Month: March 2023

Flower Power | You’re the Magic

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The real magic is when you don’t know how it’s going to happen. You don’t know if you’re ever going to make it. You don’t know where this road will take you – or if it’s even taking you anywhere at all. But still, you step forward and keep showing up, even on your hardest days. Sometimes, your steps are small. Other times, they’re a little bigger. But you’re not worried about the pace because you trust that what’s meant for you won’t miss you – that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be in this moment. The real magic is when your mind tries to convince you that you can’t, but you step forward and try anyway because your beating heart tells you that you can. The real magic is you. It’s your courage and commitment. Your belief in a universe where all things are possible. Your refusal to listen to the outer voices over that quiet voice within. It’s in your breath. It’s in your energy. It’s who you are at your core. You’re the gift. You’re the spark. You’re the magic.  —Zanna Keithley

The gorgeous flower featured in today’s post was created by my Wildflowers friend, Marrianna D, a photographer and sketch artist. Lately, she has been doing amazing work with Procreate. You can see more of her work here: Marrianna on Instagram.

Flower Power | Belonging

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I am hanging on by the proverbial thread, but it’s almost Fri-yay! It’s crazy how all the things in life can be nonstop at times, but I am taking a moment to share a little more flower-power before I hit the hay.

Today’s card came from another Wildflower sister, Arielle W. The postcard features her macro photo of a”tiny” bee resting on a black-eyed Susan.  Her sweet message of celebration of women and appreciation for friendship is complemented by a quote from Brené Brown, one of my favorite podcasters:

Belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are. –Brené Brown (emphasis mine)

See ya tomorrow…

Flower Power | You Matter

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IWD Lori W 2023

Darling, before you know it, you’ll feel like you don’t have enough time to be with those you love, to do the things you love, and to be the person you wanna be, so prioritize, start doing it all right now. Make the opportunities count because you count. You matter and are so loved.

The floral Hallmark card above came from another Wildflowers sister, Lori W. She enclosed a cute little handmade card with the words above–the perfect bit of #WednesdayWisdom. Do yourself a favor and jot this one down in a notebook or on a sticky note. Remind yourself: you count, you matter, and you are so loved.

Flower Power | Tears

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You should never let tears prevent you from doing what is right.
Aung San Suukyi

Today’s pretty purple bouquet and quote came from one of my newer pen friends, Anne Lene of Norway. I would love to unpack that quote and write a little about Aung San Suukyi, but I’ve had a long day of meetings and the business of academia, and my brain has been switched to rest. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more “flower power.”

Flower Power | All That You Touch

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Connie IWD 2023

As usual, I received such beautiful postcards for International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. In fact, the cards are still rolling in (happy mail dance!). For the final days of March we will “glory” in a bit of flower power and womanly wisdom.

All that you touch
you change.
All that you change
changes you.
The only lasting truth
is change.
God
is change. —Octavia Butler, from the Parable of the Sower, 1993.

The spectacular postcard above came from my pen friend, Connie F. On the back of the postcard she added (in a matching orange) the International Women’s Day theme and call to action:

Embrace equity.
Don’t just say it.
Think it. Be it.
Do it. Value it.
Truly embrace it.

No excuses!

Until tomorrow…

#ThursdayTreeLove | O Sweet Spontaneous

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Blossom 2023

In these parts everything is blooming–the pear blossoms, cherry blossoms, almond blossoms, dogwoods, redbuds, and more. All the blooming trees are blossoming all at once–in a glorious, spontaneous display of spring.

O Sweet Spontaneous
e.e. cummings

O sweet spontaneous
earth how often have
the
doting
             fingers of
prurient philosophers pinched
and
poked
thee
,has the naughty thumb
of science prodded
thy
        beauty      how
often have religions taken
thee upon their scraggy knees
squeezing and
buffeting thee that thou mightest conceive
gods
         (but
true
to the incomparable
couch of death thy
rhythmic
lover
             thou answerest
them only with
                              spring)

I am joining Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.

Measureless Grace

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Tulips 2023

Last week was a beast. I went to work each day not feeling my best. I thought I would keep things light and push through as best I could.

Plagued by severe seasonal allergies and a shoulder that had been giving me grief since I fell two weeks ago, I was tasked with one thing after another and unable to catch a break. Then, there was even more to be done after work—writing recommendations, reviewing projects, fundraising, and completing the usual household tasks. 

At the end of the week—relieved that I could finally rest—I shut things down and sat quietly with my thoughts. I thought about my behavior throughout the week—about how each morning I groaned (inwardly) at the prospect of a full workday; about how I whined when I was too cold or too pained or too sneezy; about how I was too blunt and (at times) too exasperated. 

I repented my “sins” and realized God was in every detail of my week. In spite of it all, I accomplished much, much more than I should have considering my physical condition and certainly more than I could have on my own—even under normal circumstance. 

…But for the immeasurable grace of God.

I happened upon Psalm 55:22 early last week and wrote it in my journal. t was a promise I needed as I started the week already exhausted, in pain, and feeling cheated out of spring break because of the fall.  

Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord,
and measureless grace will strength will strengthen you. –Psalm 55:22 TPT

Measureless grace. That’s what God gives—even when I’m less than gracious, even when I’m pouty and easily irritated. It is what He gave to get me through a physically draining week.

Thankfully, as I place all the cares and anxieties of this week at His feet, He assures me He has more than enough grace for this week too. 

Those tulips above? More of His grace. 

Happy First Day of Spring!

Redbuds and Enduring Grief

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Today marks 10 years since my sister Karlette took her last breath. As I showered this morning, at about the same time I got the call, I told myself grief would not win today.

I enjoyed a beautiful church service, had dinner with my guys at one of my aunts’ homes, and took a moment to appreciate the tiny pink blossoms of the redbud tree in front of her home.

Interesting that in all these years, I had not seen the tree in bloom before. I’m certain that God led me to the pink blossoms–especially today.

I had my own notion of grief.
I thought it was the sad time
that followed the death of someone you love.
And you had to push through it
to get to the other side.
But I’m learning there is no other side.
There is no pushing through.
But rather,
there is absorption.
Adjustment.
Acceptance.
And grief is not something you complete,
but rather, you endure.
Grief is not a task to finish
and move on,
but an element of yourself,
an alteration of your being.
A new way of seeing.
A new definition of self.  –Gwen Flowers

#ThursdayTreeLove | One Photo and An Abundance of Tree Love

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One Photo Poster

A month ago I shared the “one photo” I used for Sheila Delgado’s 30-day Creative Gathering. Today, I present the 30 versions of the tree photo I submitted for the Gathering–one for each day, February 28 through March 2. As usual, working with the photos provided a much needed time-out from the daily grind and compelled me to spend a little time each day playing with color and texture. This was particularly helpful as I struggled through the many cold, gloomy, and wet days of February.

I submitted one photo edit each day, but I have more than 250 extra photo edits! I usually played around with the photo until I “happened upon” something I liked. Sometimes, I liked far too many and then had to go through the process of whittling down to one, which was usually the one that surprised me or brought me the most joy.

If you’d like to see the photos featured in the poster above in their full, individual glory, check out the album on Flickr:  One Photo, Endless Possibilities.

Also, if you’re interested in seeing the amazing artwork of the other participants, be sure to read Sheila D’s “wrap-up” post on the February Gathering: The 30-day Creative Gathering Artists, February 2023.

I usually join Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.