trusting God for all things has been a new thing for me. I've trusted God easily for the big things; like finding a new place to live. I know that God is in control of the weather, but really trusting that He'll provide a fantastic weather day for a party!!?? Really?! But, that is just what we did. God is so amazing. What fun it is to really trust Him with everything. I know that trusting Him fully will be a lifetime journey for me. I love how He answers and encourages me in little baby steps!

Let me show you some pictures of our event!

This is my friend Carla counting cheesecake bites before our guests arrive. My mom is behind her, Brinkley the dog is hoping for some crumbs!

Our guest of honor, Susan Miller, in the kitchen putting baked goodies on trays for our tables.

I have to tell you something that my daughter said about Susan. When my dot found out that Susan would be coming to our tea party, Christine said, "MOM! Isn't she famous!?" Christine had come with me to two Moving On After Moving In classes and seen Susan on the video. Christine was really excited that someone "famous" was coming to our tea party. Susan was so very gracious to Christine. What a joy for my dot to meet someone "famous" who truly loves the Lord with all her heart, soul and mind! Then to boot, Susan helped us prep the tables, set out the goodies as well as being the speaker! She rocks!!!

Carla, myself, and Susan took a minute before everyone arrived to have our picture taken.

Carla introduced Susan before she spoke. We had everything set up outside on Carla's back patio. It was lovely!

Some of our guests enjoyed the sunshine while others enjoyed the shade of the umbrellas.

We began our tea party with refreshments of tea sandwiches, petite fours (made by my mom with "imported" from Missouri royal icing flowers!), tea cookies, scones, Devonshire cream and lemon curd, mini cheesecake bites, lemonade and of course tea!

Carla told the story of how she and I met and then I spoke briefly about the history of tea. Then Carla introduced Susan as "her dear friend and mentor as well as President and founder of Just Moved Ministries". Susan gave us a talk on how our lives are like tea cups. She encouraged us to treasure our friendships, and to look at life with the hope that Christ has given us. And because we were there to support Just Moved Ministries she gave us a little inside look at Just Moved Ministries and how wide spread the ministry has become. (you can click on my link for Just Moved to find out more!)

At the end I thanked everyone for coming and told a little bit about how Carla and I came up with the tea party as our Kingdom Assignment. I encouraged those who were there to join us in the assignment by donating whatever they felt led to give. It was a good day!! God is good...all the time!

On Saturday we raised right at 1000.00! Carla and I had prayed for that exact amount! But, as of today we are closing in on 1300.00!!! Go God!

At the beginning of my Kingdom Assignment I challenged you to come along and be challenged to extend the invitation to God's Kingdom to those around you. Have you done that? I still smile when I think about how much God has given me! What better way to celebrate that than to invite friends to a tea party where we shared fellowship and talked about how God has blessed us.

So, I'm challenging you again: have a friend over for a cup of tea and share with her how God has blessed you this week. If you don't feel so blessed lately, ask your friend to share with you how God has blessed her and I'll bet you'll finish your cup of tea feeling blessed by the friendship of your friend!

Tea Time!!

Tomorrow is the Kingdom Assignment Tea Party! I can't wait to tell you how it turned out! I met Susan Miller today. She is a genuine charmer. Tomorrow is going to be lots of fun. Mom and I made petite fours today to serve tomorrow. Stay tuned....

Sunshine Award Winner, pass it on!!

How fun, and what a bright spot to my morning today! I just received this "award" from my friend Buffy Cooper in Winchester, Virginia! Buffy's website is buffycooper.typepad.com. She was one of my very first Stampin' Up! team members of my downline, "Shenandoah Stampers". I'm looking at this award like a Random Act of Kindness. Thanks Buffy for the award!

The award is for blogs that are a little spot of sunshine in your day. Originally, it was awarded by Sharon Fritz at sharonstampsalot.typepad.com, who got it from a group to whom she contributes stamped cards for troops. She passed the award to Buffy with the following rules:

1. Put the Sunshine Award on your blog and/or within your post.

2. Pass the award to 12 other bloggers.

3. Link the nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Now, this award was started, and has been circling, within the paper craft type blogs. I suppose then that I should continue that. However, I have to say that I read quite a few non-paper craft blogs. Besides, it's my award now, I should get to give it away to whomever I want! So, I now deviate from the rules! Buffy, don't look!! I'm going to award the top spots of my awards to paper crafting bloggers, the other spots will go to other blogs! heehee!!!

1.Sarah Jane Studios @ sarahjanestudios.com/blog I love going here for general creative inspiration.

2.Sideoats and scribbles by Lisa Spangler @ sideoatsandscribbles.wumple.com An all around fun site, great pictures, and some fun adventures too.

3.Kristen Werner @ kwernerdesign.com For card ideas when I'm stuck, I go visit Kristen!

4.So Shelli by Shelli Gardner @ soshelli.com THE original stamping guru and true Stampin' Yoda!

5.Cake Wrecks by Jen Yates @ cakewrecks.com For a laugh a day, this is a MUST visit.

6.Vintage Books My Kid Loves by Scribbler @ vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com When I'm looking for ideas for quality books to read to my kids, this is where I go.

7.I Take Joy by Sally Clarkson @ wholeheart.typepad.com Sally is truly a woman after God's own heart, she will inspire you. If you click this link, you'll want to click the "blog" link that you'll see.

8.Hi Kooky by my secred "41 year old" friend @ hikooky.blogspot.com A fun new reconnection with a college friend has led me to her website.

9.Capture the Moment by Nichole Heady @ nicholeheady.typepad.com Find great tips and tricks for all things paper arts at Nichole's site.

10. You'll have to come back tomorrow for this one!! :)

Have fun visiting my friends!!