cup and saucer chat

Hello, sweet Sugar Pie! I would love for you to pour yourself a hot cup of tea or whatever you prefer and relax as I share with you about someone special who has blessed my life with her ministry of encouraging women and families. You may already know her and if you do I’m sure you’ll agree that she brings to the table wonderful nourishment for the heart and soul.

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She has so many facets to her beautiful life. She’s raised and home-schooled four God-loving children and served as a missionary in Europe for several years alongside her beloved husband. She graciously teaches women how to nurture their home and family with beauty, books, music, food, warmth, and love. She loves her family well, in such a way that her children are able to see the goodness of God in their everyday lives. She’s written several books, some with her husband, and speaks around the world changing the lives of thousands of women, giving them the tools to become the mother their children need.

She is so very wise and yet very transparent which makes her relatable and loveable. She does not profess to be the perfect mother nor have the perfect children, but, in my opinion, she did a lot of things right!

Sally-Clarkson-22Logo22-v2Would you like to know who she is? Her name is Sally Clarkson! Her podcast is one of my favorites!! You can find out more about Sally here on her blog.

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Sally lives Colorado with her husband Clay. Her oldest son, Joel, lives in New York and is a film score composer, and her other son Nathan is an actor and film producer. Her daughter Sarah is currently studying Theology in Oxford, England. Sarah is married to Thomas and just gave birth to Sally’s first grandchild, Lillian. Joy, Sally’s other daughter, is a graduate student at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland.

IMG_5990This sweet Sister-in-the-Lord has inspired me to start the tradition of an English afternoon tea. A snippet of time,( 15 minutes or so) at 3 in the afternoon, to stop, make a steaming cup of tea (English Teatime or Jasmine Tea are my favorites) and sit down to think, count my blessings, pray, write in a journal, or read. The one self-imposed rule I have is no cell phone allowed. This is a time to step away from the busyness of life and the never-ending pull to look down at my phone to constantly scroll and scan information. We all need some quiet time…to get off the merry-go-round so to speak.  If we want peace and that much-needed feeling of well being then we must make room for it…we can all find 15 minutes! If we sow peace then we will reap contentment.  I love to make these quiet moments as lovely as can be with soft music, a lit candle, and a yummy beverage (It doesn’t have to be tea of course). Three o’clock may not work for you, but I encourage you to find 15 minutes somewhere in your day (maybe when the little ones are napping?) Well, even though I’m not able to have tea-time every day when I do my heart feels blessed and refreshed. It allows me to catch my breath and gain a more positive perspective on the things that are going on in my life.

Teatime is also the perfect time to reflect on my relationships, to ask myself how I can better serve and bless my husband, kids, grandkids, and friends.

“When you learn to take responsibility for your own well-being, you will produce a harvest of influence and grace in every other area that is influenced by your heart-health.” ~Sally Clarkson

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I’ve found so many inspiring ideas and thoughts to ponder in the several books that Sally has written!

“One of the marks of a godly woman is that she takes responsibility for her soul’s need for joy and delight. A woman is a conductor, who leads the orchestra of her surroundings in the songs and music of her life. God is a God of creativity and dimension, and so He is pleased when we co-create beauty in our own realm, through the power of His Spirit.
It was a profound realization when I understood that I could become an artist with my very life.” ~ Sally ClarksonIMG_5998

The books that I’ve read so far and treasure are The Life Giving Home, The Life Giving Table (Her special family recipes included!) and Own Your Life.  I always read with a pen and a highlighter to mark the words that jump off the page and capture my heart so I can easily find them again.

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“Investing in your soul life is the secret to becoming elegant, distinguished, gracious, refined, and spiritually captivating. But soul refining requires intentional planning and prioritizing. Women who grow more lovely with time have practiced pouring into themselves all that is excellent, wise, graceful, good, and true.” ~Sally Clarkson

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Sally’s newest book, co-authored with her husband is The Life Giving Parent. It will be released May 1, 2018.

I encourage you to find out more about Sally! I believe she will bless your life as she has mine. You can listen to her podcast online or on your smartphone. Her voice is so soothing, comforting and reassuring.

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One last note about Sally…she recently went to England to be with her daughter for the birth of her grandbaby and had an unfortunate accident where she fell and injured her eye. It’s quite serious and so I ask that you would join me to pray for complete healing and restoration of her sight. It amazes me that even though this situation is painful and distressing she continues to encourage and bless her readers and podcast listeners. She shared this photo on Instagram with this caption; “Ahoy, Matey!!! Nathan has now …dubbed me ‘The Life Giving Pirate”.  She’s the cutest!

Thank you for having “tea” with me today!

Would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Bless your family…make home sweet!

Aunt Ruthie

 

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