Amazing Love

Our choir is preparing music for Easter.  This is one of my favorites...such wonderful truth written there.
I've always said that the people who get the most out of the music is the ones who perform it.  As I practice over and over, the truth burns in my heart.  The sound of this video is not very good, but the words are there for you to contemplate as you listen.

Playing Tourist

This past weekend I was host to my dear friend, Tiina, from Estonia.  She was longing for some sunshine after a long, very cold winter in her homeland.  Knowing how she loves gardening, we took a morning to visit Selby Gardens in Sarasota.

Upon entering the gardens, we passed though an area which had many of the blooming plants.  There were beautiful orchids in abundance, as well as many other flowering plants.

This anthurium is beautiful in its simplicity.  I was amazed at is size.

We strolled along the walk and came upon this huge banyan tree.  This is one tree you wouldn't want to have growing in your yard.  As it grows, roots descend from the branches and grow into the ground to give support to the ever-spreading tree.  On this day, this tree provided fun hiding places to some children who were there with their parents.

 

I don't know the name of this tree, but it wouldn't work well in your yard either.  I love how the roots grow out, again giving support to the tree.  It reminds me of Psalm 1.  The psalmist writes that the man who delights in the Lord and in his Word will be like a tree planted by streams of water...a tree that yields its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

After our visit to the gardens, we drove up Longboat Key, then up to Bradenton Beach where we had a yummy lunch at the Beach House.  We ended our day by going to see The King's Speech.

Playing tourist with Tiina reminded me of the wonderful week I spent with my new friends in California.  They seemed to revel in showing me places that were dear to them in their state.  I won't forget that trip for a long time, and I hope Tiina will take home many fond memories from her days here in Florida this past week.