06/04/2026
For years, these rose bushes barely grew.
They survived, but they never seemed to thrive. We fertilized them, watered them, and hoped for more blooms, but they remained small and sparse.
Then Hurricane Helene came through and changed our landscape overnight. Many of the mature trees that shaded our yard were lost. The destruction was overwhelming, and repairing the damage required countless hours of work.
This spring, these roses are covered in blooms.
The storm wasn’t good. The loss wasn’t easy. I would never have chosen it.
But standing here today, I’m reminded that sometimes we can’t see what is limiting growth until circumstances change. What felt like devastation also created space for something new.
Nature has a way of reminding me that beauty and hardship often exist side by side.
These roses are blooming because they finally received the light they needed.
Sometimes we do, too.
