April Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop- Day 1

Can you tell I love this image? I love irises. When I lived in Illinois a friend of mine at church gave me some iris bulbs to plant. I was so excited. I brought them home and got them planted. The problem was my farm cats. They thought it was a fun game to dig up the bulbs. Everytime I would replant them they would dig them up again. This went on for months and most of the bulbs died. I had only one plant survive. It didn't bloom the first two years. I had almost given up on it ever blooming. Then springtime came and we found out that we were moving to Iowa. I was fearful of the move. I had such close friends and an awesome church family. I was wondering if I could ever find such a support system. Then one day I looked out and saw that there was a bloom on my iris plant. It was like a sign from God that everything was going to be ok. I would be transplanted like those bulbs had been and I would thrive and even someday bloom. I called it my promise flower. I watched it everday anticipating the opening of the bloom. It got close to Mother's day and it looked like it was going to open. Then it happened it opened, and then I cried. My sweet little daughter knew how much I loved my iris so she had dug it up and had it in a bucket for me for Mother's day. I was so irritated. I thought she had killed it. Turns out it was a really hardy plant and made it with us to Iowa. It has been 6 years since this happened and now it has multiplied and now fills a good portion of my bulb garden. God is good and he has been faithful!! I am like that flower bulb. I keep getting dug up and transplanted but God has sustained me and helped me to bloom. Today is my day off for the blog hop but here is what is the others on the design team have done.

Welcome to the MFP April Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS! Our New Sets are: In My Mother's Garden, Bearded Iris, Oh Boy, It's a Girl and Garden Fairies.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY! We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!*** What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, April 16, 2011. ***See the MFP blog for all the contest rules and PRIZES! TUESDAY April 12, 2011- Bearded Iris

Lois

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Peggysue

Connie

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki

Liz

Geri

Lynn

Emily N.

Neva

Silvia

Patricia

Chrissy

Guest Designer, Lillian

Mark’s Finest Papers