Camellias and Hope

I'm really big on the word on "hope" and signs and symbols in life. I also believe that things happen for a reason, even if we don't always understand the reasons or see the whys at the time. When I first bought my house ten years ago, it didn't have a lot of flowers. It was the first house I bought since being divorced, so it meant a lot to me. Since then I've done a lot of gardening. The camellia in the picture came with the house. And to be honest, one of the reasons its still here was because in the early days when I was working in my garden, it was too hard for me to dig out. But what I found out was that every year, without fail, the camillia blooms, usually during January. I always see those flowers as a sign of "hope" for the year I face ahead, kind of symbolic, you know? As of lately, I've been thinking a lot about the devastation in Haiti. I cannot say anything that hasn't already been said. Brande and I were talking the other day and she said to me, "can you imagine how much pain so many people are in with all the broken bones in their bodies and no help". Then she asked me, "remember how much pain you were in when you broke your ankle"? That kind of put it into perspective for me. I follow Jenny Doh's blog. She had a written a post about the luxury we all have of just turning on the faucet for running water. If you get a chance, please read her words, they are very inspiring. It makes you realize how much we all really have in our own lives, especially with the world the way it is today. I see "signs" in life all the time. Whether it is in nature, or random acts of kindness, those good things are out there if you keep "hope" alive in your heart. And if you can even donate a few dollars, that would help all those that so desperately need help in Haiti right now. Next time you go to your sink, and turn on the water, think about about. Never give up on "hope"!