EVERLASTING ORCHIDS

Entering her house to begin her treatments, it's the first thing that catches my eye.... the orchid on her windowsill....

*

pristine white

breathtakingly beautiful

standing tall in the middle of winter

"Is that real?  It's so pretty."

"Yeah, it's been blooming like crazy for months now."

She has been in the battle off and on for over four years  

tested

prodded

poked

prepared for the worst

too many times to count

I notice the post-it notes all over her house

"Don't give up"

"No Whining"

"You can do it!!"

Several weeks, more treatments, another whole month goes by.

Now I really start to pay attention and look for it every time I come....

*

it's incredible

more luminous and radiant than ever, the orchid has

 not changed at all

against all odds

 it continues to flourish

Her new wig is really cute--I wouldn't have even known if she didn't mention it.  It brings out the seafoam green color of her eyes. And she can now wear the same size jeans she did as a freshman in high school--they really do look great on her.

She was a gymnast--she tells me--always strong and athletic. Raised from hearty stock,  she was taught to never give up, never give in.  I see a picture of her around 15 years old-- fresh faced, dimpled smile, sweet.

The doctor, at her last visit, not wanting to give her false hope, reminds her that it took her sister about five years ago, and her grandmother before that.

Ha!  She won't hear of it!  Statistics, schmatistics!  She will show us all.

Finally, he too,  just smiles and shakes his head.

More time goes by...

One day, as she talks, I gaze at the orchid in the window

Hmmm

Maybe

Just maybe

Yes

It can happen

It will happen!

Now she has me believing it too

I say a prayer for her as I leave her house 

and  I think about how magnificent they are

*

glowing

noble

splendid

unyielding....

Everlasting Orchids


**They are like a tree
planted near streams of water, 
that gives its fruit in season
Its leaves never wither

*all photos courtesy of Wiki Commons

**Psalm 1: 3

THE MASTER ARTIST

He carefully and lovingly selects the perfect spot for every  piece of the mosaic to achieve the overall effect...

        some pieces are easily pliable and conform well to the overall image -- these will be used to fill in between the gaps and support the structure

        others are more roughly shaped, hard, brittle.  These pieces must be worked on--chipped away, whittled down, exposed to heat-- to make them give more easily.  But once they succumb, these will be some of the brightest and strongest parts of the arrangement

        still others are soft, lacking strength, tarnished.  These must be handled carefully and gently,  polished until their brilliant shine comes through

  

He constantly surveys his work-- adjusting, moving pieces, rearranging-- always with the overall picture of the final design in mind.

Occasionally a crack or fissure damages one of the parts--this weakens the entire image.

He tenderly removes the broken piece, works patiently to restore it, and places it back into its rightful place.

*

Finally, it is completed


  He sits back and admires His creation

The pieces fit perfectly, all the

shapes

sizes

shades of colors

while beautiful individually

all together produce a

magnificent masterpiece 

The radiant colors shine through each piece

 and the prisms of light

reflect off of 

their source

the Master Artist

*Leonardo da Vinci    Salvator Mundi

**How beautiful are all His works!

All of them differ, one from another,

yet none of them He has made in vain,

For each turn, as it comes is good;

can one ever see enough of their splendor?

* all photos courtesy of Wiki Commons

**Sirach 42: 23,25

***How to make stained glass, Khan Academy

BUTTERFLIES

At family gatherings it's been years since I've seen them.....


I look up and notice......

they are all around me......

fluttering wings

 swaying bodies

 whispers of life

When did they all become such beautiful butterflies?

They fly in and out 

tending their young

twittering

hovering

suspended in time

 pure loveliness

A flurry of  

life

grace

tender beauty

they have evolved into 

living masterpieces

works of art

ornaments of nature

my beloved

BUTTERFLIES

for all my nieces and the lovely young women in our life

*all photos courtesy of Wiki Commons

I'LL BE SEEING YOU

She shuffles by with her walker, never making eye contact, an empty expression on her face--lost, confused. 

Her white hair is loosely held back from her finely lined face--the nurse's aide was in a hurry this morning.  Her flowered blouse is clean but worn at the edges.

She no longer recognizes even the most familiar--her son who visits her weekly is now a stranger.

Suddenly, from the other side of the room, piano music fills the air--the volunteer has arrived to play for the residents.

Her head perks up as something in the song catches her attention.

Drawn to the music, she slowly makes her way across the room and stops to listen..........

*"I'LL BE SEEING YOU

 IN ALL THE OLD FAMILIAR PLACES

 THAT THIS HEART OF MINE EMBRACES

 ALL DAY THROUGH......"

her features soften as a look of joy lights up her face and there is a far-away gaze in her eyes....

where is she in her mind......?

what is she seeing......?

.....she and her kid brother are walking to school on a crisp fall morning.  Her thick auburn hair lies in a braid down her back.  A smell of burning leaves fills the air as they begin to run, a crunching sound with every step....

.....her beau has brought her a small bouquet of daisies for their first date.  As she leans down to smell their fragrance, a lock of hair falls across her clear hazel eyes....

**



.....the church is humming and crowded--it's her wedding day.  Walking down the aisle, she sees him waiting at the altar, so handsome in his new black suit.  She feels butterflies in her stomach and has never been happier....

**



.....the aroma of coffee, eggs and toast fills the sunny kitchen.  Two of the children scramble down the stairs to eat breakfast before running for the bus.  Her husband sits across the table reading the morning newspaper....




"I'LL FIND YOU IN THE MORNING SUN
AND WHEN THE NIGHT IS NEW
I'LL BE LOOKING AT THE MOON
BUT I'LL BE SEEING YOU......"

The song over, she picks up her walker and heads back to her small room

unreachable...

in her own little world...

but in her mind

she dreams

she sings

she sees



(click on the link below)
I'LL BE SEEING YOU JIMMY DURANTE

*I'll Be Seeing You, SammyFain/Irving Kahal, 1938.

**Photos courtesy of Wiki Commons

SWEET DREAMS

He tucks her in at night...

murmurs soothing words

covers her with a warm blanket

stills the noise

whispers a happy tomorrow and sweet dreams

They have endured

sickness

health 

trials 

good fortune

tears

smiles

Through it all... the

minutes

days

weeks

years

decades

until forever

they hold on tight
and

He tucks her in at night

*for a special couple celebrating their 60th anniversary

   and dedicated to my husband, Jim

HAPPY EASTER!!

EASTER GREETINGS!!

HOPE YOUR DAY IS FULL OF JOY

SIMPLE PLEASURES

AND BRIGHTNESS

FROM ME AND RUBY

TREES

Sometimes I like to think of them as trees....



At first fragile little saplings that totally depend on the world around them to meet their every need.

Then, over the years--with careful tending to---  they begin to sprout and evolve into beautiful sturdy growths  that can stand on their own





She would be the Oak...

Forever flowering in the spring

 

 

Nurturing 

 

 

Offering shade and protection to anyone who needs it

 

 

 

Next, he would be the Silver Birch....

Stately

 

Dignified

 

Tenacious yet humble

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The youngest would be a Mountain Pine...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standing above the crowd

 

Rugged

 

Simple elegance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And like all parents, in between all the ups, downs, joys and sorrows of family life

 

having gathered...weeded...watered...trimmed...cultivated...

 

 

 

I wait and watch the life unfold