On Eagle's Wings

Almost 7 months ago we sat in the family area outside of the Neo-Natal Intensive Care unit absorbing, or maybe not absorbing, the hard, hard news of Beau's terminal diagnosis. As we mentally and emotionally scratched and clawed for a hand hold on the plummet downward, we found underneath us the Everlasting Arms.

As we began to feel the comfort of those Arms we could begin exploring His Word, and in doing so began journaling all that He was speaking to us. There was one tiny verse in Exodus that spoke to me then, and today it speaks even more surely to my soul.

"... I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." Exodus 19:4b

God does not abandon us at the time of our greatest need, whether it is the death of a loved one or our own death. It is, in fact, when He sends His most powerful agents to aid us. The strength of His Spirit sustained us at that awful time and drew us near to Him, and it was a remarkable, holy time; even in the midst of great loss and grief.

But needs continue. Loss and grief continues, and what then? Day to day living - even though God hasn't changed and our belief in Him hasn't changed - grinds harder and more slowly. How do we live through such loss and grief? Is it even possible to live? And finally we grind to a halt. There is no more strength, no more joy, no more life. We have come to the end of things, to the end of ourselves; and then He sends the eagles.

In my case, the eagles were those who recognized the desperateness of my situation and walked with me daily, calling on me, and helping me to find myself for I had become lost. They listened to me and cried with me. They sat with me, prayed for me, and slowly began to guide me out of the dark cavern where I was. It was as if I began to awaken from a terrible, drug-induced nightmare to the realization that life can be new again. I can have hope. The film Lord of the Rings: Return of the King portrays this so beautifully. Frodo has managed to throw the ring into the fire of Mt. Doom, and he and Sam - having given all - lie spent on the rock as destruction rages around them, fully expecting to die. At that point, the eagles arrive and gently take them up, bearing them away to safety, comfort, and healing. And so our Heavenly Father sends his own eagles to bear us to Him.

This, too, is how I imagine our little Beau - gently lifted away by the angels and the great eagle to be borne sweetly and triumphantly to the Father in heaven who called His littlest lamb home. It has been hard letting go of our beautiful baby, but I think I finally can. I can begin the journey of healing, thankful for who Beau is, where he is, and all that he led us in. Yesterday when we visited his grave site, though my heart was sad, the great searing pain was gone. Beau lives on and so will I, thanks be to God who sends His eagles to bear us to Himself.

Whitsunday

The Feast of Whitsunday, or Pentecost, is celebrated seven weeks after Easter in the Christian liturgical year.  The day is of great significance to Christians as it is the day that the promised Comforter, the Holy Spirit was sent to Jesus' disciples, the newborn nucleus of the Church.  

Throughout Jesus' discourse to his disciples in John 14 - 17, as they celebrated the Passover just prior to His death and resurrection, He tells how the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Comforter would be sent to them to dwell with them, teach them, bear witness to the Truth, and sanctify them to God.  Our Father did not make children of us just to leave us orphans,  He has sent us His own Spirit!  George Herbert writes beautifully of this glorious day in his poem entitled, what else? Whitsunday.

Listen sweet Dove unto my song,

     And spread thy golden wings in me;

     Hatching my tender heart so long,

Till it get wind, and fly away with thee.

     Where is that fire which once descended

     On thy Apostles?  thou didst then

     Keep open house, richly attended,

Feasting all comers by twelve chosen men.

     Such glorious gifts thou didst bestow

     That th' earth did like a heav'n appear;

     The stars were coming down to know

If they might mend their wages, and serve here.

     The sun which once did shine alone,

     Hung down his head, and wisht for night,

     When he beheld twelve suns for one

Going about the world, and giving light.

     But since those pipes of gold, which brought

     That cordial water to our ground,

     Were cut and martyr'd by the fault

Of those, who did themselves through their side

        wound,

     Thou shutt'st the door, and keep'st within;

     Scarce a good joy creeps through the chink:

     And if the braves of conqu'ring sin

Did not excite thee, we should wholly sink.

     Lord, though we change, thou art the same;

     The same sweet God of love and light:

     Restore this day, for thy great name,

Unto his ancient and miraculous right.

Tour of Roses

The lily has a smooth stalk,

Will never hurt your hand;

"But the rose upon her brier

Is lady of the land.

There's sweetness in an apple tree,

And profit in the corn;

But lady of all beauty Is a rose upon a thorn.

When with moss and honey

She tips her bending brier,

And half unfolds her glowing heart,

She sets the world on fire."     The Rose - by Christina Rossetti

Let's continue our walk around the garden and visit other roses that have bloomed.  First today is Crimson Glory, royal among roses.  It is huge - as large as a small grapefruit, with petals of deepest blood red velvet and a fragrance so rich it's baroque.  This is it's first year in the garden, so I am looking forward to it's more mature years as it begins to cover the archway.  On the opposite side of the arch are two young clematis (clematii?) that are burgundy and purple.  The colors on this archway in years to come will be spectacular!

In contrast to Crimson Glory, and only a few feet away, is Bloomfield Dainty.  It truly is a dainty rose, looking much like it was composed from the finest tissue paper.  It's fragrance is appropriately light - sweet with a touch of spice.                                           Here's a close-up of Bloomfield Dainty."You love the roses - so do I.  I wish

The sky would rain down roses, as they rain

From off the shaken bush.  Why will it not?

Then all the valley would be pink and white

And soft to tread on.  They would fall as light

As feathers, smelling sweet: and it would be

Like sleeping and yet waking, all at once."     Roses - George Elliot

The next little rose is the well-named Sweet Pea.  If it were not already named so, you would naturally called it by that name!  The blossoms are small, but profuse, with a fragrance that distills the air.  You only have to be in the vicinity, or down-wind, of Sweet Pea to enjoy it's fragrance.  Here you see it loaded down so heavily with it's first flush of bloom that it can no longer maintain it's compact form.

This is Sweet Pea close up.  Doesn't it have just the sunniest center?In this photo Sweet Pea is in the background, and we see Republic of Texas up close.  Every native Texan must have a yellow rose in the garden, and this one is an excellent choice.  It blooms profusely, is easy to care for, and is heavily scented.  Between Republic and Sweet Pea, the whole front yard smelled of roses.  "As a flower in the garden

Bending toward the sun,

Unfolds it's tiny petals

One, by one, by one...

So faith expands it's beauty

Until at last it grows

Into life's lasting flower...

The heart's fair perfect rose."   - Rebecca Helmann

This beauty, with all it's hundred petals, is Pioneer Spirit. When it's fully open, it reminds you of a fluffy, pink powder puff.  In fact, it has that light rosy powder scent.  When this rose burst all it's blooms, the trellis looked like a little girl's birthday party.  It was so cheerful!And finally, we have New Dawn.  This is a vigorous climber, reaching 15-20 feet, so we have planted it on the old basketball goal at the back corner of the little barn, behind the dog runs.  Why back there, you ask, where it's not easily seen?  But, I say, why not?  When I drive the truck and trailer down the back lane, or am caring for dogs in the run, there is something beautiful to enjoy.That completes our tour of the roses.  At least for this year!  Next year I should have a new one to show you, Lavender Lassie, which was just planted in front of the porch.  It, too, is a vigorous climber and in years to come should grace the column and top-edge of the front porch.  I can't wait!  Till then, here's one more poem, and thank you for letting me show you the roses.

"It is only a tiny

rosebud,

A flower of God's design,

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine.

 - The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I,

The flower God opens so sweetly,

In my hands would fade and die.

- I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

Then how can I have wisdom

To unfold this life of min?

- So I'll trust Him for His leading

Each moment of every day

And I"ll look to Him for His

Guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

- For the pathway that lies before 

me

My heavenly Father knows

I'll trust Him to unfold the 

moments

Just as He unfolds the rose."    - Anonymous

May Flowers - First Blush

Nothing is so beautiful as spring -

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;

Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush

Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring

The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;

The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush

The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush

With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?

A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning

In Eden garden. -Have, get, before it cloy,

Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,

Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,

Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worth the winning.

~ Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins

April showers indeed bring May flowers, and May is possibly the most glorious of all the months of the floral year.  Rose, Rhododendron, Clematis, Iris, Peony, Honeysuckly, Lily, and more; they all in turn burst forth in colored array, taking our breaths away as they revive our breath again with their sweet fragrances.                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This sweet little rose is Cleotilde Soupert, a small creamy white-to-soft pink cabbage rose.  It has 100 petals and a fine perfume.  The rose pictured above is also Cleotilde.  It has a hard time in humid weather (which we have), but it's worthwhile, for  Cleotilde is like having living porcelain in the garden.                                                                                                                                            

Yes, the Rhodie is really this brilliant!  It's bright fuchsia color is simply stunning.

Next to the Rhododendron is an equally brilliant Clematis combination.  I must confess that I don't remember the names of these two vines, but now that they are in their 3rd year, they are just remarkable.  When my Mother saw them, she commented that they looked like a silk floral arrangement.  These flowers are also pictured at the top of my Blog.This is a view overlooking Cleotilde, blooming Sage, and the Rhodie.  You can also see a Boxwood along with the PeeGee Hydrangea tree and Stella Del Oro Lilies which are both yet to bloom.Moving to the front yard, you can peek through foliage to see the white Azaleas in full bloom while the Sweet Pea rose is just beginning to pop.  In a later posting, I'll show you Sweet Pea in all her glory - so heavy with blooms that she is bent over.For now we'll end with the Thomas Affleck rose.  This rose, like all my roses are Texas Pioneer or Antique roses which can be found at the Antique Rose Emporium.  Check out their site and order their free catalog - you'll become an addict, too!  Here's a closer look at Thomas Affleck.  It's a semi-double bloom rose that was developed in Texas in the 18th century.  It's intense pink really pops in the garden, and it's fragrance is beautiful.  It's thornless, too!Thank you for strolling in the garden with me and enjoying the delights of Spring.  In the next couple of postings, we'll see more of the garden.  Springtime blessings to you!

Commencement Continues!

One week following Justin's graduation from Covenant College, his cousin, Joey Albin, graduated from Belmont University here in Nashville.  We had a whole week of graduation celebrations here!  It was really fun to have the boys graduate in such close proximity since they had been such good buds growing up.  

Joey and sisters, Erin and Courtney, help prepare for the party.

Mama Pops, Amira and her sister, Joanna, join in the festivities.

Sister-in-law Kathryn, hard at work preparing more food for the party.

                                                                Justin and Pops.

Justin and Joey with their proud grandparents.

Commencement

Commend - to entrust; to commit to one's charge; to mention as worthy of attention; to express approval of; praise.

Commence - to begin; start; originate.

Commencement - the act or time of commencing.

On May 9th, we had the privilege and blessing of watching our son, Justin, walk across the stage to receive his diploma from Covenant College.  He graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies and Theology, and we are so very proud of him and the calling on his life.  It was a glorious day!

 I don't think Justin could smile any bigger!  The happy man is shown here with his sweetheart, Amira. who travelled all the way from Egypt to be at Justin's graduation.

Justin, his proud parents, and his tired nephew.

"Don't worry, Dad was only joking.  The tuition check didn't bounce - you really did graduate."

Justin with his proud grandparents, Bob and Kathy Albin.

Alan, Kristin, and boys got up EARLY to drive to Chattanooga and see their brother walk.

The early start has caught up to Patrick, and Papa is happy to oblige him.

The next day, back at the house, we continued the celebration on the front porch with hamburgers and gift and card opening.  If you look closely, you will see that the Logo on Justin's shirt is for Cairo Covenant School where he will be teaching history next year.  We are truly amazed at our son and all he has done, all he is doing, and all he will do as he follows God's calling on his life!

After the Storm

"April showers bring May flowers."  

Showers?  In April?  In Tennessee?  Those of us who survive the spring storms to enjoy those May flowers (and we do) dearly wish we had those showers instead.  Springtime is stormtime here, and we sure get some rip-snorters.  

Here are a few photos following an Easter weekend storm that blew through and left a sparkling day in its wake.

Storm clouds bustle away to the south east.  I think the brilliant white of the Dogwood blossoms ties together earth and sky with the whiteness of the clouds.

Everything had a good cleansing shower, including these rain-slicked horses.

                                                                      Fresh and clean.

Water flowing from the hillside into the flatland of the valley.

Shadow and light with water under the bridge.  (We could develop a philosophy out of that, but I think we'll just enjoy the scenery!