Sunday Reflections
Happy final Sunday of June! Welcome to my weekly lifestyle post called Sunday Reflections.
On this day each week, I write in Sunday Reflections what has been on my mind lately.
And this past week and week going forward, I am reflecting on hospitality as I prepare for my whole family to gather here for July 4 weekend.
Of course, I am beyond excited to see everyone and spend time with our new babies, as well as older grandchildren.
So, I am refining and reflecting on activities for the children and meals while we are together.
One of my main goals is to get a picture of all eight grandchildren since we do not have that at this point.
Brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.
Let’s begin today with a new recipe I want to share with you…so join me for Chai tea and cookies.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: EARL GREY SHORTBREAD COOKIES
When my new friend, Addie, celebrated her 10 year anniversary of Addie’s Boutique, her mom made these cookies for goody bags.
I loved them! They also shared the recipe in the goody bag…this is such a delicious cookie and pairs well with tea or coffee.
Also, this recipe is super simple. Thanks to Addie and Betty Jo for sharing it! You will see what I did a little different, but their recipe without my enhancements is very good.
EARL GREY SHORTBREAD COOKIES
2 cups of all purpose flour (I use the one that comes already sifted)
2 Tbs loose Earl Grey tea leaves ( in Abilene, I purchased this at Cordell’s). (I hit these in the spice grinder before using just to get good small pieces)
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (I used the Mexican vanilla)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter at room temperature (I did use the European butter…makes cookies sooo good!)
- In a food processor, pulse together the flour, tea, and salt until the tea is just spotted throughout the flour. Add the sugar, vanilla, butter. Pulse together just until the dough is formed. Place dough on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a log about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Tightly twist each end of the wrap & chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (I wrapped mine in parchment paper and felt like it needed to chill for an hour)
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Slice the log into 1/3-inch disks. Place on parchment paper or lined baking sheets, 2 inches a part. Bake until the edges are just brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for five minutes and then transfer to wire racks to cool at room temperature.
Next call a friend or family member and invite them over for tea!
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: BLOOM OR ROOT?
Addie also had this sign in her boutique…which had me reflecting on the difference between Bloom where you are planted and Root where you are planted.
Mr. B and I had a discussion about it at lunch last weekend while downtown and both of us had different ways to look at the differences.
We ran into my friend, Ivy (of Straworth) right after this talk, so Mr. B asked Ivy what she believed the difference is between the two quotes.
I liked her answer. She said, “In order to really bloom, we must first be rooted into a family, or community, or our foundational beliefs.”
Just like plants, we will not bloom beautifully unless we are rooted deeply.
Now, my goal is to ROOT where I am planted in this new phase of life.
Thanks Ivy!
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
I have been reflecting a lot lately on hospitality.
The verse right after this one says to PRACTICE HOSPITALITY (Romans 12:13)….which is what I am working on to prepare for all of our guests at the end of next week.
However, this one captured my attention to focus on this week as well…these are personal goals of mine…to constantly have hope; to be steadfast and patient no matter the situation; and to always be devoted in prayer.
I cannot be hopeful, steadfast or patient without constant prayer.
Thank you for joining me today for Sunday Reflections…please leave any reflections you may have…how to look at the differences between bloom and root…would love to know your thoughts.
Have a blessed day and I hope to see you tomorrow.
BE THANKFUL & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGEā¦thank you, thank you to all who shop this way.
BLOOM!!
I had my three children together last week so I know the excitement! Love the root so you can bloom discussion. It sounds like another good quote that I can explore in my painting journal. Thank you and enjoy Sunday.
Happy Sunday! That idea would make a wonderful painting!
I needed the reminder to “constantly have hope.” I need to buckle down on patience as well! Thank you for sharing.
Good Morning from my final day in Las Vegas. I smiled at your theme of Hospitality, as I have been hosted beyond belief these past several days by my lovely friends. Being their guest has been such a blessing to me, a time to set aside my day-to-day worries of caring for my widowed father and my not-so-well husband back home. Also, while I have thrilled at seeing the big shows and eating at great restaurants we just don’t have where I live, the best moments have been sitting together over morning tea. There has been a deepening of the friendship that I will carry forward and treasure. š
Sending you Oregon hugs, from sunny Vegas! š¤š
Pamela, taking root before you bloom is a great way of looking at life. Have a wonderful time with your family.
My life has taken me from Michigan to Iowa and for the last 30 years here to Colorado. My roots have gone deep here in my beloved mountains. I can no longer ski nor bike but every morning with my tea, Iām looking at the mountains and have so much joy. I love it here and this is where Iām supposed to be. Iām grateful that my husband feels the same way. I need to work on patience as I get short tempered with him often since he has lost his hearing and refuses to wear his hearing aides. I need to remind myself to face him and speak clearly. He can no longer hear the birdsong on our morning walks with Trixy. Our 19 year old kitty we love dearly is starting to fail. We are sad about dear little Molly. She is our last cat. So now a few tears and a look out our windows at the gorgeous hot morning and those forever mountains and all of the memories that they bring.
You are welcome, Kathy. I know I need the reminders!
Thanks for sharing, Connie. It is a good reminder that sometimes all we need is at home hospitality when planning to be with people we love and do not see every day. I am so glad that your trip has been a blessing.
Thanks Marcia…my new friend, Ivy, is so young and yet, so wise. I love to talk to her.
So sorry to hear about your beloved cat, Sydney. There is a section in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13 that describes love…the very first thing is “love is patient,” I have that verse by the morning coffee pot to remind me of what love is every day.
Those cookies look yummy! You did a great job & thank you for the loose leaf tea you brought by the shop for Betty Jo. Now we can get her going on the next batch. š Hereās to cooking, rooting, & having the courage + fortitude to tackle life. š
Much love to you.
Thanks for stopping by, Addie. The cookies are one of my new favorites!
I was so excited to read that you are going to have your entire crew together next week! I can only imagine how special that time will be, and I hope you’ll be able to share that group photo of the grandkids (with their parents’ permission, of course.) I did a deep dive into a study of the Biblical concept of hospitality for several years and look forward to putting what I learned into practice in my new neighborhood. My greatest takeaway was that no one else really cares how your house looks, what they remember is how it feels. I love Ivy’s take on the root/bloom conversation, and I agree that being deeply rooted is essential for fully blooming. I’m going to give this idea more thought in the coming week as I look for ways to become more deeply rooted in my new community.
I donāt often post though I do visit your site everyday- today really resonated with me. My husband has Parkinsonās dementia and days can be tough for me. āSteadfast and patient in distress no matter the situationā are wise words I needed to hear. Thank you – you posted the right thing for me today- blessings to you and your family
I think in the past I have missed some great opportunities to practice hospitality because I wanted everything to be perfect…and social media is not help there. This is great advice for all of us to remember…we need to just do it!
Hi Carol…I pray and really try my best to let God lead on these Sunday Posts…He knew what you needed…bless you for your service to your family.
How thoughtful of Addie to include the recipe with the cookies! Since I enjoy drinking Earl Grey tea, I’m sure I would like those cookies. Your friend, Ivy, is very wise. Nothing blooms or grows if it doesn’t have roots, including the fruits of the spirits (Galatians 5:23). If we are not rooted in the love of Christ, we can’t expect to produce good fruit. Our theme at church this year is “Rooted & Grounded in Love”, so we have spent much time discussing this. Enjoy your family time!
How wonderful that your whole family will be with you soon. I know you will all have a great time. It can take time to put down roots in a new place but I am confident you thrive and bloom in your new town. And I love the verse from Romans. One of the goals I have for myself this year is a study of St. Paul’s letters and I plan to begin with Romans. I need to set the time aside for it as the days get so busy. Your hibiscus is gorgeous. Mine continues to bloom but the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. I have been feeding and pampering it but I fear it will not last the summer. Sydney I am so sorry that your dear Molly is beginning to fade and I understand your frustration with your husband & his hearing aids. Mine will wear his in the evening when we watch TV but the rest of the day is a challenge to communicate well. So patience is something I constantly have to work on. Connie, so glad your trip has been such fun.
For the cookie recipe, can I just empty the tea out of some Earl Gray teabags instead of buying loose tea, or would it not be fresh enough?
Thank you, Becky and I completely agree with all you said!
Thanks for joining in, Kathie with a little something for others!
I am not sure the answer to that one, Mary Jo but it might be worth a try! Make sure you grind it well.
How wonderful that your family will be together for the holiday.
I like the “rooted” where you are.
Thanks for the scripture verse this week.