Dear Mothers, Daughters and Grandmothers,
I was finishing up this month’s tea cozy when I heard the weather report. We were in for a whopper of a storm – a good ol’ fashioned “Midwest” snowstorm! The weather radio warned of 13 inches or more. For those of us who live in the Midwest, surviving snowy winters is not something we usually worry about. We seldom get ice storms, so it’s usually just a matter of clearing the snow away, which for my husband is akin to a boyhood adventure (as long as the snow blower keeps working). After bravely battling the elements, Robert loves to nod off in the comfy love seat next to the wood stove – a sweet reward for all his effort to keep the snow in its proper place.
On the whole, you don’t have to educate Midwesterners on how to prepare for cold weather. Part of getting our households in order is making sure that everyone’s boots, gloves, and coats are ready – our winter arsenal against the cold. Still, for homebodies like us, the beauty of snow far outweighs its inconveniences. Snow is peaceful and calming, giving us the opportunity to slow our pace and reflect on life. And because of the limitations it places on us, we actually joyfully anticipate being snowbound every now and then.
The definition of anticipate is “to look forward to, especially with pleasure; expect.” This month, my dear friend Shelley Noonan shares a beautiful analogy the Lord gave her concerning teatime and anticipating time with the Lord on a regular basis. Did you make it a goal to read the Bible more this year? How about setting goals to make positive changes in your daily routine? Did you anticipate making progress only to be disappointed with the results already?
Sometimes it’s easy to set goals for the New Year, but within the first few weeks, slip back into old thought patterns and habits. How can we make the lasting changes we desire, especially in the area of reading God’s word and spending time with Him? I think anticipation and preparation are some of the keys to meeting daily goals that will in turn become weekly, monthly, and yearly habits.
I pray you will begin to anticipate the open invitation the Lord has waiting for you each and every day from listening to this month’s talk by Shelley. This months tea flavors are chocolate and vanilla, and I am happy to share a very special story behind my mother’s Toffee Bar Cookie recipe, my extended family’s favorite.
And what could be more appropriate than this month’s flower than the snowdrop? The Snowdrop is from the Latin “nivalis,” meaning “snowy.” It is known as the “flower of hope” – a sign of life returning to the earth after the long winter months. I will be looking for our snowdrops to bloom somewhere around the middle of March, but until then, I look forward to sharing a special cup of tea with my daughters and you – around the fire, looking out at the snow.
Affectionately,
Jill Novak and Daughters
Order the January Tea Cozy here: http://remembrancepressbookstore.com/collections/girlhood-tea-cozy-club/products/january-tea-cozy-club-and-audio-conversation