Love… One Sip At A Time // A Valentine Tea Party
I started hosting tea parties in an older home propped as pretty as you please on the corner of a quiet street. A family of four in a two-bedroom, one-bath home made for a tight fit, and tea parties felt downright snug, but no one would change a thing. Some teas were scripture-based, and others celebrated holidays, but every time, the room filled with the scent of scones, floral tea, and...
The Fragrance of Love: Redemptive Power
by Cathy Baker Ah, the fragrance of God’s redemptive power. Breathe in deeply for its potent scent is costly and its deliverance, swift. It redeems souls, gives trials eternal purpose, and hope in what seems to be a hopeless situation. I should know. Almost thirty years ago, a miscarriage left me with a multitude of questions and seemingly nowhere to turn for the answers. But God came...
The Fragrance of Love: Loving the Lonely
by Cathy Baker Flowers will be delivered, chocolates devoured, and dinners dimly lit by candlelight will be enjoyed. Others will enter empty, hushed homes Saturday night. And it’s here where my heart stirs and longs to reach outward. Oh yes, His presence is there with them, but we are His hands and feet. In years past, I’ve made cards to send to those without a Valentine but...
The Fragrance of Love: Sharing Valentine Cookies!
I ♥ cookies, especially those that are perfect for sharing, so break out the heart-shaped cookie cutters! It’s time to bake. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Yield: 2 dozen heart shaped cookies Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 box red velvet cake mix (I used Duncan Hines) 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 large eggs 1/2 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract...
The Fragrance of Love: Tiny Houses
I LOVE tiny houses. So why is an extreme claustrophobic swooning over these minuscule jewels? I can’t explain it. All I know is that the cozy tight quarters speaks to me. Or maybe it’s our tiny budget doing all the talking since a real-sized cabin is out of reach. A part of me would be willing to sell everything and live debt-free on the side of a mountain. Albeit a tiny part, the...
The Fragrance of Love: Tidyness
by Cathy Baker I LOVE the idea of tidying up. I’m a sucker for book covers. Case in point: the life-changing magic of tidying up…the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing, by Marie Kondo. I didn’t go in search of such a book. In fact, I was looking for a new Ravensburger puzzle when the cover caught my eye. Once inside, however, I was immediately drawn to the...
The Fragrance of Love: The Specificity of God
by Cathy Baker It began with a prayer journal entry—my asking God if writing was His desire for me. You see, in recent years I’ve struggled with guilt. Guilt because my love for teaching the Word had begun to wane while my love for writing continued to increase. I simply wanted to be as certain as possible that God was behind my desire to write, and not my flesh. I was growing weary of...