I heard a noise at the front door of the homestead, I opened the door & sitting on the welcome mat were my pet cat Bobbie, a Russian Blue & my working dog, an Australian Kelpie, Polly…
Welcome my friend, how lovely to have you drop by for our time of tea & reflection.
I’m reminiscing today…
We have traveled back in time to 2002
Where I have prepared an Australian Afternoon tea blend, its a strong black tea, which I water down with extra boiling water, as its a little too robust for my palate & delicious Gf Lamingtons.
We are sitting on the side verandah of my homestead with the sun warming us in our comfy chairs & a small table, recycled from tractor parts, nestled between us.
We are looking out over the paddocks down to the creek that weaves across the front of our property, birds are singing & sheep are bleating.
The Present….
Around this time each year, I become a lot quieter & reflective then normal, this is a subconscious behaviour & it’s only when my hubby asks if I’m okay, do I realize its that time again…
When my sweet gentle late husband was diagnosed on April 30, 2002 with brain cancer (Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 ~ was the clinical term).
We only had 12 weeks together after that diagnosis to his final passing in August, 2002.
You see our subconscious minds keep a memory of traumatic events, which quite often precede our conscious memories.
This has an indelible effect upon our emotions & on our behavior.
Back to Bobbie & Polly on the doorstep
Bobbie had been rather naughty & had stayed out all night.
Polly being part of the family decides to have her say in the situation by barking her ‘talking bark’ which is quite hilarious!
They have a love hate relationship these pets of mine, each morning they lovingly greet each other than have spats for the rest of the day!
My thoughts now wander to when my late husband had passed away a few months earlier & I’m now living alone in our rural Homestead set on 800 acres of a working farm.
My stepson & I have reduced the stock to 800 head of fine merino sheep from 1200 & are debating over a cuppa, on this same verandah, as to whether to sow this year’s crops.
We are at the beginning of a major drought
That unbeknownst to us, would last for years. Although we are already hand feeding sheep each morning, from our grain storage & Lucerne hay stores.
“We” are my late husband’s eldest son & I, it has been a traumatic & devastating few months, we are still coming to terms, each in our own way, with this death.
He the death of his Dad & me the death of my beloved husband & work mate!
While it was comforting to be in the home that we had created together & to go out to work the farm each day having my pets as little companions.
Polly beside me working the sheep & Bobbie to greet me when I came home.
There came the time when change would inevitably happen & a new home would become a place of sanctuary for a different season in my life… Shared in Tea by the sea…
Loss & grief, healing & wholeness are a part of life.
But the main thing is how we handle these events in our lives for our continuing wellbeing!
I handle mine with God, as it’s in His strength, comfort & healing that I find solace… Shared in Mending brokenness…
Please Note;
We don’t actually get over the loss of a loved one but we can come to that place of acceptance to move forward in life.
It’s okay to remember our loved one’s & enjoy the happy memories we had with them.
Being kind to ourselves when the sad memories come.
For they will surely arise especially at significant times like anniversaries.
That’s just a part of being human & what we have been created to be…emotional beings!
Well I hope you enjoyed our tea time & Lamingtons.
Thank you for journeying with me back to a difficult time in my life that is now remembered with fondness.
I truly appreciated your company.
If my story has triggered memories for you of your loved one who has passed, enjoy the happy memories & be kind to yourself in the sadder ones…
However, if your life is being significantly impacted by grief, to the point where you can’t maintain your normal life. Then please seek professional help as soon as possible.
For God’s help often comes through others.
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or
In Prayer
© Jennifer M. Ross, 2018, teawithjennifer.blog All rights reserved. Photo by Pexels.com
Tea With Jennifer 
What a lovely blog you have here! I got here through Remember Me Monday…you are the link before me. I, too, wrote about a loved one who has gone on to Jesus. While thoughts of them may make us melancholy at certain times, those memories keep them alive as well. Oh, thank God for the promise of Heaven and eternal life with our loved ones.
Blelssings,
Patti @ Clothed with Joy
Thank you & lovely having you join me here Patti! So glad you enjoyed our time together. Yes, praise God for His assurance of seeing our loved ones who knew Him as their Lord & Savior, who are now enjoying His presence that we will see them again one day!
You may enjoy reading my heaven experience HERE
Blessings to you too:-D
What a bittersweet time of year this must be for you, Jennifer. This post reflects the peace you have in your heart, but the grief and loss are there too. Blessings to you, dear friend. God is with you now and always!
Thank you Laurie, yes He surely is 😀
Jennifer – I enjoyed the tea, however robust. I needed a good strong cuppa this afternoon. I so understand the remembering – those times leave imprints on our souls. I just wrote about that the other day. I love the way you draw us in with tea and cookies and extremely well-written words. xo
Lovely to have you drop by & Thank you for your kind words.
Jennifer, Thank you for giving us a peek into your life and into the hope you share with us now. This is such a touching post. Thank you for joining me at #MomentsofHope. You are a blessing.
Thank you Lori for your kind words, you’re a blessing too!
Thank you for sharing and allowing us into your life. It helps to understand those that are grieving. I am sorry for your pain and glad the happy memories bring a smile to your face. Maree
You’re welcome Maree,
I know it is important to share our journeys so others may gain understanding & comfort through those whom have gone through the experience of grief.
Jennifer – what a beautiful peace to keep the memory alive on a sweet note, and I understand why you would get contemplative and quiet around the same time each year. So, do you still live on the 800-acre farm? Do you still Have all the crops and livestock too? Thanks for linking up and stopping by over at #TuneInThursday today
No, that season of my life changed a year later, which I shared in Tea by the sea post
It’s a pleasure to be a part of your link up!
So sorry for your lost, may you have His peace, keep your beautiful memories.
Thank you, I definitely have His gracious peace.
I am just catching up on posts from being away. This one touched me. Today I was behind a couple at the grocery store. The wife was following her husband by watching his feet move forward as he shopped. Clearly she had dementia, but could still walk. Occasionally he stopped and reassured her. They were my age and I was struck by the challenges so many face with quiet courage and steady commitment.
Thank you & glad to have you back Elizabeth.
Dementia in all its types is such a sad disease…for the patient & their families.
I love the tenderness of this post. It’s precious to see where you were and how you journey through with the blessings that God provided. A son, pets, some comforting tea, and His presence. And persistence!
Thank you Char, I like the way you bought that together… it was a challenging season to go through but fruitful for God in this season.
Lovely to have you over for a cuppa!
Dear Jennifer, your reminiscence was so sweetly and poignantly written, but your advice in the last paragraph was spot-on! Thank you for your candid and generous recollection!
Thank you for your kind words Alice, I am glad you were able to drop by & were encouraged.