The Beauty of Flowers - Focus on Life Week 7

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change

Jack Kornfield, Buddha's Little Instruction Book

A single hydrangea blossom. The only one left after rains, frost, ice, snow. A survivor. 

This photo was not the image I had in mind when I was thinking of finding one beautiful flower to photograph this week. Clearly, this single blossom has a lot of competition in the beauty arena. But as I was sitting on my porch earlier this week, it's a front porch kind of neighborhood, this lone survivor caught my eye. It resonated with me.

Then I realized that this week, a year ago, was when my biopsy results came back and I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Much has happened. Many months of treatment and endless check ups have passed. I am forever changed. I am a survivor.

Hosted by Sally Russick at The Studio Sublime

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Many thanks to all of you for your lovely comments last week. As a little update to that photo, we've found an assist harness for old Bob. Last night he was able to walk up the stairs. He's happier!

An impromptu 'Feel the Love'

Last week's prompt from Sally for Focus on Life - 52 Photos, was 'Feel the Love.' I was so very tempted to blog this photo. But it's not mine. It's my daughter in laws photo and it is very special indeed. I really wanted to share it with you and VDay seemed a good time. That's my grandson reaching out to touch his daddy as they Skype. That's my son and grandson bridging the many miles between here and Afghanistan. My grandson is literally 'feeling the love.' He's smiling at Daddy as Daddy smiles back at him.

It's now a bit over 7 months since my precious grandson was born. He was just 4 months old when my son deployed to Afghanistan. So many changes in the 3 months that my son has been gone. The little guy has gone from tummy play to crawling and pulling himself up to inch his way along the sofa. His first tooth. He laughs the most beautiful deep and all over belly laughs. He laughs the way only small children can laugh, just for the pure and perfect joy of laughing.

Of the many things that my son worried about when he deployed, the worst fear was that his son would no longer know who his Daddy was when he came home. It happens to soldiers. It happens a lot. They spend 9-12 months away and the babies grow up without their daddies. But that photo brings me comfort and happiness. In 6 months when Daddy comes home, they will know each other because it is possible to bridge the miles and feel the love.

Ah,  Valentines Day. Chocolates, hearts, flowers. I hope you have a happy one and that you feel the love deeply in your heart.

Feel the Love - Focussing on Life

Bob can no longer get up the stairs on his own. 

So each night Peter carries him up to our room. 

And each night I love Peter even more for his gentle compassion.

“Compassion is a verb.” 

― Thich Nhat Hanh

Hosted by Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime

Captured Heart - Focusing on Life

Heuchera in my garden

The heart has its own language.
The heart knows a hundred thousand

ways to speak.

Rumi