Six Word Fridays: bud

The long silence of winter breaks

as the delicate pink bud starts

to swell on the apricot tree.

Longer days and the warmth of 

the sun force the bud to 

expand and open...giving way to

a beautiful white blossom. Multiple stamens

grow, from the center, tipped with 

yellow pollen... attracting the honey bee.

Just one stem on the apricot 

tree can produce thousands of blossoms.

And when looked at from a 

distance gives the appearance of popcorn

...popcorn popping on the apricot tree!

bud

In an Instant

And then a friend reminds me... Shaniel is here! She is all around us.

".. .you can pick up the phone and talk to her oldest daughter, that is where her voice is shared, you can listen to the twins laugh at play, that is where her laughter was left, you can hold the hands of each of her children and you will feel her imprint left there. Her smile and her jokes are all inner twined in those kids. Shaniels sweet spirit may be with her Heavenly Father, but so many of her attributes were left here on this earth in those children of hers. What a treasure, a keepsake for you to lean on and draw from."

The last time I made a post, it was to Shaniel's Story Facebook Page. A friend left a comment that reminded me that Shaniel is here on earth! I just have to look. I needed this reminder today. So grateful!

Below is the post I made that will explain the comment above.

As a mother, I marvel at her commitment to improve and pursue dreams in the most difficult of circumstances. She became an R.N. a year after the twins were born. She is a professional woman in the humblest of circumstances. Many a night she has been called to sit with a dying patient. She is so caring and loving.  

This is an excerpt from a blog post I did in April 2010. This was a tribute to my third daughter, Shaniel, for her 30th birthday. Little did I know she would be taken from us, by an act of domestic violence by her husband, less than 3 years later. 

When a loved one passes, everything in your life changes in an instant. I can no longer pick up the phone and call her. I can no longer hear her voice, her laughter. I can no longer hold her precious, caring hands. I can no longer see her smile or listen to her jokes. I can no longer play games and eat lunch with her. I can no longer hug her and tell her I love her. Life is different for me. A piece of my heart is gone. There is a constant ache that never goes away. A child is the most precious gift a mother receives in life. Yearnings to have her near are intense on occasion. Just like they are right now. It only takes a memory, a picture, a smell... something that triggers the senses, and it all comes back like a flood.

And then... in an instant I can see her vividly in my mind. I can feel her spirit in my heart. She is alive in my memories. I am still so proud of Shaniel, and always will be. It's not so much as what she accomplished, but the woman she became. The heavens are lucky to have her! She was an angel on earth, and I am confident that she continues to be in heaven. I am quite sure she has received many of her patients, that she cared for here on earth, on the other side. And I know she will be the first to greet me. I look forward to our reunion and a long awaited hug! 

It only took an instant for life to change, and it takes only one evil person, one evil act... to change everything you thought was right in the world. I have to admit, I have had my moments of anger. But with work, and lots of it... and faith, hope and forgiveness, my heart is learning to heal. With God on my side, the impossible truly does become possible.

Mom, thank you so much for the post. Brought a tear to my eye! I love you and thank you for making me feel special!  --Shaniel's comment 

Love your children like it's the last day... you never know when they will be taken from you!

Graduation day, May 2008 - Shaniel, R.N.

Writing prompt #2:  Open a blank blog post and “right click paste” in the body of the post…what was pasted? Explain it.

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I love Spring!

The world awakens from a season of sleep and explodes in freshness, new baby animals, colorful flowers, excitement, and beauty. 

The smell of Spring... one of my favorite... is fresh turned over dirt that tantalizes my other senses and I can hardly wait to dig in... planting flowers and vegetables. 

The sight of Spring... apricot blossoms. We have a fruit orchard and every year at this time we are surrounded by a sea of white and pink blossoms. We have rows and rows of trees. It is a spectacular sight to behold! 

Growing up, we had one large apricot tree in our yard. Every year, as I do now, I looked forward to the first apricot blossoms. When they came out, it was tradition to burst into singing one of my favorite childhood songs, "I looked out the window and what did I see... popcorn popping on the apricot tree!" 

The large white fluffy blossoms look like popcorn from a distance. The tradition of singing at the first sight of apricot blossoms continue with my grandchildren. We know Spring is here!

Beautiful yellow daffodils and colorful tulips are the first flowers to make their way out of the earth.

Baby bunnies, chicks, lambs, calves, and colts can be seen in wet, green pastures.

Spring is a time of celebration.

Easter Sunday. Jesus. New dresses, Easter egg hunt, picnic, family.

Tulip Gardens

Family Day Adventures to gardens, state parks, museums. Somewhere fun for Spring break.

Mother's Day Tea

Spring is a time of remembrance.

One of my favorite things to do in the Spring is to visit the graves of loved ones. 

Every Memorial Day my mother would cut stems of lilacs off bushes in the yard and put them in a bucket of water for us to take to my grandparents graves. I now take lilacs to my parents and daughter's graves. Maybe it's the wonderful smell of lilacs, or maybe it's because mom did it, but there is something about this tradition... of remembering... that brings me great comfort and peace. It keeps me connected to my parents, to my ancestors, to my daughter, in a very real way. I love that!

Holland 

I have dreamt of going to Holland to see the tulip fields since I was a little girl. Back then it was just a dream in a far and distant land. Full of dutch girls and wooden shoes, fields of tulips and windmills. Oh... how I wanted to go!

Last year, I did! And, my... was it ever a dream! The Col was working in Germany and we took advantage of visiting other European countries on his days off. Holland was only an afternoon drive's away and we didn't waste any time once we got there. Exploring the beautiful countryside with it's vast tulip fields, windmills, waterways, and lighthouses was an experience of a lifetime. I want to go back! 

The beautiful Keukenof Gardens. The tulips are so big and colorful.

Old wooden dutch shoes

There are more bikes in Amsterdam than there are cars. Everyone rides bikes! 

Zaans Windmills. They are situated up and down the waterway. So beautiful and old world!

And what about this Spring? We're going to Peru. I can't wait!

Spring makes me so happy! It makes me want to burst... break out in joy, in song, in celebration... just like the apricot blossoms and the flowers! There is so much to look forward to in the Spring. 

Writing prompt #5: March 20th is the first day of Spring! What are you looking forward to?

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A Shattering Crash

The loud sound of metal crashing into each other and the violent thrust forward happened simultaneously. It happened so fast I didn't know what hit us. I just remember my head whipping and the quick and tight gripping of the seat belt across my chest.

Last week, youngest daughter and I went shopping. She drove. Her oldest daughter and 2 month old baby was with us in the van. Ali was strapped securely in her car seat, sitting on the last bench on the passenger side of the van, where most of the impact took place. Baby was in a rear facing car seat on the second bench, just behind mother who was at the wheel.

We were stopped at an intersection, just two blocks from home, making a left hand turn when we were unexpectedly rear-ended. My daughter was looking in the rear view mirror and saw it coming but it happened so fast she had no time to adjust. He came at us full speed (limit of 30 mph), with no braking. Just after impact, the full size Chevy Silverado he was driving pushed us into oncoming traffic. Another truck, coming straight for us, swerved hard to the left, missing us by just inches. We were lucky. Very lucky.

The back window of the van shattered, broke out, and was scattered throughout the van, mainly on the floor and seat, where Ali was sitting. The back bench was pushed forward and the car seat Ali was sitting in, twisted. Miraculously the kiddos were spared from injury or glass pieces. It was as if an unseen shield was put up around the grandkids, protecting them from harm. My daughter received a seat belt burn across her neck and had soreness on her shoulder, back, and chest. I likewise, except for the seat belt burn. 

Our lives could have been shattered in an instant. The outcome could have been much different. Instead... all that shattered was the glass from the back of the van and some heavily damaged metal. Things can be replaced. People can't!

Do I believe in miracles? You bet I do!

Do I believe in prayer? You bet I do!

Do I believe in unseen Angels? You bet I do!

Do I believe in seat belts? You bet I do! 

We do our best to follow the rules of safety and then we pray for safety in our daily activities and travels. The Lord answers prayers. It was not our time to go.... nor to get hurt. 

Feeling very grateful and blessed! 

Writing prompt #4: Write a blog post inspired by the word: shattered

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