If Teacups Could Talk: February 2011

2.16.2011

Lovebirds

You know the jingle...

"Two little lovebirds sittin' in a tree

(or standing on a porch, as the case may be)

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

First comes love...then comes marriage!

Yes, that's right. There is a wedding in the works.

They are thrilled and so are we!

Congratulations Sarah and Brandon on your Valentine engagement!

Cute little lovebirds wouldn't you say?

Can we have tea?

"Can we have tea?" is a frequently asked question at our house. A small request, a simple suggestion, a recurrent ritual. Oh, the ritual is about more than putting a kettle on to boil; more than steeping fragrant herbs; more than stirring the steaming colored liquid patiently waiting for it to become the perfect "warm." You see, checking to do lists, multi-tasking, over-scheduling and perpetual motion have often been the culprit of my not living in the moment. Ask any of my kids and they will tell you "Hurry" is a word they have all heard me utter too many times. So isn't it just perfect that a cup of herbal tea is something that can't be hurried! Start to finish it is a 'slow down, relax, simple enjoyment" kind of time. I've come to realize that tea is an herbal remedy for the business of my busyness. In fact, my suspicion is that occasionally the request "let's make tea" is really "mom, stop and take time to be with me!" And so we share tea. (Truthfully, a few of my big girls prefer hot chocolate - but what's inside the cup is beside the point). We share time. We share a cup of easy conversation. We share a bit of ourselves. Unhurried, in the moment, safe.

Actually, it was my mom that taught my bigger kids how to tea. They started having herbal tea parties with their nonna many years ago. At her house, they were teddy bear tea parties and planned with much anticipation. Now most of those kids are grown and most of the teddy bears are retired. Many years later the tea parties at our house are not planned, but impromptu. We have morning tea, just-home-from-school tea, bedtime tea (their diversion tactic), game night tea, late night tea, tears or tummy ache tea (my diversion tactic). Without rhyme or reason, a kettle and a few teacups make for a gentle sort of magic that is nurturing and warm, intimate but not intrusive. It's true, if teacups could talk they could tell all kinds of things! My teacups would tell you who at our house takes Passion tea sweetened with Splenda, or Night Night tea sweetened with German rock cane sugar, Organic Apple Red, Peppermint, or Chamomile sweetened with honey. And they could tell you soooo much more. Luckily for us all, teacups can't talk. Even so, they do quietly remind me that time together with my family and friends should be "steeped in serenity, sweetened by sharing and surrounded by the warmth and fragrance of love." So, for a cup of easy conversation, stop by again - we'll have tea!

*Hugs to ShaLyse and Dallen for surprising me with this cute blog banner!

2.16.2011

Lovebirds

Can we have tea?

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