Do you remember the last time you squealed with joy about something? Or do you at least remember seeing a young child squeal with delight? How about an almost 75 year old? Well it’s true; I did, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. In fact I’m elated that just months away from my 75th birthday, there are things in this world that still can make me squeal with joy and amazement. I’ve long admired photographs of lotus flowers and knew a little of their history, but it never dawned on me that I would actually ever find one here in Texas. And yet just last week as my husband and I made our periodic run through our local Botanic Gardens that to my amazement I spotted from the car what I thought were the pods of a Lotus plant. And so camera in hand, I screeched for him to stop and jumped out of the car to go take a closer look. Not only were there the remaining pods of previous lotus blooms, but I actually spotted a bud. That’s when I squealed because it was almost like standing in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time, so much so that I half expected to see Adam and Eve eventually stroll by. So for days I went back to photograph the bud as it slowly opened. At long last it appeared that it would fully open last Wednesday, the day my sister and I had chosen for our weekly quilting get-to-together. But rather than cancel at the last minute I went on to her house since we both look forward to our quilting days and time spent together. Sadly it did fully bloom that day and by the following day when I went back most of the petals had already begun to fall away. But I had seen enough to remain fully thrilled and enthralled by the experience. And I know that where there once was one there will soon enough be more. The opening photo is a collage of lotus photos I found on Pinterest, but below as I reveal some of the fascinating information about the Lotus Flower here are the photos I took last week. They are not the best photos, but it was very hot so I was shooting fast, and I couldn’t get very close to them.
The Lotus Flower is one of the earliest and most spiritually meaningful symbols in our world ever. It spans various thousand-year-old Eastern cultures and to this day holds enormous symbolic weight.
So what is it about this mysterious blossom that people find so enrapturing? Its colorful bloom is an obvious suspect, but the lotus also has a life cycle unlike any other.
Late in the evening the petals close and withdraw beneath the surface, then at daybreak, the flower again lifts up to the sky and unfolds its majestic crown. With its roots based in mud, it submerges every night into murky river water, and—undeterred by its dirty environment—it miraculously re-blooms the next morning without residue on its petals.
Although cultures have their own interpretations of this daily process, there is a general consensus among ancient texts that the lotus symbolizes spiritual enlightenment and rebirth.
The lotus stunned people with its ability to dip into the grime and revive itself unscathed—an incredible daily cycle of life, death, and a sudden immaculate rebirth that can only be described as spiritual. But the flower also has a fascinating will to live. A lotus seed can withstand thousands of years without water, able to germinate over two centuries later.
“O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live! ~Isaiah 38:16 ✝
Really stunning aren’t they? and good for you fir capturing it so exquisitely!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
P.S that would be ‘for’ and not ‘fir’—that’s what I get for trying to type a response with fat thumbs on a tiny phone : /
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I thought you were just trying to speak Texan!!! 🙂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
aint no doubt 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊😊😊❤️❌⭕️
LikeLike
Thanks❣️ Yes they are stunning and I love their seed pods too! ❤️❌⭕️😘
LikeLike
I know right, the seed pods couple with the flower—a real clash of texture, color and shape 🙂 The art teacher loves it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! They’re a killer combo for sure! The wanna be artist😊❤️❌⭕️🐔🌵
LikeLiked by 1 person
it would make for such a pretty watercolor…
go get some paints!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And do what with them? I’d love to do water colors but it would take a special ed teacher at the very least and I don’t think he/she would have much luck😊😊😊❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
you don’t know till you try—go get a box and a little pad of paper and a couple of brushes—and remember they are “water”colors—not to always be applied heavy or thick….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve tried and failed already years ago! 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
when at first you don’t succeed……
LikeLiked by 1 person
Try try try something else!!!😊😊😊❤️🐔🌵
LikeLiked by 1 person
No– with you eye fir color– you’re a natural
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ya can’t paint with your eyes ya know!!! But thanks for the encouragement‼️ That’s why a camera works best for me❣️😘🐔🌵
LikeLiked by 1 person
you let your hand convey what your eyes and heart see …go get the paints
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow see what I painted today! 🌈 😂😂😂🐔🌵
LikeLike
Beautiful. ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you V❣️😘
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael❌⭕️
LikeLike
Beautiful Natalie. I love the part where you say “squealed like a child”. Yes, it’s true, just because we are aging it doesn’t mean we lost our ability to appreciate new experiences. Thank you for sharing, I learned something new reading this post. You have added to my memoirs. ☺☺☺☺♥♥♥♥
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for the lovely comment! I knew you’d be a squealer too❣️😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooooh! That is beautiful. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Victo❣️😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!! Natalie you did good!! Yes, I can hear your excitement and squeal of joy!! Health renewing right now in the embracing of His beauty! Thank you for sharing neighbor:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you neighbor! You’re so welcome Denise❣️😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
PS: your photos are beautiful!! Go Natalie!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks again❣️❌⭕️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, so so beautiful, Natalue!! 😍🌸😍🌸. I would have squealed too if I saw a Lotus flower in Norway! 😉. They are amazing! Water lilies and Daisies are my favorite flowers! 😊😊. But I love all flowers 💖🌸💖🌸💖🌸
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh so do I Trini‼️ they feed my soul❣️😘
LikeLike
Yes! Mine too! 💖🌸💖🌸💖🌸💖🌸
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are so alike and I just love that😘😘😘😘
LikeLike
Me too! Souls sisters! 💖👩❤️👩💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely we are❣️❣️❣️😘❌⭕️
LikeLike
By the way, I squealed yesterday when I discovered that I was right about a bird! I had been hearing this cry at dawn and dusk from a bird, but could never spot it properly, but the cry reminded me of the Northern Lapwing we have in Norway. So I went online and searched for Lapwings in India and a few options came up. I sat the whole morning on the balcony and tried to spot the bird and finally I did! I got out my binoculars and studied it and discovered that yes, it was a Lapwing! A Red-Wattled Lapwing! I was so excited and proud that I had been able to make out just from the cry, because the Northern Lapwing’s cry is quite different, so I squealed loudly and jumped up and down! 😄😄😄😄😄😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have bet money that my sweet Trini was a squeqler
LikeLike
Squealer! Sorry about that. I was intent on my misspelling that I accidentally hit send too soon! Anyway I love that you are a squealer too❣️😘❌⭕️❤️❤️❤️
LikeLike
Oh, yes, she is 😄😄😄😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just knew you would be! Never entered my mind to doubt it even for a millisecond❣️😘
LikeLike
Haha! 😄😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
And a yaaaaaay’er 😄😄😄😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh me too!!!!❌⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️❤️❤️❤️
LikeLike
💖💖💖💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘😘
LikeLike
That is so cool Trini‼️ you have a good ear sweetie❌⭕️😘
LikeLike
Yay!!! Thank you!! 😊😊😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome sweetie pie❣️❣️❣️❣️
LikeLike
Just wanted to share with you: I received this GORGEOUS book from Amazon today, it is called a Paris in Bloom. It is MAGICAL!! Highly recommend it!! 💖🌸💖🌸. Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Bloom-Georgianna-Lane/dp/1419724061/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500310944&sr=1-1&keywords=paris+in+bloom
Just had to share because the book made me think of you! 💖😊🌸
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for sharing it! You know me well! I loved it❣️😘
LikeLike
💖😊💖😊💖😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
🦋🦄🐞🐇🌷🍄🌻🌈🍒🍅🍓
LikeLike
Wow! I never knew all that! Squeal on, Natalie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I will never fear❣️😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful gift you have been blessed with and to be able to share it with all of us. Thank You!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! What lovely compliment! Thank you so much. Have a blessed week❣️😘❌⭕️
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are stunning photos Natalie! And I love the image of you squealing with delight. May we keep growing joy and delight in our hearts. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely and amen!!! 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautifully done, dear Natalie.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Wendy! Hugs and blessings😊❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person