One Month

Shalom:
It has been one month since our lives changed.
It still feels like yesterday that we moved in and Mark started his new job.
And yet, at the same time, it feels as if we have lived in this house for years.
The feeling of the house is truly family; me, Mark and our roommate Chris, along with the furry babies, Monti and Peanut.
More about Peanut later.
It is clear that G-d has knitted our hearts together. Chris, who is going through a new beginning as well, is more like a younger brother than a roomie.
Peanut and Monti are still working through their relationship.
And me? It is so nice being the lady of the house, having a nice big kitchen to cook in and once Mark cleans the stove, bake in.

This is Mark with Jose and Monti. Jose and Monti were the best of friends. But Jose didn't like men and began growling at Mark and snapping at his owner, Chris. So, sadly, Jose had to be re homed.
A few days later, came Peanut:

Peanut is a 16 or 17 year old Beagle who's owner was moving out of state and couldn't take Big Girl with her. And she is truly a big girl, but like Monti, very loving. However, both Peanut and Monti are use to being The Dog of the house, so they are not exactly great friends.
At least Monti doesn't try to push Peanut off my lap.
We are still unpacking and packing, trying to find places to put stuff. There are days I am ready to just throw everything into the trash.
And then I remember the goodness of G-d and change my mind.
One month ago, Mark did not have a job and we were facing eviction.
One month later, we are now living in a house we are renting for less than we rented our former apartment with everything included. Mark has a job he loves and this evening he will come home with his second paycheck and will be able to pay our rent.
How good He is. How faithful.
Just today I was encouting the deeds and miracles He has performed, the love He continues to pour into our lives.
How easy it is take such blessings for granted.
That is why I believe keeping a journal is so important. To remind ourselves what He has done. This is the purpose of the various Feast of the L-rd; to remember, to recall, to celebrate.
For all my readers who are still looking for work, for are in of a movement of G-d in your life. He did it for us and He will do it for you. He has brought us through the fire and the storm, and we have come through intact, not even smelling of smoke.
Hold onto His unchanging Hand.
I haven't.

What Flavour is Your Tea?

Shalom:
I am sure most have hear the follow sayings;
"A woman going through adversity is like a tea-bag; only in water do we find out how strong she is..." 
"A person going through adversity is like to a tea-bag; one never knows what kind of flavour (character) in the bag until placed in hot water.

A few weeks ago, my mother and I were speaking on the phone. I was sharing with her something I saw in a moment of prayer; that part of what is going on in our lives is G-d's way of making us Holy. And Holiness is made through pressure, through hard times.
She laughed and told me that was the message  from her weekly Bible Study group: Tea; the Taste of Adversity.
Mother was sharing with me that; "the trials and storms of life are liken to a tea-bag.
"The hot water," mother informed me, "isn't what makes the tea. When placed in hot water, the hot water acts an the activator to release what is in the tea-bag. It is the dried leaves inside the thin paper bag that makes the tea."
Just befor the phone rang, I had place the makings of Sun tea outside to brew. So it was quite fitting that it was Mummie calling, to share  the bible lesson of the morning. The teaching of the contents of a tea bag, made me think about the progress of how Sun tea is made, driving home the point my mother was making from her story.

I have been making Sun-tea since my teens, learning how to do so from reading Mother Earth magazine. After  mummie samples my first efforts, I became the Sun-tea maker in the family.
To make a good, smooth pitcher of Sun-tea, you first need a large glass jar. I have an old, 2 gallon kosher pickle jar a friend gave me just after Mark and I were married seven years ago. They were going to throw it away, but I saved that beauty from the trash bin.
After giving your jar a good cleaning, fill the jar three fours of the way with COLD water. Yes, it must be cold. The cold water will prevent your tea from becoming cloudy.
Deciding on the size of your jar, place four to six tea bags into the water. Then close the top. Allow the tea bags to enjoy the cold water for a few minutes. Then place your jar into a sunny spot outside and allow the sun to shine down upon the jar. The sunnier the spot, the hotter the day, the better the tea.
The sun will slowly heat up the water, the heating water to release the dried leaves in the tea bags. Several hours later, you should have a jar of amber-gold sun tea, like the picture above, waiting to be poured over a pitcher of ice, sweeten and enjoyed.
Ahhhh.
But the nice, cold water didn't release the flavour, the colour of the tea. It was the warming rays of the sun. The hottier the sunrays, the stronger the taste.
No doult the Reels are in a huge jar of Sun-tea. What is inside of us as a couple and as individuals is coming out. Our strengh, our weaknesses. At times we taste like my amazing Moroccan Mint Sun tea. At other times, our taste is bitter and needs sugar.
I don't wish to be a bitter cup of tea, one that it takes work to sweeten. I wish to be Moroccan mint; refreshing, relaxing and a joy to drink. I don't wish to be a weak cup of tea; "yuck!" and then tossed out. I want to be good and strong, one that makes the Queen of England sit up and ask: "what kind of tea is this, please?"
"Make a good cup of tea, Yah. One that is pleases to all."
P.S for my Starbucks buddies; you need fresh, cold water to make a good cup of coffee too :)