Hope Blooms

This post serves two purposes.   First, it is granting Jamee's request that we post pictures of Laynee's garden, which is positively bursting with color right now.  Jamee is the only one of my children who has ever really shared my love for gardening.  She would, without question, prefer to be in the garden over inside cleaning or cooking.  Secondly, this post is to share the hope that Laynee's garden brings to me.

When I think of gardening and flowers, I think spring and summer.   I've never really thought much about fall being a time for flowers.  But around the time of Laynee's Heaven Day anniversary, her garden seemed to come alive.  Every plant has exploded into it's most glorious state.   I know that this is due, primarily to the selection of plants. Since it was planted in the fall, most people chose to bring fall flowers.  The color serves as a reminder to me that Laynee, though she left us one early fall day, is very much alive.  Her spirit lives and though we cannot see her, she resides in glorious splendor.  Though we are in a season of living without her here, one day we will see her in all her glory.

Waiting for that day!!!!

The mums in her garden are easily the largest I have ever seen.

The church was full of mums for her visitation and funeral.

The climbing clematis on her trellis is a brilliant white with the

sweetest scent.

Jamee, notice the new walkway border the

Russ just finished.  All that's left is the ground cover

between the stepping stones.  

Our neighboring land owner, and beloved friend and mentor

of Jim's had this tree planted in our yard in Laynee's memory.  The

last two years it's blossom's opened on exactly September 7. 

Love you, Laynee Grace.