WAITING FOR CHLOE TO BLOOM!

There is a long row of white, pink, and dark purple peonies that have always been on this property for as long as I can remember. My grandparents always loved flowers and some of my great summer memories of being here was of their beautiful flower beds. My grandfather loved impatients and always planted them in a nice shaded spot on the north side of the house. My grandmother loved lilies and they strategically placed throughout the yard and along the drive. I don't' know who planted the peonies but they were always my favorite. Stay with me here as this is not just a blog about flowers.

Have you ever smelled one? The aroma is amazing...they are strong but not strong like that horrid smell that comes out of Bath and Body Works at the mall. The aroma is soothing to me and refreshing. One thing that I've always found interesting is the number of black ants that crawl all over the buds. Knowing that everything has a purpose and a function in nature I'm curious as to why you see black ants on peonies but rarely see them on other flowers. I mean think about it...when was the last time you picked a tulip and had to shake off the ants before you put it in the vase?

So here's what I've found. Peonies have a very tight waxy bud on them that secrets a sweet nectar. The ants crawl all over the buds to eat the nectar which loosens the wax and allows the peony to blossom and bloom all at once in one grand display. Isn't' it neat that God created such a co-op in nature!

Sarah and I both love flowers and both happen to love the peony. We cleared out the overgrown grapevine this past fall so that that long row would have new air and space to grow and breath. We've watched them slowly sprout up throughout the late winter and early spring and we've just been waiting with expectation for the first one to open. Then we'll quickly pick it and enjoy the great smell in our living room!

I realized tonight that it's pretty neat that Chloe's name means blossoming or blooming...and like the flowers that we both love so much it is our co-op if you will to help her bloom and be all she can be. That means we need to give her space to grow and be who she was created to be in the eyes of God. We have been so anxious for our little Chloe to show up that I've finally figured that perhaps she's waiting on the flowers to "bloom" as well!

The suns coming out tomorrow...there better be some blooming peonies out there...then maybe, just maybe we'll see our sweet little girl's face!