"Roses" and Blessings

Yesterday was my birthday.  It was a lovely, peaceful, beautiful day all day long.  Here are a few highlights... 

More about this rose later...

Hubby took me for a ride to see the Ocklawaha River nearby.  I was curious to see how much the water had risen since Hurricane Irma passed through here two weeks ago.  Without going into a lot of before and after pictures, just trust me when I tell you that the river is the highest I've ever seen it in the almost six years we've lived here.  Here are a few pictures:

 This sign is from previous conditions, when the water was way out at the end of those trees...obviously that sign could be removed right now...

 I used to be able to sit on the roots of those two cypress trees out there...

This is actually alongside what was the road...

 The river was beautiful even in its swollen state. I totally enjoyed this time of reflecting on the beauty of God's world...even after the storm...


This magnificent giant Easter Tiger Swallowtail butterfly entertained us as she gathered nectar from the wildflowers along the way...

When we returned to our house, there was this eagle soaring high above our home:

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

And I rejoiced to see him flying there, as if he were putting on a special show just for my birthday!

Then a little later, Rose, my sweet daughter in law to be, came over to spend some time with us and to fix our supper for my birthday!  What a precious gift this sweet girl is to us!  Having raised three boys, it is such a joy to me to have a "daughter" who actually wants to be with us and become a true part of our family!  While we waited for our supper to cook, Rose and I had a little tea party.  This was a new experience for her, and she seemed to truly enjoy it.

I had pre-selected which teacup I wanted to use, but I gave Rose the opportunity to select any teacup she wanted...and she selected one that had...you guessed it...a rose on it!!

This dainty little tea cup came from my husband's grandmother's collection...

The tea cup that I had selected was one that I believe my Grandma Mursch gave me, and it is a September cup...so of course I had to use that one for my September birthday!

The cream and sugar set was a gift to me from my sweet hubby many years ago. He had traveled to a church conference in Anaheim, California, and had the opportunity to tour the big ship "The Queen Mary".  He purchased this beautiful bone china set for me there and carried it all the way back home on the plane in his lap because he was afraid it would get broken in his suitcase!  I'll never forget how he handed the package to me as soon as he stepped off the airplane...he was SO relieved to finally be able to turn it over to me so he didn't have to worry about them getting broken anymore!! The china pattern is Elizabethan "Chantilly" fine bone china made in England.  Obviously, I was delighted with such a thoughtful gift and the love and care that went into bringing it safely home to me all the way across the continent!!

 The tea pot also came from my husband's maternal grandmother's collection (his "Nanny Martin", Pearl Sarah Elizabeth Waters Martin).  It is a Hall Aladdin Lamp teapot, which is one of my favorites.

 So it was fun to share some of our family history with Rose and enjoy this time of getting better acquainted, "Mother in law to daughter in law"....

Later we enjoyed a delightful supper with the rest of the family, followed by an apple pie that Rose baked for my birthday "pie".  It was delicious!  We had to laugh that Rose had to bake the pie in a square baking pan because she doesn't have any round pie plates yet! Something to give her for a bridal shower gift!!  But of course, everyone knows that π r 2 (Pi r squared!) (can't do the symbols exactly right here, but you know what I mean, I hope!)

Here I am listening to my sister and her hubby sing Happy Birthday to me on the phone as we got ready to eat this delicious apple pie!

Here's the rest of the family patiently waiting for me to take the picture so they can eat their pie!

It was a beautiful day from start to finish.  This is not even counting the celebration we had on Saturday with my hubby's brother and family...which was also full of surprises and another apple pie baked by my sweet sister in law Peggy!  The apple pie is a tradition started by my mother years ago.
I preferred her home made apple pie for my birthday
instead of a cake...so that is what she always did for me.
When my mother passed away over eleven years ago my sister Doris took up the baton and carried on the tradition. However, this year she was unable to come celebrate with us due to her hubby having recently had back surgery...so my wonderful sweet "in-laws" came to the rescue!! I am truly blessed.

At the end of the day, even though I was so thrilled and thankful for all of the wonderful gifts of love from such dear ones...there was still one thing missing.  As most of you are aware, our middle son passed away about 3 1/2 years ago from cancer. Although I miss him in my heart every day, it seems as though holidays and special occasions like Mother's Day and birthdays are the hardest.  I try not to think about it too much, but still there is that little empty spot in a mother's heart that only some special memory of that dear one can fill.
I went to bed last night missing him and wishing I could hear his voice or see his smile once again.

This morning when I went out to the backyard to feed the birds, I couldn't help but notice something bright red swaying in the morning breeze over by our memorial garden that we built in memory of our son after he passed away. 

Upon closer inspection I realized that this lovely rosebud was opening up...and apparently it had started yesterday on my birthday, but I never got outside to see it.

This particular rosebush was planted in memory of our son, as a gift from some of our family.  It doesn't seem to bloom very often...and I have often thought perhaps I should relocate it to a different spot where it could get more sunshine...but I never got around to it. 

 What I've discovered, however, is that it does seem to bloom at special times...like my birthday...

and earlier this year when our older son Benton and Rose became engaged...there were two blossoms at the same time...

 And it occurred to me that indeed I was receiving a special blessing from my son in heaven...and it was a balm to my grieving  mother-heart, soothing and comforting and bringing joy and a sense of sweet peace.

So now I feel like my birthday is complete...I've heard from all my children and have been blessed by the love and kindness of so many others thought messages on Facebook and beyond...and have also been blessed by the sweet fellowship of a new daughter-in-"love"....My cup is full to overflowing.

Psalm 23

"1.  The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3.  He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever."

Amen.