Tea Time Tuesday

Hello my tea lovin friends~ Welcome to my 23rd Tea Time Tuesday!
Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

This past week one of our young ladies who attends our Bible study celebrated her 30th birthday, so for refreshments on Wednesday night, I made her a wonderful Trifle instead of the usual cake.

It is a decadent concoction of chocolate cake, pudding, whipped cream, and berries. It went over very well, as you can imagine!

My roses snuggle up to the trifle bowl to add a bit of prettiness and I didn't notice it until I took the picture, but they also match the pink birthday candle in the dessert.

Please help yourself to a big bowful of Trifle; there's more than enough to go around. A nice hot cup of tea awaits you in the teapot.

The birthday girl, Lisa, {not her real name} is an amazing young lady. She has overcome many obstacles in her life and it is her faith in a big God that has brought her to where she is today.

When my hubby and I first met Lisa at our church eleven years ago, she was still a teenager who taught Sunday School, and she was carrying the burdens of the world upon her shoulders.

She was emotional, overweight, and very needy due to the fact that she came from a very dysfunctional background.

Today she exercises regularly and is a slim and well-balanced young lady. She is confident in who she is and she sparkles with vitality. She also is not afraid to share her faith with others.

We love her very much and she has become somewhat like a daughter to my hubby and me.

I am amazed at what the Lord has done in her life!

~~~

We encounter people from all walks of life every day and in interpersonal relationships, we sometimes misinterpret a situation. Some people need a lot of nurturing such as Lisa. Some people we oftentimes regard as an enemy. But given a little kindness and understanding, we could end up having a friend.

I went outside to find a friend

But could not find one there;

I went outside to be a friend,

And friends were everywhere! - Payne

"A friend loves at all times." - Proverbs 17:17

Thank you for stopping by for tea today. I hope you have enjoyed your visit here. I want to thank all my participants who each week help make this meme what it is; a joy to me!

If you would like to participate in Tea Time Tuesday, please let me know in your comment and I will add your link to my post.

Just share a favourite teacup, teapot, or some china used in a tea. A scripture verse, poem, or quote would be most welcome too. Either of the two Tea Time buttons near the top of my sidebar are available for you to use in your post if you wish.

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that others may find their way here and visit all my other lovely participants. I wish you JOY today. God bless you!

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

There are other Tea Parties taking place in blogland too. The links with the stars ** are those parties. Be sure to check them out as well. The participants listed below are in the order in which they first started participating.

PARTICIPANTS

Tina~ http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/

Judith~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.com/

Beth~ http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/

Sherry~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Lorena~ http://rosechicfriends.blogspot.com/

Bernideen~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

**Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

Fitty~ http://fittyspinkyrosecottage.blogspot.com/

**Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Sarah~ http://hyacinthforthesoul.blogspot.com/

Suzy~ http://atthefarmhouse-suzyq.blogspot.com/

**Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

Bella~ http://bellasrosecottage.blogspot.com/

**Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/

Judith~ http://unexpectedgems.blogspot.com/

Ro Magnolia~ http://softwindsandroses.blogspot.com/

Betty~ http://bettycozycorner.blogspot.com/

Sharon~ http://sharonsplaceofblessings.blogspot.com/

**Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

Patti~ http://pattiannsblog.blogspot.com/

Amy~ http://vintageporcelainart.blogspot.com/

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Katherine~ http://thingsienjooy.blogspot.com/ {yellow depression glass}

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays

Hello everyone and welcome to my Spiritual Sundays post. I have been away for a couple of weeks and I have missed you all. Thank you Charlotte and Ginger for hosting SS every week. Please click on the link to visit all the participants and these lovely ladies. http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

One day the question was asked, "Why is there so much suffering in the world?" The answer is quite simple really. We live in a fallen world!

Jesus taught that the world seen from God's viewpoint is tilted in favour of the oppressed. This teaching emerges in the Sermon on the Mount and other statements of Jesus: the first will be last {Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30}, and he who humbles himself will be exalted {Luke 14:11; 18:14}. But why would God single out the oppressed for special attention?

1. Suffering helps us realize our urgent need for redemption.

2. Suffering helps us experience our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.

3. Suffering helps us distinguish between necessities and luxuries.

4. Suffering helps us respond to the call of the gospel because we may have become so desperate that we cry out to God.

The poor, the hungry, the mourners, and those who suffer are blessed {Matt. 5:3-6} because their lack of self-sufficiency is obvious to them every day. They must turn somewhere for strength. People who are rich, successful, and beautiful may go through life relying on their natural gifts. But people who are needy, dependant, and dissatisfied with life are more likely to welcome God's free gift of love.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit." Why? Because "theirs is the kingdom of heaven" {Matt. 5:3}.

- Phillip Yancy from Our Daily Bread

THE WEAKER WE FEEL, THE HARDER WE LEAN ON GOD.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

To Have & To Hold Wedding Blog Party

"Dearly Beloved: We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony...."

Remember those words? Seems like a long time ago now and yet, sometimes it just seems like yesterday.....

I am joining my sweet friend Stephanie at Angelic Accents http://angelicaccents.blogspot.com/ for her Wedding Blog Party.


Now, please grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea because this is a long post! I don't have many photos to share with you so I decided to share my story to make up for it.

Our story began many years ago when we were just seventeen.....

Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love springs forth like a fairytale!

It was January and I had gone with my friends to a record hop on a Saturday afternoon and that was the day my life changed!

I was wearing the turquoise velvet tent dress that I had made in Home Ec class with my high boots and I had a feeling that something good was about to happen! I was just sitting and talking with my friends, when he approached me and shyly asked me to dance. We had exchanged names and danced a couple of times that day.

For three weeks in a row, he asked me to dance and then one day, he followed my friends and me into a restaurant after the dance where we always went to grab a snack before heading home.

He had sat on the other side of the room all by himself just as cute as could be. Then he had gotten up and put money into the jukebox. He had played three of my favourite songs which also happened to be his favourite songs. Neither of us knew it at the time that they were our favourites! Words by the Bee Gees was our number one favourite and it became our song and is to this day, our song.

After some persuading from my friends, I went over and joined him in his booth. He was glad I did; I could tell!
Afterwards, he walked me all the way home which was a three mile walk. We were both so shy, but about half way home, he took me by the hand and it was Magic!
After about a month, he asked me out on our first date.

We met at the Eaton's department store which is much like the Sears store, and afterwards, we went and had our pictures taken. You remember the booth where you put in a quarter and you got some snap shots? These are our pictures from our first date. Isn't he cute with his Beatle haircut? Look at my bangs! That was the style though.




We went to the dance that night and afterwards, he kissed me for the first time. We saw shooting stars and fireworks over head! I think we knew then, that we would be together forever!

Four years later, we were planning our wedding. Just like every other young lady, I dreamed of walking down the aisle in a beautiful white gown, like Cinderella, to stand beside my Prince Charming and exchange our vows to love one another forever. But it was not to be!

Just months before my wedding day, my mother and I had a very serious disagreement. My father really had no problem with my fiance but my mother had never been happy with my choice of a husband so she chose that time to voice her final thoughts on the matter. Well, needless to say, I did not receive it very well and for the first time in my life, I stood up to my mother. Now, you must understand that I loved my mom and I wanted her blessing, but I knew in my heart he was the right one for me. I knew God had brought us together!

So I changed my wedding plans....

My Prince Charming and I decided to get married quietly at the church where I was raised, with no family present and only a couple of friends in attendance.

When I was a little girl, my favourite colour was magenta or fuchsia and when I grew up, I still loved that colour so it was only natural that I would choose that shade for my wedding outfit.

I had a friend make my wedding outfit. I had chosen a beautiful velvet material in my favourite colour. Dress-pantsuits were very much in vogue then so that is what I chose to wear. The dress-pantsuit had a sweetheart neckline with ruched sleeves and the pants were bellbottoms. My friend had made me a matching headpiece as well and I wore a cameo choker at my neck. It was a very practical outfit because I was able to wear it for several years afterwards! Yes, I wore pink on my wedding day!

My bridegroom got me a bouquet of creamy white roses tied with white satin ribbon and he wore a new suit gifted to him by the men's wear store where he was working at the time.

I didn't get to walk down the aisle all dressed in white but it was the happiest day of my life up until then!

This is Hubby and me standing in front of the church where we were married. It was May 6, 1972.

After a small reception dinner, we left for a very short honeymoon and the following day, we went to my Auntie P's for a little wedding reception.

My uncle had also gotten married so Auntie was having a double reception to honour both her brother and his new wife and me and my new hubby. My whole family was there to celebrate the occasion. Auntie P had a wedding cake for both couples. Sorry, I don't have a scanner so I can't share those photos.

Love is when you look into someone's eyes and see forever.

Now, let's have a little fun, shall we? The pictures below I got off the internet to show you what my wedding would have looked like had I done the big wedding.

This is similar to what my wedding dress would have looked like had I worn the gown. I like simple lines with a little lace jacket over it. I never liked showing too much skin! I just love the lace jacket!

My bouquet.... Some of my favourite flowers are pink roses and peonies.

This is what my wedding cake would have looked like had I had a grand reception with all the family.

But today, I prefer a cake like this one below.
 

Cinderella and her Prince would have been the cake topper...



These really are my rings. The engagement ring and matching wedding ring are made of hammered gold and I love them as much today as when they were first placed on my finger. The eternity or anniversary ring Hubby gave me on our 35th Anniversary; sorry it's not a clearer photo.



Since our wedding day, we have crossed many bridges together. I quit work to become a stay at home mom and I loved baking cookies and looking after my family. It's all I've ever wanted to do really. Times were hard with only one income but it was the best thing I could do for my boys.
I really enjoyed being a mom and I loved every minute of it!

Today, I'm happy to report that my mother loves her son-in-law like a son and she once told me that I couldn't have chosen a better man! I knew it was only a matter of time and she would love him too because a finer man for me, just didn't exist. He really is my Prince Charming!

So, here we are, 38 years later and more in love than ever! I never get tired of being his missus!Today, we are the proud parents of three handsome sons and four grandsons, with another grandbaby on the way. And if we could, we would do it all over again! We truly are blessed!

Perhaps on our 40th Anniversary, we will renew our vows. If we do, you're all invited!

UPDATE: This past May, we celebrated our 40th anniversary with all our boys home. And we also have a granddaughter!

To all of you who are married and still in love; God bless you! And I wish you many more years of happiness together!

Love is a moment that lasts forever.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

Welcome Friends to my 22nd Tea Time Tuesday! And welcome Summer; we've waited a long time for you to arrive!

I host a Bible study once a week and I usually bake something special for refreshments which is where I take some of my inspiration from.

Today however, I am sharing a tea I served to a very special couple in my life; my Auntie P and Uncle Doug.

They had come over to the Island to visit with my mother and me and I had prepared a casual tea for them. My Uncle Doug hails from England so he likes to have his tea about three or four o'clock in the afternoon.

For our tea, I decided to mix and match some of my Rose Chintz with a couple of other patterns. All of this pink has cast a pretty pink glow on the table!

My sweet auntie got me started on the Rose Chintz so it was my pleasure to bring them out for the tea. "The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose." ~ George Gissing- quote from - The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft The teacups shown are being used in place of dainty teacups because my hubby prefers his tea and coffee in a mug. These teacups are more like a mug on a saucer so Hubby would be more comfortable with those. They do look nice with the Rose Chintz however.
As you can see, I am using an assortment of dishes including a footed cake plate, a platter, and a few small bowls which will all be used to display some accompaniments.

My Rose Chintz pot is ready to serve tea to some very charming company.

Small bowls hold cheese, sweet gherkin pickles, and clotted cream. Just a bit of candlelight lends a sweet ambiance to the tea.

Tasty warm tuna rolls are arranged on the platter. And a lovely Lemon tart is displayed on the footed cake plate.

Summer is here and with the season, my roses are in bloom. I made a bouquet of some of my Therese Bugnet roses and bridal wreath. I just love the fragrance of these roses! Some of them bloom so full, they look almost like peonies. And they are such a decadent colour!

"Friendship happens in that special moment

when someone reaches out to another,

trusts, comforts, believes in another,

and makes a special difference

that no one else can make."

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

Thank you for coming by for tea today. If you would like to participate in my tea party please let me know in your comment. Just share a teacup, teapot, or china used in a tea. A scripture verse, poem, or quote would be most welcome. Either of the two Tea Time Tuesday buttons near the top of my sidebar are available for you to use in your post if you wish. As a courtesy, please link back to me so others may find their way here to visit my other lovely participants.

*** Those with the stars by their names are also hosting a Tea Party.

PARTICIPANTS

Carolyn~ http://warrengrovegarden.blogspot.com/

Tina~ http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/

Judith~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.com/

Sherry~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Lorena~ http://rosechicfriends.blogspot.com/

Bernideen~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

**Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

Debbie~ http://debbie-dabble.blogspot.com/

**Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Vicki~ http://bunnycottage.blogspot.com/

Natasha~ http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/

Lorna~ http://laceandivycottage.blogspot.com/

The Tablescaper~ http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Suzy~ http://atthefarmhouse-suzyq.blogspot.com/

**Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

Bella~ http://bellasrosecottage.blogspot.com/

**Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/

Judith~ http://unexpectedgems.blogspot.com/

Ro Magnolia~ http://softwindsandroses.blogspot.com/

Gail~ http://victorianatheart.blogspot.com/

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are." What a Friend we have in Jesus!

I am also linking with Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life ~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

for her Tabletop Tuesday Party.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Welcome to Pink Saturday all my pink-loving friends!

I am posting a bit early because I'm going to be away this evening but I will make my rounds later.

My, this is such a pretty time of year with everything so fresh and colourful. Hydrangeas, peonies, and roses, they're all starting to bloom. And whenever I see a piece of china with any of these blooms on them, well, I just swoon over them!

We went to a garden center the other day and my eye went directly to this teapot because of the beautiful pink hydrangeas on it. Of course, the script and sweet little birdie adorning it also made it very appealing! I just had to bring it home with me.


This is one side. Aren't the hydrangeas scrumptious?

This is the other side. Very summery, don't you think?




I would like to end this post with a beautiful shot of the sunset at the Charlottetown Harbour.

Thanks for stopping by. Please visit Beverly and her party of pinkies by clicking here: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Wishing you all a warm and pink tinted weekend with scented breezes and lots of love. Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. God bless you!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

Hello friends and welcome to my 21st Tea Time Tuesday!

The lilacs are out and so are my pansies so I thought I would share both because the teacup I am featuring today has violets on it. Doing the purple theme today.

This lovely little teacup was a housewarming gift from my hubby's aunt when we moved into our first home. We moved in the month of February; hence the February teacup. Hubby's aunt has since passed away so the teacup holds much sentimental value.

The pattern is called 'Violets' and it is made of fine bone china by Royal Albert in jolly old England. It is one of the 'Flowers of the Month' collection. Inside and out, the teacup is adorned with pert little purple violets. The teacup itself and the saucer are both edged with 14 carat gold.
The little silver spoon once belonged to my youngest son.


The pansies are from my garden and they are in my oldest son's silver baby cup which is a bit tarnished but I rather like it like that. I do shine it up from time to time.

Roses are red, Violets are blue.....

....and so are lilacs.
There is a tiny lavender-blue flower in the Rose Chintz pattern so the lilacs look very nice in this pitcher.

I just love the fragrance of lilacs, don't you? It's too bad they don't last a bit longer! Actually, many varieties are on their way out right now.

Would you like to try a sugar cookie with your tea? Would you prefer a teacup or a mug?

People need people and friends need friends

And we all need love, for a full life depends

Not on vast riches or great acclaim

Not on success or worldly fame

But just in knowing that someone cares

And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

~~~

Smiling not only increases your face value; it's contagious!

~~~

I'm so happy you stopped by today and I hope you have been blessed by being here.

Those of you who would like to participate, please let me know in your comment. Just share a favourite teacup, teapot, or china used in a tea. A scripture verse, poem, or quote would be appreciated as well. Either of the two Tea Time Tuesday buttons near the top of my sidebar are available for you to use in your post if you wish. As a courtesy, I ask you to please link back to me so that others may find their way back here to visit my other lovely participants.

The participants below are listed in the order in which they started participating. Those who have a star beside their link are also hosting a Tea Party.

PARTICIPANTS

Judith~ http://lavendercottagegardening.blogspot.com/

Beth~ http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/

Diann~ http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Bernideen~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

*Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

Debbie~ http://debbie-dabble.blogspot.com/

BJ~ http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/

*Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Lorna~ http://laceandivycottage.blogspot.com/

The Tablescaper~ http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/ {Knowles China Luncheon}

Suzy~ http://atthefarmhouse-suzyq.blogspot.com/

*Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

Bella~ http://bellasrosecottage.blogspot.com/

*Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/

Judith~ http://unexpectedgems.blogspot.com/

Ro Magnolia~ http://softwindsandroses.blogspot.com/

"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee." - Numbers 6:24, 25

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Hello all my pinkie friends~ It's Pink Saturday again and time to share our pinks. Thank you Beverly for hosting this fun event!

Today, I'm sharing a couple of photos I came upon on the internet, as well as some of my own. Hope you enjoy them!

Pink Apple Blossoms

Pink Cherry blossoms

This gorgeous photo of pink cherry blossoms was taken at the Jefferson Memorial by, I don't know who, but it's beautiful, isn't it?

***

These are some of my Bleeding Hearts.

A pink candle in my home nestled between a birdhouse and a tiered dish filled with pink hydrangea petals.

Another photo with just a hint of pink.

May all your days be filled with pink.

Please check out Beverly's "How Sweet the Sound" for all her pink participants. Just click on the link http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ to enjoy lots of pink!

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday weekend everyone! Please come back and join me for Tea Time Tuesday. Everyone is welcome!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi