Rambling Roses

While I get my thoughts in order to post about other more outstanding things in my life, I'd like to just show you this Rambling Rose which suddenly decided to bloom this month, even though it obviously isn't healthy...judging by the diseased-looking leaves!

This was my first glimpse of the beginning-to-open buds early one morning several days ago...
 

A close-up, I love close-ups which show details one doesn't normally notice...drops of water, folds of the petals, colors deep inside the bloom.

 I left the house and when I returned a few hours later the roses were fully open! I'd love to grow that fast in some areas of my life, wouldn't you?

Another close-up...

 

 Someone else is looking over the possibilities of this lovely rose. Perhaps a new home, hmm?

 

I love the view of the golden early morning sun behind them.

So it's only two roses. But there are several more buds beside these two and on the other rambling branches. I have something to look forward to for the next few weeks!

 

O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour which doth in it live.

-W.Shapespeare (from Sonnet 54)

A Mother's Love

 

 It's that time of year again between my mother's birthday and Mother's Day. Although I think a day does not ever pass without thinking of my mother, I especially remember her at this time of year between April 29th and the 2nd Sunday in May. 

But I'm pretty sure she isn't celebrating birthdays anymore!

 

In recent years I believe I have yearned for my mother's presence, love and counsel more than during the years that she was here. Is that possible?

 

I so long to say, "Mom, now I know some of what you went through..your lonely hours, your yearning heart, your joys and disappointments. The longer I live, the more I understand what you must have thought and felt and desired and prayed for. Forgive me for sometimes taking you for granted, for not realizing that you really did know my pains and understood my joys. Accept my sincere love and gratitude for all that you did for me. It was priceless."

 

Indeed, a mother's love is a fiercely strong and wonderfully strange thing. It follows her children the world over and knows no limits to its praise, love and defense of them. Although my mother was "the quiet type", it was a quiet strength that she had. And her strength was found in the Lord.

 

Thank you, Mom. I love you.   

A Mother's Love
A Mother's love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

-Helen Steiner Rice

"For love is as strong as death..." (Song of Solomon 8:6)

Pretty Pansies

 

 

PANSY
Round, joker faces that dance with the moon,
Lilting and tilting a flower song tune.
Warm summer sunbeams captured for all,
By round little flowers, so sweet and so small.
Bright pansy colors, a study in light,
Reflecting the moonbeams that dance in the night.
                                           -unknown author
_______________________________________
So it's that time of year again when pansies thrive. Cold wind, frost and snow doesn't seem to faze them in the least. In fact, it seems I hear them saying "Bring on the cold weather! We love it!"

So I bought these indigo-colored big pansies (seen above), placed them in the two pots at the end of the front steps and now rest assured that they will still be blooming throughout the next several cold months (although I won't be staying around to see that). Then a few days ago a daughter bought an assortment of plants...



...and told me I could plant some of the pansies. These are smaller but, oh, so stinkin' CUTE! Some of them have little ruffly edges. How gorgeous is that?! These smaller ones are sometimes called violas but they are both from the same family (or genus for you botanists).
So I picked out four plants and placed them in the basket that hangs on the front porch (remember my petunias from this post?)...



Out with the old, in with the new.

 

Frost in the background. I told ya'!

 

Besides these "red" ones, there are also blue and yellow ones in this crop.

I'm all about close-ups.

 


Did someone say close-ups? Look at that precious fuzziness. Look at those colors!

 

Even the underside is lovely with the sun shining through as she faces the sun.

No matter which color, size or angle you look at, these pansies are a thing of beauty. When the cold winds blow, they shine and are strong. I would like my life to be like that. That "no matter what", people will see beauty and light and strength. Because of Him.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:17)

Thanksgiving Reflections

Your goodness to me is abundant, O Lord,

Your love is beyond my comprehension,

Your power is more than I can fathom,

Your patience is...well, amazing,

Your salvation is free and beautiful,

Your gifts are beyond measure,

You are more than I deserve...

   But I THANK YOU!

From the depths of my heart I lift my song to You,

The only One who deserves such praise.

The Birds Of The Air

 Last week my husband discovered this nest of a sabiá (robin) built on top of our water heater outside. Quite the interior decorator, I'd say!

                                     Look at the cute greenery circling the top of the nest...

And the red trim! Maybe she's getting ready for Christmas, huh?

Well, since the day the nest was discovered, we haven't seen any bird in or near the nest. Not sure what's going on. Maybe she detected that I'd be nearby taking TOO many pics...Gotta find a safer, more private place, she said. 
But I daily hear robins singing, charming us with their plaintive but melodic songs. We are in our Springtime here in southern Brazil so the variety of birds with their songs and activity is an entertainment for me these days. Gotta love it.
                                                           Can you find 2 birds here?

 "Oh, robin, fat robin, you're the symbol of Spring!

    You're the orange-breasted creature with a sweet song to sing.

Without you my yard would be a quite dreary place,

For you add to its beauty with your color and grace..."

(except from "Message Of The Birds")

Postscript Oct 16: A comment by a reader got me curious so I researched a bit and found out that the sabiá (or sabiá-laranjeira) is a Turdus rufiventris or Rufous-bellied Thrush which is only one of about 85 species of the thrush family. Wow, I learned alot!

  "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, 

   and the birds of the air have nests,

   but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."

    (Luke 9: 58) 

In The Corner Of The Garden

In the corner of the garden

  by the old waterhose

I see lovely callalilies,

  orchids, iris and a rose.

    No one else pays much attention

      to these simple little flowers,

    But I come here daily and I

      feel that I could stay for hours.

    Oh, it's me in this corner

      with my flowers and my Lord,

    It is here I feel His presence

      and I think upon His Word.
                        -©R.Nunley 2011


"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
 I will be exalted in the earth." -(Psalm 46:10)

I Insist On Blooming!

It's so amazing how some flowers just merrily bloom, no matter what the weather is like! My red miniature rose, light pink rose and snow-white "cup of milk" flowers have all bloomed out this week while we went through record-breaking low temps this week.



(Click on the pics for a closer look at the raindrop jewels!)

 



I don't care if the cold winds blow,

I don't care if there's frost or snow,

I don't care if it's two-below,

I insist on blooming!

Friends around me may wilt and fall,

But I will stand up straight and tall,

My Creator has done it all,

Yes, I insist on blooming!
                             -A. Lenan (c) 2011
                            
    

This all reminds me of these favorite verses of mine...

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

 neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labor of the olive shall fail;

and the fields shall yield no meat;

 the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls;

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation."

   (Habakkuk 3: 17,18

Jesus Died For You

                                     

He died for you. Oh, praise His Name!

He died for you, His love proclaim.

He died to save your soul from sin,

He died that you a Heaven might win.

                                                                    

He died for you, His name adore,

Go tell His love from shore to shore.

Proclaim the message that He gave;

Go tell the world that He can save.

(photo above: internet)

He died for you, lift up your voice!

Make every nation to rejoice;

For many souls have never known

A Savior they can call their own.

He died for you; He is your friend.

And He will keep you to the end.

There is no other Name so sweet;

Oh, come, and worship at His feet.

He died for you; He bore the pain,

That you might always with Him reign.

Each day believe; oh, trust Him more!

Soon you'll meet Him on Heaven's shore.

-© Hilda O. McMillan

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life."

(John 3:16)



Look Around

                                                   Look around and thou shalt see

Many beauties meant for thee.

Thy Creator shows His power

                                 

                                                                       ...in every

                                                                      ...single

...little

...flower.

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches." (Psalm 104:24)

My Alabaster Box

I love the Bible story (Mark 14:3-9) of the woman who broke her alabaster box and poured out her expensive perfume on Jesus. Whether it was Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene or some other woman doesn't matter.  The change that Jesus brought about in her life was worthy of the love and worship she unabandonly gave to Him.

I have a little alabaster box that a friend once gave to me and every time I see it I am reminded of this story. Thus I am reminded of the need that I have to give to Him the love, praise and worship that He deserves and desires from me.

What is in your alabaster box? What is in mine? What gift can we bring this Christmas to Jesus Who gave His all, His best, for us? Whatever it is, give it to Him with abandon, with love, with worship...as this woman did.

There is a beautiful song about this story, here are the words...

Alabaster Box

The room grew still
As she made her way to Jesus

She stumbled through the tears that made her blind

She felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper
There's no place here for her kind
Still on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last, she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the Master
From her box of alabaster


And I've come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night He found me

You did not feel what I felt

When he wrapped his love all around me and

You don't know the cost of the oil

In my alabaster box

I can't forget the way life used to be

I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound

And I spent my days
Poured my life without measure
Into a little treasure box

I'd thought I'd found

Until the day when Jesus came to me

And healed my soul

With the wonder of His touch

So now I'm giving back to Him

All the praise He's worthy of

I've been forgiven

And that's why

I love Him so much

 And I've come to pour

My praise on Him

Like oil from Mary's alabaster box

Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears

And dry them with my hair

You weren't there the night Jesus found me

You did not feel what I felt

When He wrapped his loving arms around me and

You don't know the cost of the oil
Oh, you don't know the cost of my praise

You don't know the cost of the oil

In my alabaster box.

                              -Cece Winans

A Little Budding Rose

                                     A Little Budding Rose                                                          by Emily Brontë

It was a little budding rose, round like a fairy globe,
And shyly did its leaves unclose hid in their mossy robe,
But sweet was the slight and spicy smell it breathed from its heart invisible...

Just Because...

"I looked into the nightsky...just because. I listened to the morning sounds...just because. I tasted the fresh jam...just because. I smelled the new rose...just because. I touched your hand...just because. Just because...I love you!" (And I wrote this...just because.)

Rain

Rain is certainly a good thing-a perfect gift from Him. He created it to meet some of our most basic of needs and also that of the earth. It refreshes, nourishes, cleans...who can complain about that?! It even makes music-beautiful music! Have you ever paid attention to that music? There's a poem which is entitled "The Music of the Rain", from which come these lines: "...It seems a mighty symphony at times, when down it pours, As it splashes and it crashes as the oceans on their shores. The trumpets, drums and cymbals of the rain together play To make loud, harmonious music and a lovely melody. Then enter the sweet instruments of flute and harp and strings, As the raindrops sprinkle, then they tinkle like the birds that sing...." There is a lovely little phrase that comes from a certain song. It says "into each life some rain must fall". We can't say that it's Scripture, but we can certainly say that it's true. No life, no marriage, no family, no generation can escape the rain that will inevitably fall. But remember that rain is a good thing. Admittidly, at times we think there is an overabundance as we look at the destruction and pain and (what we think is) permanent damage. But whether our rain is literal or symbolic, the truth applies that God is in control. He will not allow more than we can handle. The umbrella of His love and care will be over us at all times, protecting us from the elements..."til the storm passes by".