Years ago, I survived the roughest of weekends, which included the need to cancel one of my favorite hospitality events⎯a Potluck and Project Night.

Next morning, I awoke to the news that I had won a giveaway of the book The Art of Neighboring (hooray!), and the news that two of my favorite grocery stores would be moving next to each other, cutting 30 minutes off my weekly shopping trips (double hooray!).

Such is the dichotomy of life with its rollercoaster of emotions and experiences⎯the good, the bad, the exquisitely wonderful, the terribly difficult, and the ugly⎯all wrapped into one.

Later that week while shopping, my gaze fell upon the most beautiful arrangement of azaleas in different shades of pink. I walked away slowly, disappointed that I didn't have my camera to capture the exquisite beauty of the pastel petals.

On the way home I stopped to get the mail and was pleasantly surprised to pull out the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens, which had similar looking flowers on its cover. Ah, the beauty!

Sometimes, when faced with the "terribly difficult", I wonder why God isn't making Himself more visible.

But then I see it.

I see how I'm suddenly able to empathize more with certain people in my life, I see how simple things like flowers look more beautiful to me, how each new day feels more like a gift than the last, and how I take less for granted.

Yes, life can be beautiful, and life can seem terrible, but really, there is beauty in it all.

What beauty have you experienced in your life this month? Reply to this email to share!

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