Summer Blogging Break

   Dear readers,  I have decided to take the summer off from blogging.  Lord willing, I will be back in September though, so please do join me again come autumn-time!  I hope you all have a fantastic summer...  soak up the sun, smell the flowers and savor the goodness of God!

🌻Happiest of summers to you!🌼

Psalm 107:8

Two Favorite Kinds Of Tea

   I am a hot tea lover! And it is a rare day in my life that doesn't include at least one cup of tea! And in the wintertime make that 2-3 cups! :) Over the years I have become quite opinionated on what a good tasting cup of tea is & isn't and I have found my favorite kinds of tea among the many brands and flavors that I have tried. I know that I haven't sampled a fraction of the teas on the market... but from what I have tried... these are two of my favorites: 

Organic Jasmine Green Tea 

from Prince of Peace 

 This is my go to, everyday cup of tea. In general I don't like green teas, but my one exception is jasmine green tea! For me the jasmine covers up the "grass" flavor that is characteristic in most green tea blends. I think I have liked most brands of Jasmine green tea that I have tried... but the one I normally purchase is Prince of Peace from Vitacost.com. I love that you get 100 bags in a box for under 6 dollars (and if you watch for sale codes you can get it even cheaper!) They also offer a non-organic Jasmine Green Tea, which is also good and slightly less expensive.

 

Sweet & Spicy 

caffeine free - herbal tea

From Good Earth

    This tea has bold flavor! With the most prominent tastes being cinnamon, ginger & orange. The name sweet & spicy fits this tea perfectly. Both my Mom and I have loved this tea from the first cup! You can buy it at Walmart and many other stores. (Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Tea comes in both regular and caffeine-free.) 

Journal 5-11-17

   Hello Y'all! 😀 The May day snow melted away quickly, giving way to lush green beauty everywhere! Our apple trees are blooming and the lilac bushes look like they will be soon as well!

   We celebrated my Dad's birthday last weekend! The weather was so beautiful, everyone enjoyed spending time on the porch while we waited for dinner to be ready!

    My Dad loves rhubarb desserts, so we traditionally make him a rhubarb pie or cake for his birthday! This year I decided to make a cake. I tried a new recipe that I found here. It was quick to make and turned out yummy! (Side note if you want to make it for yourself: It was a bit too sweet... So I would recommend not putting in the 3/4 cup sugar. The sugar in the jello and cake is plenty! I cut the sugar down to 1/4 cup because I suspected that it wasn't needed... but I guess it was still too sweet, so next time I would leave it out completely! Oh and I didn't put the cinnamon in, personal taste preference. Let me know if you give this recipe a try!😀)

   I have been enjoying the music of David Wesley the last few weeks. Have you ever listened to him before? He is one talented singer! Here he is singing "In Christ Alone". A song that has been on my heart a lot this past week.

In Christ Alone 

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live,

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again 

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

   The Dandelions (a pretty weed!😉) are blooming, the grass is growing, the trees are leafed out and I am once again amazed at the beauty of spring! I am loving the warmer weather and the explosion of color everywhere!

May Day Snow

   About 4-5 inches of heavy, wet, cold, beautiful, snow arrived this morning to "celebrate" the first day of May 2017!

Wow, I just love the beauty of the springtime green & "winter" white! 

Springtime is here... It's just under the snow for today! 😊