A Flower Inside a Flower ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Giveaway

A Flower Inside a Flower -- with a giveaway!

By Donna Schlachter

Sometimes beauty finds us in the most unexpected places.

This flower was growing on a shrub in a shopping mall parking lot in Scottsdale, Arizona. I saw it as we crossed the hot asphalt, drawn in by the fuchsia color, amazed when I saw the tiny pale pink/white blossom inside the outer coat.

As I snapped several pictures, I wondered that nobody else who passed me even slowed to glance at what I was so interested in. Even my sister tapped her toe impatiently while she waited for me to catch up with her.

Picture by Donna Schlachter *

I thought about these blossoms as we continued our shopping, about the intricacy of their design, and how God must get a kick out of creating such beauty and planting it right in our midst, like a gift wrapped under a Christmas tree, waiting to see if we’ll notice.

For me, this opened my eyes to the wonder of blessings disguised as something else in our lives. In June, I stepped into a small boat and rode up the headwaters of the Amazon River in the jungle of Peru. Me, a girl who doesn’t like small boats or deep water. And at the end of the ten-minute boat ride, I discovered a group of boys at a boarding house hungry for one-on-one attention, starved for the love of God.

In September, I stepped onto a cruise ship and rode the open seas to Alaska. Me, a girl who doesn’t like big boats or deep water, who can get seasick standing on a wharf and looking at the bobbing boats. But I didn’t get even a single stomach-flip the entire seven days.

Alaska cruise ships, Skagway, courtesy pixabay.com

In October, I traveled to Arizona to celebrate my (mumble)-ith birthday with my siblings and spouses. I’d made it to a milestone, one my mother never saw. And I’d done it in relatively good health, with all of my original parts including teeth and hair. We had a great time, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. And I had the opportunity to see this tiny flower. God blessed me not only with relative longevity, health, and family but also with beauty—a flower inside a flower.

Life isn’t always fun. Or beautiful. Sometimes life is really, really hard. But God is always in control, and He’s always there, waiting for us to acknowledge him. In a boat ride. In not getting seasick. In a flower in a parking lot.

If you’d like to see more about the stories in the collection, check out the following posts from the seven authors:

• Donna Schlachter – hosting Inspiration www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com
• Kathleen Kovach -- hosting Heroes            http://kathleenekovach.blogspot.com/
• Kimberley Woodhouse -- hosting the History   http://kimandkaylawoodhouse.com/blog/
• Debby Lee -- hosting the Villains/Antagonists https://www.facebook.com/booksbydebbylee or follow her newsletter: http://booksbydebbylee.com/contact.html#newsletter
• Marjorie Vawter -- Hosting the Take-Aways  http://marjorievawter.blogspot.com
• Cynthia Hickey -- Hosting the Settings https://www.facebook.com/Cynthia-Hickey-151333448227549/
• Mary Davis -- hosting the Heroines  https://marydavis1.blogspot.com

 About the collection: These seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back from an adventure.

About Detours of the Heart: (Albuquerque, NM, 1925)

A tour guide who wants to move on, a playboy who’s never had a place to call home—can they overcome their own plans and allow God to make their path straight, or will they take yet another detour?

  

 About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a critique group, and teaches writing classes. Donna ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

Giveaway: Leave a comment below with your name and contact information, and we’ll draw from the names and a random winner will receive a free print copy (US only) of MissAdventure Brides Collection. Giveaway runs for one week, ending next Tuesday, December 25, 2018 (MERRY CHRISTMAS!) at Midnight, CST.

*PS: Can anyone identify that lovely flower for Donna?