As the rain...

 Red geraniums after a welcome summer rain

As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
   and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
   will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
   will clap their hands.

Isaiah 5:10-12

Remember

If I had known it would take ten years for the wisteria to bloom, it would have been easier to wait.  I didn't know I was waiting; I thought I was failing.

The Eeyore voice in my head was happy to announce:  Black thumb! Once again!

But deep inside these branches there was a slow growing maturity, an extra long wait for spring's beauty.

Lying in the grass, looking up at this canopy of fragrant violet, I can't believe I doubted. 

But ten years is a long time to think you are failing.

As I took deep breaths of wisteria perfume, feeling the itch of the grass on my neck, watching the light sparkle on this long, long path of beauty, I felt some tingling of hope. 

Maybe these other areas of presumed failure are actually just a waiting!  Maybe there is hope!

And then I read this:

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”   But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

 
 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 

 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  (from John 20)

Lord, I believe.  Help me with my unbelief.

 

Beauty

Unlikely places

"But where shall I find courage?" asked Frodo.  "That is what I chiefly need."

"Courage is found in unlikely places," said Gildor.  "Be of good hope!"

Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 3

Courage found me this week over a cup of coffee with a good friend, 

in long hours of sleep in a cozy bed...

and in the surprise of sunlight illuminating the paperwhites.

 

 Just when I thought courage was out of reach, it was here.

 

Birthday flowers

I am not a fan of texting. At all.

But when I am preparing to watch my son debate...
far away in Irvine...
and it is my mother's birthday...
and I receive a text from both my husband and oldest son asking if Mom likes flowers...
and what colors?

Well, texting at that moment was perfect.

Thanks, guys. The flowers are perfect, too.

And suddenly she is twenty

The days have flown since she became Madelaine and I became "Mama."

Madelaine's special grown ups came to visit on just the right day.


Happy birthday, dear one.

I love you so.

Today

Finding beauty in unexpected places.

The hollyhock corner

Ruffled beauty has exploded in the lower garden.





Thanks for planting them, dear!

Grace

Much of life is hard work.

To have the satisfaction of a job well done

it is no surprise that we have to actually

do the job well.





But sometimes we collide with grace.

Beauty not planted with our own hands,

not watered or nurtured.

It just grows and blesses and sparkles in the afternoon sun.

Sometimes we are given gifts,

things not of our making.

I am grateful.

Garden beauty

Foxglove found blooming in the corner of the herb garden. 

To my far away girl

Look what is blooming, Madelaine!  In between thunder showers and swirling winds, we grabbed these pictures for you.  We miss you.

p.s.  only 45 more days!

Light and beauty

"As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship..." Sir Thomas More

Beauty on a rainy Monday

Daily beauty

Happy Spring

Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928)

The Year's Awakening

How do you know that the pilgrim track
Along the belting zodiac
Swept by the sun in his seeming rounds
Is traced by now to the Fishes' bounds
And into the Ram, when weeks of cloud
Have wrapt the sky in a clammy shroud,
And never as yet a tinct of spring
Has shown in in the Earth's apparelling;

O vespering bird, how do you know,

How do you know?

How do you know, deep underground,
Hid in your bed from sight and sound,
Without a turn in the temperature,
With weather life can scarce endure,
That light has won a fraction's strength,
And day put on some moments' length,
Whereof in merest rote will come,
Weeks hence, mild airs that do not numb,

O crocus root, how do you know,

How do you know?

Poem found in The Four Seasons, a volume from the Everyman's Library Pocket Poets series. With familiar and less familiar poems, this is a beautiful volume that fits perfectly in the hand. Highly recommended.

HT: I found this book thanks to Tonia.

Spring beauty