Watercolor Journals - The best is yet to be

11 X 14 Custom Watercolor

A 40 year marriage and a wife's love for her husband prompted my most recent painting.  She loves him and understands, that each year's lessons build on the experiences of the last.  In the consideration of "Quality vs Quantity", it seems to me that quantity gives opportunity for quality to happen.  A lifetime commitment to keeping one's vows provides a delightful garden where love can really grow and mature.  Trust, respect, truth, confidence, wisdom and peace come from many years of sharing life with the one you love.  She chose an excerpt from Robert Browning's Rabbi Ben Ezra, as a way to celebrate a very special anniversary.  Their garden is filled with hollyhocks, and I'm sure their home is filled with abounding joy.

While painting, I enjoyed thinking about the "last of life, for which the first was made".  For 36 years, Gary and I have walked through life together, with each year's experiences building on the years before. This project has provided me with pleasant thoughts of the past "happier" days, mingled with peace and trust as we hold hands through the more challenging times at hand.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to "age" with my own husband knowing that God is trustworthy and I have nothing to fear.  Thank you, Patti, for entrusting me with this project and for the great reminder.