Hurry!! Hurry!! Beautiful Giveaway

A Cozy Cottage in the City is offering a beautiful giveaway of lovely rose-inspired items to add to your cottage decor. Her blog is delightful to read and full of gorgeous and inspiring photos as well. I have just today become a follower and am enjoying her blog immensely. Enter today but bear in mind that I have already decided to be the winner!!! LOL.
Click on the link on my sidebar for more information.

In Grace,
Marie

Christmas Has Come

This little arrangement is actually the bottom of a small hatbox. I filled it with my favorite ornaments, a pearl necklace, a wintery floral pic, and stood my favorite Santa ornament close by. I love the snowy look of it all.

I am late posting some of my Christmas decor and activities but I must say I am enjoying the season this year. The blessings of my gracious Lord have been many and abundant. I am grateful for all He has given me, but thankful most of all for the blessing of family and friends.

This is a photo of one of my dearest friends, Betty Blansett (whom we all affectionately call "Memaw"). She is a sheer delight to be with and always makes me smile no matter how awful things may be. I love her dearly.

Every Christmas, I host a Christmas Tea Party for my friends. Betty's daughter, Susan, and Betty's granddaughter Kelly, also came to my gathering this year. Susan is the dearest friend I have ever had. She has been with me through the sorrows and the joys and I cannot imagine life without Susan being there.

Susan loves taking pictures of all of our events---almost as much as I do. Here she is checking out her photos while her daughter, Kelly, enjoys the fun.

Kelly is a beautiful and talented young woman. She sings and plays music in our church and is such a lovely Christian. I never fail to be blessed by her positive attitude and her loving kindness. I often call her my "protege" .

The following photos are a little peek into some of my Christmas decor this year.

This is my little Gingerbread House I set up in the corner of my kitchen counter. I bought the house at Bath and Body a few years ago. The little people are actually salt and pepper shakers I found at a hospital gift shop. I bought the peppermint trees at Kohl's during a fabulous sale this year.

The gingerbread frame was also on sale at Kohl's. I bought it while Susan and I were doing some Christmas shopping. The picture is a Christmas photo of my grandsons. Gabriel is on the right and was four when this was taken. Michael is on the left and was three. I love this photo of them and thought the frame was perfect in my kitchen this year.

I purchased this Santa many years ago at an end of season sale at Jo-Ann Fabrics. I loved him the moment I saw him and he has been a part of my mantel decorations ever since. He sits on the left side of the hatbox you saw earlier.

I cannot tell you how much I love nutcrackers. These three were my favorites this year and are on the right side of my mantel. Susan bought me a new one this year to add to my collection. You will see it here soon.

Though there are others who decorate far better and far more elaborately than I, it is a joy to share with you some of my favorite things. I hope you enjoyed the photos and may your Christmas be blessed with all good things.

In Grace,
Marie

To those of you who have been blessed with a spouse and are enjoying the love you share on a daily basis, I wish you Happy Valentine's Day. This is a day to remember the one you love---to remember the love you share and the joy of being together. No greater love exists than that of two people coming together and sharing their hearts with each other. Only the love of God Himself is greater than this.
May each of you be blessed with a wonderful Valentine's Day. May the love you share grow deeper still and last a lifetime.

In Grace,
Marie

White Christmas, Please

White Christmas

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Beginning Again

It has been a while since I have written anything here or on my primary blog (www.amomentingrace.blogspot.com). Personal illness, a heavy work schedule, and the loss of several dear friends and family members have kept me from being able to think and/or write clearly. The past two months have been very difficult and I have struggled to come to terms with life's events. I have prayed some of my most earnest prayers and held to the promises of God's Word---both of which have become my strength.
I have discovered through this awful time that God is faithful. He is unwavering in His love, every present in time of need, ever willing to bear my pain when I am unable to bear it myself. The teachings of my childhood as a pastor's child have held me in good stead. Many times I have, in memory, heard my father's strong, booming voice speaking words that have given me direction and purpose. God is, indeed, faithful and uses many ways to help us in times of distress.
Graceful Moments, my primary blog, is my inspirational writing. It is where I write from my spiritual heart the things God places in my spirit. Tea and Roses is meant to show my day to day life and the joys I find in living with the blessings God has given me. My blogs have given me such an outlet and enabled me to meet such lovely people. I hope, very soon, to be able to return to each of you the blessing you have been to me by bringing some small measure of joy and peace to your lives through what I post.
So, as I emerge from a time of great testing, I ask each of you to remember me in your prayers. I have been so encouraged by so many of my blogger friends and I thank you for your concern. I am reminded of a passage of scripture written by the Apostle Paul in which he states that after we have endured great sorrow, we are able to comfort others with the comfort that we, ourselves, have received from God. May He comfort, encourage, and bless each of you today with the riches of His presence and His abiding love.

In Grace,
Marie

A Birthday Tea

Angel centerpiece for the table

My friend, Janet, wanted a tea party for her birthday. As some of you may know, I host adult tea parties for special occasions. Janet told me that she didn't care what theme I chose as long as it was "pink". Since I am a confirmed "pinkaholic" this request was just what I loved.


It all began with pink roses

I cannot imagine a tea party without flowers and pink roses fit the bill perfectly. I divided a dozen roses into small clusters, placed them in bud vases, and set them at either end of the table. My friend and pastor's wife, Susan, was gracious enough to let us host the party in her beautiful dining room. She also provided her lovely china for our gathering. The roses and china complimented each other so wonderfully. The angel centerpiece is actually a tree topper I picked up at Hobby Lobby during the Christmas season several years ago. I thought she looked perfect on the table. I scattered some rose petals over the white damask , added some tea lights at each place setting, and the table came to life.


Buffet area with tea party fare

Our menu was delicious. We offered strawberry fizz punch, fresh fruit, cookies, chicken salad, and delicious croissants. Apple and cherry turnovers, whipped cream with fruit salad and, of course, hot tea with cream and sugar, rounded out the menu offerings.


We added a little feminine "foufou" to punch bowl.

What a wonderful time we all had. Unfortunately, we were all so busy taking photos of our surroundings, we didn't get pictures of the guests. Our small group of friends has shared both our joys and our sorrows. We have consoled, comforted, and prayed each other through many difficult times. We have also shared the joy of friendship, closeness, and love. We are bound by cords that cannot be broken. I am so blessed to have precious friends such as these. What an added bonus that they also love pink. (*_*)

In Grace,
Marie

A New Place

I am soo happy to say that I am moving to a new location---closer to my church and more easily accessible to my daughter and her family. It has taken me a while to find the right place--a lovely apartment with a small balcony that overlooks a beautiful wooded area. I am hoping to be able to stay there for a year or so and then buy a home in the same area.
I will be really busy the next couple of weeks with a new project suggested to me by my pastor's wife, Susan. She challenged me to decorate my new home without buying new decorative items. Susan titled the project, "Decorating With What You Already Have." So, in accepting her challenge I will be posting photos of "before and after" for each project along with how I did it all. I am so looking forward to this and hope you all will enjoy decorating with me.
Until my next post, I pray you all have a blessed Easter with your families. Blessings to all of you today.

In Grace,
Marie