Not everyday do you get to go to tea at a castle. Well, not everyday do you get to have tea with a group of women ready to make a difference in the world by stepping out in faith and following whatever path the Lord opens up to them to improve our world. Sometimes we think there is nothing we can do to improve the lives of others but then you find out that women everywhere and right around you in your state are working hard to make life better for others.
Today was that kind of day as I was invited to a tea at the Kentucky Castle where women with ministries here in Kentucky were honored. The She Leads America organization is starting up chapters in states all across our country. Today they had their Inaugural Honoring Gala here in Kentucky. Their mission is to “give honor where it is due to exemplary Christian women.”
I was humbled by the many other women there who had ministries helping women in our state. I’m not sure I belonged among them, but it was an honor to be there.
My granddaughter went with me. We enjoyed the High Tea. I should have taken a picture of the table with the beautiful tea cups and lovely tea sandwiches, scones and sweets. The tea choices were lemon pineapple and strawberry. I’m a black tea drinker, but I expanded my tea tasting today. My granddaughter loved the strawberry tea. It was a pretty pink. My mother used to say that tea just tasted better from a china cup. 
The event was out in the garden tent and not actually inside the castle but we were able to go inside and look around. We even climbed to the top. My granddaughter was good enough to humor me even though she was wearing three inch heels. Everyone looked beautiful in their formal and semi-formal attire. And my dress, while not floor-length as many of the others wore, was fine just as many of you said when I asked your opinion on my author FB page. My granddaughter enjoyed dressing up too and did have a long dress with those high-heels. Made her taller than me which had her smiling even more. At least until her feet started hurting. 🙂
Attendees kept asking me what was my ministry. I wasn’t sure exactly how to answer. Many of the other honorees worked with the Refuge for Women or were evangelists and pastor. Several worked with children. Some were legislators. Some were broadcasters, worship leaders, singers, speakers. It was a wide variety of women doing work for the Lord. And me? I make up stories. Hmm. I do hope my books encourage readers and that reading about my characters’ faith journeys may give them insight and inspiration for their own life journeys.
I was certainly inspired by reading all the wonderful ministries of the other honorees and hearing the speakers today, including Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King Jr. When she got up to speak, the first thing she did was ask us all to sing “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” A sweet and meaningful moment. I’ll post a little of that song on my FB page later. Sometimes it’s the little things that can the most meaningful. Not that letting one’s light shine is a little thing. It’s a best thing for all of us to hold up our light and let it shine for others and to share that light with others who need it.
Today, we held up our lights and heard prayers and worship songs and got the boost many of us needed to keep on keeping on. The extra bonus was getting to see the Kentucky Castle up close after years of driving by it and seeing a castle in the middle of a Kentucky field where no one would ever expect a castle to be. The above picture is of the back of the castle that is lovely. The next picture is the front. If the wind hadn’t been so cold, we might have taken more pictures.
A beautiful day was made even better by sharing it with my granddaughter and seeing so many Christian women ready to do their part to spread the Good News of the Gospel here in Kentucky.
If you want to know more about the organization, you can check out She Leads Kentucky or She leads America online or on Facebook.
And thanks, as always, for reading my words.
Also a special thanks to all of you who sent me such sweet messages about Marley. I miss him being on his bed behind my chair while I’m writing this.
Comments 13
It looks and sounds like you and your granddaughter had a great time having tea at the castle. I’m sure it’s something you will often remember.
I think I have seen that castle some years ago. We went to visit some friends that had moved to Lexington and they took us for a ride to see some of the countryside. We drove by a place that was described as the castle. It was fun seeing something odd in that type of landscape. I also enjoyed seeing all the fields and huge horse barns.
Author
I’m sure if you were driving around Lexington, this was the castle you saw or at least part of it. A few years ago, the interior part of the castle burned but the wall survived. Stone does that. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the scenery when you were visiting my part of the world.
What a great memory making day for both of you!! It sounds like a great time!! And, you don’t just “make up stories” you’re reaching others with the power of the written word, and pointing them to the Author of Life!!
Author
Thanks, Trudy. If I had asked you before I went, I might have had a much better answer. The written word can point people in the right direction of the wrong. I always hope readers get joy from reading my stories.
Ann, thank you so much for sharing your gift of writing, which so inspires and encourages!! You are a blessing!! And it looks like you enjoyed an amazing time with your grandaughter! And castles are so cool! Enjoy a wonderful week, Ann!
Author
I’ve never been to a real castle overseas, Lauren, but I hear they can be damp and cool. This castle is a very modern build and not centuries old. I’ll have to look up more about it and do a post on the castle sometime. We did have a good time, and thank you for your encouraging words.
HELLO – YOU BOTH LOOKED SPLENDID. . . MOST WORTHY OF TEA IN A CASTLE . . . JUST THE PLACE FOR A SPECIAL AUTHOR AND HER GUEST.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE JOYS OF A TEA PARTY.
MY MOTHER WAS FROM RUSSIA . . . A TEA – LOVING CULTURE. LATER IN LIFE A SAMOVAR GRACED THE DINING ROOM. THE ONE POURING GIVES A SPECIAL GIFT OF KINDNESS.
Author
That’s lovely, Mary Clare. I like the idea of giving a gift of kindness with the tea. I did sort of feel sorry for the servers. They were going around the tables seating around 200 guests with pretty little china teapots of tea. They took a lot of refilling. Of course, we had beautiful little china teacups. My mother always thought tea tasted better out of china cups, but I generally drink mine out of mugs. Somehow we can neglect the finer things in life.
hello
Your books are very faith inspiring and we are blessed to be able to read and enjoy them. What a fun memory of the day that you and your granddaughter will always have 😊
We lost our almost 18yr old cat a few years ago and our daughter’s 15 yr old last fall and I miss them both and have had my eyes play tricks on me many times thinking I see them still in their special spots. They will always have a special place in our hearts and memories ❤️
Author
I felt that, seeing the memory and feeling it was real, Hope, especially after I lost my sweet cockerspaniel years ago. I liked to imagine him still walking with me and finding box turtles to torment by carrying them around a while. He never actually hurt them, but he did relocate them. I used to imagine how the poor turtle had to walk days to get back to his home territory.
Thank you for your kind words. We did enjoy our day out together at the castle. I was so glad she got to go. It was even more special since she is a new believer and is very enthusiastic about church and Bible study.
So glad to hear of your event at the Castle. And yes, you certainly are a woman who impacts others through your writing!
That Castle has a sad story behind it. We went one year for our anniversary and very much enjoyed it.
Thanks for the positive message and may you soon find another to sit behind you at your desk 🙂
Author
I haven’t thought a lot about another dog yet, Amy. I’m working hard to finish my work in progress, but I do miss Marley and so does my other dog, Frankie.
I know some of the story of the castle. I’ll have to dig into it sometime and do a castle post now that I have pictures.
Also, thanks for your kind words. So encouraging for me while I’m trying to finish up my work in progress.