Welcome to our Mountains

By Dot Heard

The Teas from the Heart ministry honored a special group of newcomers to the Hiawassee/Young Harris/Hayesville areas with an elegant tea in their honor at the lovely lakeside home of Ken and Phyllis Ott in Hiawassee.
Handsome volunteer valets parked the cars of the guests and escorted them to the door where they were greeted by eager hostesses.  Each lady was given an attractive hand-crafted name badge and was quickly involved in joyful conversation as she met other newcomers.  Everyone seemed to have a story of why and how they came to move to the mountains.
This writer heard one lady tell that her husband had moved up before she did, leaving her in Macon to sell their house.  Upon visiting him one weekend, she  discovered the beauty and wonderful people he was enjoying and quickly asked, “What am I doing still down in Macon while you have all this?”  They soon made arrangements for her to move.
Many other stories were shared as new friends and hostesses mingled and were entertained with lilting melodies from Mary McFarland’s flute.   Hostesses invited their guests to tables attractively and appropriately decorated for Fall, where each lady was affably served Yorkshire Gold Tea along with cinnamon scones, pecan apricots, and assorted fruit skewers.   As ladies continued to visit, they were treated to cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad puffs, marscapone ham tea sandwiches, and wedding cheese straws.   Next, a sweet taste of key lime coconut cheesecakes, almond cream confections, and chocolate mousse cups, and topped off with condiments of lemon curd and Devonshire cream.
After enjoying the tasty delights, all gathered in the living room where Teas from the Heart founder, Phyllis Ott, welcomed them and introduced the program.  Judy Naylor and Sheila Mansfield, two of the volunteers and TFTH Board Members, teamed up for a humorous look at living in the mountains with a creation called “You Know You’re in the Mountains When. . .”  Both ladies, like the guests, walked through the door as newcomers several years ago and became best friends.   Listeners laughed heartily as they identified with many of the witticisms.
Sheila and Judy told about their experiences of moving and the many adjustments required, but both agreed that the joys and pleasures far outweighed the difficulties.  They left the newcomers with a few tips such as getting involved in women’s ministries, Bible studies, and community activities where they will meet new people with common interests.  Sheila shared many possibilities, and closed by saying that, for her, each day is a new beginning, and as the first glimpse of the mountains still takes her breath away, she thinks to herself, What a Wonderful Place!
While still pondering the words of the speakers, guests’ hearts were touched with the beautiful alto solo voice of Mary McFarland, singing “By This Will They Know Jesus”, reminding all Christians of their many opportunities to share Jesus in their world.   Mary is active in the music ministry of McConnell Baptist Church, where her husband, Marc, is minister of music.  She is also a member of the Young Harris College Community Band and an accompanist for the Union County choirs.
Even after the program ended, guests continued in joyful conversation as they received gift packets of helpful information and area maps; then were escorted to reclaim their cars.  A slight sadness was observed as they parted but we are very sure many will get together in days to come to enjoy their new friends and these beautiful mountains.
Teas from the Heart is a non-profit organization whose goals are to identify women in the community who would benefit from a friend or mentor and to provide a Christ-centered place of hospitality which connects them to opportunities for spiritual nourishment.