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Today, I offer you roses. Years ago, Nathan surprised me. (Story below.) Enjoy his precious little heart that gave me a love for red roses. He and I remember this fun time and then I follow up with lots of fun tea-time talk. Enjoy.
Christmas Eve found me huffing and puffing over a kitchen cabinet overflowing with dough. Cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, herb and onion bread for the Shepherd's meal that very evening, and I was into my own vortex of checking off a mental list of all that had to be finished. Stockings, wrap presents, call my family, make the potato soup and fill the cookie trays......on and on the list grew.
Charming 12 year old, golden blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, marched into the kitchen with a purpose to his step.
"Mama, I know you are busy, but there is something real important I need to talk to you about. I need you to come right now!"
A little tightness wrapped itself around my attitude.
My thoughts were, "Hello! Can't you see that I am up to my elbows in dough? Do you really know how much I am doing to make all of you happy? I am doing this for you. Can't you just see what I am up to and wait for just a little bit?"
My words, "Honey, I am a little busy right now. Can you just wait for a few minutes? Why don't you talk to me right here--I am happy to listen to you."
"Mom, we need to have privacy. It won't take long. If you could just come with me for a few minutes, I really need to talk to you."
Something in my heart said, "You need to take time. He is not usually this insistent in the middle of the day. Give him your focussed attention for just a few minutes."
And so I reluctantly wiped my hands clean, put the dough down and said, "Ok, Nate, let's go to my bedroom. No one is there."
He seemed to be holding something behind his back and wanted me to go in front of him.
I walked ahead of him into my bedroom, sat on our little love seat next to our bed and said, trying to smile amidst the tension I was feeling, "Now, Nathan, what did you want to talk about?"
Then, with a smile from cheek to cheek, he gingerly pulled out one long stem red rose from behind his back and presented it to me.
"Mama, I love you more than Christmas."
"I was thinking about all that you do to make us happy and I wanted to give you a present before I get all of my presents tomorrow. I wanted to let you know I love you and really appreciate you ahead of time. So here is my present, mama. I made Dad take me to the store and I got a red rose for you. Do you like it?"
Of course, you could have pushed me over with a feather.
There is lots more today on Tea Time Tuesday—music, food, life, Christmas plans, inspiration. Let me know if you enjoy my ramblings. Hoping you have a wonderful week! Enjoy.
The rest of the story is on my podcast.