Mug Shot

Several of my blogging friends have been sharing pictures of their favorite coffee mugs, and I've so enjoyed seeing the cups that bring them comfort and joy.

To be honest with you, I've wanted to share my favorite mug for over a week now, but I couldn't decide on just one favorite. I enjoy drinking my coffee from several different mugs for numerous different reasons.

You see, there's the matching mugs that my dear friend and I share (far left). When she moved away two years ago, we each got a matching mug, with the explanation that each time we used it, we'd pray for one another. I've sipped coffee from that mug when I'm missing her so much it hurts. I've brought her name before our Father, and I'm confident that she does the same. So for that reason, that mug is one of my favorites.

At Christmas a couple of years ago, I presented each one of my "sisterchicks" with a matching mug (second from left). The thinking was the same...that each time we'd use it, we'd pray for the others. Through the joyful and the hard times, we've prayed. God has caused our friendship to grow and flourish and deepen. So this mug causes me to spill forth exclamations of praise to God for my faithful friends.

My husband had been on a search for the perfect travel mug for me. After months of searching for just the right one, he surprised me with this one a couple of months ago (second from right). You'll see me with it at all of our boys' baseball games, as well as when I'm driving around in the van in the mornings. This was one of those "just because" gifts from my husband, and I cherish the fact that he gave it to me.

Finally, my "shopping girl" mug (far right) reminds me of all the girls in my family...my mom, grandma, two aunts, and cousins. Each year for over 30 years, the women of my family have gone shopping together the day after Christmas. It's a long-standing tradition. Each of the women in my family owns this mug...a reminder of all the fun and crazy memories we've shared.

So, yes, I guess I cheated a little by not choosing just one mug as my favorite. But knowing the special stories and the cherished people behind the mugs, I think you might understand why...