Rachel's Tree

We planted a flowering crab tree in our front yard today! It was really a Mother's Day present but I soon thought of it as Rachel's tree.  I love that it will bloom flowers near or on the time of her birth! Sadly, I forgot to take a "before" shot - but just picture a really big ugly rock, surrounded by a creeping ground plant.  Somehow I think our battle is not yet done with this crazy plant....but we'll get you yet! Ethan was feeling pretty sentimental about 'his rock' and he wasn't too happy with it's new 'special' home in the car port.  We promised that we would put a few flowers around it in it's new location and told him that he could visit it any time.

 

It is so wonderful having my mother in law around!  Today, the kids got McDonalds and play time with Grandma! And I got a big project done today that has been hanging over my head for awhile.  I organized all the best pictures from our pregnancy to the present, in a file.  I am passing this on to someone at the Hospital who offered to make a photo book of Rachel's first year.  It was a big headache getting them sorted - we have pictures all over the place.  But it's finally done!  And what a fabulous gift! I am starting to realize that this is definetely something I would not want to work on after she dies.  And yet I want something that I can physically hold in my hands to cry over and maybe even share with people who come into our home. I found myself getting emotional looking at the pictures from her birth day.  What strong memories these photos evoke!  Tomorrow we move into the Flames House for about 5 days.  In about an hour or so, my mom arrives from Manitoba! I might still be awake.  I'm finding it very hard to turn off my mind today.  Maybe it is the walk down memory lane that did it for me.


God is Good. I have had the words to a song by Gungor in my mind the past few days.
You make beautiful things,You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of us
All around, Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You


God, help this little tree to live and to bear fruit.  In the same way, cause fruit to grow in our lives too.  As you did for Joseph, make us fruitful in the land of our suffering.