Cherishing Tea Time

God has blessed me with some awesome friends. I am eternally grateful for the things I have learned from them all, who they are, the incredible ways they help me, the laughs we share, the concerns we share, the prayers they have lifted up on my behalf, and the love that they give!


Among the people I consider my closest friends is my Mom.  I might need to explain! :) The way we live is, shall we say, not extremely common.  We live next door to my little sister.  My parents are next door to her.  So,  I live two doors down from my Mom.  We have lived next door to my parents 12 of the 13 years we have been married. I assure you, my husband has endured many raised eyebrows and mother-in-law jokes over the years when people learn this about us. :) Some may think we are crazy, but it works for us.  I won't even think of giving this up until God tells us that He wants us to move! Lol...

Having tea with Mom (that's her shoulder) using a tea set

 a dear friend gave me a few years ago

I am at my Mom's house just about everyday. Sometimes I'm there for 5 minutes, sometimes a half hour, sometimes a couple of hours.  We often do lunch together.  We go to the grocery together.  All these times and activities are precious to me.  I know a lot of people do not have this.  Some people don't want this!  But, others would love it and can't have it.  

I love it when, in the lull of the late afternoon, she comes over to bring stuff we left at her house or some other random reason and we just put on some water and have tea.  We don't have to make a date or anything, it just happens.  We shoo the kids out of the kitchen, sit and enjoy our tea and talk.  

Frequently it occurs to me this will not last forever.  God may some day call Jason and I to a church or ministry far away.  My parents are not getting younger and, God forbid, something may happen to one of them...or to me for that matter, we don't know. Life changes, it's a given.  For the time being, I truly cherish our relationship....and tea time. :) 

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV