Jasmine and Honeysuckle

I've been on a cleaning spree lately. Closets, bookcases, my craft table... so much. Mold had even found its way to my bedroom windowsill. It's TIME!!! The baby's due in August, so maybe this is my nesting instinct kicking in, but its been great to purge, find lost items and redecorate in the process! One such place has been the dining room. In one corner I have an easy chair a neighbor gave us, but now I've added a tiny Asian table and a tall lamp. It's quite cozy for having tea when Raja first goes down for his afternoon nap and for drinking my hot milk before bed! Well, today, in the other corner of the dining room, I transformed my craft table into a desk! The crafts are neatly tucked away under the table in bins, but the top is free so I can write to you! I placed a bright tablecloth down, kept the original floral arrangement, put a candle, usual writing utensils, a picture of Derick and I on our wedding day, a sweet vine-painted box Grandma made filled with Raja's balloons and a little homemade Japanese purse from friend, Jen. Every desk needs fresh flowers too, so for that.............................

(Another little story) Today was warm and beautiful. Raja wanted to go outside and play and I needed a little exercise, so we walked to the next sub-division where there's a child park. On the way, we stopped by a neighbors house and I had two more kids join us. Kayla and Sean are a little older, so they have bikes with training wheels. (Side note: their mom's name is Sarah and she's pregnant too! She broke her foot recently so she's on crutches) Since the last time I walked to the park, things have begun blooming. I saw purple thistle, milkweed, grapevine, some orange wisteria-looking flower, honeysuckle and jasmine. Growing up in Kansas, I had a yellow forsythia bush, purple lilac and honeysuckle vine all growing outside my window, so the smells wafting in was heavenly. Florida cannot boast lilac or forsythia, but the honeysuckle beckoned me and I brought a specimen home. Confederate jasmine is profuse here. I love the fan-shaped blossoms and the fragrance reminds Derick of India.

Now the honeysuckle and jasmine are displayed in little teacups on my desk and I'm basking in their fragrance. Flowers are such a gift from God. The artist at work, just like a seamstress embroidering flowers on a dress, God weaves them into the fabric of our world. Not only so many colors and shapes, but delicious fragrances as well. Thank you, Lord for your myriad gifts!