Girl Time Tidbit #11- Our Mother's Day Tea

Centerpiece of our round table

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1Peter3:3-4

My daughter deciding how things would look best

My younger daughter and I have been busy planning for our traditional Mother-Daughter Tea at our Church. This is a wonderful celebration of womanhood and motherhood, it is something we look forward to every year. This year I have decided it is time to give the responsibility to my 11 year old daughter. So this year she is in charge of the table decorations and favors. I was really excited when she said yes with such enthusiasm! I have enjoyed training her and making suggestions along the way, but ultimately the final result has been hers.

The first step is to decide on a budget and color theme
She was given $25.00 as her budget. She came up with the idea of using some pretty paper products that we already had. By doing this she saved money on her budget and was able to utilize that money for something else, goodies for the favors. The paper products also became our color theme.

Step two: Designing a center piece for the table
We started gathering things that we have in our home already and that fit with our color theme of light pink, raspberry pink, apple green and bright white. We pulled out antique linens, silk flowers, a small porcelain tea pot, ceramic bunny vase, crystal votive and tea light candles, picture frames, a tea book and milk glass along with everyday white tea cups and saucer. We will also used a sign I made for my daughter's room because I used the same napkins. I love the verse from above which is also on the sign. It is what we strive for in our home for our children. Let the fun begin! Here is what she came up with: isn't it just lovely!

Step three: The Favors
She wanted the favors to be unique and pretty but was limited by her 25$ budget. So I asked her if she would like to use some die cut paper purses that I had in my stash and wouldn't you know we had exactly eight in just the right colors, isn't the Lord gracious! She was able to find some cute sticky notes and pens at the Dollar Store, and we got fun tea and chocolate to go with it.

Favors were the purses, aren't they cute!

I am looking forward to sitting at my daughter's lovely table. It will be so wonderful to hear the other ladies encouraging her and giving her accolades on her efforts. I love watching the Lord's providence working out details blessing her efforts as we both yield to His gentle guidance.

Post event: We had a lovely time! My daughter was praised for her creativity and for the care she took in creating a table. What fills my heart to over flowing is the love and kindness ladies young and old showed her as they noticed how she placed things and what she brought to the table and how economical she was. They were so thrilled to see the tradition being passed down.

The Dandelion Vase

My heart is singing with joy today, what a nice contrast to last week! I was just blessed by my two youngest children. I recieved this handpicked bouquet! Isn't it so precious? This is my Dandelion Vase. It is one of my most treasured things. Oh, I know that there is dirt stuck at the bottom and it isn't very big. It's not even real crystal. But, I love it just the same!

This was a gift given to me by a lovely lady and her daughter from our church. At the time I really didn't know her that well, in fact we hadn't been at this church for very long and here I was going to a baby shower these ladies were dearly preparing for me. Anyway, I didn't know it at the time but this gal lived with her two children and husband on his a very modest carpenters salery.

When I opened this gift I saw this little vase and she had told me, a bit self-consciously in front of everyone else, that she had gotten it at a second hand shop. This was special to me because I love old and used treasure. Then I read the handwritten note that came with it. I couldn't help it, I started crying. Big tears welled up in my eyes. This is what it said:

This little vase might not seem like much, but won't it be a wonder to see what it will be filled with by your toddlers chubby little hands? Won't it be wonderful to talk about the beautiful "weeds" that God has made for us to enjoy. And as you talk to your children about these things you will be planting precious seeds of God's love in their hearts. These seeds will grow with a little water and a little sunshine from you. It may take a long time but someday they will blossom. May your children grow to know the love of Jesus and may this little vase be filled with their love and God's love for you, dear Mother.

Today was a good day, I got to use my Dandelion Vase!