After a long Winter, we are anxious to get our patio, pool, and pond area in shape again.  That is my favorite area on our       property.  When people come to visit and ask if they can see our home, my husband will take them inside to show them all around.  I am just the opposite, as I prefer the outdoor living space, instead.

There, we have arches on the left side of the steps, which takes you around to the large patio area with a white pergola draped with green chiffon and dangling warm white solar lights that sparkle in the night.

(Taken at my daughter’s wedding during the Father/Daughter dance)

On the right side of the pergola is a large flowerbed with a fountain with beautiful Crape Myrtles that burst forth with beautiful Crimson Red blooms in the Spring.

On the left side of the pergola is a flower garden with fragrant Lavender, Knockout Roses in shades of pink and red, as well as white Shasta Daisies.   All flowers provide joy from Spring to Fall, until Winter arrives.

Winter.  Thankfully, the South Carolina temperatures aren’t as frigid as Illinois, for example.  Even still, we find our outdoor time limited when the winter wind is ripping and temperatures fall.  Trees are bare, as the leaves have all fallen on the ground. Everything is dormant now, except for my beautiful Camellias. In the middle of Winter, the variety of white, pink, and peppermint Camellias greet me as I bundle up and walk outside to greet the day.

(These were taken on a rare “snow” day in South Carolina recently.   We may get snow once every five years or so.)

My job each day is to check to be certain the bird feeders are well stocked in the winter to help the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Sparrows, and our other feathered friends.  Occasionally, we will see actual Blue Birds and Woodpeckers. I squeal like a schoolgirl with delight when I spot them in the trees!   We have Blue Bird boxes along our fence for nesting when the time arrives.

Ah, Spring!

We await your arrival, for just like Jesus, you make all things new!  Jesus washes us with His blood and saves us from our sinful ways.  He renews us and awakens a longing inside of us to follow Him all the rest of our days.  Oh, thank you, Lord!

His mercies are new every morning.

As temperatures begin to rise in a few weeks, the green leaves will return, and pretty soon buds will form!  Spring will bring forth such beauty and fragrant flowers from bare branches we see outside our window today.  Ah, but beauty awaits from the ashes in our lives.  Jesus restores what has been taken from us and those ashes will have beauty in its place as Jesus fills us with His love.