Good Friday stirs the soul

If we stop to take the time, remembering the cross will first bring a soberness and a gratefulness to your soul.  If you continue to linger you will find the cross will sweeten your cup of difficulty, grief, weariness, regret, loneliness…

whatever it is you bear.

It was for the joy set before Him that Jesus endured the cross.

 The joy of being your savior, your friend, your everything.

 It was for the joy of presenting you, perfect, to the Father.

 P E R F E C T. 

Allow the cross to stir sweetness and completeness into your soul.

 Your sorrow, your pain, your inadequacies, your unworthiness…

were all completely, perfectly borne.

You’ve been redeemed, beloved.

 

additional good friday entry here

cheerful polka dots

This afternoon a delightful box of cheer arrived.

A gift from The Queen of Cheerfulness.

 

(puns, plays intended…)

 

You can see the sweetness below and for a closer look,

in the photo album.

 

 A box to make me feel like a priority…

 

A little heaven in a polka dot bag…tea that smells A M A Z I N G…little lucious lindt balls…little seeds of hope for spring (as in, "peas let it be spring")…charming paper for happy list making and note jotting…and the loveliest handmade, handwritten card.

 

It’s all quite at home with my little red tea pot. Inspires a smile each time that I walk by.

 

Thank you dear Chelle. I feel blessed.

 

-Aunt Tea

 

Beloved…

 

 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.

 1 John 4:7 

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

 col 3:12 

 

 

 

buttercream rant

I’m back. I’ve only been gone 2 minutes and I’m adding an entry.

 

 

 

I stalk flicker photos and photo blogs.

 

 a  d d  i  c  t  i  o  n.

 

  a lovely, inspiring  a  d  d  i  c  t  i  o  n.

 

 But there is a trend that I am finding annoying.

 

 People everywhere are taking photographs of CUPCAKES.

 

 Beautiful, arty, delicious… cupcake photos.

 

 I have such a craving for cake these days.

 

I think I  N E E D  a cupcake…or two!

 

-Aunt Tea

 

Addendum:

yep….I stumbled upon the collection of collections

 of cupcake photos…

right here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65668398@N00/sets/72157603276587403/

 

um, Chelle…your fault.   

 

oh my…february is slipping by…

2008…2008…it seemed to have worked. Practicing. I didn’t write 2007 once in my check book.

 

I’ve been putting off blog writing in order to catch up on my to do list. a short, I’m-behind-on-stuff  list. But the result is no blogging. Soooo… I think I need to take blog breaks or something, or stay up all night and get the list done. Ü

 

Oh to have the list done. I have a few Christmas things yet haunting me.

 

Perhaps some extra special coffee…will…help…to get me back in business. That and the lure of friends here to chat with. 

 

Anybody have some good brownies?

 

-Aunt Tea

 

 

2008 begins

2008… 2008…2008…2008…2008…

 

(I’m practicing so that I get it right in my checkbook.)

A cup of peppermint tea

Oh my goodness! December is soooo getting away from me! the regularly timed extra christmas chores, a few poorly timed germs and long distance family medical chrisis and here we are. I am certainly keeping to the holiday tradition of being behind schedule.

 

Christmas will be extended this year as at least one sibling is bringing his family the day after Christmas to spend a few days. My sister is contemplating roads and weather and may also come. we are crossing our fingers that they will all be here, but I am also  gearing up for a longer stretch of holiday. No sitting on the couch the day after Christmas and being lazy!

 

I am so glad that I still have friends popping in here and I look forward to sitting down at my blog table with mugs of hot tea and coffee when the holidays are over and the gray days of winter linger. I miss writing to you all, and all of your lovely comings and goings.

 

Last night at the end of a busy day I watched the St Olaf University choirs sing for Christmas on PBS. For me Christmas must include a university style choir. (or a big Presbyterian type choir)  Somehow the well sung, harmony and voice rich renditions of the music stir my soul in a way other music doesn’t. Surround sound was cranked up last night and the last song, a part of the hymn, "Fairest Lord Jesus" …was just stunning.  I just needed that last night. Music that touched my spirit.  It was nourishing.

 

I hope that you all find spiritual nourishment that only our Fairest Lord Jesus, can give, as you bustle through your holiday activities.

 

When the holidays are over and you’re resting and looking for a cup of tea, pop in and share what nourished you this season.

 

The Lord  richly bless you all.

 

–Aunt Tea

 

 

Fall is here…but where is Aunt T. ?

I am getting my family ready for a trip out of town…

without a washing machine.

I am so hoping to have it fixed tomorrow!

 

I couldn’t help myself,

I HAD to photograph a little fall color.

 

Fall came early and this makes vacation

a bit ill timed.

for fall photographs that is.

 

family vacation of course will be sweet.

Coffee and what!?

I was looking for information on the internet and took a couple of bunny trails that led me to this…

 

Coffee and doughnut cupcakes. 

 

It’s clever though a bit over the top…but still… clever. I may have to try the cupcake recipe sometime sans the doughnut. Between long walks, make that HIKES would probably be prudent.

 The blog with the recipe for Cofee and doughnut cupcakes:

 

http://cupcakeblog.com/

 

 

Walking words

It’s Wordless Wednesday but I’m using words today…

 

 I have done A LOT of walking this summer!

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that.  (see post below about my summer’s start)

Along with the everyday pain free walking for errands, I have gotten in plenty of camera walks and a couple of big camera walking field trips.

The highlight was a trip to the Oregon Garden and Silverfalls State Park. Husband and I spent a full day walking in the garden with our cameras and then a bit of outlet shopping after. It was a warm, sunny day and I survived the day of walking well. No pain. The next day we went for a hike in the state park. I really had doubts about my ability to hike around there as the terrain is anything but flat. You are either going down a significant slope, or going up one. After the first leg of our hike we decided to go on. The map was deceiving! it was not a short switchback, but a VERY LONG uphill switchback. Forget the pain issues, I didn’t think my stamina was up for such a thing. BUT! I did it! after hours of going up, I did have to sit a couple of times and let my body recover a bit, but recovery was quick and I made it out. Again, NO PAIN.

I’m writing, and I should have words to tell you how FANTASTIC this is, but it’s tough to find the right words. Deep in the sanctuary of my soul, I feel utter gratefulness to my Heavenly Father for the grace and strength to do and enjoy that walk.

There was another sweetness too. It was a long overdue time with husband, no children. It was good for two, gonna-be-empty-nesters-soon, married folks. As for photos, we did get a handful of good ones. Mostly we thought we could do better, and we are eyeing the new resort being built at the garden for future photo, fellowship for two, expeditions.

Aunt Tea

 

I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living . Psalm 116:9