Thursday, December 01, 2011

Our 25 Teas of Christmas - Day #1


"Vanilla lovers, rejoice! We've added the creamy, nutty flavor of rich vanilla to our beloved Sleepytime® blend of floral chamomile, cool spearmint and lively lemongrass. With its comforting aroma and perfectly balanced flavor, Sleepytime Vanilla is an exquisitely soothing new way for you to wind down your day."

—Charlie Baden, Celestial Seasonings Blendmaster


Ahhhhh...good 'ol Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea - a long standing favorite of mine. Therefore imagine my surprise to discover this new version which is exactly the same as the original with the addition of a hint of vanilla...mmmmmm.  I plopped it into my cart this week lickety-split, and I'm so glad I did because it was the perfect tea for us to have tonight after a very long, tiring day.  Everyone was already sleepy, so the tea only provided the relaxation to listen to a bedtime story, then crawl into a snuggly bed.  Sleepytime Vanilla was given "thumbs up" by all - especially a very enthusiastic Michael who really, REALLY liked it!  (The girls added a bit of honey to theirs for extra yummy-ness.)

Tonight's tea-time story was a chapter out of our Advent book this year called Tabitha' Travels by Arnold Ytreeide. This is the third in a book series written especially to read daily leading up to Christmas.  Our family has read the entire series several times, and never grows tired of it.  The books are meant to be read out loud as a family (a different one each year), ending on Christmas Day.  Each book focuses on one character in the shared storyline of the 3 books, telling it from their perspective and experiences.  I cannot recommend this series highly enough.  It has truly been one of the most treasured Christmas traditions we have done as a family.  (Be sure to begin with Jotham's Journey, the first book in the trilogy and our personal favorite :-)

**The books also include optional added instructions for lighting Advent candles to go with the chapter readings throughout the month.  We enjoy how much this adds to our family worship & story time.


Tabitha's Travels
In a page-turner like Jotham's Journey and Bartholomew's Passage, this exciting story takes readers through Advent to Christmas as they follow young Tabitha on her adventures. Curious, competent, and courageous. Tabitha is the daughter of Eliakim, a shepherd who is taking his family on caravan to his birthplace. Along the way she meets and becomes friends with Jotham and Bartholomew, watches as Romans take her father prisoner, spends time with Zachary and Elizabeth, rescues her father, helps Mary and Joseph just before Christ's birth, and ends her travels with the wonderful climax at the stable in Bethlehem. Following each chapter is a Spiritual reflection that gives readers an opportunity to respond personally to a spiritual truth embedded in the story. Ideal for family devotions.
   

1 comment:

La Tea Dah said...

I enjoyed your post. The tea selection sounds delicious --- and the book interesting and timely. Thank you for sharing!

I posted a link to your blog in the tea group I belong to --- so my tea-loving friends can stop by to enjoy your posts as well.

Happy Holidays!