Bringing the beauties inside

It's been raining hard today so I cut some of the lovely blooms in the garden to rescue them from the dirt. Their heads, heavy with rain, were nearly touching the ground when I cut them.

My friend (who's also my aunt) gave me this beautiful vase when my Grandma died (her mum) (and I bought the little bird to go with it on the mantle) with the clear understanding that I would keep it full of flowers to cheer myself this spring and summer! It's been full since the very first blooms of spring and always cheers up the living room (and me!) SO much. This bouquet is the prettiest so far, but was difficult to get a good photo of it. This is for you, M! THANK YOU!

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning,
and company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
And you begin to build your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden,
and you decorate your own soul,
rather than waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure.
That you really are strong,
and that you really do have worth
And you learn,
and you learn,
with every goodbye you learn.

Veronica A. Shoffstall