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Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 21 September 2020

Changes, Surprises, and A God Thing

And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall. ~ unknown

Good morning friends! Thank you for visiting today.

There is a change in the air. The songbirds are getting ready to fly south and I shall very much miss them. 
It's hard to believe Summer has come to an end.

We just cleaned out the last of our petunias for another year, and yesterday we drove out to the country to get some pumpkins for decorating. But we will wait until after Teddy before we arrange them.

It is still a little early but soon the leaves on the trees will turn colour, putting on their last show of the season. Somehow, this time of year always makes my hubby and me sad.

With that change however, comes a craving for more comfort food; hearty stews, spicy chili, and cheesey casseroles.
 
I made a rice pudding the other day for the first time in ages and it was so good! I oftentimes make a brown sugar sauce to pour over it. When we first moved to Prince Edward Island, we boarded with a lovely Christian lady and she always served her rice pudding this way. It was one of my favourite desserts, and I decided to serve it the same way when I grew up. She was a fantastic cook, much like my beloved grandmother. My family loves the pudding with the sauce on it!


This week, I felt like gingerbread cake and since I had all the ingredients in my kitchen, I made one. 


I am having a slice of cake with my cuppa today and I am using one of my favourite teapots from Hampstead which I found at the Anne of Green Gables Store a couple of years ago. Isn't she pretty?
My Aynsley teacup which looks lovely with the teapot.


Serenity is a solitary cup of tea; pleasure is sharing it with another. ~ Victoria magazine 

 
Mmm, a slice of warm gingerbread cake and fresh whipped cream.
 
My favourite roses; white with a hint of blush pink were in the store so Hubby got them for me. These roses of such a delicate colour always make me happy!



Two weeks ago, I received a surprise in the mail... 

We sometimes in life, meet people who leave footprints on our hearts. If we are really fortunate, these people become a part of our lives and continue to bless us. Such is the case of my daughter, Carina, who lives out on the west coast. Technically, she is my daughter-in-law, but I prefer to think of her as my daughter; the daughter of my heart!

Unknown to probably everyone, I have always wanted a gold pendant in the shape of the letter "J" that represented my three sons whose names all begin with the letter J.
Just recently, Carina saw a friend wearing a pendant that represented her three children whose names all began with the letter L. Carina decided she wanted to surprise me with a letter "J" pendant. 

How could she have known? She had no idea that I had always wanted one, and not only did she bless me with a gold pendant, {I prefer gold to silver jewelry}, she also got one with Swarovski crystals embedded in it. I also love bling! She shopped all over town with my little granddaughter until they found the right one. The gold chain she found in one store while the pendant itself came from a Swarovski store. Carina went to a lot of trouble to get this for me but it was also a fun outing for both mother and daughter.
 
The pendant couldn't be more perfect and they couldn't be more excited to bless me with it!
A beautiful card accompanied the gift. She has never done this before; just sending me something out of the blue, so I was and am delighted by her thoughtfulness! 

I am convinced this act of kindness was a God thing because He was the only one who knew I always wanted a pendant like this. He also knows how hard the past number of years have been for me, particularly this past year. I believe it was God who prompted Carina to gift me with this exquisite pendant because this is one of the ways He is letting me know He is with me and wants to bless me. He was the only one who knew how I was feeling and He delights in blessing His children. 

I simply had to share this with you. For anyone who is quietly suffering, the Lord knows how you are feeling, and He cares about you. It gives Him pleasure to bless His children.


Before I close, some of you may know that Hurricane Teddy is churning its way up towards us and is supposed to make landfall on Tuesday night into Wednesday. The Island and our neighbouring maritime provinces are still recovering from Dorian's devastation last September. The Island has also been hit very hard in our tourism industry because of the pandemic and we can't afford another catastrophe on top of that. If you think of us, would you please pray that Teddy will head off in another direction and spare us, or that this storm will be kinder than Dorian was? Thank you so much, and God bless you all and keep you and your loved ones safe! Big hugs to all my friends out there in blogland!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

17 comments :

  1. Ooooh Sandi, what a sweet story of Carina’s love for you and God prompting her to buy this gift that you’ve always wanted in your heart. It made my morning to read this! Your teatime of course is lovely, as always, with your roses, pretty teapot and teacup and yummy gingerbread. I’ll be praying that Teddy spares PEI. God bless you and keep you. ❤️

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  2. What a gorgeous tea pot! Wow! The cup is lovely, too. Your daughter in law was so loving and thoughtful and I think it was a gift from God, too. Prayers for safety for all with Teddy.

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  3. I hope that your lovely pendant that you wear so close to your heart reminds you to find a bit of peace in your heart and less worry and anxiety. You will be in my daily prayers. I certainly will pray that hurricane Teddy brings you just some slight breeezes and the raging winds dissipate and go off into the ocean.

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  4. What a lovely post. That was such a sweet gesture to buy you that pendant. What a wonderful thoughtful gift. Happy Fall to you and I do hope that Teddy dies down before it reaches you.

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  5. What a beautiful gift and something you can wear every day and feel even more loved. The roses are very beautiful too. I hope and pray the storm stays away ...far out in the ocean. Take care! hugs!

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  6. Love that teapot! And your gingerbread cake looks so delicious. And what a beautiful story of the J Pendant. So exquisite and how precious. Such a gift! I'm so glad you shared it with us, Sandi.

    Wishing you His protection and safety in the midst of that storm coming your way.

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  7. Wow, Sandi, what a wonderful post! The tea pot and roses are beautiful; the gingerbread cake looks scrumptious. Gingerbread is such a classic fall flavor, and oh that real whipped cream! Best of all is the lovely pendant from your daughter. Only God knew your dream, and He arranged for this sweet gift. How blessed and encouraged and loved you must feel! Thank you so much for sharing this blessing with all of us.

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  8. I've always admired your Hampstead teapot and Aynsley beauty!

    Our brains must be synchronized: I recently ordered a rice pudding green tea AND a gingerbread black tea!

    What a gorgeous gift from your thoughtful daughter.

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  9. #1, I hadn't realized that "TEDDY" was headed your way, so, yes, I will pray. Down here in Florida we have been watching the other storms in the gulf, and I didn't even notice what Teddy was doing. Praying for you now. #2, That "J" pendant is gorgeous, but even more wonderful is how the Lord touched your daughter in love's heart to give it to you as a special give of love! Yes, only God could have prompted that idea, and how precious is that? It is one of those little ways God chooses to show His special love and care for you, one of His dear children. That is a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. And I love gingerbread! Now I want some! My mother used to bake it and put a little light confectioner's glaze over top, but then of course we'd eat it with whipped cream while still warm. That is a wonderful autumn treat! Thank you for reminding me of it. I've never made rice pudding before...not sure my family would like it, but it sure looks good. Love your teapot and cup...and those roses so delicate and pretty. Lovely post. Thank you for sharing it with us. Happy First Day of Autumn!

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  10. What a beautiful gift and reminder of God's love, through your daughter in love.

    Praying that Teddy will spare you. ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

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  11. This is a beautiful story and touching. I love that Corina did this for you and us truly a wonderful gift.

    Sending prayers the storm misses you.

    Cindy

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  12. What a wonderful story of the way God gives us the desires of our heart when we least expect it. Such sweetness on the part of your daughter-in-love and granddaughter. I hope Teddy doesn't affect PEI too much. It's been a difficult season here, too, as so many people rely on tourism.
    hugs,
    Lorrie

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  13. Such a pretty post today. Love the tea time table setting and the goodies that you have made. I really enjoyed reading the part about your sons names starting with the letter J. I too have three sons and they all have a name that starts with "J"; as well as their birth months are all "J's"...January, June and July. Not planned but a happy coincidence.

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  14. What a lovely pendant and the story behind it is even lovelier. Isn't is comforting to know God not only takes care of our needs, but a lot of our wants too. He cares about the big and small things in our lives. I saw where Teddy made landfall in Nova Scotia about 96 miles from you, so hopefully you were spared from a lot of damage.

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  15. No matter how long I am away from blogging, Sandi, when I return, I find the same beauty and serenity at your blog as I always do. Thank you for your beautiful, grace-filled words and photos. They really do beautify my day every time I visit.

    What a beautiful pendant from your daughter, and I love that God had put it on her heart to do that. He showed you his love for you in a real and personal way, didn't he?

    Your teacup and teapot today are quite stunning. And that cake looks totally yummy!

    Blessings,
    Patti Gardner (now blogging at Clothed with Joy)

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  16. Hello Dearest Sandi of Prince Edward Island! I am drinking English Tea Companies, Black Tea called Island Coconut,while enjoying reading of your blog today. I am sipping from a teacup I bought inscribed Prince Edward Island. Lifting my cup to you,as you inspire us towards a closer walk with God,through your transparent living!
    I,also have three "J" children. I have Jeremy, Justin and Jessica!

    Praying protection from Teddy and may God keep showing us, in those beautiful "secret" things, just how much He adores HIS DAUGHTERS!
    HUGS from the Virginia Blue Ridge Mts/Autumn Bliss is upon us here!

    Lady Roxanne

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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