The Princesses

Pictures Updated

Pictures have been added below for the games, crafts, and food!! Check them out!!!!

Princess Tea - Pictures

If you have more pictures you would like to add, please feel free to send to me at jessica.lane@heritaqeqc.com. I would love to have a CD full of pictures of this great day!!!! I have already received requests for information from a couple other people working with kids so the more we have the better I could show them what we did.

Princess Tea - Thank You

There are not words to express thank you to all those who made the Princess Tea a success.

Bill, Ashley, Austin, and Tyler - Thank you for helping set up tables in the castle. You were a blur of movement. Your taking care of this helped us get everything set up so much faster. I'm not sure what we would have done if we had not had your help. You were a huge blessing.

Mooch Gay - Thank you for being so willing to help and jumping right in. You decorated all of our tables and made them look so special for our Princesses and their Royal Guests. It was awesome to have someone to just explain what I wanted and to leave and know that it would be done and probably better than I could do it. Thank you!

Mariah and Greg Quin, Barrett, Melaney, and Lucy - You guys are just awesome overall!!! You set an example for others. Mariah thank you for coming and helping set up the food table, for taking the pictures (awesome!), and for just doing whatever was needed. Greg, it made your day a bit rushed and I appreciate your helping with the kids and being supportive of your little girls, your wife and this day. And thanks to Barrett, Melaney and Lucy who had a really long day but did it with such grace. Lucy and Melaney thanks for helping Miss Mooch decorate the tables.

Britani Holt and Katelyn - You were so thoughtful, wanting to make sure I ate. And your help - letting me boss you around - doing anything that was needed wherever needed was a tremendous relief. And your help at the end, wow!, I would not have made it through the end there if you hadn't been there. Katelyn, thanks for being so patient. You had a long day and you were so awesome. And thanks for you help cleaning up at the end. That was great!

Emily Proctor - Let's see...what I can throw at you and you just do? You took everything with such grace and amazing attitude. Making balloon arch when I had no idea what I was doing, if it could be done and what it should even look like. And hey, what about throwing a script at you and then ad libbing as I go. I had a blast as Messy Jessy with you. Thanks for helping to MC when I was out and about. Again, it was awesome to be blessed with people who just know what to do. To partner.

Susan Mills - I was so worried after I set up craft tables that I perhaps was asking too much out of one person to man all three. Yet, you handled all those girls and their guests wonderfully. Made sure everyone had what they needed, found scissors when I forgot to cut up bracelet rope, and never once gave a hint of "what did she throw me into?". You were so willing to do whatever I asked. I cannot tell you the peace I felt knowing that there such great people to call on as I needed for whatever I needed.

Anne Cartrette and Grandma - I often joke that I'm a people person with anti-social tendencies as I struggle with greeting people and creating a warm welcoming vibe and chit chat. Knowing that you could do that, knowing how important that would be as the Princesses and their families arrived, I was so relieved to give that to you. Such a smiling and welcoming person who just exuded excitement and anticipation. It set the tone for the Princesses as they entered. It let them know there was so much to come. And thank you to Grandma for coming early and joining us.

Claire Cartrette - Miss Jessica isn't easily impressed. I sometimes am too critical. God is always working on that with me. But let me tell you...GIRL, You never cease to amaze me! I could tell you were a bit nervous, because you understand how important announcing these Princesses would be. You wanted to do it right and make their day wonderful. I watched you as you took such careful attention to say each girl's name correctly. A name is a beautiful thing. Thank you for the care you gave these young girls. I knew you'd be perfect for this. God is going to do great things with you!!!

Gigi Porter - You are a breath of fresh air! I don't know how anyone could ever be bored or unexcited in your and Greta's presence. It was totally God - you being there. When your mom asked if you could come, it was an answer to a prayer, because I needed one more Royal Host. And wow! You amazed me. I gave you quick directions and basically told you to "boss" around some of the adults. Your job was to make sure they got the cards filled out for their pictures. Lots of young kids would have been scared to direct or tell other adults what to do. You didn't seem worried at all. You knew what I wanted and did it. I watched you from one side of the gym and was amazed at how you greeted the families and didn't shy away. I never looked again b/c I knew that with you and Miss Mariah all would be well. I can't wait to see how God using you in His Kingdom!

Scott McCracken - You were the unseen hero of my day. I'm biased, yes, but so much of what happened that day was because of all the help you gave before, during and after. Thank you for all the physical labor of bringing chairs, moving tables, and running to get this and that. Thank you for making sure that our Princesses had their pictures before they left that day and thanks for helping tear down. Thanks for your constant encouragement to me and for your patience as my started running then as we cleaned up and I grew tired. You're the best!

To ALL our Royal Cooks and Bakers - Tammy Hoyt, Pam Benson, Sharon Davis, Tracy LaGrange, Shirley Walloch, Nancy Morehouse, Glenda Meuller, Heather Karl, Theresa Bumann, Robyn Scranton, Melissa Mathes, Christine VanHoe of Olde Towne Bakery and any others I may have missed (please forgive me if I did).

This part was probably one of the most amazing to me and that blessed me the most. The response we received from all of YOU!!! I was overwhelmed with not only the amount of treats we received but the quality of treats. From carefully decorated treats to beautiful little treats to sinful (icing covered) cupcakes. People thought about what they baked or bought. And it was obvious. The little girls will not recognize right now the gift you gave but one day they are going to remember this day and they will remember all those yummy treats and they will know just what you did. And the families that came understood and will appreciate what you contributed to make this day so special. Thank you for being an instrument of God. For being part of His Kingdom.

Jeff Francis and Jake Eastburn - Thank you guys SO much! Jeff, finding some great music was awesome. It was neccessary but what you had was better than what I had and I was so frazzled that I didn't care I had forgot to grab my CD. It was so nice to have someone who knew what they were doing and could take care of that. I have a big mouth but not that big to have got their attention. :) next time though we'll get together on the Pass the Frog game...so we each know what the other is thinking...I got too dizzy. :)

Jakey, Jakey, Jakey - you did an awesome job on the video. I saw it. You got so many great clips. You got just the right stuff. I know you were a bit nervous or so I think but it came out GOOD. You did a great job of just blending in. Thank you for helping to make that event something we can share with others and look back at.

To my assistant Sharon - You did so much prep work for this. So many little details. You cut all those apples. You made the worm. You made the certificates. The name cards. The shopping, the communicating with people bringing treats, your making sure things weren't missed, getting stuff together. I put you to work the weeks leading up to this and espeically the last one. I'm not always good at using you like I should, but I did this time and what a difference YOU made. Thank you! Yeah it's your job, but there were touches there that went beyond it just being your job and I noticed and I appreciate it.

I pray that I have not forgotten anyone. If I have please forgive me and know that you are appreciated. This day was more than I ever could have imagined, hoped or prayed for. But isn't that like God. To amaze us!!!

Princess Tea - A Prayer

Oh Lord, make us remember that we are your children. We are your Princesses. Each of us beautiful in your sight. And it is you that brings us value. Nothing we can do or not do will change that you love us and hold us in your sight at all times. You long for us and you desire to know us and for us to know you.

You are...

Father
Friend
Lover
Companion
Healer
Security
Hope
Justice
Savior
Comfort
Peace
Gentle

King of Us, help us to be a shining example, not of perfection. but of a Princess who knows her Father, who knows her King and can enter boldly into His Throne Room and share her most intimate desires, concerns, hopes and fears. We never have to go it alone. We are never not good enough.

You have proclaimed your love over us by giving us your Son. You proclaim it and it is so. May we live by that knowledge.

Amen.

Princess Tea - The Blessing

Now came the most sacred and important part of the Princess Tea - The Blessing.

Prior to the Princess Tea each of the young girls' Royal Guests received information abuot what a blessing is, the importance of blessing your child, and how to write and give a blessing. Each Royal Guest was to bring a blessing for their special Princess and would read their blessing to their Princess during the Tea Party. And in doing so would present them with a tiara and proclaim them a Princess of the King.

It was a moving moment as the young girls were so excited to have their tiaras placed on their head. It was beautiful to see mothers, aunts, fathers standing over their children and blessing them. Presenting them with a tiara and proclaiming them a Princess. Several Royal Guests had bought cards or wrote out their blessing on a special paper to give to their child.





And Messy Jessy was reminded that this is what it is about...filling Nursery Rooms with leaders, finding teachers for Preschool classes...all comes down to this....helping families come together as one spiritual unit...helping children know their value in the Kingdom of God. Here and now.

Messy Jessy ended the Tea Party with a prayer.

Each young lady also received a certificate heralding her status of Princess.

Each young lady was able to pick up a Princess Tea Devotional the next weekend at the HUB that is designed to help them and their Royal Guests discover more of God's Word and their value in His Kingdom.

Princess Tea - Royal Reading

It was now time for a very special guest, Messy Jessy. Messy Jessy came and was quite concerned that - she not owning a dress or liking the color pink - could not be a Princess. All of the girls assured her that she could be which made her quite happy.

Messy Jessy then offered to read a new book sent to her from her mother about Princesses. She read, Gigi, God's Little Princess.

And what we learned was that no matter what we look like - curly hair or freckles - we are each God's Princess. Each of us - no matter what - belong to the Biggest and Greatest and Bestest King.

Princess Tea - Activities

Upon entering the castle, the Princess had their picture taken on the Royal Throne. Pictures were taken by our Royal Photographer, Miss Mariah and the Royal Guests were assisted by Royal Host, Princess Gigi.

Each Princess was able to take home her picture at the end of the Tea Party thanks to a special Friend of the Court, Prince Scott, who carried the film safely to and from the Royal Developer (Target).

Princesses were also able to choose from various crafts to do while waiting for all of the Royal Guests to arrive.

As each Princess completed her craft and portrait, she found a seat among the Royal Tables and prepared herself for a Royal Feast prepared by the citizens of the Kingdom (donations from the men and women of Heritage).

The Princesses participated a few Royal Games. The first was to scour the castle and the grounds to find all the apples. One of them was poisonous and it was very important that the Princesses find all the apples and discover which one was bad so that Snow White did not eat the poisonous apple. Look below and you can see a young Princess holding an apple with a green worm, definitely a bad apple.

Princess then assembled in the Royal Circle for a game of Pass the Frog. Miss Jessica would recommend making much smaller Royal Circles in the future when playing this game. 44 girls is a BIG circle. :)

The Royal Food was AMAZING!!!! The treats that were brought were phenomenal.

Each Princess sifted through sand to find her jewel - a ring all her own.

Princess Tea - Arriving

The entrance to the castle. Each Princess came here with her Royal Guest(s) and picked up her name card. This name card was presented to the Royal Host (Princess Claire) who announced the Princess' entrance into the castle. Each Princess walked down the aisle runner and was greeted by the Royal Court (Miss Jessica and Miss Britani).

Each Princess guessed how many peas where in the glass jar. The one closest won a signed copy of Gigi, God's Little Princess - The Royal Tea Party, by the author, Sheila Walsh.