It's amazing the difference a year can make. Last year, right around this time, I was in Maine with my parents visiting my dad's sister's family. A few weeks later she passed away. The day before we left they brought my Aunt Lina home from the hospital, and that morning, before she arrived, I remember my cousin Chloe leaving for a little while without telling anyone where she was going. She came back a little while later with flowers just like these, put them in a vase and put them on a little table beside her bed, so they'd be there when she got home.

I learned that day that they were her favorite flowers. And that they had spent a lot of money over the years buying bulbs and trying to plant them in the backyard, with little success--I remember my Uncle Craig laughing as he told us that story. It was nice to hear him laugh.

I always see these flowers in the florist shop at Kroger when I go grocery shopping and think of my Aunt Lina. This weekend I was at a memorial service for Michael's girlfriend's uncle who passed away this week and it made me think about her memorial service. So when I passed by the flowers last night, I decided to buy some.

Even though time does heal, I know life must still be so hard for her family. They're really on my mind and on my heart this time of year. Please pray for them.