Life's Little Blessings...with a special update at the end...

Just had a really sweet and special day. I want to share it with you, because it blessed my heart, and maybe it will yours too!

I wonder if any of you recognize these little Fisher Price people from the old FP Village that came out probably 45 years ago or more...?  Well, these people and their little cars and furnishings, etc., all belonged to my children, the oldest of whom is now 48, so these things are very close to that age. Yes, I've saved them...these are really the only toys that belonged to our boys that I've saved. About 18 years ago, when our only grandchild was two, we pulled them back out of storage for him to play with when he came to visit us all the way from Maine, but because he lived so far away and didn't get to visit very often, by the next time he came for a visit he was already too old to play with them. So they went back into storage, (with the hope that maybe we would have some more grandchildren some day).  But alas, as life goes on and time marches on, no other grandchildren ever came to play with these little toys from the past. Because it was just a small box, we kept it...who knows...maybe we'll get a Great-Grandchild to come play with them some day?

 Anyway, you are probably wondering now why I have them set out and arranged for play.

Well, today we had some sweet little visitors, the grandchildren of some friends of ours from our church, and since we really didn't have any other toys here for them to play with, and because I happened to know right where this little box of toys was after our recent move, this seemed like an appropriate time to pull these little relics from the past back out.  It is amazing to me that these toys, which are almost 50 years old, were built to last...and are still relevant and entertaining for children today.

 They were thrilled...and immediately began to play and pretend and use their imaginations to play out the scenes before them with the little people and cars and buildings...and they played so very nicely that we never had to speak a word to them.

 You may be wondering why they were visiting? Well, kind of a long story, so, long story short, we were actually having a "tea party".  Their mommy and "Mimi" (Their grandmother and my friend) were also a part of the party...Here's the table set before...everyone has their own place card and tea cup and saucer. The mugs were for the "boys"  (Yes, hubby stayed for the party, because he didn't want to miss out on the fun either...)

After a fun and delicious lunch of chicken and/or tuna salad sandwiches, fruit cup, carrot and celery sticks, pickles and chips, we took a break to have a special activity prior to our dessert/tea party.

Every lady, young and old, decorated a special hat for the tea party...with inexpensive (truly...marked way down bargain hats from the dollar store), silk flowers and bits of ribbons and a hot glue gun, we had a ball...

 Mimi and Momma both got into the act  and created their own lovely hats as well as helping the kiddos with theirs...

 Everyone (ladies only) got to choose their own decorations for their hats, and we adult ladies handled the hot glue gun and wire cutters and scissors...

Don't you love these little girls' designs?

I even got to decorate a hat for myself...

 Aren't they lovely???

My friend Vivian ("Mimi") and I...(my son remarked that it was very interesting that God gave me a friend named "Vivian" right after my mother in law, also named Vivian, passed away. I thought it interesting as well.  I guess God knew I needed a "Vivian" always in my life...a special blessing indeed...)

Here we are, modeling our lovely millinery creations...Even the little boy has a special hat that he was proud to wear.

 So, after we finished creating our hats, we sat back down at the table for Tea time, with cookies and cake and a variety of herbal fruity teas for the kiddos, and some Earl Grey, Constant Comment, or several other flavors for the ladies...  (hubby became the official photographer).

 However, after tea time the party was not quite over.  This little fella just had a birthday, so of course a present was in order...

But the real reason for deciding to have this little tea party in the first place was so I could sort of "clean house"...  No, I don't mean the kind of cleaning like vacuuming, dusting, etc.,  although I did do some of that...but this kind of house cleaning was to help me begin the process of "letting go" of so many things...in particular, dolls.  Many of you know that I have a bit of a doll collection. (Click HERE for a look back at some of my dollies...)  Well, since moving into this new house, I have discovered that I just don't have the space or places to display all of my dolls anymore.  So I decided that it is time to start letting others enjoy these special little dolls.

After sharing my thoughts with my friend Vivian, she assured me that her granddaughters love dolls, and they have a special shelf for their really nice dolls that they take good care of...and so we concocted this scheme to have this tea party and to surprise these dear little girls with some special treasures.   I will let the pictures speak for themselves:

 I think you can tell they were pretty happy with their gifts...

And the little guy got monster trucks...not dolls...but that made him very happy too...

And we had such fun...and ate up half of the cake that I baked...a tribute to my mother in law, "Vivian".  Her recipe in her own writing follows:

Spiced Devil's Food Cake, which was originally from "Aunt Florence Waters", who was my husband's grandmother's sister.  What I did differently is I used a Devil's Food Cake mix, and followed the recipe on the box for the mix, except I added the spices and molasses and instead of the cup of water called for on the mix box, I substituted with the 1 cup of boiling water with the 1 tsp. of baking soda mixed in it as called for here. Not sure what that does, but I think it helps with the spices and molasses to mix in better. I baked it at 350 for 35 minutes  in a Bundt pan. I served it with whipped cream on top, which was very good!


So after the hubbub died down, the guests packed up their hats and dolls and toys and headed home, the noise and laughter faded out, and hubby and I washed up the dishes together and talked about how much fun we had.  Yes, I'm tired, but it's a happy kind of tired.  It's a wonderful thing to see little children at play again and to see their faces light up with delight when they are given a very special treat...and they were so good,  and so very sweet.  (They've been brought up very well). It did my heart good.

Speaking of good...we each had a place card at the table, and at the end of the party, everyone got a "Happy Face" sticker if they were really good!  I guess I must have behaved well, because even I got a happy face on my place card! (The children said that I had to have one too! :) 

Good place to end this story. It was a great day. What does the Bible say about cheerful givers:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

"6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

And also there is a place in the Bible that talks about "a merry heart"...

Proverbs 17:22 New King James Version (NKJV)

22 

"A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones."

I know I don't want any "dry bones"...so it is good to have a "merry heart"!  And I am very cheerful about sharing these gifts with these sweet little people. Definitely one of "life's little blessings"...(maybe a BIG blessing!)

My Thrift Store Little Girl

Today while my hubby was picking up a prescription at the local "Grandma's Pharmacy" (I kid you not...that is the name of the drug store), I meandered down to the Thrift Store in the little shopping center to mosey around while waiting.  They had lots of this and that, old dishes, clothes, junk, knicknacks and paddiwacks...even had a dog wandering around in the store...(not for sale, at least I don't think he was...).  Most of the stuff was just junk, and somewhat overpriced junk at that.  Except for this lovely little item that caught my eye and I could not pass it up.  I mean, it was only $2.00!!!
Here she is...and I know you will agree that she was meant for me ...

Don't you just love this little girl, sitting in front of the mirror, trying on a pretty hat...and wearing her mommy's make up and jewelry?

And notice her teddy bear, sitting there patiently watching and waiting for her to finish playing dress-up and pick him back up to play...

He kind of reminds me of my hubby waiting for me to try on new clothes at the store...

(which rarely ever happens any more!)

Well, I just couldn't pass her by.  She takes me back to my own childhood...playing dress up...and I still love to put on old hats and pretend I'm from somewhere back in time...and since I don't have any little girls or granddaughters to enjoy playing dress-up with...I guess the little girl in me was reaching out to play with her....

It says on the bottom of this adorable little figurine that she is one the

"Dollstone Collection" pieces from "Yesterday's Child". And there is a quote from 

William Butler Yeats:

"To be born a woman is to know,

although they do not talk of it as school,

that we must labor to be beautiful."

However, I remember what Proverbs 31:29-30 says about "The Virtuous Woman"

"Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all."

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord,

she shall be praised."

Lord, I want to be that woman who fears the Lord...not for any praise, but because I know that is what has lasting value and purpose in life.  However, Lord, I thank You that You love me just as I am...especially when I come to You in "child-like faith".  For You told Your disciples in Matthew 18:3-5 the following:

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted

and become as little children, you will by no means

enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child

is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever receives one little child like this

in My name receives Me."

So maybe acting like a little girl again isn't such a bad thing after all!

Well, maybe my theology is a little skewed to cover my little indulgence today...but I think Jesus understands my heart.  Besides, the Bible also tells us that 

"A merry heart  does good, like medicine!" 

(Proverbs 17:22)

So, this sweet little girl has made my heart merry today...

and that's GOOD medicine!

I hope she has made YOU smile as well!

Good night dear friends!

Sweet Dreams!

A Merry Heart is Good Medicine

"A merry heart does good, like a medicine, 

but a broken spirit dries the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

 Lately I've been feeling a bit stressed by a myriad of things...so it seemed time for a diversion of sorts...

I told my hubby the other day that I wished there was a little cafe' or restaurant around here (closer than 30 miles) where we could go and have a fresh blueberry muffin and a pot of hot tea for breakfast.  When we used to visit our kids in Maine we always found places everywhere we went that served the best blueberry muffins...probably because wild blueberries are so prolific in that area.  We live in the south, and southerners just don't seem to appreciate a good blueberry muffin like they do in New England.

My Tea Cabinet...

So then I thought to myself, "Well, Pam, you DO know how to bake blueberry muffins...and you DO have some fresh blueberries in the fridge...so what are you waiting for?"  And, it's not like I don't have any teapots or teacups or boxes and boxes of different kinds of teas...


So, I just got busy and started baking my own muffins.  Mmmmm, nothing like the smell of hot blueberry muffins baking early in the morning...and I didn't even have to get dressed to go out to eat them!

Click HERE for the recipe for these  delicious Blueberry Muffins from my friend Sandi at "Rose Chintz Cottage"

The recipe I used came from one of my blogging friends, Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage. (See the link above).  Sandi lives on Prince Edward Island, a place on my bucket list of places to visit someday. If you know anything about Prince Edward Island, you should know that it is the home of L.M. Montgomery, the author of the "Anne of Green Gables" series of books. (For more about my interest in Anne of Green Gables click HERE)

 My sister Doris gave me this adorable little "Anne of Green Gables" doll for Christmas a couple of years ago, and this seemed like a good time to invite her to join my little tea party.

Since I was having so much fun with this little impromptu tea party, it seemed an appropriate time to use a very special set of dishes for the occasion.

 This lovely little set of dishes was passed down to me from my mother.  She loved antique dishes, and especially Haviland china, as that is what her mother had.  I don't know if this particular set belonged to my grandmother, but either way, it is very special to me.

 As you can see, this is "The Princess" pattern of Haviland & Co. Limoges China from France.

The adorable tea pot with the little bird on top is designed by Marjolein Bastin for Hallmark. This was a gift from my sister Doris as well.  I think I should have invited my sister to have tea with me...but she lives over an hour away and probably wouldn't have come just for breakfast...would you Doris? Maybe next time...we will definitely need to plan that!!

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, 

but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." 

Proverbs 15:13

"All the days of the afflicted are evil, 

but he (she!) who is of a merry heart has a continual feast." 

 Proverbs 15:15

It is my hope that this little tea party has lifted your spirits and given you a merry heart today! 

It certainly blessed my heart!

Click HERE for another post that talks about having a "Merry Heart"