{more of} the spring garden

I love how I'm always astonished at the beauty of Spring.

I've decided to thank Winter. 

Come Spring, I can't believe I'm able embrace Winter.

It must be that I'm resigned to hibernate in the gray coldness.

But Spring?

Oh, Spring is so good. 

Life! Color! Beauty! 

Hard Work! Garden Eats! 

And because I'm a slow learner,

I need these pictures of God's goodness.

Seeing life come from seemingly nothing.

Seeing growth come after a period of rest.

Seeing the sun and rain 

draw forth what is hiding below the ground.

Seeing tiny seeds become magnificent plants.

These pictures parallel God's internal work in people 

~ me, my children, my husband.

God does the work and I get to see the beauty

in choices, attitudes, actions, relationships

that result.

But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace

longsuffering, 

gentleness, goodness,

faith, meekneess, 

temperance. 

Against such, there is so law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Clematis

Iris

Male wren preparing a home for his bride

Peony

Handsome before his music concert

Homegrown strawberries ~ a first for us

Beauty before her music concert

Kousa Dogwood blooms

Another strawberry ~ these are so tasty and easy to grow

Clematis