Table Rock Tea Company

 I learned quite a while back about there being a tea farm in Pickens, SC. I learned about it probably a year and a half or more ago and have been dying since then to take Ellie on a field trip but life as you can see - got really different really fast and I moved away. Field trips back home are the best. Living in Upstate SC was a blessing never once lost on me and so I go back home as much as possible to enrich my children in the unique experiences and opportunities at hand there. And you can’t beat going to a tea farm right by Table Rock! There’s just something about the air and the colors God painted with there that is incredibly jovial and tranquil. 

Steve and Jennifer Lorch were the most hospitable, organized, enthusiastic, friendly, and passionate couple - owners of the tea farm. Jennifer gave the kids and us adults a tour of the grounds which in and of themselves were so beautiful! One really amazing thing to me was all that we learned! The adults and kids alike all learned a wealth of fascinating knowledge- at 32 years old I just had no idea all about tea plants! And it was super magical to hear my daughter Ellie recount the information she learned back to me when making her dinner as she relayed her new found knowledge with an impressive amount of detail! She too found it amazing and I am so glad because that is what field trips are all about! It also is a great proof of how well Jennifer did explaining and engaging with the kids! 

My favorite part of it all was the Lazarus story of their tea plants. I’ll post a photo of their sign they have regarding this miracle - this amazing miracle of God. But really, you need to go and hear Jennifer tell it because you can just see the Spirit of the Lord shine through her. Her story and the weight of how great this miracle and blessing from God was in their lives - how God can do the impossible- it just brought me to God chill tears! Truly inspiring and soul lifting to hear. Please go and experience this for yourself! All ages welcome! 

I loved their store front too where they had free samples of tea. Ellie loved the sweet tea! Of course. She is a southern belle after all. I bought two types of tea, a tea tincture, a mug, and….my very own tea plant!!!! Ahhhh! I am ecstatic!! I hope I take such very good care of it! What an incredible experience! 

Elias - One Year Old!

 

One whole year! A whole year loving the most precious white haired baby boy with the brightest most cheerful blue eyes! At one year old, he weighs in at 26 lbs and is 31 inches tall. 

I remember going to the hospital at 5 in the morning to check in for my scheduled C-section. It was so dark and quiet and calm around triage. I was exhausted despite the excitement and I fell asleep waiting for my surgery which had been delayed about an hour. When they came to get me to take me to the OR they had to wake me back up and then it was go time! 

I remember it took longer for my spinal block to kick in this time and I remember feeling more aware. They told me they were concerned because my heart rate was dropping progressively but slowly - which I cranked my head around to see the stats and I think it concerned me so much I scared myself back into a proper heart rate range! 

I could feel more, hear more, understand more. I was in more pain physically than my first and I felt more nauseous this time. But they took great care of me and I did my best to stay calm and breathe knowing this is a quick surgery. 

When I saw and heard my boy…just like when I met his sister for the first time, I began crying this cry somewhere from deep inside me, probably my uterus, all the way up to my eyebrows of intense love and compassion for my child! There has never been anything more wonderful than to first hear and see my babies and to look into their swollen squinty eyes. It is the most hysterical joyful cry I’ve ever had - when I delivered my babies.

I could tell immediately he was a calm, laid back guy. He has been since day one. He is the most loving boy. He goes with the flow but he has a voice of his own already to defend himself. 

Elias has been the most perfect blessing to complete our home. 

He still only has two teeth. He has white blonde hair. His smile is wide and big and it sucks you in like a swirling pool of joy! He does this crazy wheezy sound when he becomes ecstatic. He loves playing peek a boo and dancing to music. He can walk but prefers crawling for now though he still takes steps when he wants. He loves his sippy cup and all food. I haven’t yet found a food he doesn’t love. 

Elias is big. He is off the charts for height and in the 90% for weight but he is lean and sturdy! 

He loves to talk to you one on one at nap time and bed time. He enjoys cuddles and playing before he goes to sleep. He is easy to put down for sleep and he is easy to understand. He communicates with many different words he says and sign language. If he is upset it’s almost aways because he is hungry or sleepy. He is happy most of the time and just loves to explore and replicate or mirror what he sees being done. 

Elias kisses me intentionally now with the sweetest wettest most tongue lickingest slobbery way. I adore it. Give me all the slobbery Elias kisses.

I love that he is now talking more with us and communicating to us in a way we all truly understand as family. Words, babbles, hand motions, body language. It’s so cool to connect with your kids even when it’s in such a simple way. 

For his celebration, we went home to the upstate to spend a day with our closest friends and family (missing all who were unable to attend). We got a shelter at Oconee State Park for a “Wild One” theme keeping it laid back with no agenda, just playing and hanging out with burgers and hot dogs. It was the best day. We hung out for like 6.5 hours. I had so much help from my parents and in laws so I was able to enjoy my children and my friends and their kids that I no longer get to see every day. I made Elias’s smash cake. All fudge chocolate and he enjoyed exploring that! 

Today, on his actual birthday, a Wednesday, we made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. He loved it! I put a candle in it and we sang, “Happy Birthday!” We had a dance party to some Jesus hip hop and the kids went crazy with a den full of balloons! The screaming and squealing elated joy while I sipped coffee and watched on the couch - after busting a serious move, of course 💁🏼‍♀️. It was sheer joy! Then we did our school lessons and piano practice at home. Later, we went swimming in the pool because it was a lovely 87 degree sunny day! 😍🙌🏼 For dinner we had pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches because - Masters Week and we now live near Augusta. Elias had another round of cake that Ellie decorated for him. For his gift we got him the three set pickler triangle! He loves to climb! 😅❤️

I am so thankful for that sweet boy and that he is mine forever! God blessed my soul and life forever with my family! 

Happy first birthday, Elias!! We love you!!