Appreciating God's Beauty

I have a circle of tulips ready to bloom. They surround our young oak tree in our front yard. We planted them last fall and I've been waiting for the big delight, not so patiently. I took a picture of them yesterday and I could see red coming out on a couple of tulips so I think maybe this week they may be ready to bloom. They get the north wind so they are slower to perform than some I see planted on the south side of houses. But I'm ready and waiting.

We walked around the neighborhood yesterday, avoiding bikers and 'trikers' and other walkers to keep our six-foot distance. We saw tulips and daffodils in bloom and lawns in various stages of perfection. Nearly all have been mown at least once. There is something so exciting about spring. New leaves are forming on the trees and buds are forming on flowering trees and bushes. I love the fresh spring air, so clean and sometimes fragranced by grills at work.

Even the rain is pure and lovely. Preparing the earth for the season of planting. I love the smell of freshly turned soil, so rich and black in Iowa. Only God could create such beauty to be appreciated.

"You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain they shout and sing together for joy," (Psalm 65:9-13 ESV).

Take time to appreciate God's wonder in nature, even if it is just through your window today. May you be blessed.