Look what bloomed while we were away!

Last Christmas, Cam surprised me with this camellia shrub that I'd googly-eyed at the nursery, with the promise of fragrant, beautiful blooms by the next winter.
I've been watering it ever since, expecting God to make it break out into gorgeous blooms. I leaped in the air at the first blossoms this Christmas, and then when it totally exploded in color by the time we got home from Hokkaido. The smell alone was worth the wait. And every morning that I go out to check for new blooms, I am reminded of these simple, yet spectacular truths: the promise of Spring, new life, and answered prayer.
This past Sunday evening, I lit all the lanterns and candles on our back deck and made my two guys hang out in the adirondack chairs with me. The most darling little boy in all the world decided ten minutes was enough time to be still and at rest before he'd like to be held on the move again. But it was still ten, lovely, glorious minutes awing and enjoying my Christmas gift from my love, who would fill every square inch of our house with my favorite flowers if he could.