Blooming

I’ve sat in front of the white glare of the computer screen for some time.  I’ve typed, deleted, retyped and deleted again.  When I think too much I struggled to write.  Thoughts get stuck in the whirlwind that is my brain and sentences that are pulled together resemble a sort of muddled mess.  Truth is, tonight, I’m trying to play it cool.  I’m trying to sound calm and collected while on the inside, every fiber of my being is dancing.

Last week I read this post on Kelle Hampton’s blog.  Seriously, who among us doesn’t read Enjoying the Small Things? (If you don’t, you must).  Anyway, last week she invited her readers to share their own stories that reflect the ideas that she wrote about in her book, Bloom.  In short, she asked her readers to share their own stories of finding beauty in the unexpected and she would select four to be published in a special Mother’s Day post. 

In full disclosure, I read every beautiful post Kelly Hampton writes.  However, in the little over two years I have been reading her blog I have never commented.  I’ve been a lurker hidden amongst her thousands of readers–not bold enough to come out of the shadows.  When I read her invitation, though, my heart actually quickened and a lump immediately formed in my throat.  I didn’t know why, but I knew I just had to share.  If I’ve learned nothing else over the last few years, I have most certainly come to understand that beauty found in ashes is among life’s most precious gifts. 

So with shaking hands and sweaty palms I did my best to tell my story in 300 words by breaking down this post.  Friends, if you’ve spent any time here you know that 300 words is pushing it for me.  Somehow, I managed to do it and I piled my story alongside the stories of hundreds of other remarkable women who shared their own stories of strength, perseverance, and hope. 

This afternoon, I clicked on Enjoying The Small Things and was shocked, humbled, overwhelmed, and honored to find my words on her special Mother’s Day post. 

We Bloom.  We all Bloom.

Interestingly, blooms have been a theme around here this weekend.  Friday, Chad took Chanelle out and let her choose “any flowers she wanted” to plant on our deck.  Of course, purple was the color of choice.  The kids could not wait to get their hands dirty in order to make a home for these delicate little flowers. 

Even Meadow got into the game as she oohh and ahhed the pretty colors. . .

I watched as Chad, Charlie, and Chanelle dug in deep and got their hands dirty to make something beautiful, where before, there was nothing.