Beautiful...

These fuchsia/pink flowers are on large bushes that lush the landscape in Praia on the island of Santiago, Cape Verde... My friend, Janet Cruz, loves gardens and she would put flowers out in a little unattended road side stand in front of her home with a little box where you could pay for the plants that you chose. 

This little bird is a Pasadinho...they belong to this island!  I had been wanting to see one and after 7 months...there he was...way up in a tree on our way home from Cova Figueira!  

While waiting for grandpa to give an  interview one late afternoon, I wandered down some stairs, behind the church,  and walked into such light and color!  I was thrilled with the beauty and quietness, the detailed design and stunning art gallery sem patrons.  I don't believe many have even been back there!  I smiled and took it as a personal love note...

I think we all should...

We are bequeathed with beauty just for being. 

While thinking about beauty...I must include Beba the mother of our sweet Silas.  He is preparing to serve a mission.  He is strong and a tiny bit shy, eager to learn and respectful, willing to serve in the branch (from mopping the floors on Sat. just to shine the building a bit, to going on visits to invite people to church, to showing us where people live and helping for hours with the branch reports and records).  Here he is, standing with his mother in front of their kitchen (just up the steps).  You'll see a bit of the fire from the kindling that she walks 2 hours to get each day.

What a beautiful woman to give everything she has and is to help her son succeed. She has a way of taking the blessings they have been given...and somehow making them even more beautiful.