Last week brought some new experiences:
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| I traveled with some friends to visit the Prayers From Maria sunflower field. It's a 26 acre field of sunflowers planted in memory of a 7 year old girl who passed away from a glioma brain tumor. It brings awareness to all childhood cancers. There are 5 varieties of sunflowers planted so that there are blooms throughout September and October. |
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| You can pick up a tag at the entrance to write a remembrance card for someone who has passed or is currently in treatment for cancer and hang it from one of the sunflowers. The tags are quite heartbreaking to read. These larger signs are part of the memorial wall when you first enter the field. |
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| There were a few bees, but it was not bad. As you can see, the soil was quite dry. |
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| This butterfly was following me around. |
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| It was hard to get a wide angle with just my cell phone, but this gives you some idea of how it looked. The variety that was currently in bloom was not that tall. We probably spent about a half hour walking around the field. Although it was incredibly sad to think about, I'm really glad that I went to support the cause. |
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| On Saturday, I attended a women's conference at church entitled, "Fixer Upper Life." It focused on prayer. They did a nice job decorating the church with props. The speaker has an adult child with a disability, so I could relate to a lot of what she spoke about in her personal life. I usually avoid conferences like the plague, as I generally find them to be boring and I don't like to sit for so long. But since I'm trying new things this year, I gave it a go. I wouldn't say that I 100% loved it, but it was nice to talk to other women and do something different. |
How cool that someone planted sunflowers to remember their child like that. I have not hear of it. And good thing there are bees there - without bees - and people are getting worried about missing bees - the world would die - so they say.
ReplyDeleteAnd that conference - GOOD FOR YOU TRYING NEW THINGS!
Love, sandie
Thanks, Sandie. This year's blogging is about new things I'm trying in 2019. I think that there are sunflower fields in other places to honor those lost to cancer. Every once in a while, I have seen a news story about it. This one is the closest one to me. And yes, bees are a good thing!
DeleteA nice way to keep a memory alive! Sunflowers are cool, a field of them is awesome. Their seeds are also delicious when toasted.
ReplyDeleteWe were wondering about all the seeds and if birds eat them.
DeleteThose sunflowers are such a beautiful tribute, Bijoux.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these photos and good for you for supporting this excellent cause. My mother loved sunflowers so I always think of her when I see them.
And nice job attending that conference. Doing something different is what this year (and this life!) is all about.
Take care!
Oh, that's neat to know that your mom loved sunflowers. We tried to grow them in the past, but animals just dug up the seeds every time.
DeleteThanks for supporting me with your comments!
That is a great tribute, although kids sick or dying is awful in every way. Some of the messages had to be rough.\
ReplyDeleteYeah, I avoid them like the plague too, but good ones can be okay I suppose.
Even the tags that said, "Miss you Grandpa" made me sad :(
DeleteI have yet to attend a conference where I actually learned something. My husband says the same thing about continuing ed requirements. Lol
What a beautiful memorial. It would be beyond heart-breaking to lose a young child to cancer.
ReplyDeleteI had to shift gears in my mind while I was there and just focus on the beauty.
DeleteI LOVE the idea of the Prayers from Maria sunflower field. That is so wonderful. And I love the sign with the sunflower O.
ReplyDelete"The tags are quite heartbreaking to read. "OMG, I know that I would be bawling my eyes out because I remember several years ago when Philadelphia had a wishing tree at City Hall where you could hang an ornament on the branches with a wish on it. Many of them were wishing for prayers to help a family member who had terminal cancer.
Your photographs of the sunflowers (especially the one with the butterfly) are awesome! I love sunflowers. they are such happy-looking flower.
Glad you enjoyed the conference. I admire you for taking this year and pushing yourself to do something different. Bravo to you!
Have a fantastic week, my friend! XO
I really liked the sign, too. It's hard to read those tags, isn't it? Such a profound sense of loss when you see how many people are grieving. But I'm glad I went.
DeleteCool weather is coming your way!
So heartbreaking and heartwarming about that field of sunflowers! I would probably drive my hubby crazy if we visited it because I would want to read every single remembrance that someone wrote. I've known from mainly social media or friends of children who have passed from cancer and it is so heart wrenching. You wonder how parents carry on but I think they find ways like this to keep their children's legacy going on, no matter how short it might have been.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for going to the conference. It does sound interesting too, especially if you could relate to what is being said. It is good once in awhile to get out and mix with people in conferences like this. Having said this, its been years since I've been to one :)
betty
I'm close to a few people who have lost children (not from cancer) and even after 15 years, you still see how heartbroken they are. It's incredibly sad.
DeleteI'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and attended the conference. I go to a different service than most of the people there, so it was nice to meet new people.
So many people in my family have died from cancer and it's just so heartbreaking to hear other peoples story of it too. What a nice remembrance though. The sunflowers are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI lost two cousins and an uncle from cancer. It's hard to watch people who were otherwise healthy die in their prime of life. I loved the sunflowers.
DeleteBeautiful sunflower pictures! I especially like the one with the butterfly. I'm sure the tags would be heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't hate the conference.
It was nice to still see a bit of summer in October. Lol, yes, I didn't hate it!
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea and a beautiful tribute for Maria. This touched my heart. I love sunflowers and used to grow a lot of them when I lived in Texas. I tried planting sunflower seeds here in Tennessee but none of them grew.
ReplyDeleteI like the photo with the butterfly!
We've not had luck growing them either. I think the squirrels or chipmunks just dig up the seeds. I kept seeing that butterfly everywhere I walked in the field. Or maybe there were a number of the same kind.
DeleteThose are huge sunflowers....
ReplyDeleteThey were very pretty!
DeleteI saw the HOPE photo on your Instagram and was wondering what the story was behind it. How heartbreaking...but it's a great ode to Maria nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those Cleveland Bucket List places to visit as it's become so well known in the past 5 years since it began.
DeleteWhat an original idea, a sunflower field in memory of a cancer victim and to mark other people who have had cancer. Visiting the field must be a very sad and heartbreaking experience, as you say. There is also a HOPE sign in Belfast, in an area that has seen a lot of sectarian killings.
ReplyDeleteHope can definitely sustain our souls when we are hurting. Welcome back, Nick!
DeleteAw, the sunflower field is both sad and beautiful. Good choice for a new experience for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThe sunflower field looks beautiful. What a contrast, to have such cheerful flowers represent such a somber remembrance. I have a feeling I might have started crying reading those tags.
ReplyDeleteIt was a sad place, for sure. But a wonderful memorial.
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