November was the month when Covid restrictions tightened
so much so that we were not to have anyone in our homes.
It was also the month that our Indonesia family finally got their visas to return
after a hasty departure back in March.
The hard thing in the timing was that we could not have a final family get-together
and, instead of the tea party I had planned for the girls,
I packed up a tin box with a variety of teas, tea cups,
sugar cubes, cookies and dried flowers from our garden.
In my disappointment, this "tea party in a box" filled that desire to create something special.
Whereas we had many wonderful memories tucked away,
it was time to pack one up for these best friends who had been separated for some time.
Life overseas filled up quickly with much of the same .... quarantines, family life and school.
We celebrated Christmas the way that many celebrated around the world.
And the day came when the tin box got unpacked, treats were prepared
and the after-school tea and craft party came about
with Grammy as the unseen but very happy guest.
In a strange way the tea party may give me an excuse to write,but in a greater way,
I have come to see that the opportunities
and life experiences our grandchildren are having
may outweigh the times they cannot be at our table.
Life may well be more like many parents would wish for their kids,
simple, with a focus on loving people rather than things.
I can't quite express what I see,
safe to say that I can't help but take pride in this girl,
the friends she cares about
and her unselfish attitude in how she lives her life.
We love you, Makenna!
7 comments:
Thank you for sharing the tea party with us. What fun!
Oh I love this so much! So nice to see that Grammy's tea party arrived safely and was such a success. You made some young ladies very happy! Makenna is growing up so fast.
Such a wonderful thought to box up the tea party and send it across the continents! Looked like a special time for these three friends. Glad they shared photos with you.
Your tea party in a box idea is so lovely, and I can see that you made three girls very happy. As you know, our children grew up without the regular presence of their grandparents, and that was grievous to me, and to our parents. However, I am often touched by the compassionate way our children see others and engage with the world they live in which is so different from where they grew up. Your grandchildren's experience in growing up overseas will have long-reaching effects. Blessings on you for encouraging your children to follow God's leading in spite of the many many costs.
Thank you for sharing that, Lorrie ... I was hoping that what I was trying to convey would be there and I can see that you understand. I've shared this before, when our kids left I hung on to a song by Chris Tomlin, called "His grace is enough" combined with Psalm 84:11 .... it's worth repeating now after many years. God really has not withheld anything good. Sure we have missed our loved ones, but it has made the times we see them more intentional and special for the whole family.
What a great way to bless Makenna and her friends! The smiles say it all!
Thank you for sharing the tea party with us. I’ve wondered about how this has gone, since you shared about how you packed it up for “sometime in the future”. What a wonderful, shared celebration for Makenna and her friend.
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