Garden Photos!

I waited a bit to let the wisteria pop out some more.  Oh I how I love the smell too.  I wish I could some how send that over the blog as well.  Know that sitting on the swing under it is the most amazing experience.  I love, love this time of the year! Daffodils, peach the roses have started to leaf out too.  The first bloom is always the best!

Life is moving at a fast pace.  It seems to have picked up speed lately.  I woke up to the most beautiful day this morning..  My daffodils are up with more just starting to peak out from the ground.  The wisteria is beginning it's bloom.  (I'll post a pick tomorrow) Spring is my most favorite time of the year!  I spent much of today outside in the garden getting things trimmed, planted and fertilized.  The peach tree is in full dark pink bloom.  The nectarine tree is finished with it's bloom and full of green leaves.  The apricot and plum are just starting to pop out their flowers, reminding me of the the song, "Pop Corn Popping on the Apricot Tree".  I could just stay out in the yard all day!

Love.  As the holidays and now January flies by, February the month of Love is soon here.  (I know that then we are heading towards spring, my favorite time of the year!)  February gives us a holiday dedicated to those in love.  It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, candy or sweets and send cards know as valentines.  I know that this time of year gives me a time to recall those whom I love and have loved.
There are so many different kinds of love, friendship, romantic, unconditional. Our Savior Jesus Christ showed the ultimate in love for us by giving of Himself as shown through his lifetime of serving others and ultimately offering His life as a sacrifice for all of us.  I know this is the kind of love God wants each of us to exemplify in our lives and particularly in our marriages.
I have been cleaning out the boxes of "stuff" from my mom's things.  I had a box from the cedar chest of all the cards and pictures she had saved throughout the years.  I sat down last night and had the most bittersweet experience.  I saw a woman who gave of herself tirelessly making others feel special.  There were so many cards of thanks for the gifts the notes and the help she had offered so many.  From Mother's Club at St. Emydius, The Junior Catholic Daughters, friends and family, my mother was there to help or offer a card, gift or support.  All the cards from high school, college graduations, marriages, baptisms, funeral cards were there.  I had a walk down memory lane with all the names I read.  I also read all the thank you cards that were sent to my mom.  What sweet notes everyone wrote to her.  They were all so special and she kept everyone!  I had such a great example in front of me my whole life of a loving and caring woman.  She was emulating our Savior, that I know. The things that were in her life are now gone.  (I did save some of the cards and notes)  I pondered that with my daughter and husband the other day.  How we are here in our lives and how it can all just be gone.  I know this is the way it is planned, we are born and we are here just like that and we go just like that as well.  I hope that we learn as we are here to be like our Savior, like my mom tried to do, as we make this journey home.  To have the unconditional love for others. To serve our fellow man, to love each other!