We felt it was prudent to take our focus away from the noise and find comfort in the ceaseless progression of time and perpetual changing of seasons.

Spring is a time that signifies new beginnings. Most of the world is on the cusp of shifting seasons as the dark, cold days of winter slowly melt away to warmer evenings filled with the scent of flowers and the gentle buzzing of bees. Our world is also in a time of uncertainty plagued by news reports of COVID-19, unemployment, and the scarcity of countless resources. We felt it was prudent to take our focus away from the noise and find comfort in the ceaseless progression of time and perpetual changing of seasons. This time will come to pass. We can take comfort in looking to the future and as the flowers begin to bloom it can signify the coming of a new hope that life will slowly begin to return to a new sense of normal.

Our vision is now clouded, much like the photo above. Just as a seedling peeking through the dark, cold soil we look ahead hoping to push through a time of hardship and vulnerability. Growth sometimes comes through pain. After all, some seeds cannot germinate without harsh conditions. A Peony cannot bloom without the cold of winter.

As some states begin slowly reopening we are hoping to feel a sense of security again. We are looking ahead to a time when incomes are stable, grocery stores are stocked, and leaving the house comes without increased fear and anxiety. We are searching for some light in the darkness much like our seed depicted in the image above who pushes upwards toward the sun.

Our photo above depicts a plant that has made it through the exhausting phase of germination and is now growing quickly. She is drawing energy from the sun and her roots are more firmly planted deep within the soil. She is upright and continues to grow stronger with each passing day. This time has caused me to grow as a person, to be grateful for what is most important in my life, and to resist taking anything for granted. I am so thankful for the health of my family and friends. Although I can’t be with most of my family during this time, I know that they are safe and we all look forward to being together again soon.

We selected this pose above for our model to portray a flower that is slowly opening its petals towards the sun. Her roots continue to grow deeper and the hope of coming into full bloom is slowly turning to reality. With talks of vaccinations and better treatment options for patients with COVID-19 our future continues to look brighter each day.

Finally, our flower is in full bloom. She has reached maturity and her beauty is alluring to those around her. Just as the season’s change and the flowers begin to bloom in the passage of time, this difficult time will pass. Until then, I choose to look ahead, feel the sunshine on my face, and smell the flowers.