A Tea Party

Welcome friends! I hope this finds each of you very well. Tonight was a very special night--my sister and I along with three other friends held a tea party!

Event: Tea

Where: The Halbert Household

When: June 27th, 2011, at 5:30

Why: For sweet fellowship and an opportunity to gather around and watch Little Women

Dress: Dress up! :) 

I was really looking forward to this event; personally, I am a girl who likes to prepare and decorate the home, bake goodies and gather friends around for sweet conversation. However, I was nervous about my guests--perhaps I am too old-fashioned for these young girls; perhaps they will find me silly for wanting to dress up. Perhaps they will become tired while watching Little Women (Gasp, what a horrific possibility! :) All these doubts drifted through my mind as I swept floors, made beds, decorated the table and laid out the movie upon the stand. So you can imagine my delight when I was told that one young lady could hardly sleep the night before because she was so excited! Beams of sunlight and joy filled the room! You see, this party wasn't just about getting the girls together, having fun and watching a movie. This was an opportunity for me to witness Christ-likeness; it was my chance to encourage these growing young ladies to become modest, feminine women. For a few hour I could show these girls that it is okay to be old-fashioned, in fact, it is even desirable. Our world is going downhill and with it the virtues and values once held dear. If I can just encourage others to hold onto what is truly important --Obeying Christ, being a girl, learning character--than I must take on the job. And so, I entered the tea party with great hopes. I praise my Lord for making it a success for He alone was in control--may He get the glory for all! 

So, please enjoy the photos I have. I would like to give special thank-yous to my Daddy, sister and brother for being such good sport and making the night beautiful. The only person missing was my dearest Mommy; Momma we missed you and plan to have another tea when you return home! 

~*~

   

Welcome!

A glimpse into the area of our party.

This lovely piece is found at Art by Ardnas.

The table setting--Our dear friends brought some very yummy oatmeal cookies which were a perfect addiction, oops, I mean addition to the night. :o)

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Blueberry scones. :P

1903 - Gentleman Mouse in Front of Tea Cup by Beatrix Potter

Sweetly found at this link.

 

A colorful bowl of taffy.

Chocolate peanut-butter scones.

My most beloved sister and her little pup Chloe waiting for the guests to arrive!

Welcome in!

Daisies in a Tea Cup is found at Watercolor Paintings by RoseAnn Hayes

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown

One of my young friend's beautiful tea set. (Excuse those silly coupons! :)

Going to Tea

You're going out to tea today,

Be careful what you do;

Let all accounts that I shall hear,

Be pleasant ones, of you.

Don't spill your tea, or knaw your bread,

And don't tease one another;

And Fanny mustn't talk too much,

Or quarrel with her brother.

Say"if you Please," and "Thank you,"

Come home at eight O'clock;

And Ethel, pray be careful, dear,

And do not tear your frock.

Now mind your manners, children five,

Attend to what I say;

and then perhaps, I'll let you go,

Again, another day.

~Kate Greenaway

:o) A lovely young lady

 Beautiful! Thank you, dear ladies, for making this a sweet night.

May the LORD richly bless you, my dear friends. I am so thankful for you!

With much love,
Frannie

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Ephesians 1:3-7

A Glimpse into my Day

Hello friends! I hope this finds you very well; e and ever since I began Authentic Virtue I've seen many lovely posts of The Simple Woman's Day. I have always  loved these brief peeps into the writer's life and thought today is as good a day to start.

Outside my window . . . A light breeze is rustling the green tree outside the window I just washed a few days ago.

I am thinking . . . About how to order my day and Ghana.

I am thankful for . . . My Momma being home and for God's infinite grace.

Mummsey dear and I. I'm so thankful to have her as my example.

From the learning rooms . . . Hmm, since I am out of school for the summer I'm not necessarily in the schoolroom; however, last night I typed out some donation papers in preparation for my Ghana trip. I've also been busy reading a biography of Susanna Wesley. (What a noble lady!)

From the kitchen . . . Egg salad (yummy :o)

I am creating . . . My bedroom! My dear Momma and Daddy have been busy painting my bedroom two shades of blue--pictures will soon be coming your way!

I am going . . . To seek to serve my family today by cleaning.

I am reading . . . A lovely quote from The Royal Path of Life (1879) -- A book I would love to have!

"Our very nature demands home. It is the first essential element of our social being. This cannot be complete without home relations. There would be no proper equilibrium of life and character without the home influence. The heart bereaved and disappointed, naturally turns for refuge to home life. No spot is so attractive to the wary one: it is the heart's moral oasis. There is a mother's watchful love and a father's sustaining influence. There is a husband's protection and a wife's tender sympathy. There is a circle of loving brothers and sisters happy in each other's love. Oh what is life without these!"

I am hoping . . . To sew some aprons as well as finish my spring cleaning at my work.

I am hearing . . . My family quietly mill about and Momma whistling "Count Your Many Blessings."

Around the house . . . Lies boxes, happy people, and chores to be done. :)

One of my favorite things . . . Is tidying the home and going out and marking what fruit tree is what. (Is that a peach, apple or . . . now what is that?!)

Baby peaches sitting in my palm. Do any of you know how to care for fruit trees?

A few plans for the rest of the week: Well, my family and I may go dancing tonight (a fun time). Tomorrow and Thursday I plan on spending much time washing windows and cleaning out my work's annex. And on Friday I officially begin my summer job of working at Discovery Ministries as a cook (hurray! :).


Well, off I go! Thank you all for stopping by--may the LORD bless your day!

With love from,
Frannie

"I will sing of mercy and judgement: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:" Psalm 101:1-3

God Bless You

Hello friends! How are you all? I hope very well--perhaps your spring has also snapped in to warm summer? I hope it isn't too hot--I just tell myself it's good training for Ghana. :o)

 "God Bless You." Three very simple words--words which I wholeheartedly claim as a Christian. Yet, these three words seem to fill my mouth with dust and weigh my tongue; three small words which I fear giving to friends and strangers. A small sentence of blessing and testimony which make my heart tremble and my knees to shake. Me, a born-again, hymn singing, headcovering daughter of the most High King afraid to say "God bless you?" Yet the long-lost carnival worker, the stranger in the food line and the straggly man walking into Aldies seem to have no struggle speaking the important words. People you wouldn't expect to even know the name of Jesus bless me . . . while I shirk my duty, nay privilege, of claiming the name of Christ in fear embarrassment.


Hmm . . . I think there is a problem. Is it possible that I fear man more than God? Can it be that I am ashamed of the Lamb of God, the one who became my sin for my freedom? 
 

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

 Mark 8:38

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

II Corinthians 6: 17,18

Thank you Lord, for the way-ward carnival worker, for the stranger in the food line and for the bedraggled man at Aldies . . . thank you for their testimony that they shared with me. Father, I do confess that I have been afraid of speaking your name. Lord, I fear man. Father, please forgive me for fearing man and for being ashamed of Your name. Please fill me with your boldness that I may speak the name of Christ so that You will not be ashamed of me. Create in me a love for the unlovely people out and about this world--and give me the grace to bless them so that they may see you. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

Take care sweet friends as you serve the LORD this coming week. May God help us to remember "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

With lots of love from your sister in Christ,
Frannie



*Photo Credit: This lovely painting was taken from this link.

Please, excuse my Mess

Hello friends! I hope this finds each of you doing well--trusting in Jesus' everlasting arms. I'm enjoying a tiny vacation with my family in Tennessee; I hope to share photos later. I'm quickly writing to ask you to please excuse my mess as I change a few things around here.  :o) I hope to be back and share a few things with you.