A Cup of Christmas Tea

But if you find you have some time,
how wonderful if we
Could have a little chat and share
a cup of Christmas tea. Tom Hegg, 1981

In 1981, Tom Hegg's pastor asked him to write something to honor their church's 125th anniversary. Compiling a plethora of Christmas memories and depositing them gently into A Cup of Christmas Tea, Tom's poem embodied the desire of all to stop the world and share a visit, if only for a moment.

When I visit my past, I realize it is rich with tradition and the beauty of true family history. It is my deepest hope that my children will have memories of their own and will learn the importance of tradition.

We began a new tradition this year.

Back in October, my dear friend Sharon, and I ran into each other at the dentist's office. We see each other all the time, but it was that morning that she shared with me her own legacy of taking her mother and her daughter to tea in the city. Knowing my affinity for tradition, she offered we might like to join them this year. And join them we did.


Each little girl received a tea set in a heart shaped box - adorable!

A gift for Emily and my mother, it was I who received the greatest gift of all. Just watching their faces, feeling their happiness and bearing witness to complete joy, I want for nothing more. The hotel was lovely, but paled in comparison to the company we shared and the laughs we enjoyed. The food was excellent, but certainly not as good as the time spent learning more about one another and watching relationships being nurtured.



Our little girls sat rapt with attention as dancers slid effortlessly past them dancing scenes from the Nutcracker. Our eyes were big at the beauty of the decorations and the sheer glimmer of the large silver teapots that circled the room. Our time together was blessed beyond measure from beginning to end. We encountered little traffic despite a city filled with holiday frivolity and even the snow knew to begin falling just as we exited the hotel.


Aunt Anne with the girls

I am grateful that my friend knew me well enough to know this would be my cup of tea:) And I feel so thankful that God paved the way for our new tradition. I look forward to the day when Hannah will join us and any newcomers that might want to capture the nostalgia of a time that we have forgotten or dismissed. Our biggest surprise of the day came at the very end. Aunt Anne (Sharon's sister) visited the restroom and she came back announcing that Cindy McCain was in the restroom. Aunt Anne composed a note to be delivered to Mrs. McCain and all three little girls went with her. She was dining privately with her son and after reading the note, got up and came to each little girl and shook their hands. Her son also came out and greeted several of us. These little girls will never forget this beautiful encounter and the kindness expressed to them by a woman they each knew readily upon seeing her. Though we have no pictures, we have an indelible imprint of her gentle handshake.

Perhaps this season, you will find the time to share a cup of tea with someone you love...it will be precious time, I assure you.


Emily, Gabrielle, Leigha


The whole group



The girls with Alice in Wonderland


Lucille & Leigha


Sharon, Gabrielle, Gabrielle's NanNan, Aunt Anne


Each Mommy stole a shot with the lovely little girls!


One of my favorites of the day, celebrating Leigha's birthday!



We went inside and then before
I knew how to react
Before my eyes and ears and nose
was Christmas past, alive, intact
My spirit fairly bolted
like a child out of class
And danced among the ornaments
of calico and glass.
Like magic I was six again,
deep in a Christmas spell.
Steeped in the million memories
That the girl inside knew well.