Winter Beauty at Walnut Creek Chapel February 2021

February 17, 2021

Walnut Creek Chapel

10.2 inches of snow

Beautiful and peaceful

 

Thank You Friend

Our Women's Church Group having our

Christmas tea at Allisha's Tea Room

(Stephanie & I pictured in black up front)

hosted in December 1996.
My friend Stephanie Palen

Bringing beautiful pink roses to mark the date.

After I posted the previous blog about yesterday's ten year anniversary I called my friend Stephanie that I said had helped me with my first tea party and left her a message. After 3:00pm today she showed up with these beautiful pink roses and made me cry. After all sentimental moments are my favorite.

Stephanie is my friend that shared in the dream of A Spot For Tea. I can still vividly remember the three of us (Stephanie, myself and Shelley Pruitt) sitting at a Stephanie's kitchen table dreaming up names for a tea booth at the Bethany Craft Mall in March 1996. We were three girls that attended Women's Bible Study together. We supported and helped each other through being stay-at-home moms with a dream and a hot glue gun. She really helped me in the throes of being a new mom and all the changes feeling isolated and alone. I still have the blue sheet of paper that we wrote all of our ideas on. Down at the bottom it has a picture of teddy bears having tea and it says, "When you have a friend, you have everything."

I don't know how it happens but you each get going in different directions and your kids get older. Life just keeps flying on by...Stephanie went on to work for Putnam City Schools and is a director over many cafeterias in our school's district. We both ended up working with children and food (hehehe!) It is so sweet to share the dream with someone who remembers. Thanks again Stephanie for the roses but more importantly, thanks for being my friend and for sharing the memories of the beginning.

The Children's Center Gifts

Thank you so much to those who generously gave and for participating in the 2009 Holiday Baby Basics Campaign and for the donations resulting from our Gingerbread Tea. We were able to fill up a pack n play with diapers, and supplies to the children because of your willingness to give.

The Children's Center is grateful for your kindness and involvement.

Pictured above is Heather Walter, Foundation & Corporate Grants Manager for The Children's Center, Amy Coldren, Special Events Coordinator. Also pictured Sherry Sloan and Tammy Seibert from A Spot For Tea.

The health of the apple tells the health of the tree.

You must begin with your own life-giving lives.

It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts.

Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

- Luke 6:44-45 (The Message Bible)

Christmas at our Green Cottage

Blake and Benjamin Winter 1999

This is the story of our green cottage. We bought our home in 1994. It was our first home. It has a little over 1700 square feet. It was to be our starter home. You know where you live for five years and then move on to bigger and better as your family grows.

Blake and Benjamin Christmas time 2000

Blake was born in 1995 and Benjamin was born in 1997. We started A Spot For Tea in 1996. We continued to add children and employees and we kept living in our green cottage. I always wanted a picket fence and window boxes so Eric built both for me to add some charm to our little home.

Blake and Benjamin playing in the snow Christmas 2000

Our pastor did a sermon a couple of weeks ago about contentment. He said that in 1950 the average home use to be 1200 square feet. He said Americans have added more square feet with each passing year. He gave a lot of statistics about contentment and happiness. There were a couple of lines that he said that I won't forget. He said we've added bigger kitchens but no one is staying in them to cook. He said we've bought more stuff and now we have storage units everywhere filled to the brim because we don't have room in our bigger houses for all of our stuff.

Christmas lights on Christmas Eve 2000

Then after the sermon that my pastor preached my friend Lindy came in the tearoom and shared that her husband John's favorite verse in the bible is:

Proverbs 30:7-9

I ask two things from you, Lord.

Don't refuse me before I die.

Keep me from lying and being dishonest.

And don't make me either rich or poor;

just give me enough food for each day.

If I have too much, I might reject you

and say, "I don't know the Lord."

If I am poor, I might steal

and disgrace the name of my God.

In other words, Just give me enough Lord to meet my daily needs.

Now you can see picket fence and window boxes up close.

This past summer I started looking at bigger homes and then the economy started getting shaky and we decided we would stay a little while longer in our green cottage. When you are self-employed, own a small business and are responsible for other people's incomes it makes you want to put money away like a squirrel in winter storing nuts. We usually have between 18 and 20 employees. It is not a responsibility we take lightly.

Blake with a snowman he built Christmas 2001

We have many Christmas traditions we started and do each year in this home with our boys. Its the only place they've ever lived. I think by the time I was 14 I had lived in 6 different houses since my dad was a pastor. Last night we put up our Christmas tree and hung the ornaments and listened to Christmas Carols. It made me realize bigger is not always better.

Brock's first Christmas 2002

So this year I'm finding many things to be grateful for. Thanking Jesus for His many gifts He has given our family. Thank you for three wonderful boys. Thank you Lord for our green cottage especially since there are many homeless people without jobs this year. Thank you for A Spot For Tea and our employees who are like family to us. Thank you for my picket fence and window boxes.

Philipians 4:11-13

I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more that I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.

Good Friday Thoughts

Spring Flowers

Easter eggs in basket

Spring at the tearoom.

Thinking of our Jesus on Good Friday.
From our heart to yours
Have a Blessed Easter.

Tea Mentors

Tea Mentors Kay Snipes and Terri Eager.

Sisters Kay Snipes and Terri Eager own Magnolia & Ivy previously located in Destin, Florida. They have a new venture to open up a tearoom in a hotel back in their home state of Georgia; more details to follow as soon as I know more. These gifted ladies can be credited with encouraging entrepreneurs like themselves to bring the gift of tea to their home towns. Before opening A Spot For Tea, I trained with Kay and Terri in January 2003 to learn more of their secrets by attending a conference Open A Tearoom God's Way which inspires others to walk in their God given destiny within the business community.

"My life is like a teacup, I can choose

to give drink to others or just be used up.

Fragile, yet strong - delicate, yet wise,

God hand-painted me, I'm one-of-a-kind.

Each new dawn a fresh choice life brings,

what will fill up this delicate thing?

A cup of bitterness, unforgiveness, hate?

Or love, joy, peace? You see I choose the fate.

A sip for a friend, co-worker or neighbor,

a long draught for my family admist all of their labor.

Oh Heavenly Father, my Potter,

My Guide, fill me to overflowing,

your love to imbibe an article of beauty,

a vessel of grace

may my cup be a reflection of your precious face."

- Magnolia & Ivy

Psalms 23:5 "Thous hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows."

A Loving Recipe for a Perfect Cup of Tea

1 - willing friend who loves to sit and share

1 - grateful heart to have a friend that cares

1 - beautiful garden to show us God is near

Click here to enter the Prayer Garden where you can set aside some quality time with your cup of tea and feel God's presence.

First, click on the center of the door. Unlock the door with the key (drag the key to the lock), follow the bug, open the book....When you enter the Garden, click on the little lightning bug and follow instructions. Keep clicking as you go to make changes and experience everything.
To start follow the firefly and click on it. After you are through with each page, click on the firefly to go to the next page. Click on each of the stones, on the fountain, the cross, the sticks, each of the scrolls.

Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for thee, O God.

Tea Light

Tea Light in antique teacup and pink roses.

"A candle loses nothing of its light by lighting another candle." - Fr. James Keller

"The Great Creator lives within each of us. All of us contain a divine, expressive spark,
a creative candle intended to light our path and that of our fellows. We are shiny,
not tarnished; large, not small; beautiful, not damaged - although we may be
ignorant of our grace, power and dignity." Walking in This World - Julia Cameron

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation."

The Teacup Story

Pansy teacup....gold rim.

English China Teacup Collection.

The Teacup Story

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'let me alone,' but he only smiled, 'not yet.'

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel, " the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.' Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.'

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better' I said. And he brushed me and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I though I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.' Then suddenly he put me back in the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.' 'I want you to remember, then, 'he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I haven't done that you never would hardened; you would not have any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in the second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'" Author Unknown

Isaiah 64:8 "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

"A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain." Mildred Witte Stouven

Debbie Dawson wrote a Heart story and when she came to bring me her teacup collection and teapots this is what she emailed back to me that I wanted to share.

Tammy, thank you for buying my teacup collection and tea pots. I appreciate your kindness.

When I got back to my office I had to check out your blog. The date you entered my mother's story was July 25th, which was her birthday. Amazing. Mother wanted her life to touch others for Christ. I thank you that she continues to be a witness through your blog. God Bless! Debbie

Tribute to Alberta Brannon - one of my HEROES

Local tea room owner, Alberta Brannon died last Tuesday. She was 87 years old. Alberta owned and operated Alberta's Tea Room for 30 years until closing it in 1998. Her son Larry Brannon said, "She never met a stranger. She didn't say no very much. People would come to the back door of the restaurant and she would give them a plate of food. I think that was why the business was successful, because of her charitable acts."

The former tea room was located in French Market Mall at NW 63rd St. and N. May Ave. which she began in 1969 with a partnership between Alberta and Lamoyne Kerr, ex-wife of Robert S. Kerr Jr. Before the tea room, Alberta Brannon already was an established cateress, having gotten into the business in the 1950s. She was was born August 2, 1920 in Clinton. She married James Brannon and the two opened a bakery in the late 1940s in Oklahoma City.

She worked with Lura McMurray, a prominent caterer in town and when Lura wanted to retire, Alberta went on with the catering. She had quite a reputation in Oklahoma City as a cateress, before she got into the tea room proper.

Yes, quite a reputation - on a weekend in the early 1960s when President John F. Kennedy visited the country estate of former U.S. Sen. Robert S. Kerr, D-Okla. in Poteau, Alberta and her son, Roy, were selected to cater the whole thing.

If "tea room" brings to mind a small cafe, well, "this ain't no sippin' tea room" to paraphrase a familiar advertisement. The restaurant occupied 9,000 square feet, and was popular with civic and social clubs and other groups. Its main dining room seated 120 people. There also was a formal dining room which could accommodate 150 people and was used for such events as club meetings and rehearsal dinners. A third dining room west of the main tea room provided a more private, intimate setting and could hold about 100 people.

In addition to the group luncheons, Alberta's was open to the public Monday through Saturday 11am to 4pm. It was open on two Sundays a year - Mother's Day and Easter.

The tearoom had its share of male patrons, but ladies were particularly fond of it. Diners might remember Alberta Brannon's homemade rolls, but also her chicken tetrazzini or hot apple pie with rum sauce.

Alberta was there almost every day her son said. "This was her life...she's was a very devout Christian woman who believed in just doing the right thing and loving people."

Her son and chef, Brannon knew where his bread was buttered and made no bones about it, "I don't care how talented you are...if the people don't support you , you're not going anywhere," he said.

I can think of no better tribute than 30 years as a successful tearoom owner, to raise 7 children and have your son say those kind words about you. When you look back on your life it won't be the big splashy events but the small behind the scenes things...the gestures of kindness that no one knew about that will matter the most.

Alberta Brannon is one of my heroes. I still remember going to the tearoom with my mom, the white starched tablecloths and the smell of her homemade rolls. I hope one day people will say the same about our vanilla muffins and maybe my three boys will want to work in the business alongside Eric and myself just like at Alberta's Tea Room. One son, Larry, oversaw the catering and planning of the parties. One son did most of the cooking and the food ordering. Another son, Roy, managed the dining room.

Alberta Brannon is survived by her sons James Brannon Jr., Roy Brannon, Marvin Brannon, Harold Brannon and Larry Brannon; daughters Darlene Reed and Shirley Reed.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."

The Childrens Center Gift

Many of you have asked about the Gingerbread Tea and the donations that we gave to The Children's Center. I wanted to report that in addition to the monetary donation, we were also able to collect over $500.00 in personal hygeine items that we delivered to the center in January.

Ashlie, Della, my sons Blake and Benjamin, and myself took a personal tour of the facility. The Children's Center provides medical care and therapy for inpatient and outpatient children. It was a very moving experience especially for my own kids. Benjamin recognized a classmate from his school that has been written about in the newspaper and heralded as a miracle kid. We got to visit him and it really touched all of us to hear his story.

Thank you everyone for helping put a smile on the face of a child.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Only On A Full Moon

I recently read a story about a man named Sid Simon.

"One of Sid's highest priorities is his health and fitness. At 77 years old, he still bikes on a regular basis, takes supplements, eats healthy foods, and - oh yes - he allows himself a bowl of ice cream on the one day a month when there's a full moon. On Sid's 75th birthday celebration over 100 of his family members, closest friends, and adoring former students came from all over the country to celebrate with him. Dessert was standard birthday cake and ice cream. Only one problem, though - there wasn't a full moon. To cajole him into giving himself permission on the once-in-a-lifetime special occasion, four people who knew of Sid's commitment dressed as moon goddesses and entered the room carrying a huge full moon made out of cardboard and aluminum foil, so there would be a virtual full moon for Sid. But even with loving persuasion, Sid stood firm on his commitment and declined the ice cream. Sid knew that a 100% commitment is actually easier to keep, and he was unwilling to undermine years of success for other people's approval. " The Success Principles - Jack Canfield

"There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results." - Ken Blanchard

At A Spot For Tea we are committed to excellence and a superior tea experience. When we first started out we got alot of questions about why we don't serve coffee. Some customers were not very happy with our decision but I stuck to my original intent. We have 50 selections of loose leaf tea and it has become one of our main goals to educate people about tea and health and convert coffee drinkers over to tea drinkers. There is a coffee house on almost every major intersection...we wanted to be unique and different. Besides you can't smell the bouquet of tea's aroma when it competes with coffee. We're a TEA ROOM not a coffee room.

Only on a full moon do we serve coffee and its only during special events in the evening. When the moon comes out in its full glory.

Proverbs 16:4 "Commit your works to the Lord. And your plans will be established."

Decompress Time

The couple above are two of our good customers Rick and Dee Dee who occasionally come for afternoon tea upstairs. It is their time together for refinement and connection.

Decompress: to release from pressure

I was listening to someone say there are three ways to do this:

a) change of pace - doing something out of your ordinary routine

b) family/friend time - we use to say it was a shame not to know our neighbors now it can be said individuals do not connect with the people in their own house because of hectic schedules. Ask yourself the question who am I there for and who is there for me? Am I giving those people priority in my life?

c) down time - where you allow yourself to be free from performance or the burden of responsibility. Its called a FREE Day. A true free day is completely free of business meetings, business related phone calls, cell phone calls, emails or reading work related documents. You're not available to your staff, clients or students.

What I enjoy about Rick and DeeDee when they come for tea is that they enjoy spending time being in the moment and have introduced several friends to a more genteel way of living. When they travel they like to find new places to explore and have tea.

So try a change of pace today...find a new way to spend time with the people that you love...give yourself permission to have a little down time.

"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." - Mother Teresa

Matt 4:4 "But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone..."

Carroll's Mad Hatter

"Every age has a certain spirit or mood or climate to it. Ours is busyness. We're all running like lemmings from sunup to way past sundown. What's with all the energy drinks? There must be dozens now. Rocketfuel. CrankYouUP. Not to mention the coffeehouses on every corner. Why do we need all this caffeine? And why do so many of us now need sleep aids to rest at night? Our grandparents didn't. We thought the age of technology would make life simpler, easier. It has us by the throat. We need to operate at the speed of computers. We are running around like ants do when you kick in their hill, like rats on a wheel, like Carroll's Mad Hatter. "

Walking With God - John Eldredge

I want a different life than the one he is describing. Take a moment...take a deep breath....spend a quiet moment with a cup of tea and let it settle down your soul.

Isaiah 55:1 "Come, all you who are thirsty."

God offers us free nourishment that feeds our soul. How do we get it? We come, seek, and call on Him. We slow down long enough to drink in all that He is offering.

Instant Society

"We live in an age of acceleration, in an era so seduced by the instantaneous that we're in grave danger of losing our ability to wait. Life moves at a staggering pace. Computers yield up immediate answers. Pictures develop before our eyes. Satellites beam television signals from practically anywhere, allowing far-away images to appear instantly in our living rooms. Complex life issues are routinely introduced, dealt with, and solved in neat thirty-minute segments on tv. Space travel, fax machines, instant coffee, disposable diapers. In ways large and small, we're all encapsulated in a speeding world. We're surrounded by express lanes, express mail, express credit. There aren't just restaurants, but "fast-food" restaurants; not simply markets, but "jiffy" markets. Faster is better. Ask anyone."

When The Heart Waits - by Sue Monk Kidd

"You see, if you insist on instant, you'll get your tea, but you'll miss one of tea's most beautiful benefits - the blessing of slowing down to enjoy it. You'll be having your tea but losing the opportunity to stake out an island of calm serenity in that chaotic ocean of daily life."

If Teacups Could Talk - by Emilie Barnes

At A Spot For Tea we invite you to take a time out. The act of making and drinking tea forces us to slow down - our soul desperately longs for refreshment. Just like in child birth it takes nine months of waiting before the baby arrives. Good things take time to incubate and that makes us even more aware that God has a plan and sometimes we must wait to see the full revelation of it coming to pass.

Psalm 33:11 "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,

the purpose of his heart through all generations."

The picture above is 3 generations having tea at a shower for baby Holland that was born March 24th extending the generations to four.

Take Yourself To Places Where You Feel Terrific

Have you thought about a tropical vacation this year? The next question is where do you go when you're not on vacation but you want to feel as if you are for an hour or an afternoon? We all have places that make us feel terrific and are our private getaway. Some are faraway, once-a-year or even life-time destinations. Others are just around the corner. Spending time there is a great idea for stress relief.

Do some writing in your journal about places you truly would like to visit...places you've never been and other places your heart would like to return. Then make a plan; visit a travel agency and dream...collect brochures....be an armchair traveler.

In between those vacations, we hope that you will make A Spot For Tea one of those around the corner places you love to visit. It can be a Godsend. If you are spending your time and your life insignificantly...today start making a decision to choose wisely who and what you spend those precious moments on. Spend as much of it as you can in those places that leave you refreshed and filled up. Don't waste another minute on people and places that drain you.

Psalm 71:3 "Be to me a rock of refuge in which to dwell, and a sheltering stronghold to which I continually RESORT, which you have appointed to save me, for you are my Rock and my Fortress."