MAMA AND THE CHEESE DOMES

You know you're popular when someone writes a story about you, but you know your FAMOUS when your daughter does. Here is a story by my guest blogger Isabella:

MAMA AND THE CHEESE DOMES

My mom LOVES cheese domes. Just one time she didn’t get one, but other than that, she can’t resist! She spray paints them and puts birds that we paint and glaze under them. Blaaah! Cheese domes! Ding-dong! Cheese domes! Everywhere! I just have to make up with them and well, I’ll live. She just got another one! Sometimes she goes to Goodwill and gets stands for them. She just got another one! She just got finished painting it. I have to admit, they are pretty. I guess that’s why she likes them. Before they are made pretty, the cheese domes sit in our garage till she gets an idea. She just just got one and put a tea cup under it. She is going to sell it at One of a Kind. That place is an antique shop. She runs a business called Tea and Traditions. As you can see, it is a tea business.

The End

Everything she says in the story is true. I'm starting to feel withdrawals (it looks like it is spelled wrong, but it is not...I checked) because I only have two cheese domes left after these go to One of a Kind. It's an addiction! Is that possible? To cheese domes? Seriously? I guess it can happen. I love them because they make pretty things look even more beautiful. The robin's eggs are painted Easter eggs speckled with brown paint and the brown eggs in the cream colored bowl are Easter eggs covered in jute (my new favorite embellishment). One thing I love about the birds is that Isabella and I do those together, I paint and she glazes. As she is getting older she can help me more and we are having fun! The little ones do what they can too, after all it is a family business. Most customers have met or heard my children on at least one occasion.

The cheese dome with the white stand was an old cheese dome with wooden plate. I attached a wooden candlestick, painted it and distressed it. The glass stand is a glass candlestick attached to a glass plate with a cheese dome on top.

I'm moving to a new space at One of a Kind, so I'll post pictures soon.

Joining Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

MY OTHER LIFE...

You know me here as a daughter of God, a wife, a homeschool mom, a perpetual crafter and super saver. What I do not talk about here a lot is my business. I sell tea! Click the header above to see my "tea" blog and you can link to my store website from there.

It is pretty interesting the business I'm in, you see I have only been a tea drinker for three years, but God in His infinite wisdom brought me this opportunity two years ago. I am His representative in the "tea" world to minister to those He sends my way. I love it!

Just last week two coffee shops contacted me. What are you up to Lord? I do not know, but I'm going to enjoy the ride. My business plan unclear, my purpose - SURE, my focus HIM!

Come by and visit sometime!

EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY...

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20

God has been continually speaking to me and orchestrating circumstances as I seek Him in every area of my business. He is faithful to run this business and I show up and do the work He has me do. Recently I had an amazing experience of His faithfulness concerning Tea & Traditions. He called me to this business two years ago and has provided ever since. No money has had to come out of our personal account to pay any business expenses although we still have a sizeable loan that we are repaying.

God’s Faithfulness Manifested…

A friend lent me a book on New Year’s Eve called In His Steps by Charles Sheldon. It is an old book with a timeless message. In it a pastor, after a series of events, encourages his church to commit for one year not to make any decision or take any action without first asking the question, “What would Jesus do?” The book follows the stories of these people as they begin to practically and impractically live this out in their everyday lives.

All the people who made the pledge meet every week after service for prayer and support. One Sunday a newspaper editor communicates to everyone that he wishes for his paper to become a “Christian” paper, but he lacks the funds to do so. One of the members at the meeting is a very wealthy woman and has been looking for ways to use her money as she thinks Jesus would have.

While reading that part of the story I offered up a simple prayer to the Father, “Lord, would there be anyone whom you would use to help financially with Tea & Traditions?” That was Monday morning and there was a $500 check in the mail when Todd brought it in after work. I can not tell you how my faith soared!

There was a note inside that this was in response to praying about what to do with a receipt of a sum of money and the note said, “You were on God’s list”. The note specified that it was for my “ministry.” The note also said, "Keep spreading the good news."

We serve a faithful God, a God who hears the cry of our hearts. I was blessed by this gift and will bless others as I was blessed. I pray the givers of this gift will be encouraged in their faith as they were obedient to the Father as He answered His daughter’s prayer of faith.

I do not know what made me pray that prayer or what gave me the boldness to ask, but the bible says that we have not because we ask not. What are you believing God for? Be bold, ask your Daddy who wants to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

HERE IT IS!

Isn't it beautiful? Compare it to the previous picture. I told you she was the BEST painter EVER!!!

Here is my new set-up at the store:

I am so excited about this! Can you tell???

BIG NEWS!

Remember last month when I was looking for direction in my business, well I have it. The ladies tea I participated in really encouraged me in my faith and business.

For a year and a half I have had shelves at a local gift shop. It has worked beautifully for me and my customers. It is close to where the previous owner had the tea shop, so it is convineint for customers and they can special order things and pick them up there. I visit the shop once a week and restock, until now...there is no more room on my three big black shelves. So, next week I am taking a whole booth, that's right 80 square feet to with what I want. That means I have lots of space to fill, enter hutch #1:

This beauty is being painted by the most fabulous furniture painter east of the Mississippi. She works wonders with paint. I will use the hutch to display my products (mostly teapots) and will also sell it. Have I ever mentioned I LOVE furniture? I mean REALLY love furniture! This will give me an opportunity to buy a lot of furniture and decorate till my heart's content. I have always loved decorating too and am grateful the Lord is giving me the opportunity to do not one but TWO things I love - tea and furniture. Oh and be a wife and mother, etc. etc. He is pretty AWESOME that way!

TEA PARTY PRAISE

God prepared me for months for this event. It was a tea party at a local church for 100 women. They invited me to speak and bring tea. The topic "Biblical Hospitality". It was a wonderful time - from the months of preparing my heart to minister to these women to the 200+ cups of tea I made. It went beautifully! My heart was full when I got there and overflowing when I left.

I was as excited when I left there as I was when I wrote this. Knowing He had called me and was preparing me was beyond description. Bringing stories to my recollection to share with these women. Making His word come alive, so my passion would ignite them.

Earlier in the week I read a story by a local pastor titled DIS-CONNECTED. In it he recounts overhearing a father talk about taking his teenage daughter and a friend to a football game. During the game she was texting and when he asked her who she was texting, she pointed to the friend next to her. That story startled me! I have a lot more to say about that in another post. It was part of my argument about the importance for these women to open their homes and share Christ's love with a "dis-connected" world. I'm not talking just the "world", I'm talking about the people in your church. The ones who sit next to you week after week and you never say more than, "Hi, how ya doin?'" scootin' away before you hear their answer. I encouraged them to do it despite the condition of their homes.

That may sound simple to you or you may be one of the many that will not invite others over because your house is not "just right". People are lonely and hurting, they just want to be asked, invited, included, so please you be the ONE! Be the one who invites, opens and includes someone who just needs a friend. Afterall, God does not care about the condition of your home, he cares about your spiritual condition and that is obedience.

Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

These women got the message! Their comments heartfelt and sincere after my talk. God spoke to their hearts and moved in their spirit to obey His call to hospitality.

What I love about tea is it is a simple way to answer the call to biblical hospitality easily, affordably and in a relaxed atmostphere. Things happen over a pot of tea that may not happen otherwise - people let their guard down, they open up and they share their lives. The art of brewing tea causes us to slow down long enough to be PRESENT.

So, I encourage you as I encouraged them - INVITE! Then I want you to come back and share your testimony with me, because I know there will be one because God is JUST THAT GOOD!

What happened minutes after the tea party in the next post because...your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

CONTEMPLATING

Many of you know that I run a tea business and it is a blessing and I love every minute of it. Although I must say recently it has been getting harder and harder to keep up with the business due to other demands - homeschooling, having an infant and life happening. It was almost two years ago to the date that this happened:

A local tea shop in announced it was closing and I was devastated. A few days later the Lord began to speak to me and give me what appeared to be a business plan for an internet based tea store. I spoke to the owner the next day and here I am!

Because of things the Lord led me to do a couple of years prior I was positioned to make this transition fairly smoothly complete with access to wonderful free resources at the local college including an attorney and business coach.

Last night as I packed tea and listened to my children play in the den I could not help but wonder will I regret missing this time with them.

The business has never been a burden on us financially, but it also has not added a penny to our household income. Every month it has produced enough to pay its own bills and the loan we took out to purchase it. I do have a significant balance on a credit card that I hope to have paid off soon. I do not want money to be a deciding factor for me.

My dilemma:

I love tea and I love the tea business. I love the people I have met and the opportunities it has afforded me, but I love my family more.

The bigger dilemma:

I do not feel released to give it up. More than anything I want to be obedient, so I must trust God’s timiring as I did two years ago when He called me to this. Everyone asked me repeatedly how I was going to do this and I continually replied I don’t know, but God does. He has been faithful and He is STILL DOING IT.

God’s faithfulness has been interwoven in every aspect of this business and contiues to be. I want Him to be glorified in this and I want to represent Him to the best of my ability, which I feel is lacking in every area of my life right now.

He called me to be a wife, mother, homeschooler and business owner in that order and I do not want to get that confused.

When you think of me please pray and if you have been in this situation and God spoke to you, please share. Any scripture for encouragement or words of Godly wisdom are welcome.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. HEBREWS 13:20-21

DO YOU EVER GET SO EXCITED...

when you know the Lord has called you to do something? I DO!

Several people have called me to speak at events in the next couple of months (after I said I was not going to do ANY events in the near future). Good thing God orders my steps even when my plans (flesh) attempt to get in the way.

I asked my hubby to pray about all these opportunities because I want to be careful and do only those things that I know the Lord has planned and not because it is "good for business" or "advertising". My business is a business second and a ministry FIRST and it is easy to lose sight of that if I am not "checking in" with the Lord about every opportunity that comes my way.

Of all the calls I have gotten I am only speaking at one event at a local church as a fundraiser for their bridal department. I will be speaking about tea of course, but my main focus will be hospitality and our biblical call to be hospitable. It is one of my favorite topics. I will encourage the women to extend hospitality using tea because it is a simple and elegant way to fellowship with lots of women at one time. Tea tends to open up conversation as we must slow to make and drink it and the Lord does the rest. Opening our homes is more about preparing our hearts for those coming than preparing our homes.

I am extremely excited about this opportunity because I know the Lord has called me to do it. He has already begun preparing me, I know He will show up big as He always does. When I speak at churches or wherever He calls me I am always blown away by His Mighty presence and blessing. It is not for another two months and I know He will have a lot to teach me until then...

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Seems like this verse keeps popping up...He must be trying to tell me something!

A GIVEAWAY FOR LOCALS

Tea & Traditions is giving away this basket for Mother's Day! When I was 16 I entered a Mother's Day drawing at a florist and I won, so I gave my mother the most awesome and huge basket of flowers I had ever seen. It felt good to give her such a nice gift which would have been unaffordable to me at the time. I am hoping this is a similar blessing for someone this year. If you live in the area head over to One of a Kind on Whitlock Avenue and enter for your chance to win:

13 piece Chintz tea set

1 oz. sample of Burton Bliss, Kennesaw Mountain Morning and Whitlock Afternoon teas

Disposable tea filters

Brewing tea instructions

Gourmet iced tea instructions

Drawing is May 1st.

CELEBRATE WITH TEA!

VALENTINE'S TEA
NOW AVAILABLE AT TEA & TRADITIONS

Red Velvet - Organic Rooibos with raspberry fruit blend, chocolate bits and vanilla. Almost too good to be true! $5.50/2 oz (approximately 25 cups)

Sweetheart Tea - Naturally caffeine-free rooibos with pretty candy hearts and a touch of almond. A delicious treat! $3.30/2 oz.

FREE TEA!

Check out Tea & Tradition's interview hosted by Karen Ehman and enter to win FREE tea! You like tea? You like free? Then head on over there leave a comment - you may be the WINNER!

Click here to read interview

GIVEAWAY!!!

Check out my Tea & Traditions blog to read my interview with Karen Ehman, author of A Life That Says Welcome and enter to win an autographed copy of her book and a wonderful sampler pack of tea from Tea & Traditions. Contest dates are May 22nd through May 28th. Winner will be announced on the 29th.

www.teaandtraditions.com

the world of fine tea at your fingertips

SAY, "SO!"

Visiting a friend's church on Sunday was a divine appointment. From beginning to end it was clear that I was where I was supposed to be. By the end of the service I felt so encouraged; all the events of the past three weeks seemed to be a distant memory.

During ministry time my friend asked if I was going up for prayer and I honestly began praying about getting prayer. I felt so refreshed and encouraged I was not sure I needed anything else. Then the pastor called me and up and began to prophesy over Tea & Traditions, imagine my surprise! A lot of what she said was confirmation of what the Lord has already told us and what others have prophesied, it was exciting.

One of the things the pastor spoke about Sunday was:

Psalm 107:2 - Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

When the enemy comes to you and says, you __________ (fill in the blank), simply say, "SO!" Oh, how that ministered to me.

We do not have a working website for the business....SO!
I have been sick for three weeks...SO!
(fill in the blank)__________________...SO!

Friday night I listened to the first CD in a series titled New Weapons for New War and the speaker said, "When the enemy comes at us with lies, we should respond with 'What does God say?'" Simple truth we have heard before, but a great reminder in the midst of the battle.

Here is a video of Israel Houghton performing Say So:

MY CUP OF TEA

Orange Chamomile

Rooibos Caramel Apple

Walnut

SHOWERS OF BLESSING

It was just over two months ago when the Lord spoke clearly to me about purchasing a tea business, one month ago we signed the contract and this week we began to receive our first orders. When He gave me the vision for this business I had no idea how quickly and amazingly everything would happen. As a homeschooling mom of three and wife to one; I can tell you that the only way this all happened was "supernatural". God has given me the grace, energy and strength to do what He has called me to do over the last month. Obedience became a key in this process as the Lord showed me how obedience years ago had positioned me for this opportunity.

As we began to discuss the business we asked those closest to us to pray. The prayers went up and God's words came down. We were continually amazed at the clarity, confirmation and excitement. We knew before our first transaction took place we had to thank the Lord for the blessing and dedicate all we would do to Him. We invited those prayer warriors over for a celebration and dedication.

One couple brought a balloon and had asked everyone coming to seek the Lord for a scripture or word for us concerning the business to write on it. On the balloon was written "New Beginnings". It was truly a blessing to hear the words the Lord had given to these friends to encourage us in this process. I believe we heard clearly from His heart; His plans and purposes. We had a wonderful prayer time and felt blessed and encouraged by the scriptures and words everyone shared.

Just a few days before the celebration I asked Ann to take pictures for us. I felt it would be good to have someone else taking pictures, so I could focus on my guests and maybe even get some pictures of us praying. I was excitedly talking to Malorie about the party the night before and we were discussing the pictures and what vision God might give Ann while taking the pictures. Malorie said she believed we would see the very presence of God in those pictures, please take note of the picture of Todd and I releasing the balloon.

Above are some photos taken that day... All photos by Ann Purcell - thank you Ann for your vision.