Going into a Brighter Year

This past 2010 God taught me a lot. For one thing, you have to look for a brighter tomorrow. Instead of always looking at the negatives, maybe we should be looking at the positives. I know, for me, it always makes life a whole lot easier focusing on the good. Another thing I have learnt is that harsh words are just words. They are like a Trojan Horse. It all seems good at first, but then the harsh words come out of someone's mouth and attack you. Sometimes they even destroy you. Even though it hurts, you can still move on though. You just got to leave them with God, or otherwise they can consume your life and then you have let that person win. I also learnt and am still learning to just be me. Sometimes I know that I feel that being me is not good enough, but usually being me is the best way to go. Being you usually goes a lot further than being a fake. And for one thing, it sure makes you feel better and not so awkward. So be yourself. If you like to sing, sing like no one is there. If you like to dance, dance in the rain. Have fun and have a brighter year in 2011. All in all, just keep moving forward. And remember that you are never alone on the roller coaster of life, God is always right there to make sure you don't fall off.
Happy New Year!
Wishing you tasty English Delights.
Emily

Holiday last minute gifts.

Well I have not written in here for ages so I thought I would write some holiday ideas.
My friend Fran has on her mantle piece made some stars or you could do snowflakes and painted on them in gold is Jesus. It looks really good. You could put any words and place them on the tree or where ever you want across the door bar humbug or something. Just take some card and use your imagination.
Get some black material or black tissue and put black licorice in it make a label naughty on it. tie with a black ribbon. This represents coal.
Get some white material or white tissue get some white sweets and make a label good tie with a ribbon.
Take a flower pot and make a winter scene in it, my daughters made angels out of buttons and then we used stuffing to make a snow scene.
Take a sock and stuff it then decorate it, my children made tinker bell and a ballerina. Make sure it has a ribbon to hang. Then when you take the stockings down you can put up these decorated socks.
My mum use to have her presents given to her in a pillow case. Take a pillow case and decorate it.
Remember whatever you make this Christmas have fun and make a memory.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Surprise Pumpkins and carmel Apples

I saw an idea in a craft book and then also come up with another idea as well.
Here is fall idea. Take a plate of any size. Draw around the plate on either felt or tissue paper a circle the paper or felt/material needs to be orange or red. If you use orange place candies/sweets in the middle bundle up and tie with either string or gardening twin. Now you have your pumpkin. If you are using tissue paper children can break into this for a tasty treat, otherwise the others can be used from year to year. Now use red tissue or material/felt place carmels in the middle and also hold a stick in the middle. Now bundle up and tie with either string or gardening twin making sure that the stick stays upright. Now you have your own non sticky caramel apple with caramels in the middle.
I think these would be such great treats to make for Halloween or fall festivals.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Silly Gifts from Abroad

Well I have got hooked on some ice cream made by a company called Ben and Jerry's. The other day I decided to keep these containers to fill them up with tasty sweets to send home for the Hols my Mum would think it was rather funny. I also thought the container would make a good conversational piece.
When ever your in another town or country look at what someone else may consider trash and see if you could make it into some sort of gift for someone. We save spaghetti jars and fill them up with lavender and then paint them. Tins can be made into reindeer's and you .... you now come up with an idea.
Here is something funny to end on. My girls played tennis today their teacher turned the tennis racket around and sat on the top part of it. There even a tennis racket can be a chair.
Wishing you lots of Tasty English Delights.

The attack of the ice cream or Scream.

Last night I was feeling a little down. My daughter has introduced me to Ben and Jerry's ice cream dare I say it is as good as British Ice cream. I love it especially Mission to Marzipan anyone who knows me from a child would know that I use to eat lots of marzipan. Last time I bought this smallish tub of ice cream it took me 1 week to eat but not yesterday I had bought it on Sunday and it was gone by last night. My hips ached my stomach too. Mission marzipan did it's mission around my hips and stomach it has gone.
Perhaps next time I should read a book I did cut the grass around the trees last night so I guess in near 100 degree weather I deserved a treat.
I never thought I would be a person sitting and eating ice cream from a tub. So if you ever see Ben and Jerry's ice cream my advice eat it in small amounts. Remember the glutten Fairy has a way of making one feel bad.
Off for a walk this morning.
Remember it these whimsical summer days to enjoy life. Just not to much Ice cream.
Wishing you lots of Tasty English Delights.

What to do in the heat pamper pamper yourself.

Today it is over 100 degrees Sunday will be even hotter. So what to do when it is so hot. Well I weed whacked the front garden, went and watched some people play tennis ate ice cream and then came up with a brilliant idea.
The three of us washed our hair in vinegar that is half vinegar and half water wrapped it up in a towel for 30 minutes then washed it off. Mean while we put peanut butter on our faces for 10 minutes and then had a relaxing bath using a body scrub. Our hair is silky soft our faces too.
Now back to the ice cream and a movie and well we don't have to think of the hot day.
Remember to make some of that good home made ice cream when the weather is hot it is so easy my mum just used cream, icing sugar and you add the flavor my it was awesome.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Joys of life.

Last night my daughter came running out to tell me that bunnies were out in the garden. The two girls went and took photos of the bunnies and laughed in the rain. It is amazing if you take the time to look you can see such blessings. Look at a leaf you may well see a ladybug on it or a caterpillar trying to find it's way home. As I looked out of the window I remembered the many times as a child that I had played in the rain. Life often brings such trials we forget to see the small blessings.
Wishing you many tasty English Delights

When the Rain Pours, It Pours Hard!

Today, there were rain clouds outside for quiet some time. The world got grayer, so to speak, and it became very gloomy. Finally, it rained. It reminded me that sometimes when we are going there trials, we hold on to everything, even the smallest details which sometimes don't even matter. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed that we start to think that we don't matter to anyone, that we are in it alone, and that no one cares because there life to us is perfect or better than ours. We finally stop being so gloomy and just pour out in tears. It does help though and you wish you would have done that in the first place. We are never alone because "God will never leave us nor forsake us". Even when we feel that way, it is still nice to know that He is there for us, to talk to, and to guide us in the right paths of life. I like one verse that says "A friend sticketh closer than a brother". It lets me know that my friends are God's helpers for me to confide in, to have fun, and to have peace and joy with.

So today if you are feeling "a bit down", as I like to say alot, just cry. Let it all out and give it to God. What are you going to achieve by holding it in? If you are happy, then call up a friend or someone who is left out and cheer them up. Just because you may be different than others doesn't mean you can't be used by God.

Wishing you a new day and a new hope.
Emily

Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Have a cup of tea with me.

Today is my Birthday my mum has a Birthday this month, my nan did, my nephew and my dear friend and my sister in law died in this month. In saying all that I am so blessed. I have had many cups of tea on My Birthday shared many a Happy and also sad moments. But none compare to knowing that God is here today for little old me.
Life is a journey sometimes very hard. Like having a cup of tea sometimes tea does not taste good but when you have a friend with you tea just taste the best.
So today my wishes are not for me. They are for all of you. That God leads you and blesses you and that your day is made the best. Because so many people have blessed me. Thank you.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Frienships made over a cup of tea.

As I think back to the many times I have had a cup of tea with friends I think how blessed I have been. From helping The Little Herb house with their tea parties to having tea with my sister or my mum I have truly been blessed by those moments. Least I forget being bought British tea to the hospital after I had Katie.
Yesterday I went to a tea party held at a ladies house called Zoe her and Donna do these tea parties once a month for their church and even though I am not a member I got to come. Zoe is like the swirling tea very energetic and Donna the milk or sugar that one might add. Both by themselves have something missing but both together compliment each other.
So as I reflect on this it is with God by ourselves we are like the tea swirling around but God is the cream that when added makes us whole.
Zoe and Donna are very sweet ladies who have a heart for women but God saw that by bringing them together he could do amazing things.
How often do we miss out on those blessings we swirl around and forget to add the cream.
I truly can say I have many times.
So to Zoe and Donna thank you. Hope no offence is taken by my message.
Just take a moment to see who God is bringing into your life to help make a wonderful cup of tea.
Wishing you many tasty English Delights.

Is Mr Evans You?

Right now, I am reading Carrie's War by Nina Bawden. It is a British novel based on a girl and brother who have to leave their family during World War 2, and end up in grumpy Mr Evan's house. Mr Evans says he is a Christian but holds onto a lot of bitter and doesn't even forgive his sister after she died.
Mr Evans is very much like people today. We like to take revenge and get people back because they haven't been through what we have, or we have worked so hard while they just sit back and everything comes to them. But really, everyone is going through something. It might not be a divorce but it could be a death or an argument or loosing your sight. To you, it might seem very easy compared to what you are going through but it could be very hard for that person who is going through it.
Instead of bringing others down, encourage them. Wouldn't you want the same thing if you where going through a very difficult time?

Today, think about someone else. See who you can encourage. A little thank you could mean the world to someone.

Wishing you a new day and a new hope.
Emily

Wishing lots of tasty English Delights.

What Memories Are You Making?

Every day is a new beginning but it is your own choice what you are going to do. You could sulk and complain that life isn't how you like it or you could hurt other people with the hurt that you have or you could make a difference and be that one person who will change for what God wants. Everyone is watching you and what you do will make a difference in someone else's life, whether it is the right choice or not.
Today, I was down but mum took us to the park and I got to have a lot of fun just being me without peer pressure and the divorce problems. Katie cheered me up by being extra silly and playing in the sprinkler with me. It might all sound so simple to you, but what if those little nice moments never happened? What if everyone and I mean everyone just thought about themselves? There would be no fun, no surprises, and no blessings. God wants you to change and be that person who lives for Him to help others. Because with one little nice thing, you could make a difference. I mean think about it what if you went to a store and you saw an elderly women struggling with her groceries but you were in such a rush out the store that you didn't even notice her or you saw her but were too busy, you said, to stop. Maybe someone was watching you, and they decided to not help either because they saw that you didn't.

Today make a difference. How do you want people to remember you?

Wishing you a new day and a new hope.
Emily

Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Do You Have a Green Monster?

On Easter Sunday, we went to a friends to have dinner and play games. One of the drinks, that my mum called the Green Monster drink, was green with clumps of shredded ice and ginger ale. It tastes lovely, and after the first sip, you had to have more and more. Sin is sort of like that where after the first littlest thing like stealing a pencil can become the sin of stealing a couch or being a burglar. Even if you are not caught and people don't notice and everyone thinks you're amazing, God still knows your heart and if you truly looked at yourself, you would see it too.

So today, make a recipe of a good decision to take time and look at your heart.
Do you have a Green Monster? Ask God then you'll know.

Wishing you a new day and a new hope.
Emily
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Cups of tea at the cross.

As my daughter Emily wrote on Cornfielddreams today I was reminded of how wonderful it is in England to wake up and have a cup of tea. Tea takes a long time to get through the process to become the drink that we so readily drink in England and as ice tea here in the States. So it is with friends and life it takes a while to mature a friendship. It takes many seasons to often see the goodness in life and to have that relaxing cup of tea. If you watch tea when you add sugar into the waters swirl around and then it is still.So it is in life when all around us is utter disaster eventually the storms will calm.
Last night I was blessed to go to church with my good friends and their daughter and my two wonderful children. Mike,Nancy and Trish are like family to us as are Mike and LeaAnn we have celebrated many Birthdays with them and the day I meet both of them was an amazing day.
The sermon at Hope Community church was one of Hope at the end the Pastor took a big card and it read what he had been and what he now is in Christ then many others had cards too. I thought how my card may not read restored marriage as I so longed it to read but perhaps mine would read I should not be here, nasty separation then on the other side loved by God walking by grace.
So as I type today my story I hope brings hope.
So as you reflect on the day stir your tea and think of the many people who have made a difference in your life.
Never forget where you have come from none of us are any better than the thief who died at the cross with Jesus but if we turn to Christ all of us are made new.
I hope you have many lovely Easter goodies my friends made us some and we are off to deliver some ourselves I encourage you to do the same take some to a friend it will make a difference because you can make a difference.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

The gift of Hope is you

Dear readers
Take some time where ever you are to walk and look and see the amazing grace that we live in. Pick some flowers run with your dogs or fly a kite take time to have a break and see the amazing grace around us.
If you need Easter things then they are probably all on sale I hope you get some good bargains.
Perhaps like we are doing make some Fairy cakes. You could roll some fondant and make eggs to place on the top and then with food coloring paint it brown around it so it looks like a nest. Or simply place a flower in it, They could be real or an artificial and then make a card. Home cards are always the best they simply are sending a part of you with the card.
If you cannot get out simply call someone and spread some hope. Your smile will brighten a day for someone. Honestly it has me.
My hope for you this Easter is that you receive a gift of Hope.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights

Happy Good Friday

As I scanned the many Easter treats yesterday I am reminded that yet another holiday has surely snuck up upon us. I myself will be off to get Easter goodies latter today trying to get some bargains. I encourage you as you venture out to try and say an encouraging word over Easter say something that will bring a smile to a persons face. In this world that we live in it is so easy to forget a simple smile a simple Thank you.
Here is an easy gift to make if you have a square empty tissue box that is empty get some white tissue and cover it. Then get a white cotton ball place that at the back then cut out some ears and tape or paste them on draw some eyes and get some wool for the whiskers and place them on the box.You now have a box that should look like a bunny. Now fill it up with candies it is a simple gift that a child could make for someone special. You could use a tissue for the bunny tail if you do not have cotton wool.
I encourage you as Easter is here to be reminded as Spring comes to reach to those who are in Winter in their lives it is hard times for so many of us and as I have said a simple smile can cheer a weary soul. A simple cutting someones grass where ever your heart is lead I encourage you to take that step of faith.
To all who read may you have a wonderful blessed Easter.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Hope in Spring

Today is a warm sunny day or at least it appears so. As spring comes around and Easter is next week I encourage you to reach out to others. It is a time of Hope it is a time of giving but it is a time when many are without jobs many going through desperate times. We need to understand that Spring means to give new life to those who's hearts are heavy. In truth that surely is what Christ did for all of us. I know in encouraging others I find hope. In seeing a yellow Daffodil and laughing as a child chase a balloon in all these things there is Hope. Hope is in things truly we cannot see. It is in reaching down to the depths of our desperation and saying with God we are nothing but in Him we are everything.So where ever you are today send some Hope to someone else you will not only brighten their day but also yours.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Easter blessings.

If you are buying flowers in a pot this Easter how about putting a plastic bag around the flowers at the bottom and then put sweets/candies or Easter eggs around the base of them. It sure would be a sweet idea with a double blessing for spring with the sweets.
Another idea is buy a flower pot put something at the bottom to fill up the hole like cookies or cut out a plastic circle out of a milk container so that you can put that in the base of the flower pot. Then crush up some cookies whatever you want, now you can either fill this with ice cream or you can fill it up with pudding then put more cookies on top. Then plant lollies in the pot or you can plant one big lolly in it. The pot should be painted. You can paint names on the pots and use these at a party or you can fill the pots with sweets and give them at Easter.
The flower pots can be as big as you want these can go into a hospital or be given to a friend.
Well enjoy be creative.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Notes of kindness.

My girls are with their dad this weekend, I will spend Mothers Day alone. I decided I know who I am I will be my girls mother always I don't have to a special day for that nor a photo around my neck to know how much my children mean to me. The girls left notes around the house and a friend sent me a card. It made me laugh, cry and remind me how fortunate I am.
If you have a few moments call or email or write a note or say some words of kindness. The road I am on is very tough but every word of Hope helps me to push on.
Be encouraged and encourage others.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Herbs of joy

Well spring is finally coming. The Little Herb house of Holland Church Road in Raleigh will open this Saturday March 13th. Lisa Treadaway the owner will open it for another year her wonderful charming smile and her love for herbs overflows. But the truth is Lisa lives a life where God shines through. There are few people that i know that live a life where what they say they do. Lisa and her husband have found the balance of giving and also sharing what God has blessed them with. I encourage you to go and visit her this year. You will find her heart warming smile a pleasure and a restorer to any bleak day. I also encourage you to think how your life could shine a part of Christ through. Maybe it is in simply sharing a cup of tea or simply reading a book to an older friend whatever it is this coming year give with a cheerful heart you will find blessing and find a new you in doing that.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Friends of hope

This weekend was the first weekend my girls stayed with their dad. I went and stayed with some friends. It is amazing how God works both had flannel sheets for the beds,both offered inviting movies and both offered a hug and tea. Memories of days in my childhood flooded in. The warm sheets the warm home the pots of flowers that I use to draw perhaps a part of me was reawakening from the sleep of time. Perhaps a new dawn was been birthed in me.
Whatever you are going through there is a door that leads to find you and loving who you will become. As I put on cornfielddreams I am reading a book about Psalm 27 take a moment to read it too. Perhaps it will encourage you. I hope so.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Good friends and a meal shared.

A new friend mine came by and had supper with us yesterday. It was so nice to sit with a friend and go for a walk, we played cards and laughed. She shared her broccoli and we shared our home. How fun this all was in a time of my life when normality seams so far from my reach. It was lovely to take a walk hug one of my dogs and laugh a long the way. We promised to do it again.
It is amazing how a simple yes you can come over to my house can open up a friendship how often we never ask in fear of been rejected but in truth if we opened up our homes we may find a new friendship. I don't know how long I will be in this home but I do know that while I am here it is a home where I want people to laugh in and be themselves.
So where ever you are today take a moment to think of someone you could reach out to that person may become a new friend all you can do is try.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Cup of kindness

I have a friend who has this amazing drink machine it makes an awesome cup of drinking chocolate we sit by the fire and enjoy each others company. But in truth they have many friends and their home is open up with many cups of kindness. It has taught me that even in my own life that seams a mess a cup of kindness costs nothing. Sit on a bench or by a fire enjoy a drink whatever it is and just listen. It is amazing how much a person learns about giving even when their life is crashing down a simple smile can bring healing a simple hug ,simply listening and a simple just been there for another can change how life is for both people and in truth they become closer maybe for life.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Cup of tea moments

Cups of tea are so British. We have them at socials and the Queens parties. But how often do we have a cup of tea with God and just share a moment in thinking where God might be leading us. I don't do that much. I drink my tea and run.
This weekend I was blessed to have a cup of tea with a friend it felt like Heaven on earth her kind smile her wonderful laugh and her love. She offered a cup of tea and friendship and I accepted. But in truth she offered something laid in her heart a cup of kindness.
It is so easy to forget to share a cup of tea with a friend or just to have a cup of tea with God.
So today make it a point of sitting for a moment and share a moment knowing that your cup of tea moments are treasured by God.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

To eat or not to eat that is the question?

As the winter nights draw in on us all and we ponder on that extra piece of cake that teases us and calls our name from the table. I tell you remember that to think twice is often a good thing. Making healthy choices in a new year is often the best thing you can do for yourself. I drink a lot of cranberry juice. I often find myself craving it, it is so good for you and not that bad. You can make many healthy soups. My leek and potato soup was really easy to make I even used the skins. If you want to be a little naughty fry up some bacon or be good and add little grated cheese. Remember even if you do eat the cake you can still try again. This year grow a garden if you do not have the land buy some herbs that you can grow inside. Make an effort to learn about how to cook with a few things like adding certain herbs or even just veggies. Making simple choices make the others not so hard. So enjoy the hot home made soup and take a smaller piece of cake.

Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.