Rebecca's Garden

When I ordered flowers for Rebecca's funeral, the florist suggested two hydrangeas.  She said they  were just the right size to put on each side of her tiny casket and they would be perfect to plant in the yard after the funeral.

I ordered them and she was right.  They were perfect.  They didn't overpower the delicate white box, instead, they set it off nicely.  And the deep pink color of the blooms was beautiful.

After the funeral, we planted the hydrangeas and they looked good for a day or two.  And then the blooms turned black and the leaves started to brown and curl.

I was devastated.

I wanted those two bushes to bloom and grow and flourish every year as a beautiful reminder of my little one who would not be able to do the same.

I fretted over the lost bushes but Dan patiently watered them every evening and told me not to give up on them just yet.  I Googled and determined that maybe they were getting a little too much water so he scaled back.  I even prayed for God to save those hydrangeas. 

I  mourned the loss of my hydrangeas even as I was mourning the loss of my daughter. Until one evening after his nightly garden watering rounds, Dan pointed out to me that there was new growth on the hydrangeas!  They were getting new leaves!

I rejoiced, hopeful that perhaps next year we would get beautiful pink blooms.

And then yesterday, as I was walking past the bushes, I noticed a tiny flash of color.  Upon further inspection, I realized it was the beginnings of a bloom!  I quickly sent Dan a text with a picture of the bloom and the words "baby girl says hello".

I was happy and so very thankful.  I will be seeing new blooms this summer!

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:7

There are other things that have been planted around our yard that were given to us in memory of Rebecca and they all seem to be doing well.

Dan's sister Cathy and brother Bob sent two beautiful azalea bushes.  They both have new growth!

Cathy also brought a Camellia bush.  It has new growth as well.  I can't wait to see this bush in bloom.

The teachers at Our Lady of Mercy, Peter and Sarah's school, gave us a dogwood tree.  It will be beautiful next spring!

This butterfly bush was from my sweet friend Christy.  It already has new blooms on it.  I can't wait to see all of the butterflies it will attract.

So many lovely reminders of  my sweet baby.




Linking up at Cari's place.