Something Priceless

I could probably write a million blog posts on marriage.  I'm so thankful that my parents set an amazing precedence for me, but I've never met anyone who has had as wonderful a relationship as they do.

From Pinterest

They've been married now for 32 years.  According to the world, their marriage should never have lasted!  They barely dated before they got engaged and married, and only 15 short months later, I was born.  But they are in love.  Disgustingly in love.  Always have been!  I've never seen Dad raise his voice at me.  I've never seen Mom contradict Dad's authority in the family.  The doesn't mean it never happened, but I never saw it.  They've had their fair share of hard times, but they both kept smiling, and kept loving each other.  They valued their relationship.  Mom always said they had children young (my parents are both still in their 50's) so they could still be young enough to enjoy each other and have fun together.  But, the key word is valued.  Dad knew that mom was a jewel among pebbles.  Mom knew that Dad was a musician among karaoke singers.  (See what I did there, Mom and Dad!?)

I like to think of it in terms that I am more familiar with, though.  I collect tea pots.  Most of my teapots are antiques, and most are china.  Each teapot comes with a story about how and where I acquired it.  Each one is carefully placed on a shelf, out of the reach of little hands.  Each one gets dusted and cleaned.  Each one is special to me in some way.  But the most special is one I don't have yet.  It belongs to my granny, and I have loved it since I was a child.  It is beautiful - cream with a beautiful light green design around the top.  She's already written my name on it and promised it to me after she is gone, and it will be the most prized teapot in my collection when I have it.  Why?  Many reasons!  It is a gift from someone I love dearly.  It will remind me of her every time I look at it, and how she always thought of me when she looked at it.    It is irreplaceable.  It is beautiful and special.  It is time tested.

From Pinterest

In other words, I will guard that teapot more than I will any other teapot.  I'd rather lose all the other teapots I have in my collection than to lose that one.

My marriage to my husband is like that teapot.  It is a gift - a gift from God.  Every time I look my my husband, I am reminded of how much God loves me.  I'm reminded of how much He thinks of me, that he would put someone as special as Barb Wire Man in my life.  He planned for us to be together!  My marriage to Barb Wire Man is irreplaceable.  Sure, he or I could marry someone else, but there are memories, dreams, goals, and a friendship that would never be the same with anyone else.  What we have is special, and I rather lose friendships with everyone else in the world than to lose the love and friendship of my husband.

From Pinterst

I want to guard my marriage to Barb Wire Man even more than I would that tea pot.  Marriage isn't something to be put up on a shelf, then forgotten.  It also isn't something to be taken off the shelf and passed around haphazardly with everyone we see, to be broken, chipped or dirtied.  It is something to be valued, cherished, and lovingly care for.

My goal is to value every moment of my marriage.  In 15 years, I want my kids to look back and say they were disgusted at how much Mom and Daddy love each other.  I want them to model their marriage after ours.

Be blessed today!

National Tea Month

January.  January has many contenders for National *insert your favorite cause here* .  Celebration of Life Month.  International Brain Teaser Month.  National Be on Purpose Month.  January is even California Dried Plum Digestive Month.  (Say what?!)

But, best of all, January is National Hot Tea Month!

I've purchased loose teas from Teaman on Etsy a few times, and have never been disappointed! 

My mom and I have a love affair with hot tea.  We drink it from morning til night. We are picky about what types of tea we drink.  And tea pots... ooooh how I love tea pots!

LOVE this lamp from Thistle and Jug on Etsy!  

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company." - author unknown

Did you know that tea was discovered purely by accident? In 2737 BC, in China, Emperor Shen Nung smelled the aroma from a pot of water, into which some tea leaves had fallen, and there it was!  The first pot of tea!  Then again.....some people say early Buddhist monks discovered tea.

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." - C.S. Lewis

Tea helps bolster your bodies immune system.  It is packed full of antioxidants!

The prettiest thread catchers I have seen, from Beadinhandy on Etsy. 

It is time for another cup of tea!  Be blessed today!