It’s amazing how one tiny, wilted flower can instantly change a room. This worn out gardenia bloom is permeating every corner of my family room right now and it’s power is amazing. I went from tired and worn out (very much like this bloom actually!) to content and happy in the amount of time it takes me to inhale a slow, deep breath of heady scent. It reminds me of my childhood. It floods my tired brain with sweet memories… memories I wish sometimes I could go back and relive. Surely a second time around I would absorb more, I would notice more and most importantly love more.
A pathetic looking bloom yes. But one wiff makes me thankful. The evening breeze blowing over it and carrying the scent through my hair as I do dishes makes me count my blessings.  All of a sudden I want to freeze time to make sure I absorb all the details of this evening. I want to study the details of my children’s faces and the sound of their voices and of my husbands laugh as he listens to their funny stories about their day.
I am content.
I am happy.
I am forgiven and free.
IÂ am been blessed beyond measure by my Savior who doesn’t see my tired, wilted petals but delights in the aroma of my thankful heart.




Me? I’d pack a suitcase so full of books, I’d struggle to drag/push/shove it into my hotel room. I’d take a nice long soak in the tub, pull my hair back, put on a comfy new pair of jammies, brew some coffee and break out the snacks. I would never step foot out of my room the whole time if I could help it. I’d just rotate between reading through my suitcase full of books and watching movies on tv…







![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz104%2Fdanielle982%2FSidebar%2520Elements%2F7x7button.png)


![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi30.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc338%2FDavenportDozen%2Flighthousebutton.png)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi30.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc338%2FDavenportDozen%2Ftoggbutton.png)