Sakura

     The breeze gently blows the gnarled branches laden with flowers.  The warm air eagerly brushes past upturned faces admiring the brief beauty.  Delicate buds open silently as older petals gently fall to the ground...  The cherry blossoms have bloomed and are already fading away.  Yesterday petals were falling like snow flurries and now about half of the blossoms have disappeared.
    
      Although it is only about a week long cherry blossom season is one of my favorites seasons in the year.  Every year I look forward to the blossoming of the sakura, and every year I'm kind of sad to see them leave.

 

      Last night Tiffy, Jenny, and I walked up to the park to admire the sakura in the dark.  With the help of a few street lights we could see the white blossom growing in clumps like popcorn all over the trees quite well.   In the dark it looked like the trees were in full bloom, when in reality half of the flowers had a petal or two missing.   I love cherry blossoms!

 

 Enjoying the sakura!!

      By this morning the trees look more pink than white since the rain last night washed away many of the petals revealing the pink stems.  The roads are covered with blossoms and new ones are continually being added, even as the rain gently washes many away.

    Cherry blossoms are a sign that spring has finally come!  It's one of God's beautiful creations that helps refresh the soul and bring new hope and joy into one's life.  Cherry blossoms are so pretty!  I think it is amazing how God causes all of these trees to suddenly blossom into thousands of delicate flowers that only last for a week.  God is so extravagant!

      Cherry blossoms remind me of how much God loves us.  He could have made cherries grow from ugly flowers, or He could have made them grow without forming flowers at all, but instead He created them beautiful and brilliant for our pleasure!  He's so nice!

     Even as the cherry blossoms are blowing away, I'm looking forward to them coming

 again next year!