Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote “The earth laughs in flowers” – I just love that! What a creative, colorful painter God must be to have dreamed up such a glorious treat as a flower.
We were utterly delighted this summer, much to our surprise, when our yard awoke from it’s slumber into glorious full bloom….red, pink, purple, yellow, blue, white….sprinkles of nature’s laughter all around. And to think, we purchased this house when it was covered in snow, without an inkling of the blooms in store.
The more I poke around our property, getting to know all the little spots, the more flowers I discover! Lilacs, pink roses, yellow roses, columbines, lilies, hydrangeas, and even a healthy, creeping strawberry patch!
The kids bring me bouquets daily, so I’ve got vases scattered about the house, reminding me to stop and smell, and remember the lovely little gifts. Somehow kids are so good at that- stopping to smell the flowers, never in a rush to get to the cell phone store or pick up the dry cleaning, but always interested in the beauty along the way.
And it makes me think, you know, that God didn’t have to make flowers. I mean, he didn’t have to make anything really, but flowers? I know, I know, there’s the whole pollen thing, but certainly he could have chosen a much plainer pollen vessel. He could have made the bees attract to something that looks more like a stone or a stick, but no, a beautiful, graceful, dainty burst of vibrant color, that reaches for the sun and just smiles. To me, that’s a God who loves.
And maybe you don’t believe in him. Maybe you think that flowers are just a logical manifestation of environmental evolution. And maybe you think I’m a bit nutty for bringing up God so much here on my crafty blog (I feel like I do!), but I just can’t help myself. When I sit down to type up a post, reflecting on whatever beauty I’ve captured in my camera that week, whether it’s the the freckly smile of a child, a melt-in-my-mouth recipe, or a quilt design that makes my heart beat just a little bit faster, I see Him in it, and I remember that beauty- even in the smallest things- is a gift. And to give a gift, is to show love.
Be loved this week, my friends! :)
XO
I, for one, am glad that you bring God into your blogs, because too many people are trying to leave Him out of everything. It reminds me to reflect on all my blessings and be thankful. Thanks Amy and a Happy 4th to you and your family.
Kathy
Your home and gardens are beautiful Amy. You are truly blessed with God’s gifts. May you have a Happy 4th of July and may you find time to quilt.
Deanna
I love it, love your post and blog, keep um comin! :)
I too, amazed at the beautiful colors and designs of flowers – particularly the sweet peas blooming in my garden this week! All creation sings His Praise! Thank you for your thoughtful posts Amy!
God Bless you BIG, Amy and Family It’s just a joy reading your blog and how you love God,
He made a world so beautiful and few see it.
Keep on bringing us your beautiful pictures, we all enjoy them.:)
I believe!! Don’t ever hide who you are! What a beautiful post, garden and life!! Keep sharing!!
Amen to that. In our garden the peonies are blooming so beautiful I had about the same train of thoughts this week. Also the wonderful people in my life, especially my husband, I feel to be gifts of God. But I must admit that this is not something I would easily share on my blog in Dutch. Many of my Dutch friends would judge it as too much, so I’m happy you voice it for me. Have a beautiful summer and enjoy the surprises of your garden. Liefs, Sandra
I am so thankful for your post and so thankful for our God!!
What a beautiful post in so any ways! God is good and He brings beauty into our lives in so many ways! Thank you for sharing your beauty with us!
*oops, so many ways!
Amy, I don’t think you can every bring up God to much in your blog because God has created everything – flowers, smiles, colors, beautiful fabric and so much more. Thank you for the reminder to “stop and smell the roses”. Your yards is beautiful.
Your posts just bless the socks off me, and I am so glad that God is all about blessing you with such a creative spirit. May all your scraps of fabric, colors vibrant, and plentiful be made into a garden of Beauty.. all from Gods heart to your hand!
Wow and wow! Gorgeous garden! I have a cross stitch picture that I see every time I go out to enjoy my garden and flowers…”he who plants a seed and waits for it to grow, believes in God.” Enough said. :)
The difference between a painting and Gods work, is that what God creates goes much deeper than what you see on the surface.
Thank you for the beautiful analogy using flowers and smiles. God smiles on us all warmly and with familial pride in what we do. I’m reverting back to childhood things in taking the time to pick the flowers and deeply inhale their individual scents.
What a lovely post.
What a lovely garden of flowers. Great post Amy.
I enjoy reading you blog. Thank you for sharing your family and home.
As I was teaching my preschool Sunday School class last week on how God gave his disciples the power to speak and spread his word I asked the little ones if they have ever been afraid to speak to people. They of course said “yes, but that is because they are strangers”. I told them that they should never ever be afraid to speak of God!
God gets the glory because He gave the gift! God Bless you Amy!
Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing, Amy. I truly enjoy hearing how God is blessing your family.
Talking about God’s blessings offends only the intolerant! We need to remember in this country we have freedom OF religion not FROM religion. Keep up your refreshing view of your blessings in life. It’s so nice to hear how grateful you are for all you have.
God bless you and your family!
I always appreciate your comments of the Lord. Jesus, our creator gave us the gifts of sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing. Your right he is a loving God. Why else would he let you and I be co-creators and be able to participate in creation. Your beautiful children are your gift to Him! to share for a little while.
blessings and Happy 4th
Your lovely post reminded me of one of my favorite children’s songs from my church. I hope you enjoy the words as much as I do!
My Heavenly Father Loves Me
1. Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav’nly Father created for me.
2. He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev’rently
For all his creations, of which I’m a part.
Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.
What a beautiful lyrics, Britta! Thanks for sharing with all of us who loves and believe in God and Thy creation.
I don’t think you talk about God to much. The flowers are great too!! I think they are good inspiration for a quilt.!
What a lovely touching post, I really enjoyed it. Happy 4th to you and your family. You are so blessed to live in such an amazing country!!
Quel beau jardin et belle surprise,
amitiés
Cécile
Keep bringing it up. It needs to be said. We need the reminder who made all this beauty for our enjoyment. People forget anything they are not reminded of. If it bothers some people, I would have to as why it bothers them. Your flowers are so beautiful. Lucky you to have such treasures in your yard.
What a heartwarming message. I woke up this morning (it is 5:00 am) feeling a little sorry for myself because my pain level is extra high. I made my cup of tea, opened up my email – and there was your post. As I sat here reading it – it brought such joy and comfort to me, and made me stop for a moment to reflect on what really matters. Thank you for that!
…. I often (although not as much as I should) marvel at all the beauty around us, amazed that God created so much color and joy in our world. I get so caught up in clouds and flowers, and even all those little bugs. What an amazing place this earth is – and what a precious gift he has given us to be able to live our lives here.
….Through the eyes of a child we can see beauty in places we never knew existed! Thank you for such a blessing this morning! You are a very precious child of God, thank you for keeping him in your posts and sharing your love of him with us!
. . . Amazingly – I no longer feel so much of my pain. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU!
Thank you! And His Blessings to you and yours… :0)Susan
Yep :) I am one of the ones that believes ” that flowers are just a logical manifestation of environmental evolution.” – and I love everything about them.
What a fabulous find after buying your home in the winter all covered in snow – now you know what all the frustrations and hassles and houses falling through was for :) So that you could find this one, it was out there waiting for someone who could truly appreciate the beauty of it and the hard work that went into creating such a bounteous garden – Bellisimo!!!
An absolutely beautiful post Amy and keep them up. My heart smiles when you mention God and I love that you share His powerful and positive message. Be proud of your faith and share His love with everyone. You never know when you might have placed a little niggle of a seed in the unbeliever’s mind that will grow into them realizing that they already have God’s grace and didn’t even know it!
Isn’t your house lucky you found her? You could have been a family that walked right by the plants and either didn’t notice them or plowed them under for xeroscaping. Perish the thought! And Tell Russ “nice flag”. Man after our own hearts – we fly ours every day. What a great lesson for your children. Maybe tonight’s bedtime story with the girls can weave your love of sewing in with Betsy Ross’s and her contribution to our country. Happy Independence Day Amy. ~May God Bless you and yours.
Hi Amy and Family,
Glad moving has gone relatively smoothly, and all your hard work in making your home liveable has turned out absolutely stunning. I am very envious. I am saddened to here that you lost a value family heirloom your camera card. For some reason I keep getting told for you to look in your laundry baskets or ironing baskets right down to the very bottom I don’t know why, but perhaps you should look. Now before you go off and think this is down right weird, I know it is but I have found missing items by way of the holy spirit!
Now your glorious garden it is so beautiful and I especially love your roses. Now just one other thing Amy, I have finally received from Australia Post a refund today 4th July for sending your magazine the second time at last!
Well a big happy 4th of July (Independent Day) to you and the family. If your weather is as beautiful as your garden I hope you are all going to take the opportunity to have a family picnic or BBQ.
Well best wishes to you and your family Amy regards from Julie Beard, Adelaide South Australia.
Amen! There is no such thing as bringing too much God into your posts. Shout praises to The Lord! With all that I am I will shout his praises! Keep the blogs coming, I love to see your patch of His creation through your eyes. God bless you and yours.
A beautiful post with a beautiful message. God Bless You for spreading joy.
Love your blogs Amy, especially all the little tidbits you share. Keep the pictures coming too – you have such a beautiful family to enjoy your beautiful home with. Enjoy your holiday today! Keep praying and that card will turn up!
It is refreshing to read your blog, make the BOM with you and others, and know that you love God as much as I do. Please continue to do so. I miss seeing the world through my children’s eyes, amazed at their new discoveries. My oldest has children of his own but they live too far away for daily interactions. My youngest is not quite ready for a family as he’s discovering what he wants to be (at 24 *grin*). Reading your blogs sometimes helps me to slow down and appreciate the talents that God has blessed me with and the gifts of those around me. Carry on. *grin*
An Incredible GOD deserves Incredible Praise!Blessings,Amy
Lovely post, we all need to stop and consider the beauty God created. Thanks!
I so look forward to your posts! This one has brought tears to my eyes! I so enjoy your sharing of pics of your talent of quilting, your little peanuts and hubby too! I wish for you many happy years in your new home! God Bless! <3
Dear Amy,
Thank you for these words. They also brought a little joyful tear of thanksgiving to my eye, I’m reminded of the verse that says every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father. I too see so many things as love gifts from above:
from my capturing my mother’s last smile on earth in March with my iPad camera the night before she passed into eternity –
to being able to find picture frames at the $ store w/ a double matting that had the exact shade of gold to match the bindings of Golden Books for a project I was doing for my daughter’s baby shower!
Keep blogging away! You’re one of those blessings – good gifts – I enjoy!
With affection,
Linda
it is a beautiful wonderful blessing!
Never apologize for what you do…. you are spreading God’s love, joy and grace in everything you do! You put a smile on so many peoples faces with your gifts. Thanks for sharing your love for quilts and God all at the same time!
What a gift from God discovering your garden this summer!! So much fun I bet!
Blessings on your holiday, and thanks again for all you do! I’m still praying you find your “picture card” for your camera!!!
Shine On!
Kathy
Like you, I daily marvel at the creativity of God! I, too, cannot fathom that anyone could imagine that the beauty of creation was an accident or the result of some explosion of a bunch of unidentified cells! I am so very thankful for the privilege to know God through His Word and to see Him daily in His marvelous work in the universe and also in the lives of people. Never be afraid to speak of Him! Our world needs to hear more about Him!
Thank you Amy, you spoke directly from my heart.
What a lovely surprise for you to have such beautiful gardens, already done for you!! God certainly does good work doesn’t he?
Amy, you are truly blessed! A beautiful person. :) Thank you for your inspirational words.
Lovely post! Thank you! Love the beauty, the literary and our creator’s references.
Amen, and Amen. May those of us who believe always feel we can share Him with others.
How wonderful that the previous owner left you with so many beautiful blessings.
You are bringing His light to the world. And in a way that *kindly* shows His love for us (there are so many that do that the opposite way). It’s a beautiful thing, and I believe He’s proud of his daughter for that. ;)
I loved your post! I don’t think you talk about God too much and I love it when you bring Him into your postings. I love your blog and am always inspired by your creativity. Your flowers are gorgeous! What a treasure you had under all that snow. Thank you for sharing your world!
You ARE blessed!!!
I absolutely love your posts, the simple way you write about your everyday life with all of us. Of course God is present in everything around the world, so you are right to thank him about the small things around you. Keep on, keep being yourself, and sharing those wonderful things.
I love when you mention God in your posts. You can tell you have a sincere faith and love for the Lord. I love those moments when one can feel the awe in God’s creation. I love the mention of God’s hand in a quilt design, though. I had never thought about that. :) Have a blessed day. :)
What a wonderful, wonderful surprise and blessing from the Creator to “find” all those lovely flowers in your new garden! Truly He is a God of love. I like this line especially, “And to give a gift, is to show love.” And, what greater gift could He give us than His Son! :-) Which also led me to think of this verse, Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Somehow there’s a special sweetness in knowing that God takes pleasure in your beautiful garden too – and in the freckled kids’ faces and in all the things He’s created that give us honest pleasure. :-)
Love your blogs. Ordered the twirl pattern. Can’t wait.
I took your class on Craftsy, and learned a lot already. I really enjoy your website too. You are a beautiful person Inside and out. The thinking is what i am impressed with. I feel I can learn much more watching your ideas. Thank you for keeping the lord alive.
Kitt