Almost Homemade

She sounded desperate. Her words were short, “Can I come over and talk?”

Mine was shorter. “Sure.” 

Now was not the time to dust and vacuum, but I could pray while I put a sweet treat together.

Always keep doilies in all sizes on hand. They dress up any dish.

Quickly, I decapitated an angel food cake I’d purchased earlier in the day, cut out a trench in the body of the cake and over-filled the ditch with ready-made chocolate fudge frosting. The Cool Whip was frozen when I forced it from its plastic mold into a glass bowl to nuke for a few seconds. In the meantime,  I looked in the fridge to see what kind of fruit I had on hand. 

I dumped strawberries in a colander and let cold water gush over them. They were on their own while I checked the Cool Whip. Perfect!

With one hand, I turn the waterfall off and grabbed a serving spoon with the other. It didn’t take long to shovel fudge frosting in the circular trench as well as adding extra to cover the top of that portion of the cake. 

With a controlled pause and precision, I placed the decapitated

top of the cake over the chocolate delight. With a few quick swirls

A Simple and Tasty Treat

to fluff up the Cool Whip, the cake top was crowned with a white cloud of cool creaminess. 

The rush wasn’t over yet.  Neither was the cake nor my prayers while I carried on. Splitting a few strawberries in half then placing them around the center opening, they added beautiful color. The final touch was lacing the top with chocolate syrup before circling the quick creation with fresh strawberries. 

In less than 15 minutes, almost homemade treat was on the table along with teacups, dessert plates, flat ware, and pretty paper napkins. 

The dishwasher gobbled up the dirty dishes in a blink. I even had time to smear on lip stick before the doorbell rang. Walking with speed and praying even faster for the Lord to join us, I answered the door.

Easy and quick any time treat from TeaCup Living.

The answered prayers were sweeter than the cake. Her desperate request was satisfied with words of encouragement along with words from the Bible’s pantry of comfort. 

Serving others in need with the best we have on hand is okay. Even store-bought cookies will do when the true treat is a listening friend.  

May you be a blessing as you shine on in your serve. 

Uplifting blessings, 

Carolyn 

Summer Delights

There is beauty even in the dry heat of summer. 

As the end of spring brought blossoms and buds of new fruit, so did the summer activities explode into a hot rush to weddings, yard work, and keeping up with grandsons. 

Like the heat waves of summer that distorts images, so are the memories of the beginning of this summer. Nevertheless, they were easily recaptured in a pause at a rest stop on our way to another wedding. 

In the middle of the summer’s blistering heat, pausing to watch a fountain in the center of a pond was a cool treat. It reminded me of the sparkling blessings the Lord had given us in the hot hustles in the beginning of summer. 

As I watched the water being lifted into the air and seeing the sun shine through each drop, I saw life’s moments as a drop of light that has a sparkle of its own. It takes the light of the Son, Jesus Christ to bring sparkle into our lives. That peace filled moment reminded me that His word always refreshes too. As I watched the water droplets dance around, I was reminded of Psalms 32:11,

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous, sing, all you who are upright in heart!                   

A pause is a treat we give ourselves. A remembrance from the word of God is another beautiful treat that refreshes no matter the weather. 

Have you treated yourself with a pause in the heat of things lately?

May you be refreshed by the promise of the LORD Almighty, 

who said in Jeremiah 31:25, 

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” 

A rest stop in His word is a beautiful place. 

Uplifting blessings,

Carolyn