The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! 

Sometimes these lines by Wordsworth come to mind when the news of the day seems extra difficult. I went to bed last night with a heavy heart--so many sorrowful stories seem to surround us lately.  A tiny baby, born prematurely, finally gets to come home from the hospital, but her mother is not able to share in the joy of the day, as she has been fatally shot while serving as a police officer in Omaha.  A family in Washington, DC, is murdered in cold blood for a small ransom, leaving two grieving young sons to bear so much pain.  Another family is swept away in a raging Texas river, a family vacation turned to tragedy. 

   

Yesterday my daughter received the sad news that one of her good friend's vibrant and young mother had passed away unexpectedly.  I grieve for this lovely young woman and her family and the void her passing leaves behind.  I have friends and relatives struggling with health concerns, pain, financial worries...the list could go on forever.  And yet, hard as life can be at time, I still choose joy.  I believe we were put on earth to learn as much as we can in our short span of time here about love.  About compassion.  About kindness.  And then, we share our knowledge of the goodness of life with others.  In the end, it's pretty simple, isn't it?  

My orchid is blooming again...for the third time!

Which is why 6 am found me in my robe and garden shoes, capturing a few new garden shots after last night's storm.  I hope you enjoy them, and the poem by Emily Dickinson which seems to mirror my feelings this morning.  May your day be filled with joy, with love, and with kindness.

 If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.