My birthday flowers share the love

This is a close up of my rose bouquet from my daughter and her family 

in Texas.

The previous post shows more.

It didn't register at the time as they were scrunched together for safe mailing,

but there were two dozens roses.

Two dozen pastel and white gorgeous roses.

My husband and I agree on how to celebrate my birthday.

He sends me flowers and takes me out to dinner.

This year he also bought me a cake from my favorite bakery.

It was delicious.

I was messing around with my camera options and tried this setting.

I have featured my posy vases before.

I'm a big fan of little vases or misc. containers that hold one or a few flowers.

So I got some of the posy vases out,

as well as some bigger options,

and began to divide the flowers and greenery 

after enjoying them in their original bouquets

 for almost seven days..

[I kept the roses together for four days

 and then only took a few out at a time.]

One of my favorite keepsakes--a crystal glass pitcher.

This is in the center of my dining room table.

This is the corner of the small chest of drawers in my grading corner.

The big arrangement is no more.

A favorite pitcher holds another combo 

and sits on a washstand in the dining room.

Kitchen.

Corner of the sink in our only bathroom.

My jewelry chest in our bedroom.

On one of the kitchen counters--the one where my coffee pot sits.

I also took several to school to two dear friends.

One had bought me my first birthday cake in years.

The other simply needed cheering up.

Several others graced my desk in my classroom.

The girls loved them.

I just divided them up on Friday--that's how long they are lasting--

going on the second week and still looking good.

Some of the roses have finally drooped 

and I have peeled off the petals to dry for sachets.

So thanks to my husband and daughter,

flowers are lighting up various corners of the house

and for awhile several 'corners' of my school.

I'm very grateful to both.

I am gradually coming out of my reclusive February world.

This week's Prayer of Grace:

Dear Lord,

Today I will honor You with my thoughts,

my actions, and my prayers.

I will seek to please You,

and I will strive to serve You.

Your blessings are as limitless as Your love.

And because I have been so richly blessed, 

I will worship You, Father,

with thanksgiving in my heart

and praise on my lips,

this day and forever.

Amen.

"God is not hard to please. 

He does not expect us to be absolutely perfect.

He just expects us to keep moving toward Him

and believing in Him,

letting Him work with us to bring us into conformity

to His will and ways."

Joyce Meyer

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God 

has been miraculously given to us 

by getting to know, 

personally and intimately,

the One who invited us to God.

The best invitation we ever received!

2 Peter 1:3 MSG

The prayer, quote, and scripture 

are from 

"Day 77 Pleasing God"

in 

100 Days of Grace for Women.

Blessings to you all as you go through this week!