Saturday, November 29, 2008

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

Meet Miss Madeleine

Yesterday we started decorating for Christmas at A Spot For Tea. This precious little girl is my cousin Lesli's daughter. I couldn't resist taking her picture by the sleigh and Gum Drop Christmas tree. There is nothing like a child in plaid and red to say welcome to the season of joy.

Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-which means "God with us."

Friday, November 28, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Nease family - my mom and dad and brother's family and our family at
Coles Garden on Thanksgiving Day.

My mom and dad - 51 years together overlooking the waterfall at Coles Garden


Our kids and niece and nephews at the table.


Yum...the dessert table.


The buffet line of people and food.


Caramel Apple tart!


65 members of my dad's family gathered for the
third Thanksgiving at Coles Garden.
This is good. This is very good. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given us. So much to smile, so much to share. All we have is all we need. Good health, a big family to share it with. My heart is overflowing this season for in this time of bad news, stock market lows and economy woes....it's the simple things that matter most. The gift of grateful hearts. Hearts that will not forget what our God has done for us. Thank you God for everything.
Psalm 26:7 "That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving. And declare all Thy wonders."

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Baby Showers to Fashion Shows

Pink crown desserts

Brooke Cayot and friends host baby shower for Heather Glenn.

Framed baby girl items with jelly beans in pink bags.


Gift table with ultrasound and flowers.


Monthly PEO group host fashion show.

PEO members listen as Barbara tells her story.


Barbara Smola owns Barbara's on NW Expressway



Models waiting to enter and show off fashions from Barbara's.



Barbara's - For the Clothes That Get The Compliments



Looking beautiful in silver.


Colossians 3:12 "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Heart Story - Tea Time With God

Women's Bible Study Christmas Party - December 2007


Heart Story by Lois Skinner and the girls


Tammy asked the Women's Bible study to write their story and I was delighted when the following women were willing to tell what was on their heart. I have led this study for eighteen years and it has been a challenge and a joy to share the scriptures, balancing the Old and New Testaments. At the present we have six different churches represented. Every Thursday from September into May we meet from one to three to share our thoughts as the scripture leads us.


Consider this an open invitation
if you are looking for an opportunity to learn,
share and just be loved. - Lois Skinner


I enjoy Bible Study.
I have learned to use the Bible
and apply the knowledge from it to my life.
I enjoy the new friends I have made.
I also get to see my granddaughter. - Lesty Baxter


Come and study the Bible with me
At a wonderful place called A Spot For Tea.
The more we study, the more we learn.
Things thought hard and difficult
Were easily explained
And put into the proper order.


Our leader is knowledgeable, patient and kind
Her dedication and love of God is so clear
When she clarifies HIS many parables and signs.


Come and study the Bible with me
It's held on Thursdays from one till three
At a wonderful place called, A Spot For Tea
The ladies are nice, sweet and charming.
They are learning the same as you and me.
We all want to know the Bible more.


That's what my good friend told me
And it....is really true. Poem by Mary Ann Poindexter


Lois Skinner was called by God and confirmed by Gene Nease our pastor, to lead a Women's Bible Study in 1990. I was still working 8 to 5, so it was not convenient for me to attend and I was envious of the ladies who were able to attend each week. I was wishing retirement was not so far in the future. Finally retirement arrived and my anticipation became a reality.


We study the Bible, just as our name WBS implies, I have read the Bible but had not taken time to really "study" it. We take each book of the Bible and spend time really getting into it and how it connects to the rest of the books, how they complete and support what God wants us to know about Him and His word. How He loves each one of us, how we can depend on His promises, how life is much better the more we have Him as a part of it. Each time I read a passage of the Bible something new will be more clear and my understanding of God is better.


Tammy is a very important part of our WBS, attending when she can. We love hearing how God is working through her to spread His faithfulness in all parts of her business and family. She is a great example of how we can show God and His love to others and to be blessed by it. - Barbara Shryock


This Bible Study has been such a blessing to me. Along with the study, we have a discussion on the individual scriptures we read for each day. At times this has been a therapy session for me. We always have prayer requests and then prayer. It is great to see all the PTL (Praise the Lord) for the answered prayer. The Tea Room is a wonderful place to meet and enjoy fellowship with one another. Tammy always provides different flavors of tea for us all to enjoy. This is a very "special" group of ladies of all ages. - Ruth Nieman


Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path."

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Happy Anniversary

Our Anniversary Memory Book

Eric and I on our Anniversary 2008

Red roses from my sweet guy!

Yes, today is our 17th Wedding Anniversary.


Eric and I cater for lots of brides and grooms each weekend. In fact this past Thursday we had our tasting for 11 groups of people at the tearoom. It is so much fun being in the wedding business and getting to share in a very meaningful day in the life of a couple. The day they say I do! But more important is to have someone that you're still happy you said I do too after many years together.


Eric bought me this Anniversary book in the beginning of our marriage and I must say it is the most romantic present ever. On our wedding anniversary each year we always set aside a special time to look at our wedding picture(which is on the first page of the book). We reminisce about our special days together and write where we lived that year and what memorable events have taken place in our lives.


It has been a delight for us to faithfully record each year in this book. Hopefully, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will all enjoy seeing the photos and reading about our life together. It is important to keep a family history, for memories bind us together and a written history gives roots to a family.


There is also the Apache Wedding Prayer at the front of the book:


Now you will feel no rain
for each of you will be shelter to the other
Now you will feel no cold
for each of you will be warmth to the other
Now there will be no loneliness for you
Now you are two persons, but there is only
one life before you;
Go now to your dwelling place
to enter into the days of your togetherness
And may your days be good and long together.



1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never ends."