Dogwoods and Spring

The Dogwood tree and it's blooms are so pretty.  They have always held a special place in my heart. Years ago, when my father passed away, my Mom told us Dad really liked them.  So I think of him when I see them each spring.  I have memories of us picking the headstone for his grave. And in my mind we picked the dogwood flowers for his stone. You have to know I change flowers on his grave often.  I've been there in each season.  I've cleaned off the stone.  I've sat by it and talked with Dad.  I have looked at it many times through the years. And yet..  

Here is what I thought was on his stone ...for 35 plus years.

Here is what is actually on his stone:
  

Blow me over with a feather! 

But I'm getting so off from where I was headed.

I love the dogwood trees.  I don't remember seeing them in Michigan where I grew up.  Only when we came home.  I associate them with Tennessee and spring.  And freshness.  And hope.   
 And my Dad who liked them.          
                                                  
I love how one day it's dreary and before you know it. WHAM!  Spring is here!!!  And there are other trees and plants besides Dogwoods... 

  But first here are some more pictures of the lovely Dogwood to enjoy. 

Next is our Redbud limb from a tree that is the about the same size as a Dogwood. It makes me smile that the Redbud tree is purple.  It's whimsical.  I love whimsy. 

And have you seen the May apples? They are plants that come in April. They look like umbrellas on a New York street in a downpour.  But they grow in the shade of the woods. They are magical.  Some wonder if faeries are living below them or maybe they play among them. But beware!!! All the plant is poisoned except the fruit. But it might make you feel sick. So I'm not trying them. 

 

But I can't leave you without saying that all of this reminds me of the greatness of our Heavenly Father. All nature shouts of His Glory.  Do you think maybe He created spring for us so when the world around us seems to have gone mad, we will have hope? Just wondering.

So what spring plants and trees bring you joy?

Thicker than pea soup fog...

So, as you may or may not know, I work on a special needs bus. Before you assume, I'm not the driver.  I'm the attendant, the aid.  A couple of days ago on the bus, it was so foggy. You could barely see anything.

Fog always make me think of Pea Soup. Have you heard the saying it is thicker than pea soup out there? I could go off on such a tangent here. But I won't.
Back to our post...

As I rode along I said to the Lord, there has to be a lesson here or it is symbolic of something, what?   I looked inside the bus, my view was crisp, clear. But out the window I could barely see anything that we were passing.



We are in Tennessee and we were traveling down and up and round this way and that slicing through the fog quickly.  It reminded me of life.  Life has its up and downs.  It isn't always smooth sailing. It takes sudden turns. I have always wrestled with figuring it all out. I seem to have a hard time navigating life.  I could give you a myriad of reasons or excuses but lets not analyse it lets just say that is the way it is.  I do know I'm not alone.  Many people struggle in life.  For instance my Mom has dementia now and life is difficult to her, confusing even.  So the truth of the fog jumped out at me.  Negotiating life can be like moving through the fog. You can only see just a little in front of you.  It's a bit scary and it takes some faith to keep driving.  But I thought of how much easier it was for me to get through the fog now that I was out of my car and on my bus where my driver was driving. It felt safer.  I didn't have to make the decisions.  In fact, I was sitting in an environment where there was much clarity.

I could see clearly the part that I was responsible for.  I could see the kids, communicate with them, meet their needs, assist them.  I could do my job, my part.  I could rest, at ease as the driver dealt with the bigger picture.  Are you seeing where I'm going?  The driver represents the Lord.  Life is so much easier when we let Him drive our lives.  We can totally trust Him and rest at peace when we let Him direct our paths.  And we can see clearly what our part is and do it well when we rest in Him. We don't have to understand it ALL, the bigger picture.  He does.  And that's enough.

  

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:6

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.  John Newton