Little Rain goes a long way.

Firstly, it such a blessing to write every day, if God allowed me I wished I could do it for a living. I absolutely love it. In England I was not very fascinated with the rain, perhaps it was because it rained a little more than here and when we least expected. Like walking to an ice skating rink with my sister, walking through the centre of London or when the rain got in my daughters push chair and got her wet. No I don't think those times really fascinated me much. But here in North Carolina I have learnt to Cherish the rain and love it. Yes I love it. Even when I got soaked when we went bird watching in West Virginia.

I have learnt that the rain removes some of the humidity and is just so refreshing. We often run out and just dance and laugh in the rain.

I am not very good about reading, but when I read the Bible it is like the rain showers just refreshing to my heart and mind. A little reading like the rain goes along way in a drought or in a time of our lives that is hard. Even in a good time it feels like you are walking through a shower that makes you want to dance.

So where ever you are today if it rains where you are, go on; go out in it and just feel how refreshing it is maybe dance a little or have a shower and just imagine it is rain. But then take a moment to read the Bible and feel the real refreshing rain. I do believe like my friend Lea Ann often says it will change my life and will yours too.

Please have a cup of tea with me today. Hey, we could dance in the rain together. Maybe drinking our tea at the same time.

Not so alone, Just laugh.

Yesterday I was feeling quite a lone. A wonderful friend gave me some homework to look up scriptures of who we are in Christ. I will have to say, I did not do it until this morning. As I read the many scriptures, I really got thinking. I am really not so alone. I might feel alone, but in God I have so much. I might feel small like the picture of me when I was 4 with my toys, but in Christ I can be everything. I am so blessed to have my friends and family.

So I guess my message is simple and sweet, take a moment to just laugh at life. My children do it often as the photo's show. We all take life so seriously. It is just good to take a moment and laugh.

I will help you. We have a vegetable garden, which I go and see daily, but my feet and shoes end up getting quite dirty. So when I come into my house, I sit on my counter with my feet in the kitchen sink and wash them. Now that is a sight. My friend in England bathed my daughter when she was little in the kitchen sink with the plates and such to the side, too funny looking back at it. My husband Tim is always wanting to take a photo of us four, so he stretches his arm out and tries to take a photo. Some actually work, but others have someone cut off or something funny. It's easy to cry but not laugh. My younger daughter, when she is very tired will often jump up and do a crazy dance, that will have you in stitches. Then my other daughter joins in and of course I have to. My what a sight. But how come we don't just do silly things when we got older. I think we need to try.

So in whatever you do today, just laugh a little. Wash your feet in your kitchen sink. Hey, do two jobs in one, wash your feet and wash the dishes, no joking. Dance a little and cry a little because you can't stop laughing. Life has its problems, but it is sure nice to laugh at times. Remember through it all, we are all in Christ, and we are everything in Him.

Dirty feet, silly dances and all. But never alone.

Please have a cup of tea with me today and laugh a little. No not a little but a whole lot.

Perfect morning. Perfect target.

When I was a child I would wake up early and walk in the dew on the wet grass. It was cold but there is something peaceful about it all. We lived in the countryside and to feel that dew underneath my feet, I felt like I was made clean or that I was walking on air. Like the wonderful mist coming up from the mountains in the morning it seams like a burden in our lives has been lifted or taken.
Last year in West Virginia I got to try archery for the first time I was not very good at it at all. My husband tried to show me, but I ended up charging with the arrow to the target. I laughed and chuckled. But if I had taken the time I could of done it without cheating.
The dew, the mist and the archery are very different but in fact they are all very similar. God lifts our burdens if we allow Him, as easy as walking on the cold dew in the morning you take one step and He does the rest. He lifts the morning air just ever so slow to reveal a wonderful landscape and a wonderful new day. He has His eye on a target His focus never changes and He scores perfectly, might come from different directions but He scores perfectly all the time. He is patient and never rushes. See although my aim was not perfect with practise and God's grace I could of hit right in the centre of that target. Life would be so differant if we allowed Him to shoot the arrow and not us. Perhaps less heartache, but lessons are learned and with time our arrow arrives at the centre. It just took a little longer.
I am not very good at just sitting and waiting for God to lift my burdens but I am trying to get better. As I sit here I think of the mornings I have loved at friends homes in England, seeing the morning in Maine and West Virginia and one of the best for sure was when I was just still and for a moment realized how amazing God is. To do so much for Me. I loved the dew on my feet as a child. You should try it, it makes you see that God in all His glory gave us so much and in that dew there is living water of Hope.
So today in whatever you are doing look outside your window and see that God scores perfectly in what He is doing, it might be a hard road but God will score perfectly in His time. That for sure I have no doubt. Try walking in the dew it might make you laugh it might make your feet feel cold but it is a memory for sure.
Please enjoy a cup of tea with me today.

The Birds Nest

My husband found a birds nest in our garden the other day. I remember when I was a child I found many birds nests, some with eggs and some without. One time I remember nursing baby birds in our airing cupboard. As you look at the nest you can see how amazing it is. People make wicker baskets but I think the birds have it on who makes the best. Each is amazing each has it's own special design, shape and color. Each has a special function to keep and protect a family.
As I look at the nest I am reminded how God helps us build homes to protect us with good friends, His word, sermons and showing us through simple things that He truly loves us. Many birds nests with stand many storms, some fall but even when they fall God helps the birds rebuild a new home. I think that is how it is with us, God helps us even when are nests fall. The nest is made of simple twigs, some are made with clay, which to most of us have little importance, but it is so intricate and so well made. God has made such a wonderful home for us. If we could only see through a birds eyes the beauty of this world.
Where ever you are today look out of your window and see the beauty that God has made and remember He is doing the same in your life if only we allow Him.
Please enjoy a cup of tea with me today.

Refreshing waterfalls of Friendship.

As a child I did not have many friends. My class for the last few years of school had a total of six girls. I had one good friend Christine. But we did not stay in touch much after school. My neighbor Miss. Middleton was my closest friend. As I grew up I found it hard to make good friends. But God through all of my imperfections has blessed me to have some amazing friends, some our older than me some our much younger. They surely have kept me grounded and told me many things I needed to hear maybe I did not like some of what was said, but as I have got older they have made me think and made me a much better person. One good friend was even brave enough to be in the delivery room with me when I had my oldest child. But through it all we have loved, laugh and cheered each other on. It doesn't matter the distance or the age we all hold one common chord of reaching each others life in a special and unique way.
It reminds me of a waterfall that friends are there to refresh our souls like a waterfall does. It is wonderful as it cascades down a mountain or a hill. Even the smallest waterfall looks just amazing. Each part is very different, each drop has it's place to play non less important than the other. But oh so magnificent when they work together.
I think that God brings friendships into our lives to work like a waterfall each person has their own part to play but together oh so magnificent.
I am so blessed to have the amazing friends that I have in my life. God surely knew that lonely me needed each of them. So today as you go through your day just remember the many friends you have and if you don't have any you might well be the special friend that someone else needs.
Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Forgiveness in Red nail polish.

At Christmas it really got to me how Jesus had died on the cross and carried all our sins. I had heard that a lot of times before. But this time I really thought a lot about it all our sins. I love the song that God casts our sins away as far as the east is from the west.
I have had a hard time in my life forgiving people. My family is not very good at it to be honest so it has been easy to follow to not forgive people. A few years ago I got into the trap and through circumstances hurt some people. I never thought about it all until God laid it upon my heart that I needed to forgive others and myself. I read a very good book about forgiving. It really got to me how we are separated from God by not forgiving. It seams such a hard thing to do often. One good friend I know I hurt a lot but God did lead me to ask them to forgive me. Today the Pastor preached that we make the first step and God does the rest. I think that sounds easy but then we have to look at it through the other persons eyes. How many of us wish we could walk a mile in someone elses shoes. There is a lot I want to give my children but one of the most important things I want them to learn is to forgive. I am just a humble person who makes many mistakes but after seeing the many years of what unforgiveness does I really am trying to learn to ask people to forgive me and learn to forgive others with God's help I do believe He can do anything.
As I type this I know it is not easy but at least if I take the first step God will help me to take the others. If I look at the cross in a child's hands I see that God is very simple He wants us to hold onto the Cross with all we have and He will protect us and help us. It is like red nail polish it eventually comes off but with God the red nail polish is always put back on if we turn to Him and allow His blood to pour over our lives and our hands, we don't have to be perfect but just allow God to work in our lives. I wish at times that God could just allow us to forgive and forget in an instance and we did not hold onto unforgiveness or we did not hold onto the bad memories. But God I know has a purpose. In a child's eyes life is very simple I think it is in a child's hands that we see ourselves we are just a child to God and He wants to guide us and hold us all the way Home.
Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Poppies of Hope

Last night I was thinking of a painting my friend Sharon Kulesa drew it is of poppies, she is a fantastic artist and one that I know will do well. She has such a wonderful loving heart and her pictures always shine because of that. Where I lived on the North Norfolk coast there were tons of poppies. There is a steam train track called Poppyland it is in Sheringham. As a child I was drawn to wild flowers. But the poppy stood out. It reminds me that in a field of wheat or wild grass God put this wonderful wild flower to remind us that He is there through all of our situations. Whether our lives are running over with wild grass or we are doing well like the wheat He is there to help us and to show us that He died on the cross for us. In England they sell artificial poppies in October I believe to remember the dead from the war. My mother bought these poppies but always told us how this organization had not helped her family after her dad had been injured in war. How sad that bitterness still ran into another generation. The poppy I believe stands for Hope to show people that even in the struggles God is there. I love snow God wipes the world clean with it my dad would say. So it is with a simple Poppy God sent Hope. So in whatever you do today look for a wild flower or something and ask what God is telling you. He talks very simply and He can be seen if we just open our eyes.
Please enjoy a cup of Tea with me today.

Thunder storms of life

Last night there was a thunder storm. Our children were a little scared, my husband got them both to come into our room. He then went and got the dogs and stood calming our little dachshund down as she gets easily scared. As he was doing all of this I thought how in the many storms of life God is always there for us. He brings us closer to Him and calms us down and if we are willing He helps us through our storm. I was reminded last night of the many times when I lived on the North Norfolk coast and the waves would come crashing along the beach. How the fishermen would all help each other get their boats in and how the fog horn would blow when the fog was rolling in. The Fog horn is like God calling us home. I have been in a car in a snow storm and my husband calmly got us to safety and assured me we would be alright.
God is always there through whatever storm if only we take a moment to allow Him to take control. God can take us through the wildest storms. Like Jesus stood and calmed the storm so he can in our lives. God uses many things to show us that he can calm the storm. So whatever you are going through today take a moment to think of the many storms that God has helped you through or the ones He is still waiting on us to hand over to Him.
Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Not so perfect is just fine

Today I was talking to someone and they made me really think that perhaps not been perfect all the time is alright. As I look back at my life and think of the many times I have helped with a school project or tried to write a story I am reminded that I had to have everything just right, perhaps not so perfect would of been just fine. It's alright to make mistakes this person told me today and I have heard it tons of time in my life. But today it struck a chord. It is all right to run a race and not make it to be the first the fact that a person even started running is huge. It is alright to admit a fault as long as you keep trying to overcome it. I was asked what would it take to say it is alright to make mistakes or even succeed I had no answer. I think the real answer is in saying God help me to accept the things I can change and the things I cannot I give them to you. Help me to accept me. I think we often find accepting ourselves the hardest thing ever. The great thing about God he accepts and loves us with our flaws and he sees the good and he just wants us to accept that through it all He loves us always.

So once again please enjoy a cup of tea with me.

Beach Memories

When I was a child I went to a small private school in Cromer. The other day when it was hot I was reminded how we use to have to do cross country runs along the beach and up the hills. I absolutely hated them. I was not very good at running and I hated heights. So I would always be dragging behind. We only lived minutes away from the beach but hardly ever visited it. In the winter the north sea would roll in bitter cold winds. In the summer the tourists came and there was always the smell of fish. Before moving to the beach we would travel by train every summer to Cromer or Sheringham. Cromer had sand and Sheringham had pebbles. It's funny how God designed even the beach to have it's own character. I loved going down there in the winter more than the summer. In the winter the beach was ours again in the summer it belonged to the tourists. I remember hearing the fog horn so many times and the fog just rolling in we would call it pea soup city, you could not see a thing. I guess it is like that in life when we can't see through are mess God still stears us in like the many fisher men along the North Norfolk coast. We use to sing a hymn at school and a part goes "And God will bless the fishermen and bring them back at dawn" I think that is how it is in our lives. Although the dawn might not be tomorrow if we are at least calling out to God he will always direct us back into the shore. North Norfolk is a wonderful place but there is never such a wonderful place than coming and saying to God that the storms of life are just to strong will you guide me home and He does faithfully.

Please enjoy a cup of tea with me today.

The Bush

My husband cut our front bushes last night and pulled out ones that should never of been there. I don't think it had been done for 3 years. It looked amazing afterwards, the girls and I cheered him on. It looked hard work but he was diligent and the job looked great. It reminded me of how God takes time to make sure that we are the best. Even if we turn from Him for a time when we come back He is there to make us look the best we can for Him. He never forgets us. We might have over grown and look a bit tattered but he diligently takes those pruning shears and prunes away until we are just what he wants.
I am so glad that God has always loved me even when I get out of control as soon as I come back to Him and give up on my own self there he is to love me and prune me into his grace.
My husband did an awesome job even though he was tired and so it is with God I am sure He gets weary at times, but He still prunes us and makes us look just right and He never gives up on us.
Please stop and have a cup of tea with me today.

Seasons in life

My brother lost his wife to cancer on April 27th of this year. My brother is 47 he is the middle child. He was left to bring up three boys who are now 5,9 and 15. As I listen to my brother and I cannot even comprehend how hard it must be for him as, he does not have a job, he has an old house and he was not involved with the running of this big house he lives in. I look back at the many situations of my life. I have to believe that in life we have seasons and we can learn from them or we can run from them. I have run a lot in my life, but the older I get the more I try to at least to look back and ponder what I could of learnt. Weather you loose a spouse or you loose your job or you just had a bad day nothing is easy. I have learnt that with God and a few good friends encouraging me through life that the road is not so burden down. It is not so gloomy and the burden is a little lighter.
My brothers burden is great to say the least and my heart cries for him. But I am reminded that often we carry burdens that only God can carry, some are just too great. I surely do not have the answers, to so many things in life. I just try to look back often and learn from the mistakes that I have made and encourage someone a long the way. So where ever you are today please send a encouragement to someone along your road that you are traveling you don't know how much that word might help that person.
Please take a moment to share a cup of tea with me today.

Yard sales

We went to a yard sale today we did not find anything. But I laughed what is one persons trash is often another persons treasure. A diamond in the rough of life so to speak. I think sometimes life is a yard sale. We often put pieces of ourselves out into the world, some do it by taking photo's others by writing others by painting, whatever it is we put it out there, hoping someone will see it as a diamond not trash. It only takes that one person seeing that diamond in the rough to see that potential to see your treasure. I think God gives us many yard sales where we can find wonderful people who have wonderful potential, yet to someone else they have non. Our words can make a huge impact and perhaps change a person for life.
So today in whatever you do take a moment to see your diamond in the rough your treasure in the yard sale of life . It might be the one thing that opens up a huge door to so many blessings.
Please stop and have a cup of tea with me today

The Garden of memories

I was bought up for a good part of my childhood on the North Norfolk coast. Although my own family had it's trials I was blessed to get to know my neighbor very well. Miss Middleton was a spinster never married owned a comfortable size house with a huge garden in the countryside. She made jams, grew vegetables and loved the great out doors. I would go picking black berries and make bread with her and even clean ponds with her. She made been a teen a breeze and I loved her dearly.
I lost touch with her until a few years ago when I choose to contact her, then in 2007 we visited her. My children could not believe her enchanted garden that I had spent so much time in. I could not believe how nothing had changed accept for her chair in the living room, I could see us drawing or drinking elder flower champagne it was wonderful or the smell of homemade cakes we did it all and I loved it all.
Life has it's good and bad memories that is for sure. I think if we allow God to help us through the bad ones it leaves room to focus on the good one's and allows them to grow and they just stay. I was so blessed to have such a wonderful friend. She is in her 90's now but I owe her so much to Miss. Middleton. So many things that I love today are because she took the time for me.
So take the time when you might feel down to remember those loving people who have helped you a long the way.
Please enjoy a cup of tea with me today.

In life there is a silver lining.

Little down today. Lot going on in my life and my families in England. But as I see the light shining into this room, I remember many times in my life when I was down and God turned it around and bought something good out of it all. I have tried to get my books published for over a year, but as my husband reminds me, how when he was unemployed I use to say it only takes one person to see your potential and hire you.
Although I cannot do anything about somethings in my life I can hold onto the fact that God wants the best for me and like anything even in hard times there will be a silver lining. So to any of you who read this remember it might be a friend, money or a simple smile that is sent your way today to encourage you that God cares.
Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Rain

It is raining today. I ran outside put the rocking chairs out to get washed. Yesterday someone was not so nice to me. But I am reminded that as God provides the rain that he also brings the sun. So are times in our lives that the rain comes and washes away some of the grime and dirt and the sun comes and shows off what God has done. So Although I feel a little shaken by what was said in God I put my trust. If I keep on leaning on Him he can work at least in me and provide people to help me through the rains of life.
So please enjoy a cup of tea with me today.

A friend for a season

We found out yesterday that a wonderful teacher from the school is moving. She has a smile that lightens up the darkest room. She has the power to give words of encouragement and has a wonderful attitude about life. As I sit here and I am sad that she is leaving I am reminded that some people just come into our lives for a season. They bring out certain qualities in us and make us think and perhaps see things differently. Then they move and pass that onto someone else who is in need.
So I am thankful for my season that I had with this wonderful teacher and I ask you to think of the wonderful people who have seasoned your life perhaps for a short time or longer.
I have a few good friends and I am thankful for the seasons that they have been in my life and some still are.
So please join me in having a cup of tea today.

The Scruffy Dog

We have a scruffy dog that lives near us. Every time we put the recycle out he goes through it. But as I think about this scruffy dog it reminds me of two things, we watch a program called Under dog to Wonder dog. They take a dog that is down on his luck and make him look and behave wonderfully then they find him a good home.
So this dog near my house reminds me of how gracious God is, often we are down on our luck looking for scraps of kindness looking through the trash/rubbish of life for a single crumb of hope or love. But when we give up the search and turn to God he takes us and loves us and makes us into amazing wonderful people. Sometimes it takes that one loving person to guide us to the one who realy loves us the most sometimes it takes someone seeing who we truely can be and then God does the rest.
So my encouragement for the day don't settle for second best let God make you that Wonderful person.
Don't forget enjoy a cup of tea with me.

Second Chance

The sun is going down another day is coming to an end.
I spoke to my sister today I am grateful that God gives me second chance. My sister and I through many situations are closer today than we have been in years. Although she lives 3,000 plus miles away I like to think that when I remember her she is sitting in my house having a cup of tea with me.
Well enjoy your cup of tea with me and good night.

The garden.

Last night we came home from spending the afternoon with my friend. Emily and I went and pulled weeds from the veggie garden. It reminded me of how thankful I was for good friends who have helped pull weeds from my garden of life.
I spoke to someone in England today and as I listened about a situation that was developing I also thought in life we might come from places where there are many weeds and many things that we have allowed to take control of our lives. But it is a choice if we allow God in and help pull out weeds and make another day better.
I think it is very hard to pull the weeds from our past but I think the first step is seeing that it needs to be done and then leaning on God to help us through.
Today is a bit of a lazy day I need to get a cup of tea and getting going.
Please share one with me.

The Tatty Teddy of life

Today is a busy day. Tim and the girls bought me some Tatty Teddies you can buy them at Clinton Cards in England but they also have a website. They are made by a firm called Carte Blanche and they have several collections Me to You is what I have. http://www.cbgonlinestore.com/
The Teddy has a blue nose and has a patch on his head and tummy he has been through the wars a bit. His story is told wonderfully on the site.
As I looked at the teddy I am reminded. That we go through many wars in life but if we turn to God he always picks us up we might have a patch on us or a brooken arm but he fixes us and loves us like nothing ever happened. The teddy collection is a good way to see that Me to you is God giving us another chance.
I am glad for me that God has picked me up so many times and helped me through some hard times and still does help me.
For I surely have needed many second chances and I am thankful for his wonderful hugs.
I will post some pictures.
From Me to you have a great day.

A Sunshine Day

Hi
Today is another hot day. I am reminded of how wonderful God is as I look out my kitchen windows memories of the beautiful cornfields in England flood my mind.
On another note my school is having a reunion and although I will not be attending it. I am reminded that I can do anything with God. That you take the good from the past and you make a new road for the future.
Today is what you make it.