Twirling Ballerinas

The month of May has chugged in at a steady pace and is passing by as quickly as the express train from Washington DC to New York City. I feel I have blinked once and here we are at the end of school. Really? I just can't believe school only has one half day left! May is notoriously busy with recitals, end of school year projects and happenings, teacher's gifts to buy, parties to attend  . . . oh and don't forget Howie's birthday, Mother's Day and a wedding anniversary too. One of the highlights of May is definitely the dance performance the girls participate in with their dance studio at the Tennessee Theater. This year the girls each danced in a ballet piece and a modern piece during the performance. Although I feel my photos from this year's performance are not as wonderful as they could be, I am posting them for posterity's sake. Emma-Caroline danced in "Garland" for her ballet piece and "Nepali" for her modern piece. Sophie danced in "Raceway" for her modern piece and "Peasants" for her ballet piece.  We were happy that Emma-Caroline's first grade teacher, Ms. Ellison, our wonderful baby sitter Miss Ali and our friend Mary Caroline were also able to join us to watch the performance. We are very proud of our little dancers! I will be back soon to catch up on more May happenings. Happy summer!

 

From the Dogwood to the Dandelion

One of the first things that Howie and I fell in love with in our current home is the back yard garden. It is filled with so many varieties of plants that showcase the glories of God's creation throughout the entire year. I am always thankful for this garden and find it to be a wonderful sanctuary. Amongst the numerous plants, shrubs, and flowers in our garden is a lone tall willowy dogwood tree. 

It's blossoms bloom white each year around this time as it joins with its neighbors in welcoming in Spring.  The dogwood tree has always been one of my favorites for its beauty as well as for it's symbolism of Christ's death on the cross and resurrection on Easter day. In gazing upon the beautiful cross-shaped blossoms of my own dogwood tree, I recall the gift of everlasting life that was given to me through Jesus' sacrifice and through his resurrection. I remember his everlasting love for me and that he is always with me in everything from happy to sad moments that make up my life.

My dogwood tree is a welcome presence and I am grateful it was planted there by another caretaker long ago. There are other items in my garden that I don't always welcome with such enthusiasm.

Each day I go into my backyard and pull weeds and extraneous grass that seemed to have crept into the  beds overnight. On one bright sunshiny morning, I came across a dandelion whose tall shoot had made her way through the stone wall that edges the garden path.

At first, I thought I would yank the dandelion up by its roots, expelling it forever from my garden. But the loveliness of the fluffy white puff of the dandelion caused me to pause, and I took a moment to stop and to see it  for more than just a weed invading my garden path. In my pause, I thought of how the girls would love to gently pluck the flower, make a wish and then blow upon the fluffy cotton ball of the dandelion.

 I decided to leave the lone dandelion flower in its spot as surely it too had a proper place in my garden. As my appreciation for the dandelion's presence in my garden grew, a gentle wind blew across my cheek. I looked up to the blue sky and watched as a cardinal made its way to the branches of a hemlock tree. When I looked down upon the dandelion once more, I realized it had taken flight into the wind to be scattered hither and yon and to begin a fresh new life of many new wishes to be had.
In spending time in my garden I realize that God's creation, whether it be a welcomed dogwood tree or a newly appreciated dandelion flower,  serves to remind us of God's plan for each of us in life. We were born to be reborn through Christ and to live with him forever. But we were also born to have our gifts and talents scattered and planted to bring God's hope and love to others wherever hither and yon may lead us. Our life is the dogwood and our life is the dandelion. I am thankful for the gift of these beautiful flowers in God's creation and for the lessons I receive when I take the time to appreciate each in the garden of life.