Roses and Reminders.

Summer is in full flow here. 

I suddenly realised that the roses were in full bloom in the park opposite where we live. 

So my daughter Kezia and I went out to admire them together.

It's so refreshing to see the beauty in nature, the beauty that's all around, even in the middle of the city.
I am constantly reminded that in a world where awful things happen daily, the birds continue to sing and the roses continue to bloom.
There's something about the rhythm of the seasons and constantness of these things that's hugely comforting and always reminds me of the promise of good.

I started the year celebrating the beauty of flowers at my birthday party. 

(See more in this post, and this one too.)

It's lovely that flowers continue to capture my heart and my attention throughout the year.

I went out early this morning and photographed some more roses still covered in droplets of dew. Gorgeous!

And funnily enough, yesterday at my art class, the teacher announced that we would make paper flowers.

The flowers are chasing me down!

 They are proclaiming their beauty all around me. 

Constant reminders!

Here are the ones I made yesterday.

Much love.

xxx

Love

The thing about love is that it gets right in your bones and transforms you from the inside out.

Lately I've been thinking about love. 

I kind of mean love in its purest form, although love is love is love is.

I've seen a couple of friends recently leave unhappy relationships and be completely transformed by the love of another. You can see it in their faces and in the brightness of their eyes. Like flowers that have finally blossomed fully because they are in the right environment, with petals open and colours vibrant. I tell you, the depth of a woman's heart is remarkable, mysterious and beautiful!

My health has improved because I think I have literally been loved better,

by the love of God, the love of my husband, children and family, the love of my friends, old and new.

This love got inside my bones and my cells and the depths of my innermost being and breathed life into my heart and into my spirit, and my body followed suit.

Below is a painting I did on a large canvas a few years ago and it ties in beautifully with what I'm sharing in this post..

Love speaks to disappointment and says that there are innumerably more opportunities, it says there is much more time and space than you realise.

Love speaks to abandonment and says that you are seen and that you will not be overlooked, that you are never alone even when it feels like it.

Love speaks to insecurity and says that you are beautiful, that there is noone else like you, that you are delighted in and rejoiced over, just as you are.

Much love to you dear friends.

Have a great week. 

xxx