Tea Party

Not the political group, but a traditional tea party with actual tea (and alternate coffee) is what we are having this afternoon. It is so cool to have a tea party, just enjoying each other’s company, having tea and homemade scones. Sound boring? I used to think so. Now, I realize it is what life is about. Doing something for someone else and spending time with them, just living on them. Fellowship, service. It is beautiful. Doesn’t have to be a huge production (ours is just another family), just a meaningful one. 😄❤

Friends

Every journey is ultimately made alone, internal decisions determine our present and eternity. That is only enhanced when we choose to have a precious relationship with God our Heavenly Father. Also, we can choose to befriend whoever we will. Otherwise, we are alone and can make choices we think are best. If these friends love God too, the friendship is blessed and beautiful. And if the friends do not love God, they will be a source of discouragement for you and energy must be put into showing them how precious life is with God. Our choices matter and who we choose to spend time with and put energy into matters very much.😄❤

Fancy Flea and Change

I am stepping out soon to go with some lady friends to the Fancy Flea, a flea market annual event in Plant City. This is stepping put of my comfort zone by socializing with women (I get along better with guys in general), leaving the kids at home (I always have them) and shopping (which I hate- no, detest). Why? Because I was asked by a friend and am seeing the need to be more sacrificial in my friendships. I have used the mostly valid excuse that my husband wants or needs me home, I have to take care of the kids, have to walk the dog, have a hundred things to do to maintain the house and garden, need to stay home and teach, run the kids all over, etc. I have done little to nothing with my friends. I want to have them to dinner, go places, have tea parties, but my husband hates company and I have made allowances for that since day 1. I guess my inner hostess is pushing up through all this submission, perhaps my pride has not all been conquered or perhaps the length of the unfairness has erupted my anger, I am not certain, or perhaps my desire to go home being ignored and cast aside for so long is infuriating my inner rebel.

All these culminate to allow me to go shopping with friends soon without children. We will see what happens but it is my first outing with girlfriends in years. And maybe I don’t need to go and shouldn’t, but maybe this small rebellion will keep me from going nuts with homesickness. I miss my family desperately. And when I have felt like this in my life, I make a way to visit. My hands feel tied and I am, inside myself, starting to wriggle. So I will be praying over this. I really don’t want my inner desires to ever take over my commitment to God and faithfulness to humbleness. I do want God to be first always and His will for me to be bigger than any will of my own. And that is what I need to focus on.

Sorry for rambling and this stream of consciousness, but I figured out my desire to go shopping (which I detest) with the girls and why I am conflicted about it. It is way deeper than I imagined. And thinking it through has helped me see why I may not go but why I may instead get out in nature alone and pray for greater endurance and humbleness. I don’t spend a dime (that I am short on adter 3 birthdays this month) doing this and will be better for it. I will get precious time alone in nature with God.

I have changed my plans for the best. Praise God!😄❤

More Friends

God must have thought I needed more friends than the handful I have, so He gave me more of them recently. Still a handful but two hands now instead of one. So He graced me with people I can invite to things and have over and be social again. For years my husband was too disagreeable and hostile to them and now he has changed to be nice in every way. I know the Lord made ygis n difference because everything good is from Him. So I am thankful! And I am grateful that I haven’t lost all my desire to host people over the 10 years I was not allowed. God is so very good!! Humbly pray and ask Him for anything you need and to help and He will in the right timing. God is so good!!😄❤