HOW ARE YOU, dear friends? I don’t ask that question without expecting an honest answer.
Perhaps you’ve had a really difficult week. Like me. One filled with concern for those you love. One of endless texts and emails among family. Worry. Awake too early. Feeling stressed.
Or maybe everything is going great. And that’s good. Life is a mix of rainy days and sunny days. Or if I put that in the context of winter in Minnesota, days with snow and days without snow. Days when temps are well above zero and days when they are unbelievably cold. Like the weather predicted for the next week.
But let’s put all that aside right now and focus on flowers. Yes, flowers. When I awakened too early the other morning and couldn’t fall asleep again with pain pressing upon my head, neck and shoulders, I prayed. And then I pictured flowers. These flowers. Aren’t they lovely?
While scrolling through blog posts earlier this week, I found these images of a floral bouquet Randy gave me in February 2014, six days before Valentine’s Day. The photos brought back sweet memories and made me happy.
And happy is good. Even in difficult days that challenge us, there are ways to find joy. And today my joy comes in remembering the gift of these flowers, how they popped color into a February day and lifted my spirits seven years ago. And now again, today.
TELL ME: What brings you joy today?
© Copyright 2021 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
It’s hard, but if we can find joy in even the smallest of things, it helps. ❤ Take care, Dear Friend.
So true. Thank you, Penny.
What brings me joy today is grocery shopping, of all things. We were out of quite a bit, so off to the store I went. Because I love cooking, strolling through the produce at Bylery’s and feeling much gratitude for all those fresh fruits and vegetables that I could choose from made me very happy. So did the fact that I stocked up before the temperature plunged below zero for the weekend! The pandemic has highlighted how lucky we are to have a decent grocery store near our house and that we can afford to go there. Some days, that feels holy. I hope whatever has made your week rough shifts soon.
Thank you for sharing your joy in grocery shopping.
What brings me joy is having the privilege of staying home with my sweet daughter every day. Love her to pieces 🥰
Little ones bring such great joy. I’m thankful you have that blessing. Welcome to MN Prairie Roots!
I took a chance on wintering over yellow blooming begonias, 2 of the 3 are still blooming….which is what one does with a house with too many bedrooms. I’m sure the neighbors think I’m nuts with the grow lights. And a nice, warm house with working furnace gives me great joy! Doesn’t hurt the church is starting plans for a virtual choir recording again, facing covid Easter reality I guess. Sure miss those group harmonies though.
Those are all reasons to feel joy, especially in this current cold weather.
Here’s hoping the stress in your life is resolved in a manner you had hoped for. The flowers are lovely, especially at this time of year. I am sorry you are having to deal with any additional stress when there is so much going on already.
My father-in-law died on Friday, which is one of several stressors. Thank you for your concern.
I am so sorry for the Helbling loss, prayers to the family.
Thank you so much, Sandra.
Hello {{{Audrey}}} – Hugs to you, dear blogging friend. Like you, I love flowers – and they bring me cheer. I’m happiest if there are fresh flowers on my dining room table and on the coffee table in the living room. Your bouquet is gorgeous. It brought smiles here in my cccold Montana environment where the snow outside says, “No, don’t try planting flowers now. Wait!” You wrote, ” Even in difficult days that challenge us, there are ways to find joy.” I couldn’t agree more. My favorite mask (do you have a selection in your car and purse?) is one that was a gift from a dear friend… it is black with white lettering that say: “Choose Joy!” I do.
The message on your mask, wow, love it.
We’re equally as cold here in Minnesota, with wake-up temps in the minus 20s. That cold temp is supposed to last all week.
Brrr… stay warm, my friend. I send you warm prayers for health and happiness. ❤
Thank you, Jan.
These are beautiful flowers. In my opinion the best kind is in photographs because they don’t effect my allergies! Boy it’s been a tough year already.
Tough for your allergies already? I’m sorry.
In the winter it’s my chronic sinusitis that bothers me. It gets so dry because of the heat running all the time. I invested in a humidifier to run in the bedroom overnight and I boil water on the stove by day.
Ah, that makes sense. I’m sorry, but thankful you have some ways to ease your discomfort.
Flowers are always good! I have a pink hyacinth blooming from the bulb, the aroma is intoxicating, it’s sitting by my front window with the pretty snow as a backdrop.
Oh, how lovely!