Between the abundance of storms we've had this past month, trying to finish my WIP, and my sister's illness, I haven't been able to spend much time in my gardens, but today I noticed my little peony tree is covered with blooms and decided to share it with you.
I just finished planting all of my Mothers' Day flowers. My daughters know I love gardening, so most or all of them give me plants each year. Guess what I give them! Plants! LOL We gave each other books before I became a reviewer. Now I receive many, many books to review and when I finish with them, my daughters pick which ones they want to read. They all make their way back to me. They don't have to worry about finding shelf space, but I do, that's why I give books away every month. (It just isn't possible for me to throw books away!) I have over a hundred books I want to give away. If I could afford the postage I'd send each of you a couple of them, but since I can't, I'll keep chipping away at my stack with my twice monthly contests. The new contest starts now and all you have to do is comment on any of my posts between now and noon May 28th. I'm ending this contest early this time because of the holiday weekend and because my sister, who has acute Leukemia, is having a bone marrow transplant the day after Memorial Day and I'll have a house full of company and be spending a lot of time at the hospital.
I took time out this morning to take my five-year-old grandson to his soccer game. As those of you who have ever had a five-year-old soccer player know, little kids play the game according to their own rules and whims. A seagull landed on the field and my grandson chased it to the middle of the next playing field, his best kick sent the ball flying towards his opponents' goal, but he had a great time and feels like a winner because he got a trophy and dozens of high fives. As I looked over four fields of four, five, and six-year-olds I couldn't help contrasting those children with poor little abused Ethan who was killed a week ago here in Utah by his mother and stepfather. Children that age ask so little, just to be loved and accepted. Those little soccer players represented four or more races and who knows how many other categories by which society labels each other, but each was thrilled by shouts of encouragement and hugs from fathers, moms, grandparents, and other assorted relatives who cared enough to spend their time and money in support of them. It mattered little to the children whether they won or lost the game, what did matter was the acceptance they received for their efforts. Every child should be that kind of winner.
7 comments:
Thanks for sharing your beautiful peony tree! I love plants but due to allergies I only have a couple of pots of flowers. Congrats to your grandson on his wonderful win!
Congratulations to your grandson and all of the other delighted "winners". As for the tragedy, I know there was at least one adoptive family that would have loved and cherished Ethan. The challenge now is to always remember that we don't know the struggles of the person that stands behind us in the grocery line and we need to do all we can to be a little kinder and a little more forgiving. To really reach out and share anothers burdens is the true act of Christ-like service.
Thank you for reminding us all to look for the "winners" where ever we are. They are all around us.
I just signed my little 5 year old up for soccer in the fall. I can imagine him chasing a bird instead of the ball, but he has been begging to play soccer since all his cousins played this spring.
Your flowers are lovely.
I love your plant. For mothers day I only ask for chocolate. Now I should ask for both, a book and chocolates. No actually what I hope for is a calm day with the girls.
When my daughter played her first season of soccer she was doing cartwheels as the ball was coming towards her. Needless to say she didn't get a chance to kick the ball. She still enjoys the game now.
I LOVE getting "living" plants as gifts. My husband makes sure he brings me a lily every spring, either Easter or Mother's Day. After we've enjoyed the blossoms inside I plant it in my flower beds outside. It's so nice to have those flowers with their memories come up every year. We've moved a lot and I've left "memory flowers" blooming at every house. We are moving again in June, hopefully to stay put for a long time, and I can't wait to start planting more of my husband's and children's gifts.
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