As The Teacup Turns

Esther's Orange Marmalade Cake

Book Club members discussing book and trying out cake.

Jason and Ashlie on the way to the hospital.

Brooke Shutrum's dress up tea party.



Brooke and guest (isn't her hat just perfect for her?)

Queen's Tea sharing Light Afternoon Tea.

Sitting in the front on the fireplace sharing a quiet moment.

Bridal Shower celebrating happy moments in the Queen's Room.

Mr. Pho Restaurant and teapot fountain.

Jasmine Tea to end my day!

Kristen's surprise party with John, Lindy & Annette.

Brock learning to use chopsticks.

As The Teacup Turns

(an ode to Saturday, October 25th)

A day in the life of a tearoom owner
always exciting to see
never the same old thing
what's new around the corner for me.

Starting at eleven o'clock book club meeting
discussing A New Song by Jan Karon
tasting Esther Bolick's Orange Marmalade Cake
sharing our answers to discussion questions.

Read aloud the passage
with our special dish in mind
May God bless our time together
always something revealing to find
between the pages.

A little after twelve o'clock
there was a knock on the door
to say Ashlie's water had broken
we all acted as if it had never happened before.
(reminding me of the last scene in Steel Magnolias)

Then on to hosting a tea party at 1:30 for Brooke
invitations sent our for fashion show and tea
eight guest all dressed up with hats and gloves
another wonderful afternoon making memories.

Queen's Room, Main dining room and Afternoon Tea
Bridal showers and those wanting to relax and share a moment
customers bustling in from Affair of The Heart
being refilled and spending special times with friends.

Eric and Autumn cater two weddings at 6:00 and 7:30pm
at Walnut Creek and Coles Garden
Surprise birthday party for Kristen a new adventure
Jasmine tea to bring the day to an end.
(Mackenzie Grace was born at 9:45pm)

2 Samuel 22:30 "With your help I can advance against a troop
with my God I can scale a wall."

Birthdays, Bowling & Tea?

Route 66 Bowling

Tea Lady picks out pink bowling ball...yeehee!

Benjamin ready to make a strike.


Good form...on Eric's approach.

Brock...ready to rock his frame!

Helene (Eric's mom) she's in a league all her own.

Ed (Eric's dad) bowled the high 186...not bad for 82 years young.

This is Ed's STRIKE!

Tammy and her PINK Bowling ball!

I had the low score...imagine that?

Blake intensely....going after KING Pin.

Seibert boys....between strikes!

Our three sons!

Birthday cake for Eric....celebrating with family!

New TV for the kitchen at A Spot For Tea.

Happy Birthday darling.

With all the catering....a guy's got to have a little game action and cable.

Behind the Scene...at A Spot For Tea.

During an OU game if you hear a lot of hooping and hollering coming

from the kitchen...for the guys in my life.....thanks for all you do.

Happy Birthday, Eric! I couldn't make it without you.

Proverbs 12:2 "A good man obtains favor from the Lord."

Books That Change Your Life - Part 2

Author Madeleine L'Engle

"Walking On Water - Reflections on Faith & Art"


My Journal Entry - December 21, 2000 - "Confirmation...last night Kristen and I went to Barnes & Noble and she told me about a new book by Madeleine L'Engle. I could not believe it - of course, she is one of my favorite authors of all time .

In L'Engle's book she writes, "The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birthgiver. In a very real sense the artist should be like Mary, who when the angel told her that she was to bear the Messiah, was obedient to the command. I believe that each work of art whether it is a work of great genius or something very small, comes to the artist and says, 'Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me."

On page 22 of Walking on Water, she writes "a young woman said to me, 'I read A Wrinkle In Time when I was eight or nine. I didn't understand it, but I knew what it was about'."

Continuing in my journal I wrote, "Yes..I say. Yes..me too. I read it and I knew Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who & Mrs. Which were angels. We sometimes have to go beyond ourselves to reach our destiny. We have to go beyond what is our world and reach out for God's help. Meg was a child and I quoted a passage in my journal about this. I was also the same age when her work affected me and I became no longer afraid of death."

My Journal Entry - December 28, 2000 - "I'm still waiting for a sign. I'm in Buffalo, New York for Christmas. (Eric has been diagnosed with pneumonia. We took him to the doctor and he has been in bed and put on antibiotics. He is very ill.) I'm reading, praying and waiting. Waiting for a clear something. I'll know it when it comes. Waiting for understanding. I wait for God's revelation to me. I know there is something more that I am not getting I can tell it. Something in the whole picture that is not complete. God is trying to tell me something and I just haven't gotten it yet. Something I wish I could listen to the wind to my dreams. I wish I could hear it."

We gave birth to the dream...we built the Rose Cottage in the back of the antique mall in April 2001. A Spot For Tea would soon have an actual location for tea parties.

Luke 1:38 " 'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered, 'May it be to me as you have said."

Books That Change Your Life

Author Madeleine L'Engle

"A Wrinkle In Time"

Published in 1962 - Winner of a Newberry Award.

When I was nine years old, I discovered a story that would change my life - the author has continued to mentor me throughout my life. The opening line "It was a dark and stormy night." begins a journey that I needed to take. I'm a P.K. (preacher's kid) and when I was in grade school we lived in Marlow, Oklahoma, in a Methodist parsonage behind the church which was located on Main Street. In the middle of the night we had a knock on the door to tell my father that one of the high school baseball players had been killed in a car accident. I remember realizing for the first time my own immortality. How could a person die at such a young age? A fear began to grip my heart...it was a dark and scary time. Then I read Madeleine L'Engle's book and felt myself relate to the main character, Meg Murray. In just a few pages I felt and sympathized with her struggles and worries. She became a heroine to me. In the chapter titled "The Foolish and The Weak" she is given an impossible task but before she is sent on her mission to rescue her brother she is given instruction by three ladies Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who & Mrs. Which:

"The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how than not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, no many noble, are called, but God had chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are nought things that are." 1 Corinthians 1:25

As a gradeschooler I knew little of scripture but I knew truth that resonated in my heart. A tiny seed was planted in my heart at a very early age. What I realized during reading this book that God can use even me. I knew at that moment that God was calling me to do something for Him that would confound the wise. I just didn't have a clue as to what that might be.

The three women advise Meg of the mystery of God. Until the time is right for Him to reveal His plans for us we cannot try to figure everything out. We couldn't because God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise. In God's upside down economy He uses the most unlikely people to accomplish His work and that qualifies even me.

"But of course, we can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts." Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle In Time, Madeleine L'Engle.

Josephine Steinert's 95th Birthday Party

Birthday Girl - Josephine Steinert

(pictured standing on the left of the stairs)

Great nieces and nephews dressed up for the special event.

Josephine is one of those ladies that know how to throw a party.

At 95 years of age....she is still having a great time in life.

What an inspiration to be living life to the fullest and sharing it with those you love.

She brought everyone the children presents to her birthday party.

There was live music and celebration this evening in the Queen's Room upstairs.

She chose to have a High Tea Buffet and rose bubbly (non-alcoholic) in glasses to

toast to another wonderful year.

What a lady....Happy Birthday Josephine!

Psalm 30:5 "His favor lasts a lifetime!"

Heart Story by Kristen Keyser

Kristen serving customers tea.

Heart Story by Kristen Keyser

A Spot For Tea represents a place of refuge, a sanctuary. It offers a person more than just an invitation to dine; it offers an invitation to be vulnerable to the exquisite experience of life.

A Spot For Tea is very close to my heart. When the tearoom first opened a few years ago, I was honored to have the opportunity to serve beside Tammy, Ashlie, and the others. Now, a few years down the road, I am blessed with the same opportunity. Not only serving, but also being served has been delightful and inspiring. You (Tammy and staff) have offered me a restful place to relax, share, celebrate, and shed tears of both joy and sadness. This is a rarity to have found a place to return to again and again that allows me and many others a place of rest in a world racing with urgency.

For me, relationships are abundant here at A Spot For Tea; to work beside Tammy, who is a mentor and friend; Ashlie, who I have had the joy of friendship the entirety of our lives; and Eric, who is the truest example of having a servant's heart. Moreover, the staff, kitchen and waitresses, who bring so much to the ministry and vitality of the tearoom have touched my heart and influenced my life. The tearoom embodies my second family. And they do bring infinite joy to my life.

It is impossible not to be blessed in this place. I would encourage others to come into the tearoom and drink in its simplicity and beauty. The invitation has been offered all you must do now is accept. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and him with me." Revelations 3:20

Kristen is a news researcher at The Oklahoman and also works as a waitress at A Spot For Tea on Fridays and Saturdays. She has helped the tearoom host numerous events in the Red Room, herself embodying all she described in her co-workers.

Other Fall Harvest Fest Winners

A Book & Tea Gift Basket

The Basket Includes:

3 Tea Shop Mystery Books with matching bag of Tea

Death by Darjeeling with Darjeeling Mim tea

Shades of Earl Grey with Decaf Earl Grey tea

Gunpowder Green with Formosa Gunpowder green tea

All books by Author Laura Childs

Retail Value: $38.94

Winner: Janie Allen

The Signature Gift Basket

The basket includes:

A Spot For Tea Print by Susan Rios

Pink Logo Mug

Follow Me to A Spot For Tea T-shirt

Retail value: $67.97

Winner: Angela King & Jeanne Pratt

The reason there are two winners for the Signature Gift Basket is because Angela King became our customer because of Jeanne Pratt (pictured in pink).

Jeanne is one of our favorite ladies. She works in a very high stressed job (Department of Human Services) and she comes to us to unwind quite often. She has converted many of her co-workers to A Spot For Tea simply by sharing her favorite way to leave the cares of work behind her for an hour or so.

Angela picked out a t-shirt for Jeanne...she is sharing her basket. Thank you Jeanne for bringing customers like yourself our way. It is people like you that make our world a better place.

Romans 12:12-13 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

Columbus Day 2008

Bethany Main Street USA...along Route 66

Tea Room located on Meridian and 42nd.

Mother-in-law Helene Seibert, myself and best friend Jody Sharp


Cobblestone Gifts and Interiors
6714 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany
(405) 495-7446


Kathy's Korner
3934 N College Avenue, Bethany
(405) 789-6701


Country Temptations Shoppes
4801 N MacArthur Blvd, Warr Acres
(405) 789-8876


Cedarburg Square
3901 N College Avenue, Bethany
(405) 440-0001




Mariposa Design & Accessories
6718 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany
(405) 789-4551

On Columbus Day we decided to sample the pleasures and do some exploring in our own town.

Since A Spot For Tea is closed on Monday it gave me a chance to explore with my mother-in-law Helene Seibert, who is visiting from New York and best friend, Jody Sharp (my Matron of Honor and antiquing/shopping/loves good food buddy since 1979).

First we started off trying out another tearoom. You know how I love to have tea even on my day off so we tried out a old place with a new owner on 42nd and Meridian.

Then off we went strolling the streets of downtown Bethany and going to some of our favorite antique shops on an early autumn afternoon. Alot of the shops are in walking distance of one another. Window shopping and visiting with shop owners was so much fun. We talked with Millie, owner of Cobblestone and Kathy at Kathy's Korner. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and everything was decorated for fall and smelled like pumpkin and spices.

There are new discoveries to be made...every day. The best adventures I have had an(tea)quing happen when I just plan to browse. With all the bad news of economy and politics...its so nice to give yourself an excuse to time travel on a wonderful fall afternoon.

"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."
- Henry David Thoreau

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made;
I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Baby Shower for Mackenzie Grace Cravens

A Spot For Tea's Manager - Ashlie Cravens

expecting Baby Mackenzie Grace

Ashlie and best friend, Kristen Keyser

(who also works at A Spot For Tea on Fridays and Saturdays)

I've known these girls since they were just babes themselves.

Pink monogramed cake for BABY!


An assortment of food for guests!


Shower guests visiting and getting ready to play some fun games.


Family and friends that were able to attend.


Pink Gerbera Daisies in baby bottles.
Thank you Ann Simonton.

Kristen, Ashlie & Tammy.



"Life is always
a rich and steady time
when you are waiting
for something to happen or to hatch."
- E.B. White
Charlotte's Web

Kristen and I hosted the baby shower on Saturday, October 11th
in the red room at A Spot For Tea.
Ashlie is due in November and we are anxiously waiting baby Mackenzie's arrival.


"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on." - Carl Sandburg

"For Thou art my hope;O Lord God, Thou art my confidence from my youth.By Thee I have been sustained from my birth;Thou art He who took me from my mother's womb;My praise is continually of Thee."Psalm 71:5