Gifts from Heaven.

A gift from heaven came to me today.

A package sent from overseas.

No one would know how much this gift would mean to me, other than a fellow Brit from oversea's

Gifts to make this old Brit cry a tear or two.

The dogs were not forgotten, with many a treat, not just a few.

Oh to have a warm cup of tea with my British cereal oh what a treat.

A friend sent from Heaven is what they are to me.

A lonely Brit missing home so much you see.

The only thing missing is for her to be here

Or wait much better for the British Girlies to be there.

So if you feeling down just wait there are Angels really around.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Count your blessings.

Well I am very tired today. A little sad I found out that my brothers house will be sold and things sold at a boot sale. I will have to say my heart ached a bit. As I heard my mother sound so sad. I wish so much I could do so much more. I miss my Mum so much. I hate it. It is such a lonely time of year. It is very easy as time slips by and problems on top problems arise not to count our blessings. I was sent dog food in the post the other day from I have no idea. What a blessing hey. I can call my mum and write on my blog and hope with all my heart that I reach someone. I guess I will never know. I hope that you can see blessings in the darkest times of your life. It is not easy but they come along every now and again.

Count your blessings name them one by one. It is true.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Missing home.

I am missing home so much today. More decorations up. I remember as a child excited to put up the lights that were like Cinderella's carriages. They were perfect. I don't remember having many decorations like I have. But I do remember always getting a tree with my dad. My mum cooked so much food I loved it all.

I am sure many people get to miss their homes this time of year. It is a happy and sad time. Some how I just wished this world was much smaller.

I am sure as you reflect on the holidays you have good and bad memories. Hold on dearly to the ones that made you laugh and smile.

I will never forget the year my mum got divorced she had an amazing outfit and I brought her flowers she glowed like never before. She looked amazing.

Wishing you happy memories ahead.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

My friend an amazing gift.

Well I will have to say at times friends can be closer than your own family. My sister and I are not very close and I have struggled with this throughout the years. One amazing friend to me has been LeaAnn. She has lightened my life and made me smile through some rough times. I encourage you when your own family pulls you down think hard and maybe God will show you someone amazing who can be your friend. LeaAnn has so often made me see me in a completely different way.

Don't listen to the rubbish some people give you are amazing just the way you are.

A true gift.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Teddy comfort

When I was a child I had a doll called Tinnie i loved Tinnie at 21 Tinnie and I parted all around that time. My children have slept with many toys. I know of a child who lost both parents and had three teddies taken from them, those teddies were given to them by their mum. This person thought that they should grow up. I don't agree with that at all, what is wrong in life with having a little comfort if we are feeling down. I often hug something that is from my mothers house. I have to say that God gave us a comforter in His Son Jesus Christ. So as I hear about this story of this little child and their teddies taken. I will have to say where we would be if our Christ our comforter was taken away from us? So if you find comfort in a song, a prayer or a teddy bear. I encourage you that it is alright to receive a loving comfort in our lives. We all need that every single day.

Just remember your comforter is always close.

And although these teddies have been taken away his mother never will be.

Happy day after Thanksgiving.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Truly help those during the holidays.

Today is Thanksgiving. I really want to press the need for people to look outside themselves and give to families in need. Churches need to stand in the gap. Many people in many countries truly are in need. Don't let people slip through the gaps and go begging to government funded organizations when you can help. When people in your community sit freezing cold in their homes while you do not look outside your own warm window.

Better to give than to receive. I plead with churches to stop preaching this message unless you can give out yourselves to those hurting. This just hurts the Christian true meaning. Find away to meet those needs and then you will find true Thanksgiving.

from my family to yours may you be blessed.

The British Girlies

Please have a cup of tea with us today.

Thank You.

The day before Thanksgiving one word Horrendous if you work in a food store. I worked 8-2 with a fifteen minute break. By the time I left I felt exhausted. In all of that on the way home I saw a sign that read "that if you need money for Thanksgiving meal drop in" it was at a car dealership near me. What an amazing blessing to many hurting families, this chap was genuine. I spoke to a friend today who was in the same church as me sadly to say when her mother died no one called her. It is sad in the world we live in that few demonstrate Christ.

As we look at the coming holidays. I am reminded of how many people are without jobs, single mom's struggling, homeless people walking our streets. Older people in cold homes alone.

As I grumbled about the weather been warm, my friend and I were reminded by another "at least it is not so cold for the homeless". A true reality to be thankful.

So in all of the struggles you are facing take a moment to give to another or least a call and say at least one thing you are thankful for.

I am so thankful that I have my mum and my family. Thank you for reading my blog and may in this holiday time you find away to give.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Get out of your boat.

Get out of that boat. I've heard that statement before. But say if you are in that boat, you imagine that the boat is far out to sea you paralyze yourself believing that the sea is so deep. When reality is that the boat never left the shallow part of the shore.

I use to live near the sea and I loved seeing the fishermen go out. How brave they were and are. We even sang a hymn at school about God protecting them at sea.

So to all you weary people I say be brave in the coming new year and get out of the boat and walk, you will set yourself free. That is my belief. After all the many fishermen come back don't they. Don't get caught up in the few that don't make it focus on those who do.

Dare to get out of your boat.

Please have a cup of tea with me today

High Heels

My daughter was given some high heel shoes. It is funny how when we are young we want to grow up and when we are all grown up we want to be young. We tell our children don't talk to strangers yet when they are little we tell them "tell the person your name". We say be honest and put false information out there about ourselves scared that the dreaded internet will fed out our identity to people we don't want to know it.

So where is the balance? I guess perhaps we should all try to stay child like, I cannot walk well in high heels, but perhaps if I saw life through a child's eyes then maybe I could see the end of the tunnel faster. Perhaps I would smile more and laugh more. Perhaps my high heels would not seem so intimidating and maybe being young again would be seen in a new way.

So whatever the high heels are in your life try to look at it in a different perspective.

And it might remind you of the yesterdays and help you to see that you were never really wearing high heels anyways, it was just your perspective.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Wishes.

I have not seen my mum for over four years now and if I had one wish for Christmas I would want to see my mum and my girls to see her too. The second wish would be that my stories got published so that I could move back to England. It is very difficult when you are so far from home, with no light at the end of the tunnel to when you are going to be going home again.

My friend LeaAnn moves back to her home Tennessee in a few weeks. I will have to say I am very sad, I feel in my heart another lose like when I divorced and my brother died. Her and her family are like no other. She was there when I got married, there when I gave birth to my daughter and through it all they have loved me. I had a friend tell me yesterday that they had never had close friends. I will have to say I have been blessed with a few. I have known LeaAnn for a long long time. So although I am sad I too am happy that she gets to go home. It is her time now and one day I will get to go home too. She would want the very best for me. I truly do her. No words could say enough of how much her friendship means to me.

So although my wish is to see my mum I too wish for all of you far from home that during these holiday times that people will make some of your wishes come true.

The road in life is very tough and we all need a few prayers answered, good friends and miracles.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Simon Cowell draws the line about Respect.

Last night I watched X Factor. I will have to say Simon Cowell throughout the years has been very blunt at times. I am sure this comes from working up the ladder to where he is today. Last night, as a mum I was very impressed. Perhaps more adults should have the guts to confront a person about being disrespectful. Astro is one of the contestants on the X Factor, and Simon Cowell was not putting up with this young man's attitude. I was impressed at how humble Stacy Francis, the other contestant that ended leaving was. She is a single mother of two who stood with dignity even when she lost. Astro however did not at first accept the comment from Simon Cowell, saying that his folded arms and how he had come out on the stage not really prepared to sing was disrespectful. Simon Cowell said it was disrepect for Astro's mother, for the show, and Simon was not happy. Rachel Crow another teen in the contest started to cry as she waited her fait. Simon stood with Rachel, his arm on her shoulder supporting the young lady and walked with her off the stage, when she found out that she was not leaving. She was not disrespectful, but acted with dignity.

What can we learn from Simon Cowell? One thing is for sure he might not have children, but he sure knows that respect is what anyone should have been given the huge platform that these performers have been given. It is sad to say that Simon who many have called Mr.Nasty actually was the only one to confront this young man, although L.A. Reid was not impressed with this young man's attitude either. I have felt for a while that Astro was arrogant but somewhat agreed with Simon that he had the fight to win.

Obviously Simon Cowell has drawn a line. Sad to say not many people do. I am glad that my fellow Brit confronted this issue on his show the X Factor. But how come it has come to this, that people are confronted about doing what is right? The issue should be confronted in our schools, homes and be a foundation of moving forward. Respect and thankfulness should not be bottle fed us.

So what can we learn from Mr.Nasty is that he actually has qualities that we can all learn from.

Let's not forget that if we are to demand respect ourselves, we better be giving it out.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

The D word Divorce.

The D word is so overrated. D means divorce, I have heard many people say never mention the word when you are married. I will have to say for my experience that is true. It is like as soon as those words are out, there is away out. For many divorce people they struggle with how they wished things could of been or with regrets. Some are amazingly happy. I guess it depends on the depth of what you put in. What happens to these D people and children? They are often ignored, kind of disgrace to the church as the church in general does not know what to do. So as a society are divorced people classed as a group with a illness? In fact I think they are. How can we change society we as humans can reach out, take time to develop counseling for those going through and after divorce although this is there how many just listen to these hurting people?How many make sure that these people are not alone? So easy to give jobs to ministers in a church less easy to give it to a once stay at home mom. This is just my observation. At the holiday times, they should be the first that the church reaches out to. The impact we have on one another today will impact the next generations.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

School years

I will have to say I love hearing from the girls I went to school with. It has brought me so much joy and laughter to reconnect with people that knew me years ago. If you are like me and you loved school, I highly recommend it. There are many sites like facebook and friends reunited. They each hold a common thread of reconnecting friends together.

Friends from the past can remind you of things you had forgotten, some we like to forget, and some make us laugh. In all my school years I love to remember the good. The wonderful girls that I had a great privilege of sharing a few years of my life.

So take a moment and perhaps like me walk down memory lane and just be young again.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Lessons from Geek Charming.

This past weekend I watched "Geek Charming" a Disney movie. Overall it has the normal high school stuff, what is interesting though about this movie is the end. I love how Dylan the young lady says-and I abbreviated this-that what matters is that you are around people who make you happy and accept you for who you are.

I think this is so true for even adults, also Dylan spent the whole of middle and some of high school years, changing who she was so that she would fit in. Now come on, we can all relate to that one. I know I can. I think it is in finding people who can encourage you to be you that is alright. I have been compared to many people. But in listening to this movie, perhaps, it is alright to just be me. I may be not what everyone had wanted me to be, but I like that I am British I like that I love the country and I like that one day I will have books published. So the lesson to take from Geek Charming is be you. Because being you is just fine.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Don't let your problems dictate your dreams.

Well I saw a sign today it read "Don't let your problems dictate your dreams." It was written just for me. I love to think that one day I will go home to England live in a very rural place and write my stories and off course them be published. It is such a simple cry from the life that I thought I wanted a few years after I came to live in America.The big house, lovely huge kitchen and big gardens. Off course 2 holidays a year and life would of been great. But my life did not end up like that nor did anyone from home come and visit well my friends did once. It has been a far cry from what I ever expected. In it all though I have truly gone back to being someone who I loved as a teen. People say that the teen years are the worst, for sure to a certain extent that was for me. My parents divorced and life changed. The one thing I did love was drawing and going everywhere with my Godmother Rosabelle Middleton. She will probably never know how much those days meant to me. I love the countryside more today than ever before, I love been compassionate and just the simple things I loved back then I seem to love more.

So perhaps just one day I will get to go back and live my dream life. As you read this perhaps take a moment to think what made you happy and don't give up on that dream. If it was to ice skate or fly do it one day. for no one else but YOU.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Lest we forget the price they paid.

http://www.poppy.org.uk/

Please take a moment to view this site. As a child at school we would buy poppies and remember all those who fought and who were fighting. I was taken back that in some parts of America no poppies are sold.

Please take a few moments to call someone who served for our freedom and thank them in some way.

Lest we forget what price they paid.

Thank you all .

In every battle there is an end.

I know a friend who has been going through tough times for a long time in fact it has appeared her road started at the same time as mine. She is an amazing sweet person. I ask myself why oh why has there not been a break through. Although I do not see her every day any more. I feel her pain and her agonizing to want a break. I have to ask when will it all stop? It is is like a total snow storm continually been lived. I have often walked down roads and sat in broken cars just asking God please open up Heaven for me. I am not sure when a break comes, my heart cries for so many hurting people. I guess at least through this all I for one have much more compassion. It is not an easy road when struggles pull and your heart is weak. I do hope and pray sincerely that the the many hurting people that i have meet have amazing breaks and that the light just shines through them.
All I can say truly to all those reading this and who have lost jobs or are going through hard times, keep up the good fight and remember in every battle there is an end. Remember George and the dragon and David and Goliath they won.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Walking alone in a world full of people.

I find it interesting how few people want to help others. I made loads of muffins for a craft fair none of them sold. I have 60 muffins sitting in my house. A friend bought two dozen that at least brought the number down to 60. I have faced booked it, emailed it and nothing. How many of us ignore those cries for help. Like the email asking for a job or the email hey can you watch my children. Much easier to ignore it than answer it. A few years ago we were blessed with going to a small church called Catawba springs in Apex. I will have to say that this church has to be one of the most giving churches that I have ever experienced. Thanksgiving eve we were blessed with loads of food, i felt like a church mouse humbled to be given so much. The downfall was that when we left no one kept in touch. I see people walking in corridors so lonely in a big cold world and in a big often cold church because people will not reach out and help those in need. An email might be a cry for help, I know myself I have tried everything to find a job. We must not forget the old saying better to give than receive. How much more true is that in the world we live in.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Seeing the good in coming winter.

I am so glad that Murmuration was posted on msn today. I loved watching the video clip. Sophie is truly full of life and is amazing I wish her the best. Oh to see through eyes like her's full of life ,seeing and recording amazing things. How many of us take it all for granted the leaves changing colors, the flowers blooming and the skies oh so majestic in their beauty. I use to gaze at them when I was a child and I use to love walking in the woods. At points in the woods at Roman camp it was like you were indeed in Narnia the tree's engulfed you and I can see us sledding down those hills, my sister pulling my mum on the faithful sled that my grandfather had made years ago. A simple sled but one we all loved. I see it now the wood at the front broke and the rope many times all got replaced. As winter turns I ask you to look like Sophie Windsor Clive did and see the amazing things of life.

Just for a moment it might well bless you.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Poverty stricken world.

I find it amazing that when you are down it as if people often find it in themselves to put you down even more. Instead of finding the good most people seem to find the bad. How is it that human nature only see's the bad? You see birds flying south and instead of seeing this amazing display of life you'll hear a person say, "Oh it means winter is here, oh the cold days." You almost want to say are you seeing what I am seeing? Then you have the people who have a good job and tell you it is easy to find one, as if that is going to help you. Or here is a good one, I am praying for you, ok here is reality prayers are needed but helping someone in a real way is often what is needed to. Prayers do amazing things but people often want a friend or just help through the storm. So how come we just cannot find it in ourselves to see the good? Perhaps that is why we live in a poverty stricken world, each and every country in poverty looking for love and answers. It is in that poverty on faces of children and families that we should find compassion to hug more, pray more and to help more.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Field mice in our churches.

I have often lived in the countryside, to be honest I love the country much more than the city. Often as a child we would see field mice. They are timid little creatures and stay together. As I sat talking to a woman at church today, I could see how often the divorced, widowed and separated women and often men. Feel like field mice. To be widowed is one thing, I think in general churches and society know how to handle them for a short period and then it is move on, however much easier said than done when a person you love has gone. The separated and divorced people what to do with them? They often are left with so many scars and financial pressures that it is easier to just ignore them and often the children from those affected in this turmoil of life. No one knows what to say, or says things that they know nothing about and ends up hurting those in that turmoil so much more.

I mean where do you sit now, do you change your name or not, do you go back to work or not and then where are you now, who are you now? Questions that took a life time to figure out now you face again. So like field mice they run down the very corridors of churches of streets and countries looking for a place to call home. It is a lonely road, not one I would encourage anyone to go down.

What is there to learn from the field mouse, it is this love is everything, words of listening of hope, a hand of help can carry someone through the storm. It is not that we should ignore these people in fact we should be drawn to find away to help them through the storm. After all wouldn't any of us want that?

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Just something to think about.

Hawk in my life.

This morning we saw a hawk in our garden. My daughter knew what it was. W e were so thankful that our small dogs were not outside. I am not sure where the hawk came from or why he would come and visit me.
As i think about this hawk, I think God is like a hawk watching over us from a distance. I know as it gets closer to Christmas I am reminded how many people are alone at this time of year. The joys of Christmas just have gone. I see and hear so many hurting people and my heart aches. But how many of us take a moment to care. It is so easy to turn our faces and look in the other direction. I think God often watches from a distance to see what we will do. The hawk visiting me today was like God coming and saying I am still watching you.

So my challenge today is what will you do from a distance, will you show compassion or simply fly away to your safe home.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.

Church for the people or just a tomb?

Well my recovery is slow, still have headaches. Today I was on a site and I looked at all the prayer requests that people had put. There are so many people crying out for help, just barely holding on. I ask the question that my now ex father in law asked years ago where is the church when you need them? I have been told the church is not there to meet our needs. I hear that, but I have to question that if you cannot turn in a time of need to a church where are the people suppose to go. I wrote to a Pastor I had meet a year ago and asked for him to be praying he quickly replied. I was taken back to be honest. There are many wonderful church buildings throughout this world and I have been graced and blessed to see some of them. However what is a building unless the people reach out of it. It is just bricks no different than the temples in the Bible that had people bartering in them, we may not have barters but we have people self centered. I am not saying all. But if we are to reach the world perhaps it is in us reaching the very needs to those who cry in the halls of the churches we sit in.

After all, are we just a church building or a cold empty tomb.

It is just a thought.

Please have a cup of tea with me today.