Encouragement..

How many encouragements do you find in this photo? 

Do winter flowers bring May showers?

Outside my window today the snow is very slowly disappearing.  For Minnesota the weather is almost balmy and tomorrow it may be as warm as 45 degrees F.

I am thankful for flowers that bloom indoors when it is cold  and snow covered outdoors.  These African Violets have been so bright and cherry lately; always so pretty. 
Many years ago my Grandmother raised and sold them from her home for some income. I remember seeing all of the 'starts' in her window and watched as they were transplanted and moved to another window. Eventually someone would come and purchase one or two and this little cycle kept repeating itself in her house.  My mom enjoyed them too, as they adorned the little shelves near the kitchen sink. I appreciate them so much more now than I did back then. 

Why? 

• Possibly because they are a reminder of days gone by; days when 'time was taken' to fuss with plants like these. 
• This little plant reminds me also, that additional blooms outside will be coming as winter changes into spring.

Do these perky little purple posies bring May showers? No, they hold no control over the showers and warmer weather ahead; God  has those things in His plan for each year.

I look forward to the variety of  pleasures He has for us with each approaching season.

Winter flowers remind me that spring is....on its way.

Last year's Amaryllis flower buds...

This year our Amaryllis bulb did not shoot up a flowering stalk. 

Just some green leaves. 

These blooms are so looked forward to 

each February or March.  

I was happy to have photos to choose from 

for a picture from a previous year.  

Winter beauty and a summer flower

A photo from this winter; our tree swing in the light of the setting sun

A  poppy from this past summer.

"...determine to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 

Remember what the gospel says about us:  

We are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe 

but we are also more loved and welcomed

than we ever dared hope." 

~Elyse M. Fitzpatrick~

More Spring flowers..

A very brilliant Iris.

The fragrant Lily of the Valley

 Bleeding Hearts

In Genesis chapter 1 it talks about how these plants came into being; God spoke them here on the 3rd day.  He told the earth to bring forth plants yielding seed.... I tend to enjoy these for their form and color and think of the flower as their purpose but their purpose is to bear seed or fruit for another year and so on.  I am glad for the wide variety of flowers that appear; their wide variety of beauty. However they were created that they may continue on the earth; year after year.