Summer was coming. If I wanted to see the flowers in bloom, I had to act quickly. A huge wind storm had come through and the petals were mostly gone.

Now, I’m not a big fan of going places by myself. But I’m a huge fan of flowers. Weighing my options, I drove to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens with my camera as my sidekick. I highly recommend photography if you need a hobby that helps you tackle going places alone.

I called my mom and visited with her all the way there. We talked about visiting the garden when I was young. You could drive right up to the Rose Gardens. There was no admission fee and you could watch as brides gracefully descended the steps and smiled as they had their bridal portraits taken.

After I arrived, I felt a little silly about hesitating. The flowers and smiles of strangers kept me company. The butterflies invited me deeper along the paths. I spent most of my time in the Japanese Garden wandering the bridges.

My parents were so good at taking us to beautiful places. A day full of beauty can fill my soul and it can last for weeks. Maybe this is the moment I’m reaching for when I pile the kids into the car and drive them to places I remember. Maybe I’m hoping the yearbook in their memory has pages that feel like warm sunlight and a soft blanket.

What a gift Our Creator has given!