This week we will celebrate Tea With Jennifer’s blogversary!
Can you believe it’s been this long since we started meeting here together in 2018, enjoying our weekly cuppas together? It’s gone so fast!
But it’s truly a delightful miracle of God, especially in this time of chronic health issues. Praise Him!
Seasons
It’s Summer here in Australia, although it’s been the mildest & wettest I can remember, which I have enjoyed immensely! It seems the older I get the less I enjoy extreme temperatures.
I believe nature agrees, as I’ve noticed that the rain & milder weather has produced some beautiful lush growth, in fact the Crepe Myrtles are truly magnificent this year.
Before we continue let’s grab our cuppa’s, I have prepared a tea blend called Orange blossom & ginger.
Our tasty treat is a Gf strawberry muffin made with homegrown strawberries, freshly picked from our garden.
We’ll go outside to enjoy the sunshine today, surrounded by blossoms & the intoxicating fragrance of Summer here.
The fruity taste of both the tea & muffins are a perfect combination, absolutely delightful in this warm setting.
Now we are seated & comfy, we will enjoy our time of reflection together…
Driving through the countryside
On my way to enjoy a holiday treat with my grandson last week, I decided to take a quiet drive on the back road that winds through the countryside, rather than the busy direct route via the highway.
As I was driving through the undulating hills & farmland, I saw grazing horses, cattle & goats, with their new kids frolicking.
Saw large bales of Lucerne lined up in the paddocks awaiting collection for storage.
And I was delighted to see the huge variety of colors that Crepe Myrtle’s come in, of which I haven’t noticed in years!
Their beauty this year is absolutely breathtaking! There were reds, pinks, purples & whites in all their various shades!
Have you noticed that we don’t seem to distinguish individual bushes, trees or plants against the backdrop of greenery until they bloom in all their glorious color?
There’s a lesson in that for us…Don’t you think?
As Jesus taught us the following;
Let your light so shine before others that they may see your love for them by your consideration & will give praise, honor & glory to your heavenly Father.
Matt 5:16 Paraphrased
Food for thought…
As I drove along this country back road, the aroma of the blossoming countryside combined with the scent of the live stock, the freshly cut Lucerne & the farmers working their fields, I found myself involuntary smiling.
Have you found yourself doing that at times?
My mind in that moment had flooded with sweet, sweet memories of my late husband.
The familiar aromas of the countryside had evoked memories of a time in my life when I’d had amazing health & bountiful energy.
Working alongside my wonderful man in the paddocks, stock yards & in the shearing shed as we worked the farm together.
It was a sweet drive enjoying moments in a time that is forever etched upon my heart.
Of a man who demonstrated his love in such amazing ways of consideration for me, of which I had not experienced before.
And as the scripture says above, I do give honor, glory & praise to my heavenly Father for Ed’s love & our precious life together.
That we had before he lost his battle with brain cancer.
At times the past is but a sweet memory away, bringing such unexpected blessing & joy to us in the present & before we realize it we find ourselves smiling!
A sobering thought to ponder…
I often ponder, how people remember their time with me.
Does it bring them a smile & praise to our heavenly Father or something else? Hmmm, definitely a sobering thought! Don’t you think?
What situation have you found yourself smiling in dear friend?
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or in Prayer
© 2021 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photos by Griffin Wooldridge on Pexels.com
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Happy anniversary, Jennifer! Your posts are always such a blessing and you definitely spread the aroma of Christ richly each time you post. It sounds like your husband was full of the love of Jesus.
I think fragrances are even more powerful in retrieving memories than sights. Soap still makes me think of my Grandad who used to give us kids a “peck” on the cheek to say goodbye and a certain kind of perfume always brings back memories of my Grandma. Those memories also bring back smiles to my face. They were such warm and hospitable grandparents, full of the love and light of Jesus, just like their daughter, my Mum.
I don’t comment much here, Jennifer, but I read all your posts and there’s always something you write that lingers in my heart and lifts me up. To me that speaks of Jesus in you. May God continue to bless your writing here, anointing it to go out and touch many more hearts and souls with the love, truth and grace of Christ.
Thank you Anna for your beautiful encouraging words! 😀
Yes, I agree our sense of smell is a very strong memory prompt that transports us instantly back in time!
I had wonderful grandparents too. Tweed perfume reminds of my paternal grandmother & steak cooking transports me back to my maternal grandparents home. Sweet memories indeed…
My grandsons tell me that I smell like lollies when they hug me, because I wear White Musk Perfume! Lol!
This is indeed a food for thought. We should exude a lasting aura that speaks Abba. Hugs to you and Happy Anniversary. Cheers to more. ❤🤗
Thank you Herry! Yes, we definitely want to leave a lasting sweet aroma of His love & consideration to all we meet. 😀
You are welcome. 🤗
Yes!. 🙋😊
Do have a blessed day. 🙂
Happy 3 years of Blogging, dear Jennifer! I am so glad to have come across your dear site. You always have such a way of bringing the sweetness of the Lord into our days. Thank you for sharing the sweet memories and comfort He brought to you. And I surely have a warm remembrance of the Lord’s glory when I think of you! Blessings and love and prayers for you this week!
Thank you sweet friend for your lovely words of encouragement. ♥
It’s amazing how God has brought us across each others path in our time of chronic health conditions where we understand each other’s journeys. We indeed have a comforting Savior! Bless you! 😀
Jennifer, happy blogging anniversary! Your posts are always so encouraging. I was going to ask about Lucerne, then I saw you had already answered. The memories of your life with your late husband as you drove the countryside were so sweet and heartwarming. Thank you for sharing your life.
Blessings,
Pam
Thank you Pam! Yes, it was such a sweet drive, I enjoy that route often it’s very joyful 😀
Happy blogiversary, Jennifer! You and I must have started blogging at the same time. I must admit to just a teensy bit of jealousy when I read about your summer weather and your crepe myrtles. It’s gray and cold here in the US. When thinking about my time with you, reading your posts and commenting back and forth, I definitely find a smile on my lips. Here’s to many more blogiversaries!
Thank you Laurie, that’s a lovely word of encouragement! 😀
Time seems to have flown since I started blogging. Do you feel the same?
Happy Anniversary Jennifer!! I enjoyed this post very much, thank you for sharing about your life with Ed, the countryside drive and your thoughts about what people might remember about us after spending time with us. Sobering, but good thoughts to consider!
Thank you Donna! They’re very sobering thoughts, aren’t they! But as you point out good to ponder 😀
Your description of the little ones frolicking in the pastures gave me smiles today, Jennifer. 🙂 I love that sight in the spring. It brings a picture to my mind also of our lambs when we lived on an acreage. There was a hill of dirt in the corral and they seemed to be playing “King on the Mountain.” 🙂 I had to look up “Lucerne.” I see it’s what we call alfalfa here. I love that freshly cut smell. 🙂 So thank you for bringing happy memories to my senses today. A great relief in the midst of our cold winters. And congratulations on your third blogging anniversary! Love and blessings to you!
Thank you Trudy, love & blessings to you too my friend! I didn’t realize you once had acreage 😀
The kids reminded me of our lambing season as we were sheep (Merino) & wheat farmers. The lambs would play & frolic with each other getting themselves into all sorts of mischief! They’re antics would always bring a smile. So very cute to watch 😀
Your post made me smile today because I learned a new word! In the US, ‘Lucerne’ is a brand of dairy products, but from the way you used the word, I’m guessing over there it means ‘hay’ or ‘alfalfa.’ Words and the ways people use them always make me smile :). Thank you for the scenes of summer–we had a snowstorm this week here in the high desert!
Ok, I’ve learned a new use of a word (which makes me smile)—Lucerne in the US is a brand of dairy products. But from you’re descriptions, I’m guessing over there it’s ‘hay’ or ‘alfalfa?’ I love hearing about summer—we just had a few days of snow 😊.
Yes, Lucerne is a plant grown here as a crop & harvested in bales, stored in barns (we call sheds) for stock feed when feed is scarce as in drought. Or to supplement feed when pastures are scant.
I’m glad I bought a smile to your face today Anita! 😀
Happy blogging anniversary, praying that remain here for many years to come 🎈. I pray that when others remember me, they do think of me with a smile
Thank you Brenda! That’s a lovely prayer 😀