A Gingerbread Tea for Tea Time Tuesday

"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall; the genial flame of charity in the heart." ~ Washington Irving

Welcome dear friends to Tea Time Tuesday's Gingerbread  Tea with the lovely Wanda Lee and Pam.

Today's tea party is all about featuring the wonderful spice, ginger, and what would Christmas be without Gingerbread? When my children were growing up, I made gingerbread boys every year for Christmas. They are such wonderful spicy and whimsical cookies which can be enjoyed not only with a glass of milk or a cup of tea, but they make delightful decorations as well.

Hubby likes to dunk his into his tea!

For today's tea, I am going to show you some of the gingerbread decorations around my home. So, grab your teacup and saucer and come follow me, won't you.

We'll start with this candy-striped plate stand. It's not gingerbread, but it's cute, isn't it?

These little Gingerbread boys are frolicking in the snow.

My Snowlady baker welcomes you with a big smile and beckons you to pull up a seat and enjoy some gingerbread and tea...Her arms are filled with spicy treats.

Today I am using the Christmas teapot Hubby gifted me with last year. The Gingerbread boys are looking on and admiring it!

They love to frolic on the tea table too; they're so excited to see you come for tea!

Would you like a Gingerbread cookie?

Mmmm, tea and cookies!

Happiness is sharing tea with a friend.

My Gingerbread House usually sits on the kitchen counter next to the gumdrop tree.

After their visit, my grandchildren get to take the gumdrop tree home with them.

Today I will use the house on my tea table. 

My grandchildren just love my musical Gingerbread House and they take turns ringing the doorbell which then plays a magical Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.

Gingerbread and candy canes.

Old fashioned Ribbon candy ornaments.

Christmas is a time to bring out all the pretties; the festive ornaments; the sparkle and the glitter.  It's a time to bring on the candy; faux or the real deal... It's the season to be extravagant with your decor and your food. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year; a season of Good will toward men. It's the Season of LOVE that should reign in your heart all year round.

Perhaps that is the true gift of a teatime celebration:

It fills our cups with joy and warmth and friendship. 

May the echo of the teacup’s message be heard not 

only at Christmas, not only on special occasions, 

but anytime friends come together.

Emelie Barnes

"And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."  - Luke 2:13-14

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

I am delighted you have stopped by today and I would love for you to join me for Tea Time. All you have to do is share a favourite tea cup or teapot, a coffee mug, or something tea related. If you wish, you may do coffee instead of tea or the following is acceptable too: apple cider, iced tea or iced coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, or punch. The TTT button on my sidebar is available for you to use in your post or place on your sidebar if you wish. A poem, tea quote, or scripture verse would be more than welcome! Please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~

Natasha~ http://keepingthechristmasspiritalive365.blogspot.com/
I'll Be Home For Christmas Linky Party

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

Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

 Marty~  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Table Top Tuesday

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

Teacup Tuesday

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

Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~  http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

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

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

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

Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/

Tea Party Tuesday

Bernideen~  http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Friends Sharing Tea

Trish~  http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/

L.A.C.E.

Miss Spenser~  http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Teacup Thursday

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

12 Days of Christmas

Welcome to my Rose Chintz Cottage! Natasha at Keeping the Spirit of Christmas Alive 365 invited me to do a guest post for her 12 Days of Christmas Party and I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the importance of the real Reason for the Season.

Christmas is a most wonderful time of the year! I truly enjoy the music and the lovely decorations we see everywhere. I love the food, the gift giving, and joyous times with family and friends. All the traditions we enjoy as a family somehow have the ability to whisk me back to my childhood and every year at this time, I feel the little girl within me come alive once more.

But Christmas is so much more than that!
If not for Jesus Christ coming to earth as a Babe in a stable long ago, we would not be celebrating this beautiful season at all.

When my hubby and I were pastoring our church, we held an Advent service every week beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Each Sunday, a candle was lit followed by some scripture and we loved getting the congregation involved.

An Advent wreath of evergreens was made, representing eternity, and I arranged five candles in it.
Each candle represented an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Source Internet

Advent Wreath Candles

Four candles are arranged in a wreath: three purple candles and one pink candle. In the center of the wreath sits a white candle. As a whole, these candles represent the coming of the Light of Christ into the world.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents Hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

On the second day of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents Love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger.

On the third day of Advent, the pink, or rose-colored candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle" and it represents Joy.

The fourth and last purple candle, oftentimes called the "Angels Candle," represents Peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent. I oftentimes lit the pink candle the week before the white candle was lit.

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the white center candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the Life of Christ that has come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Saviour. Also, those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

May we all remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON.

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger. " ~ Luke 2:11-12 
 

This stable was specially built for me by a gentleman in our last church. All the figurines are from Avon and they date from about 1981-1989. Each one was a gift from a family member or friend so they all hold sentimental value. Every year I display my nativity in the china cabinet. 

"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant;
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the Kings of angels.
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." 
 

Let us be glad and rejoice because Christ has come!

Thank you Natasha for having me. I am sharing this post on my Christmas Pudding blog as well.

From my home to yours ~  Merry Christmas!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi