"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.

The Secret Garden Chronicles - "Sing and Rejoice, O Daughter..."

10.  "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion!

For behold, I Am coming and I will dwell in your midst,"

says the Lord.

11.  Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day

and they shall become My people.

And I will dwell in your midst.

Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you.

12.  And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance

in the Holy Land,

and will again choose Jerusalem.

13.  Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, 

for He is aroused from His Holy habitation!"

Zechariah 2:10-13

Just let these words sink down deep into your heart today, my friends.  There is something very powerful and beautiful in these words of the Prophet Zechariah.  I won't attempt to interpret or explain the timing of this prophecy...I'll leave that up to the theologians.  However, if you pay attention to current world events, primarily in the land of Zion, i.e., Israel, one can't help but feel a tingle of excitement and anticipation, especially in reading verses 12-13.  The Lord directed my reading to these passages as I sat silently in His Presence in the Secret Garden...and it blessed my heart...and I pray it will be a blessing to you as well as you ponder the significance of these words. You might even find yourself wanting to "Sing and Rejoice, O daughter!!"

Note: These photos were taken today on a hike to "Davenport Landing" on the Ocklawaha River near Salt Springs, FL.  We are currently enjoying a visit with our grandson here from Maine, and this is a part of what we did as a family today.  I hope you will enjoy the peace of serenity of this place as you ponder what the Lord is doing in our midst during these days.    Also, these photos are the same place as a previous post, "Like A River Glorious", but if you compare the two you can tell the difference in foliage between today and the previous post that was originally posted in April of last year.  Waiting for the leaves to come back on the trees...but it is still such a "glorious" place to spend time with the Lord.  

"Like A River Glorious" Updated for Friday Foto Friends

I originally posted this on 4/13/2016, and since I don't have time to do a new post today due to our traveling to the airport to pick up our grandson, who is coming all the way from Maine to soak up some warm Florida sunshine, I thought I would share these beautiful pictures with you today. I hope you will enjoy and be blessed.   Then be sure to hop on over to visit our other Friday Foto Friends  at Breathing in Grace, where my friend Deb so kindly hosts this event each week.

This hymn came to my mind today as my hubby and I took an awesome walk at the Davenport Landing Site on the Ocklawaha River, just north of Salt Springs, FL, where we live.

Click here to listen to the Thomas Cumberland Choir sing "Like A River Glorious" while you enjoy the pictures we took today along the trail and the Ocklawaha River.  Editor Note: Click HERE -- I had to add this additional video to get the complete hymn. The other link did not include all of the verses, so to hear the complete song, please use this link. Thank you.

"Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day;

Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Chorus:

Stayed upon Jehovah 

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His bless-ed hand,

Never foe can follow,

Never traitor stand.

Not a surge of worry,

Not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

(Chorus)

Stayed upon Jehovah 

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of love.

(This is a Manatee under the water)

We may trust Him fully-all for us to do;

They who trust Him wholly

find Him wholly true.

Chorus

Stayed upon Jehovah 

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest."

(Like A River Glorious written by Frances R. Havergal)

"For thus says the Lord:

'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,

and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.

Then you shall fee;

On her sides shall you be carried,

and be dandled on her knees.

As one whom his mother comforts,

So will I comfort you;

And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."

Isaiah 66:12-13 NKJV

I pray that you have felt the peace of God flowing through you...and that His Word has given you comfort and joy.  Amen.