TEA CUPS & VALENTINE'S DAY SURPRISES

Hi everyone,
 This isn't a traditonal tea post today, but I did want to share some of the surprises that I received for Valentine's Day.  How did you spend your Valentine's Day?  I took my father out for breakfast at The Black Bear restaurant.  Click here to visit their main website. As far as I know, they're only on the West Coast. Oh, it's so down home. Do you have any place like that where you live? They make a seriously delicious breakfast, and their buttermilk biscuits are ginormous. My father was so excited.
I also treated my father to a Sierra Mist and myself a coffee from The Human Bean. The Human Bean is my favorite drive-thru coffee stop :) :) You can click here to visit their website. The girls at our local stop know my father and I. The drinks are good and the service is good, too :) :)

Then we came home and just did our usual stuff. When the mail arrived, two lovely surprises were waiting for me in the mailbox. So cool. Here's a photo of what I got: 

Here's what I got in the mail. Well, not all of this. Some of this stuff was already  in my house.  However, what I did receive was the lovely letter with the green and pink florals plus some earrings from Bramblewood Fashion. Then the pastel card with stripes and flowers came from my friend Jennifer. Both were totally unexpected. However, the fact that they arrived on Valentine's Day was so cool. It felt really good to have someone think of me. I suppose I should thank the mailman for delivering those items yesterday, too.

I knew that sweet Ashley from Bramblewood Fashion was sending me something homemade. However, I had no idea what it was. Oh, I was so EXCITED to get a real letter. It's becoming a lost art. So I'm seriously thinking of  reviving this art in my own personal life. Anyways, Ashley sent me this really sweet letter and fabulous earrings. I LOVE them. They're heart-shaped and very romantic. Click here to pay her and Gabrielle a visit over at Bramblewood Fashion. Oh, they're sweet young ladies, both have great photography skills, and Ashley has some serious dress-making skills. Peruse her website, and look for the video she posted where she creates a dress from scratch.

This is how I usually store my earrings. I use a teacup and hang the hook earrings off the rim of the cup.  It's a bit unusual. At the time I didn't have a jewelery box. Now I don't even want one. I like finding alternative uses for my teacups. This is way cuter and it adds a bit of whimsy decor to my life, too :) :) This is a close-up of the lovely earrings that Ashley sent me. She also has an Etsy shop, so you can order some things for yourself, too. The rose teacup is sitting on top of a pillowcase I found at a yard sale on Saturday. I'll share about that another day. It's so cute and has all the right colors.

 Here's the lovely card that my friend Jennifer sent to me. She's a wife and mother now to two beautiful boys.  We've known each other since junior high school. She loves Jesus Christ and has been such an encouragement to me, as have lots of other friends from my Christian school days :)  Jennifer included a surprise in here too, but that I'll keep private just for me :) :)  Isn't it great when those types of unexpected surprises come your way. I'll pray that God surprises you in a way you don't expect this week :) :)  God is so good  and loves us so very much :) :) :)

In other news,  I sometimes sign up for freebies when time permits. I received a free sample of some teeth whitening strips and some foundation. I haven't decided if I'll post photos of that. Maybe I will, since I'm trying to live a more frugal lifestyle.

I went to church last Sunday and it wasn't easy. I LOVE Jesus Christ, but this day I just wasn't "feeling" it. When I'm feeling discouraged, church is exactly where I need to be.  Plus, my father was preaching this day, too.  Well,  after it was all said and one, I was so glad that I went. I was blessed by the message and encouraged by the new friends I'm making at church. My father talked about Peter, the disciple of Jesus... I didn't take notes, because I just wanted to listen. The one thing that really stuck out at me was just how messed up Peter was and impulsive, too. However, Jesus didn't get on Peter's case for messing up. He did ask "Peter, do you love me?" "Yes, LORD, you know I LOVE you." I think that it's so easy to berate ourselves, especially in Christian circles and feed ourselves lies that are just that...lies. Jesus loves us so very much, and it's amazing how that truth can change your life. I choose to accept the truth of God in my life :) :)  

One last funny, our worship leader had concluded worship and was encouraging everyone to get some coffee, treats and greeting one another. The way he said it made me laugh a LOT. Quote "Say hi to someone next to you, grab a donut and rejoice in freedom in America" :) :)

Oh, I've noticed you people new to my blog. Welcome and thank you for following my blog. If you are a follower or a visitor, I love to hear from you !!!!

Well, that's the news from Oregon today. Extra love and hugs, Heather :)