Sizzling Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

What is it about winter that makes me just want to eat a soup or stew with bread all the live long day? I think that it comforts our body from the harsh cold weather outside and when our body is comforted and warmed that also soothes our soul a bit, too, don’t you think?

I live in Kentucky, and in our part of the state we consider ourselves Southern. That said, I come from a long line of fantastic Southern cooks, so I have eaten a lot of amazing cornbread in my days! My mom makes some of the best I’ve ever put in my mouth!  She usually makes it with white cornmeal and it is buttery, very light and tender, and melts in my mouth. Mom has her own secret ingredient (maybe I can ask get her recipe to share with you) that her mom’s mom used. 

Recently my wonderful husband and I traveled to Boston to celebrate being married 17 years, and there we visited Union Oyster House . A national historic landmark, Union Oyster House was established in 1826 and is known as America’s oldest restaurant! This place was a gem!! Nestled in a very cozy nook of a street in the heart of downtown Boston near the bay, we enjoyed buttery lobster rolls, fish and chips, and a cup of delicious clam chowder! They served it with a large piece of their famed cornbread! This wasn’t Southern cornbread, because it was sweet, but it was really delicious!! On the frigid but beautiful day that it was, that quintessential New England cuisine was just what we needed to continue our walking The Freedom Trail. 

Highly recommend trying this place if it’s you’re first visit to Boston! It may be a bit touristy for locals but the atmosphere was tight and warm and welcoming with nostalgic pictures and memorabilia.

If you’re wondering how my husband and I liked Boston and the New England, we LOVED it. Absolutely will be back to visit. It was cold, yet stunningly gorgeous in the fall! Boston was more beautiful than I could’ve imagined with all the historic neighborhoods, old churches, original cobblestone streets, the maple trees and the lovely Boston Harbor. The city was a food-lovers dream, and the people were so friendly and welcoming! We drove up to Rockport and then up Maine’s coast and I can’t say enough to how scenic everything was!!! I felt like Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote—my favorite mystery novelist character! ;)

So as I was saying before, I love cornbread. Haha! The recipe I’ve used mostly in the last few years I sometimes change up a bit, but it’s basic Southern cornbread recipe from the bag of Martha White buttermilk cornbread mix. I sometimes elevate it by subbing out the oil for melted butter and adding a drizzle of honey.

But the way I prepare it makes it special. I always, always use my cast iron skillet. Sometimes I use my 9 inch and sometimes my 12 inch if I want it a bit thinner and a tad “crispier” in texture. If you like Cracker Barrel’s cornbread muffins, you’ll probably like the way this is prepared.

I’ll say that you can absolutely use shortening or lard in this application, but I prefer butter. So as my oven is preheating, I stick my skillet in the oven to heat with it. I bake the cornbread at 440-450 degrees F. I am wanting the pan to be blazing hot. I mix up the cornbread quickly as the pan is heating in the oven. 

Once the cornbread batter is ready and has sat for a moment, I take the pan out and plop about 2-3 Tbsp. of salted butter in the pan and give it a swirl and place th pan back in the oven for a minute to melt. It will happen fast. Take it back out (carefullly—please don’t burn yourself) and immediately pour the batter into the hot and buttered pan. It should sizzle and the batter will begin to set! Place back into the oven to bake the cornbread.

This method will yield you a moist (I said it) cornbread that’s crispy and buttery on the bottom, like it’s been fried! It’s just so good! Once finished baking I melt another pat of butter on the top of the pan before cutting it to serve.

I hope the next time you make some chili you’ll think about making a pan of cornbread and try this method! Also, if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, they’re so easy to find! Lodge brand sells them already seasoned or if you want to go vintage, but one from an antique or thrift store second hand. For under $40 you should be able to get a wonderfully homemade seasoned pan that will last forever if you take care of it.

Stay warm and cozy and enjoy this soup and bread season while it’s here!

Simple Southern Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

2 c. Martha White Buttermilk Self-rising Yellow Cornbread Mix

1 Egg

1 1/3 c. Milk

1/4 c. Melted Salted Butter of Canola Oil

Drizzle of local honey, or whatever kind you have

3 Tbsp. Salted Butter 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. I usually put mine at 440 and it’s just right. Place your cast iron skillet in the oven to heat up.

In a large bowl mix a lightly beaten egg with the milk and butter or oil together. Add the cornmeal mix and drizzle of honey and mix well.

Take the hot skillet out of the oven carefully and place the 3 tablespoons of butter. Place skillet back into the oven for one minute to allow the butter to melt.

Take the skillet out and carefully (not to burn yourself) pour the cornbread batter in the sizzling hot skillet. 

Bake for 20-23 minutes. Rub a pat of butter on the top and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Slice and serve promptly!

 

Resting and Fulfillment

By the incandescent glow of candlelight wafting a sweet plum fragrance and the small light atop my book, I am thoroughly enjoying my new book, Help, I’m Drowning—Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope by one of my favorite author’s and podcasters, Sally Clarkson. 

What a treat this is for me! Sitting on a soft, cushy sofa across from my husband at the end of another long day. It feels like I’ve crossed a finish line when I get to this point! The coffee topped with a blanket of foam from the new milk frother/steamer along with the book is icing on the cake. Just to put up my feet feels like Heaven touching earth, if for just an hour! What you don’t see are all the strewn toys around because I was too tired to rally the troops for clean up before bedtime tonight.

This book was a really sweet Christmas gift from my sister, Faith. One that I’ve really wanted since it came out in September.  I won’t dwell on it here but last year was one of the most challenging years I’ve faced. As I trusted and knew that He would, the Lord in His faithfulness, picked me out from the miry pit of the last couple of years and set me on a rock!! Praise to Him! (Psalm 40:1-2)

It’s so interesting because though these days haven’t been instantly easy, I feel as though when He picked me out from the pit He sat me right on His lap! I’ve experienced real intimacy with Him the last 6 weeks or so that has been wonderful and refreshing. He has been so very precious and loving as a Father to remind me how much He loves me! That He remembers our family and has shown us in unique ways that I will get into more as the year unfolds. 

My time spent with Him hasn’t changed. I’ve always woken up early and given Him first fruits. I am not perfect at this and I never ever want to paint myself like that at all, but I love spending time with Jesus every morning in prayer and His Word. I need Him truly, and my need for Him became a desire for Him that became a fire for Him!

I’ve learned in life that sometimes the seemingly insurmountable change or breakthrough that you’re praying for, takes place not after something remarkable except for the faithfulness of walking with Jesus day in and day out no matter how good or bad the days get.  

Faithfulness. That’s a quality way underrated these days and yet worth more than gold!

Remaining faithful and trusting His perfect timing. Sometimes doubt and fear creeps trying to convince me that whatever I’m struggling through will last forever, but that’s where time in His Presence renews my mind and He gives me joy that becomes my strength!! So over time I have always seen the faithfulness of God to fulfill His promises in my life! Always.

After a long but good day, it’s so fulfilling to know you are tired from whatever you are called to do— for me it’s mothering and homemaking. What a blessed calling to raise my kids, help with the projects, pick up groceries, sing songs, cook homemade meals and organize and clean the house day in and out. It’s exhausting and wonderful beyond words for my soul. My husband must feel the same with after a long day at work when we come back together an relax in the evenings before bed.

I hope you find yourself in a place to kick your feet up, knowing that Jesus remembers you and He loves you, therefore we can deeply enjoy the life we have!

Sweet dream, my Friends! 

A Little Note…

Hello again, Friends!

I see that I received some sweet comments not only on the blog I just wrote but from some I wrote over the fall! I am really sorry that I’m trying to respond but can’t at this point. Working on it. 

It would be such a blessing to move my blog one day from Blogger and own a tiny bit of the internet (what fun!) honestly because of all the technical problems it’s given me. That clearly hasn’t happened yet, however, just know that I have tried to reply to you! My smart hubby will help me figure out whatever is going on. In the meantime, thanks for all the grace!! 

I really do have the sweetest friends in here from years and years of writing, and I’m so happy when I see that I also have some new ones, too.

So my sweet baby girl, who is almost four, is playing in the girls’ lightly “updated” and organized playroom! It’s way more fun when they can actually see what is there and when there’s plenty of floor space in their play nook. :) Seeing her busy at work delights my heart.

Again, I apologize, but please know I loove reading your comments and the community that has grown between my blog to Instagram or Facebook and back over the last 12 years I’ve been doing this. Thank you all for taking a moment to read and I always hope you leave feeling blessed.

Stay warm, safe, and cozy out there and remember above all else, Jesus loves you!

 

Snow Days & A Beautiful Beginning to 2022

 The first week of the 2022 gave us in Kentucky the best gift this year—winter came!

And as you can see, we were ready for it!!!

Hallelujah for the Lord giving us a whole day of watching beautiful, fluffy, snow fall!!!

After a December that felt way more like a terrible case of the worst of spring with an F-5 tornado, flash flooding, and warm gray days, we deserved a cold, seasonal white winter to enjoy.

Right at about 5-6 inches, our area received a perfect blanket of snow that came in the form of big fluffy flakes that began in the early morning with the sunrise (somewhere behind the snow clouds) and ended mid afternoon. It fell gracefully throughout the day, the perfect way to watch it fall from swollen snow clouds to the frozen ground. It stuck right away! 

Truly, I don't know if me or the kids were more excited! 

We gathered all the snow gear we could find and all the warm hats and gloves and scarves for it was honestly bitter cold, but our excitement kept us outside over 15 minutes! 

Tiny tongues caught snowflakes, snowballs were thrown, snow angels made.

It’s a lot of dedication for moms to get everyone all layered up and ready from head to toe, including ourselves, and bundled like Ralphie and Randy from the Christmas Story! When it’s 11 degrees outside, every inch is covered in at least four layers here! Why, in just a matter of moments we are back inside and dropping clothes on the rugs in the mud room and setting them in front of the electric fireplace we have in there to dry before our next outing.  

It’s a lot, yes, but once I’m out in the brisk air and feel the snowflakes on my own cheeks I come alive!! I understand why kids love snow so much, because I still love playing in the snow!

          

This snowfall came with brutal temps so the outside play may have been few, but that means we come in for mugs of hot cocoa, which I enjoy making from the Hershey’s recipe on the cocoa container. I also add a handful of marshmallows to melt in the cocoa on the stove and then top with even more fluffy marshmallows in the mug! Perfect to sip while watching a movie. Later I had a deliciously fresh cup of my favorite Starbuck Christmas blend coffee in one of my favorite mugs, my brother Taylor brought home for me from Washington D.C. There’s nothing like warm sippers in hand and cozy blankets to snuggle under on snow days!

In these cozy pictures you’ll still see our Christmas trees still up from Christmas, but now we have everything put away at this point except a few twinkle lights to liven up the long winter nights. I’ve learned that gives me joy!

I’m so glad the Christmas trees were still up so we could enjoy the snowfall and the twinkling lights together! We rarely ever get December snowfalls like this, although I remember vividly a few Christmas snows growing up.. the last was the year we married in 2004. It felt like a perfect Christmas miracle! 

I gathered the kids and read to them a new precious book my sister gifted them for Chrismas about Jesus. They played while I read. I don’t read to them all as much as I used to or as much as I would like to, but when I do it warms my heart so much! 

The following day I awoke to a glistening white outside, and I knew I absolutely had to bundle up and get back in the frosty snow globe of a world. 

The sun made the snow crunch under our feet!

Rosemary and I played in our yard while the big kids snow boarded down the neighborhood hill nearby. We had such a good time!! 

My big two probably walked up that hill a dozen times or more so they came back in cold, tired and wanted to zone out on the couch with a movie.

Being this is only the second or third measurable snowfall since we lived in this house, I’m still in awe of how pretty everything looks. The edges of the reflective pond were frozen while the rest were smooth as glass, as you can see.

In the surrounding woods, every single branch and limb, highlighted. 

Our home looks dreamy dressed in winter white, so I had to snap some pictures to remember just how pretty she looks!

To cap off an already exciting week, we took the kids to the movies to see Sing 2 the following day once the roads were fine to travel on, and we had a sweet “date night” with our kids, which we haven’t done in months! Cheesy Pagliai’s Pizza was devoured in our favorite corner booth after the movie and then a visit to my my grandparents’ home in town topped off the night with extra joy!

It really has been a very full and busy month, but this new year, so far, has been abundant in the Lord’s favor and blessings on our family! 

The busy hasn’t been stressful like it can be sometimes, but instead it’s been refreshing~all good things. Have we had changes to adjust to? Yes, definitely! But also I’ve carved out time with some of my favorite people, that’s been long over-due because of different factors over the course of the last 12-18 months. 

Many of you know I have taken a break from social media. It’s not only helped me focus to get everything done but enjoy it all to the full and be completely present!! I needed to simplify some things for a bit and for me that starts with the clutter I carry in my mind. 

I really want to remember this peaceful season and listen to all the Lord is speaking to me. He is speaking, and moving, and in our family He is redeeming what the locusts had eaten in the previous year!! 

His great faithfulness is like the morning sun!!!

Favorite Recipe Repost! Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread

My favorite time of the year has arrived! Autumn is full-blown here in the Kentucky countryside, and with the cusp of my birthday, along with the beloved Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons—there is just something extra-special in the air even amidst the strange year we’ve all had. Some things never change, and it’s good to be able to focus on the simplicity of these things now more than ever! Like the rising sun, the changing seasons actually bring comfort as the Lord has established them, and I’m reminded again that He is in control. 

Speaking of comfort, there’s nothing quite like the homey fragrance of bread baking in the oven! Every autumn, this pumpkin chip loaf is my favorite quick bread to make, as I’ve made it dozens of times over the last decade, and we never tire of it! It’s the Goose Berry Patch Autumn In the Country recipe that has become a tried and true for our family. When my kids ask for chocolate chip pumpkin bread, this is the one I make! Spiced with cinnamon, laced with chocolate and full of pumpkin, this treat really hits the spot—especially with a cup of steaming coffee!

If you’re a long-time follower of my blog, you may remember me actually blogging this very recipe under Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread 10 years ago when we lived in the “little house on the prairie” in Madisonville, KY! I had tweaked that recipe a bit, but today I’m sharing with you the original recipe from the cookbook, which is now how I made is pretty much every time. 

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it’s not only consistently good, but it makes two loaves. I usually keep the chocolate chips out of one loaf (though not always) and give that loaf to a neighbor, friend, parents— whomever we want to bless that day. Of course, sometimes keeping both loaves is the best idea, and you can easily freeze one for later!

I have thrown in delicious additions such as butterscotch chips, walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries over the years, for a twist on plain pumpkin bread, but my kids’ always want the chocolate chips…I don’t blame them there! Chopped pecans are just as yummy, in my opinion!

If you want an easy treat to throw together for a cozy after-school snack or breakfast, or even dessert,  I hope you will try this delicious pumpkin bread!  

As the mornings become frostier outside, the breakfasts get warmer inside, and the smell of cinnamon and pumpkin is a great way to wake the rest of my family up!

Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread

3 c. All-purpose flour

1 t. Baking soda

1 t. Salt

2 t. Cinnamon

4 Eggs

2 c. Sugar

15-oz. can pumpkin

1- 1/4 c. Canola oil

1- 1/2 c. Semi-sweet chocolate chips (sometimes I use mini chips)

Combine flour, baking, salt, cinnamon in a large bowl; set aside. 

Beat together eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil in a large bowl; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. 

Fold in chocolate chips; pour into two, greased loaf pans. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick tests clean. 

Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to finish cooling. 

Makes 2 loaves.

With the leaves changing colors outside and the temperature just perfect with extra crisp mornings, I’ve been sipping my second cup of coffee outside on the porch or on the swing most mornings this week!

This photo of Kylie at the pond was taken last week, and the leaves on the trees have really turned since then! As you can tell, we are trying to enjoy the outside weather on the pretty days. Today is actually a gloomy and misty day here, but the blue skied days have been extra clear as the humidity has moved out!

In Kentucky the crisp air that means it’s the perfect time for a bonfire and hayride. It’s time to get out the sweatshirts, sweaters, cardigans, scarves and boots! Cider, s’mores, chili and cornbread and all the coziness fall offers!

Our leaves will be at peak color in just a couple days now, and we have a full, fun weekend planned with out family to look forward to!!! 

I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend on the last couple days of October and stays safe. 

See you in November!!! 

        

 

Gooey and Delicious S’mores Bars

 

Happy October!!!

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost two months since my last post here, but life has been a bit wild the last several weeks of summer. Let’s just say that I am very thankful to begin a brand new month and season—one of my favorites—Autumn!

I wanted to share with you the easy and delicious S’mores Bars I made today! These are similar to the amazing bars my sister, Faith, makes and a bit different from the ones I made years ago.  I’ve always thought Faith’s bars were some of the best and my kids gobbles them up when she makes them for our family gatherings, so I was excited to try these out today.

As today closes out the kid’s first semester of school, which has felt a bit grueling for this mama, I wanted to celebrate in some way. We aren’t taking any trips this break, but I thought we could have some staycation fun at home and in the area! The weather is supposed to be nice next week, but not so much this weekend. My plans for a bonfire with s’mores was ruined with the downpour of rain that came all afternoon. 

On the other hand, the putter patter of rain and rumbling thunder lent itself to the coziest of homes with my candles burning and coffee flowing, so I decided to “pivot” my plans and make s’mores bars for dessert! No bonfire required for the classic combination of graham crackers, chocolate and gooey toasted marshmallows. 

To be tucked in my kitchen’s baking nook is the coziest spot in the house when it’s a rainy day, and that brings me great joy! I gladly pulled the ingredients out, a bowl and spoon and the pan and got to work! Oh, and I can’t forget the cozy instrumental music to complete the mood. 

I will say, these bars are best eaten the same day because the marshmallows tend to get tough after too long. To eat a piece warm out of the oven is the very the best time! I snuck a piece for myself while the kids had their quiet time, and I made a steaming cup of Mexican coffee to sip with it. While thunder was rolling was rolling, wind picked up outside and the torrential rain was much more than I expected, I felt very blessed and safe inside. 

Anybody can put these delicious s’mores bars together and your kids might even like to help! Hope you get a chance to make these if your bonfire gets rained out or if you want s’mores for a small crowd!… they will satisfy your craving for sure!

• S’mores Bars

1/2 c. Sugar

1/4 c. Butter, melted

1 egg

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. Graham cracker crumbs, divided (I crushed them myself.)

1/2 c. All-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. Baking powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

2 c. Mini marshmallows

1 3/4 c. Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat Oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 13x9 inch baking pan with baking spray; set aside.

Combine sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla in a bowl; mix well.  Add 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt; stir until just combined. Press evenly in the prepared pan.

Bake for 8 minutes. When removed from the oven, sprinkle onto partially baked crust the marshmallows, chocolate chips, and remaining 1/4 c. Graham cracker crumbs.

 

Continue baking 5-10 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown. I added Hershey’s pips to the top once out of the oven to give it the quintessential s’mores look to me! In my opinion, enjoy a piece while it’s still very warm with a glass of cold milk or strong coffee! 

To find joy in the everyday things is a gift. A good recipe, the time and love I put in baking for my people, and the enjoyment of each bite is a small but wonderful pleasure I hope to pass onto you in these simple, delicious recipes.

Hope you have the best weekend!!!

A Cozy Tea Party!

I had the honor in mid- July to do something that became one of the highlights of my summer! I was asked to host a lovely “tea party” for the young women of our youth group as a part of a special weekend retreat they were participating in. There was no doubt in my mind that I would say “yes”.

I am passionate over few things more than:

(1.) loving on fellow women and young women who are the next generation of our church. 

(2.) Anything related to adding beauty in our lives by simple pleasures, such as tea parties, sipping from lovely china, eating delicious food and sharing in feminine and exquisite things. I firmly believe lovely things as this are a reflection of our Creator’s attention to the detail in our lives. 

(3.) Sharing our own home as a gathering place.

(4.) Greatest of all— serving Him wherever He calls me and bringing others into the light of His love!

This tea party was to reflect the effort and attention of our loving Heavenly Father has brought to each one of us!  I believe my part was more than just offering a space, but to prepare.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and throughout the Bible God gives us examples of how He loves us by preparing for us!…

David says in Psalms that God prepares a table before me in the presence of our enemies. 

Jesus Himself said before ascending that He is going to go and prepare a place for us in Heaven! 

We want to look like our Father, and so we too prepare! Our hearts needs to be prepared first and foremost. He wants a clean and pure heart after Him. Then I believe we prepare outwardly for others, out of love, as He does. Preparing requires planning, throughtfulness, and time.

Psalm 139, Psalm 23, John 14:3

So,  I prepared!

I began with prayer! I prayed over the whole evening weeks in advance and for the young ladies who would be there. I prayed for the leaders behind this special weekend retreat who were bringing them and pouring into them as Titus 2 women.

I prepared by deep cleaning my home—for after the many months of all of us living here together it was needing a good deep clean!

I sat on the floor for two hours and cleaned our Mahogany antique table and chairs. I first vacuumed all the crumbed in and around the cushions, and then I scrubbed the cushions and peeled off the play-doe and old food stuck in all the grooves. Carefully I washed the wood and then shined it with a wood polish. The chairs, the table top, and even the delicate legs until they gleamed! It was the first time in many, many years that I have deep cleaned this table and chairs, and they looked almost as good as new, despite some nicks and scratches I couldn’t buff out. 

It was ready for company and gleaming afterward!

Washed the tables cloths and ironed them.

Ironed the napkins and folded them, and I ironed them crisp again. They weren’t perfect, but I gave it my best! To bring out the iron these days is truly as occasion in itself. ;)

My wonderful mom and husband helped over a couple days time to get the kids out of the house so that I had extra time to get these tedious jobs accomplished in a much quicker time!

I went out to my flower gardens, and I picked lots of flowers that were distributed in vases for the tables and around the kitchen—all around the house. I also brought some flowers and greenery at Kroger that I mixed into some of the arrangements. 

Hydrangeas, black eyed Susans, and zinnias came from our property. My go-to decoration for years for any occasion is flowers! As you will see in the pictures, I experimented with where each arrangement would land, but I try to keep vases low, narrow or clear glass for the table which is the best for conversation. 

I got out all of my china dishes and washed them all. I also got out my crystal goblets and washed them. Same with the serving pieces. Most of these aren’t used enough to not wash beforehand.

I borrowed! Thankfully I was able to borrow some beautiful silver flatware from my mother-in-love and more cut crystal glasses from my mom. The pretty gold flatware and various serving silver utensils, tea pots, napkins and a few other things from church friends to complete the simply elegant look of this party. 

My husband helped me polish the silver until it gleamed!

There was not a paper product to be seen at this event! These girls deserved the best!

Next, I began to dress the tables. Such fun! It was like my house was playing dress up! I always do this the day before an event.

Three tables with three different sets of china. I thought it would be endearing and more like a tea room to have several tables all dressed differently while still coordinating.

It’s in the details!

Sweet napkins placed on the round table in old fashioned patterns of pastel flowers winding was a fun companion to my “Country Rose” china. 

Tiny creamers and candles twinkling. 

Cut crystal ready for strawberry lemonade.

Lemon and sugar bowls and honey pots were later placed around. 

Classic, elegant, simple and inviting. Nothing stuffy but everything planned and pretty.

This lace, though! 

My grandmother gifted me this delicately trimmed out tablecloth many, many moons ago. It’s just the perfect size for the small oak table we brought upstairs for the tea party!

This table cloth, I adore! It was ironed well but still pulled a bit, however the fresh green and cream combination is serene and soothing in the inky blue dining room. I knew the gold would be gorgeous in here! We went with gold accents in the dining room and silver in the kitchen. 

We rearranged our dining room furniture, and I am enjoying it much more this way. I think with the table extended everyone can get around it easier with it like this.

What do you think about the large new picture  above the hunt board? 

It’s very me! I LOVE it!! It looks like an old farmhouse you would see tucked away down one of the country roads around here. I think I could definitely live there!

Our wedding China is gorgeous— still the prettiest I’ve seen! It makes me wonder why I don’t use it more often. The soft creams and golds together remind me of our wedding.

I lit candles and turned on soothing worship music.. Kari Jobe on Amazon music to play through the house and set the tone for feasting in His presence. 

In the excitement of it all I missed taking a picture of the tea station…but what I did is I just rearranged my coffee bar to make room for an eclectic array of teas and boiling hot water in tea pots. It was easy to access and hopefully fun for the girls!

There was a spread of food from the best cooks and bakers in our church who dropped off their goodies beforehand. So many delicious treats that were a treat to plate up! I couldn’t wait for the girls to see it!

From perfect homemade scones with cream and lemon curd, to made-from-scratch macarons, crostini, French chocolate tarts, jam cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, pinwheels, and much more to name!!

I had yummy teas to choose from including English breakfast, Earl gray, Oolong, Paris, fruity teas, apple chai, peppermint, and more. I let the girls pick their own tea to steep in their tea cups, which was a first for most of them! I did my best to explain how to make a cup of tea and encouraged them to try more that one kind while they were here. I think they did!

I am so excited for it all to begin I had to capture the moment. 

Did I already say how much I love Jesus, I love girl time, and I love special moments like this??

Well, I’m saying it again!!! :)

I believe the Lord wants us to open our homes and let other people experience the refuge of our own abodes when we have the capacity to do so. There’s something extra special about being inside someone’s home for an experience—I know I love being invited! 

I believe he wants us to shower others with love, and while sometimes that’s taking the hand of a hurting person and walking through a storm with them, maybe it’s just inviting them over for a hot cup of tea and praying together before they leave. I believe the conversations that happen at the table are so good and can lead to relationships that deepen and memories that imprint the present chapter of our story to influence the future ones.

I experienced a beautiful thing at that tea party. I experienced the love of Jesus through this group of precious young sisters in Christ!! I was so blessed by them!  I met some of those young ladies for the first time that afternoon and through their hugs and genuine conversations, I can honestly say they are already being used by Him!

It was truly one of my favorite recent memories, hands down.