Little Hands

When we are at Watercolor, I view Luke's early mornings as a blessing. After he wakes, the two of us quickly dress and head out the door for one of our morning walks before we wake anyone else. 

This bridge is one of my absolute favorite places at Watercolor. I'm especially fond of it at night when I can watch the sun set and these glass flower lights glow and the frogs croak, but Luke isn't much for the night life. I have to take what I can get.

John took the boys with him one afternoon and left me to do what I wanted to do. Jane and I rode the bikes to Seaside to walk through the little shops. When I saw a glass shop, I wanted to go in to see if they had a nightlight or some small memento made out of these flowers that I like so much at Watercolor. 

The glass flowers were there, but sold as larger pieces of art that I could not afford. I started looking for something small that would remind me of my early morning walks with Luke. I spotted this small vase. Its color drew me first. Then I read this verse that was lying beside it to seal the deal:

Little Hand Vases

Some of the most beautiful flowers we may ever receive do not arrive in glossy white boxes from the florist, but instead are offered to us by small hands grubby from play. The stems may be short, the blossoms may be drooping, the flower themselves what some might call weeds- but when given with love from a little hand is more precious than that of a delivery service with red roses. 

A little vase for "special flowers"

Knowing Jack's penchant for picking flowers for me, I decided this was the perfect gift to give myself. Since arriving home, this vase is full more often than it is empty. No dandelions grow in this yard, but beautiful gardenia bushes offer the perfect flowers for my little vase. Sometimes it's Jack who suggests we cut some. Other times John brings me a handful. I can't think of another item in my house that in years to come will remind me of this time of my life more. I'd like to remember my morning walks with Luke and Jack's gifts of flowers for a lifetime.