So, I've been waiting all week for my azaleas to start opening up in the Secret Garden! Finally, this morning they are beginning to put on a lovely display of color. It's a little early still to get a good bright picture, but I couldn't wait any longer. I am particularly happy about this because I planted most of these last year, and was really looking forward to seeing how they would do this year...and then we put the house up for sale and I was afraid we would be moved away before they got to bloom...boy was I wrong! After four months on the market, here we still sit...so...I guess the Lord wanted me to see the azaleas bloom!!
I know you are probably saying, "What azaleas?" Yes, they are still a bit sparse in their blossoms, but they are starting, and this picture really doesn't do it justice.
This pretty little reddish pink is all alone on it's bush, but it is so pretty. I wish I had more of this color!
Along the path into the Secret Garden:
Another lovely, cool morning to be in the Secret Garden with the Lord...
Aren't they sweet?
This is in our Memorial Garden, where I also planted some azaleas last year. For those of you who are new here, this garden area was created in loving memory of our son Matthew, who passed away on May 25, 2014, after a four year battle with cancer. He was 41 years old. His birthday is coming up on February 25th, so he's very much on my heart and mind right now...well, actually, he's always in my heart...but we know where he is and we look forward to a grand reunion one day.
Our next door neighbor, who likes to surprise us with little "gifts" at our back fence, left these bunnies at the gate one day...
They looked so real, I was startled to think there was a whole family of bunnies sitting there...
But once I realized they were not going to hop away, I moved them into the
Memorial Garden, where they could keep Mr. Froggy company. They all hop around together now and have a good old time. Mr. Froggy looks pretty proud of his new friends, don't you think?
I know, this is a weed...but it is a pretty weed, and it is growing in a flower pot! This lovely little flower opens up during the day on the wild shamrocks. I love it. I think it brings me good "luck"...but I don't believe in luck...so it brings me good blessings as I enjoy it's sweetness.
And in another pot is a smaller wild shamrock growing, and it has a this delicate little yellow flower! How amazing is that? Sometimes it is better just to let the weeds grow...and you will be blessed!
Now here is a perfect blessing for our day... this Pink Perfection Camellia is blooming again!!
All these little blessings just help to make our day so much brighter. I think of these flowers like I think of you, my friends. I was having a bad day yesterday over on "Facebook", and was ready to call it quits. But so many of you and others jumped in and encouraged me and helped me to see that our worth here and there is so much more valuable than what the "world" may think. We do have a purpose in being here... and my purpose is to share the love of the Lord with you in what ever way He leads each day.... as so many of you do the same. It could be a verse from scripture, or a photograph of God's beautiful creation...or even some kind of humorous cartoon to give us a laugh on a gloomy day. We are all His ambassadors of love to a fallen world, and that is going to be even more necessary as the days go by.
So thank you, dear friends, who came to my rescue yesterday when I was feeling a little down. You know who you are. I thank you, and I thank the Lord for the wonderful friends we have made here in blogland in particular. You are a blessing to me, and I pray that in some small way, God may use me to be a blessing to you. Thank you.
"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice."
Proverbs 27:9 NIV
