Guest post by Katie Stanley
It is important to create special moments with our daughters. I like to have tea times where we prepare yummy treats, dress up and have a few friends over. This past tea was no exception. Princesses and fine ladies sat around a beautifully set table, nibbled on delicious treats and sipped fragrant tea.
Teas are a perfect time to remind our girls that they are daughters of the True King, our Heavenly Papa. We dawn on our best or most fun clothes and take time enjoy one others company while learning why we are important to God. We pull out the pretty dress, scarves and floppy hats. Part way through the tea I like to read a book that is just for girls. Some of my favorites are:
Gigi, God’s Little Princess Treasury
Teas are also an important time to teach manners in a fun environment. While I try to teach my daughters to have good manners and be polite all the time, teas are a fun time to put those manners into practice. Saying please and thank you, not slurping, having our elbows off the table, even putting our pinkie fingers up in the air while we drink our tea.
Additionally teas are a perfect time to invite girls and their mothers from the neighborhood. It can be a wonderful way to reach out to our unsaved neighbors in a friendly non-confrontational manner. Simply invite some mamas and their daughters and enjoy one another’s company for a time of fun and fellowship.
I want to serve special treats for my girls to enjoy but at the same time I don’t want to sacrifice nutrition. I have found that it is easy to make treats that are nourishing without sacrificing flavor. This past time they nibbled on chocolate cherry coconut flour cupcakes, soaked lemony scones, lemon curd and sourdough blueberry muffins. We drank Rosy Black Tea sweetened with raw honey and a touch of farm fresh raw milk. None of our guests noticed the difference yet it was important to me to not sacrifice our nutrition by compromising and using refined sugar and flour. With exception to the coconut flour, none of the treats cost anymore to make than it would have to use refined products. I grind my own wheat, buy coconut oil in bulk, use lemons from my own trees and purchase my milk and eggs from a farm down the road.
Here is our favorite special tea to serve at Tea Time. The roses impart a delicious, light flavor.
Rosy Black Tea
6 cups water
¼ cup lose leaf organic black tea
½ cup organic rose petals
Raw honey to taste
Raw milk or cream to taste
Bring the water to a boil. For convince sake place the Rosy Black Tea in a large mesh tea ball or a small linen bag. Place the tea in your teapot and pour in the hot water. Let steep for five minutes, remove the tea leaves and then you are ready to serve. Add a little honey and milk/cream for a delicious tea.
Katie Stanley is a dorm “mama” to 12 amazing girls ages 8 to 18 at a home and school for the Deaf in Baja California, Mexico. She and her “hijas” can be frequently found in the kitchen, the garden or making friends with their new chickens. She loves to read, hike the hills near her home and spend time with her girls. In her spare time Katie blogs at Mexican Wildflower about nourishing foods, herbal remedies, simple living, the Deaf, raising her girls and encouraging other women in their walk with Christ.
You wrote: We dawn on our best or most fun clothes ….
next time try “don our special clothes” or “put on our special clothes”
I have always liked the song “I’m a child of the King”
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/h/childkin.htm
Still a child of the king after these many years
Annonli
I absolutely LOVE this! Just after I was married, my aunt hosted a Mad Hatter Tea Party. She ordered “blank” hats that were cream or white but very plain. We each were mailed a hat and the name of a person for whom we were to decorate the hat. The day of the tea party we all wore our Sunday best and upon entering the dining room, our seats had not only our hats but a name plate. We had Eat Me Cupcakes and Drink Me Punch. We were served 4 or 5 courses but it was SO much fun. Those invited were all family members and we were each celebrating a different event – Mother’s Day, a Birthday, a Wedding, a College Graduation and a New Baby. That tea party is something that has stuck with me the last 5 years and I hope we have the opportunity to make it a yearly event!
That sounds so fun! What a great idea!
I wish there was a way I could send you a picture of it. I’d love to show you our hats!
What a great idea! And the recipe’s look so good…must try them this winter. Now that I’m a momma to two girlies, I need to do this in a few years. Can’t wait!!!
I hope you enjoy the recipes!
The picture of the girls is great!! So many little princesses!! May God continue to bless you and the children.
Thank you Beth!
Yum!
I’m hosting a giveaway – would love for you to enter!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/cheribundi-tart-cherry-juice-review.html
I’m always a strong proponent of tea time!
Nickole
Yes, tea times are the best!
Thank you for having my Lindsay!
I have three sons under the age of 5, but I still plan on doing tea times with them. Of course we won’t get all dressed up, but they love drinking tea and having a nice treat and conversation with their mom. It’s also a good way to teach them manners.
I’ve had some great tea times with some boys too!
I love that picture of your girls!
Thank you Marilyn!
I just had a little lady born July 16, 2012. She is only a month old but I can’t wait to have tea times with her and her friends someday!
How wonderful Sarah! I’m sure you will have many lovley tea with your daugher and her friends!