Because my heavenly Father made this daughter of his love the smell of apple blossoms.
I have had sick little ones since Tuesday. This morning, when all the morning mess from sickness was cared for, and baby was sweetly clean and sleeping again, and toddler was sweetly clean and being held by his brother, this tired mama walked away for half an hour, into the woods.
Under an incredibly thick blue sky…if you took a dark sky blue crayon and heavily colored every spot on a piece of paper that’s almost what it looked like…I settled my back against a fallen-pine log bed and stared up, up, up, into the deep blue, and the soft yellow of spring leaves growing on the far tops of the trees.
I prayed and told God exactly what He already knew. A few tears gently rolled down the sides of my face. Slowly the little burdens grew more distant as the beauty of my awesome God’s creation started capturing my attention. My prayers started turning to praise and thankfulness.
I got up and started walking home. When I came out of the woods I found myself just underneath one of my favorite things…big perfumed branches of an apple tree, on the edge of state forest near my home.
As I hungrily breathed in the scent, I could almost hear God telling me, “Yes, I made those blossoms for the bees who are enjoying them now, too, but I also made them for you. I know how much you like them, because I made you that way.”
I collected big branches of them….saying “Thank you” out loud.
Came home still quietly sort of blue, but happy with my big armload of blossoms. Happy with the knowledge of God’s love for me, just the way I am, the way He made me.
Grace and I took some pictures because God made me to love photography, too, and the joy of snapping moments of gratitude with the lens.
The open window allows soft breezes to blow through my bouquet, scenting the whole room.
And I smile.
Good to be Home 
this is beautiful… : )
beautiful~ i grew up w/ an apple tree in our yard. i know that smell well and can almost smell it again now seeing the pics.glad you had that little time with God just to stop and breathe in His grace ~ hope everyone is feeling better soon.
Thank you for sharing your gift with me, and I hope that somehow you feel the deep, sincere gratefulness that goes with that simple phrase. ~April
Don’t you just love that God gives us these little gifts each and every day to prove that he loves us!! thanks for sharing.
Oh how beautiful! I too love the scent of apple blossoms! Best air fresherer you can have! :)Praying your sick one are feeling better hun! And asking our Father to strengthen you too! {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}
Very Beautiful. =)Such a Lovely post.
Shanda I relate to the things you write! Every mother needs to slip away now and then and center themselves and gain perspective. I’m glad you got to do that today! Love the blossoms…they remind me of my cherry blossoms in my back yard…my favorite thing to look at where I live.
you are beautiful.inside and out!
lovely
God is so loving and giving. 🙂 He knows just what we need, when we need it.
Aw. It brought tears to my eyes to read of you pouring your heart out to God and then Him giving you such a wonderful gift right when you needed it. Our God is so good that way! It may seem little to others, but He gives us things that mean so much to us personally because He’s a personal God like that. He never ceases to amaze me in His goodness towards us!! I hope your day has been better and your kiddos get well soon!!
Lovely post. I just put some lilacs in our living room and every time I walk by, I can smell them. Love that. I agree with Tara – He knows just what we need, when we need it! 🙂
hi shanda…….beautiful post. i just love it when you share your quiet moments with God. so inspiring.
This strikes a chord, deep within. I, too, have been telling God what He already knows- literally seconds before reading this. Your apple blossoms truly are a gift. Thank you for sharing.
That first picture I just love!!!
all the little details that make you YOU. that HE came up with…just to surprise you today with an apple blossom treat that HE would use to soothe your soul. and then mine. over here.
You are wise to take a physical AND a mental break when you need it. Sometimes it doesn’t take much….just a few minutes outside in the fresh air, using all one’s senses to appreciate one’s surroundings….to cleanse and refresh and then be able to go back to life. I did that yesterday, too…
so sorry you’ve got sick kiddoes but glad you’re making it through. Love that first picture as well. I’ve never smelled apple blossoms since we don’t have them down here, but after your post some day I want to 🙂
I always feel so peaceful after reading your posts. It sounds so lovely where you live. What a pleasant place to really get some alone time with God. So glad He sent a hug your way.
What a precious photo with your older son and two younger ones. Hope your children are feeling better and yourself as well. Hard when they are sick.
Isn’t God good?! The beauty He has created fills me with such joy and peace too. So lovely to see your beautiful apple blossom gift. Praying everyone heals and feels well again.