Tag Archive | Morning Glories

When the Blooms Hide

Jul23

If you know me very well, you know that I love Morning Glories. You know, that trumpet flower that men call weeds. It’s true that they will wander and grow out of control if you don’t keep up with them.

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This year, I haven’t been able to take care of the flowers as well as in the past and they have grown without my assistance. Or rather, have grown in spite of neglect.  There are so many object lessons in my patch of Morning Glories. (Just imagine how many I would have if I had planted the seeds that I harvested last year!)

For today, my lesson is that sometimes while looking at the full picture, we miss the one perfect flower hidden beneath the vines and bushes. We often take credit for the things we work hard for and cultivate.  However, the plant that endures scorching ninety-degree weather without water, stands up against buffeting winds during a sudden storm after a week of drought and still produces flowers is amazing to me. It grows stronger in adversity. 

Sometimes, life is like that.  We don’t always see God’s hand working in the hardships of life. We don’t understand why He allows things to happen without intervening. Sometimes it’s because He is making us stronger. We must depend upon Him and be fed by studying His Word. In those times of trials, we can give in to depression and shrivel up, become angry and choke out something beautiful or we can trust in Him to make us what He wants us to become.  When we trust and wait on Him, we grow and blossom and become someone God can use in the life of someone else.  Someone is always watching. What will they see?

Will they just see leafy vines or will they see the beautiful bloom that was once hidden under hardships and endured?

Flourish Simple

“Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Spring Wreath

Feb19

It doesn’t look like we will have snow here in Lynchburg, VA so I am anxious to plant seedlings and make a spring wreath.

Next week, I will plant my morning glory seeds that I harvested from our vine last fall. This will be my third year from the original seeds. However, it will be a while before they will be ready to bloom. I have ordered other seeds as well so we will have a colorful porch this year!

 

 

However, we still have cool days and nights ahead so I have turned my attention to a spring wreath. I saw one on Pinterest which was adorable and easy to make. I already had a foam wreath and all I needed was green eyelash yarn, daisy lace and pearl pins. Easy. Right?

Spring Wreath

Plan A.)  I found the items I would need on Amazon but they weren’t “Prime” items (no shipping) so the cost of shipping was higher than the entire order.

Plan B.)  My husband took me to the craft shop this afternoon. I was so excited. I just knew they would have what I needed. They didn’t. (insert *sigh* here).

Plan C.)  Be Creative!

I found the pins, some adorable ribbon and vines. Not quite the same.

I wrapped the wreath form with the green checkered, lace centered ribbon.

Secured the ribbon with the pins.

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And now for the flowers – which are on a vine. This is where I need your help.

I just can’t decide. What would you do?

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  • Wrap the vine around the wreath?
  • Remove the flowers from the vine and pin them on?

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  • Add Ivy to the mix?

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Or should I gather the vines into a figure 8, tie with a matching bow and attach to a portion of the wreath? See why I need your help? Please leave a comment below telling us how you would finish the wreath. I would love to hear your suggestions!

flourish-screen

 

There are so many options for this insignificant but outward sign of welcome for our door.

This reminds me of Creation. Just think. God spoke the world into existence! He created the world and rested on the seventh day; enjoying the wondrous world He had made.

26) “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29) And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30) And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31) And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:26-31 KJV)

It wasn’t the beauty of the sky, the ocean or the creatures in the ocean. It wasn’t even the beautiful flowers in the garden. Nor was it the animals He created that gave Him the joy of communication. Fellowship. He saw that all He had made was good.  Yet, He wanted to commune with man whom He had made in His image. He said, “Let us make man in our (the Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three in One.) He even saw that it wasn’t good for man to live alone and so He put Adam into a deep sleep and from his side, created Eve. (Genesis 1-3) So many decisions. Every detail, every trailing vine was created by God.

That makes my little spring wreath seem insignificant. Yet, every detail in creation is significant.

Why am I concerned about how to decorate this spring wreath? Because I am making it for Him.

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“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

(Colossians 3:23 KJV)