several years ago my family gave me a nanking cherry tree for mother's day.

 

for most of the year it isn't anything special-it stands there looking quite ordinary and not even very attractive. it's worth those 51

 plain-jane weeks though... it's worth it for this

 one incredible week every spring when it bursts into bloom

and delivers this kind of magic.

 

as a blogger, it feels wrong not to mention my heartfelt sorrow for all the lives lost and homes that were destroyed in oklahoma's horrific tornadoes. sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the monotony of your days- resenting yet another sink full of dirty dishes that need to be done, or floors that need to be swept. mother nature can bring us the most wonderful blessings (like our green, green grass or my cherry blossoms) but it can also wreck havoc with floods, hurricanes, tornadoes etc... i guess what i'm trying to say is that i just really try hard to remember, notice and give thanks for every blessed day here on this earth when my family is safe and this little place i call home is wrapped safely around me. dirty dishes, muddy floors, and all.
 * let's be a little bit kinder to someone today. everyone you meet is most likely fighting some kind of battle, whether it's a great big hurricane or a storm within them. 



                 

                                                             wishing you a peaceful day,   
                                                                                                              beth