Artistry of Summer

The artistry of summer is
graced by blooming flowers,
Their colors and aromas have intoxicating powers.
A warm breeze carries the perfume in the air
Of roses, honeysuckle and others here and there.

The morning glories open with the rising of the sun
And four-o’clocks indicate when day is almost done.
From morning’s first light, flowers wet with dew,
Until the evening darkness, they provide a lovely view.

Hollyhocks, geraniums and hydrangeas too
Create a masterpiece of pink, red and blue,
While sunflowers, daisies and marigolds grow
With a bright golden touch to add to the show.

What delight flowers offer on a warm summer day,
As petunias, phlox and zinnias brighten up our way;
The colorful display of the Master gardener’s art
Brings delight to the senses and gladdens the heart!

© Connie Arnold

Excerpt of summer section of A Symphony of Seasons

Like Flowers in the Spring

Through the winter bulbs are hiding in the shelter of the ground,

waiting until spring for their beauty to be found.

The tulips and the daffodils, with the hope they contain,

are filled with a promise that their beauty will remain.

Although they seem quite lifeless while their beauty cannot show,

when spring returns they slowly start to rise, bloom and grow.

We too can have the promise of springtime in each life,

when we can grow and blossom after facing pain and strife.

Although we often suffer, God will lovingly fulfill

His promise to creation that He is faithful still.

As we hold onto the hope, like flowers in the spring,

we will burst forth from our sorrows with a joyful song to sing.

© Connie Arnold

Excerpt of A Symphony of Seasons

 http://conniearnold.webs.com/

Autumn Changes

In autumn the leaves start changing 

to colors rich and bright,

and soon they all

will begin to fall,

creating an artistic sight.

The green that in summer was seen 

on the branches of every tree 

has now turned to gold

and reds quite bold;
this change is delightful to see.

The exquisite beauty of nature
when leaves begin to die,
as vibrant shades abound,
covering the ground,
leads us to wonder why.
Why such a glorious tribute
to what is almost past?
Crackling leaves drying
in this season of dying;
their splendor cannot last.

Changes come into each life

in what has happened before.

Though all things must end,

on God you can depend

to bring beauty to life once more.
excerpt of A Symphony of Seasons
© Connie Arnold
http://conniearnold.webs.com/books.htm

Summer Flowers

The artistry of summer is
graced by blooming flowers,
Their colors and aromas have intoxicating powers.
A warm breeze carries the perfume in the air
Of roses, honeysuckle and others here and there.

The morning glories open with the rising of the sun
And four-o’clocks indicate when day is almost done.
From morning’s first light, flowers wet with dew,
Until the evening darkness, they provide a lovely view.

Hollyhocks, geraniums and hydrangeas too
Create a masterpiece of pink, red and blue,
While sunflowers, daisies and marigolds grow
With a bright golden touch to add to the show.

What delight flowers offer on a warm summer day,
As petunias, phlox and zinnias brighten up our way;
The colorful display of the Master gardener’s art
Brings delight to the senses and gladdens the heart!

© Connie Arnold

Excerpt of summer section of A Symphony of Seasons, 2012

Take advantage of special offer for the next week of $2 off each of my books or $10 off collection of all 4 poetry books and free shipping. Great chance to get discount on future birthday and other gifts! Email me at conarnold(at)gmail(dot)com.

Memorial Day

This is the day to honor those
who have gone before,
who live in our memories,
though we see them no more,
a day of recognition
for sacrifices made,
with gratitude and love for them
that will never fade.
 

We trust that they’ve passed on
to a better place,
with no more pain or suffering,
surrounded by God’s grace,
where there is never war,
where fear and hatred cease,
and there is only light and love,
and God’s eternal peace.

Connie Arnold

Excerpt of A Symphony of Seasons, 2012

Prize Winners and Appreciation

It has been a great two weeks visiting the different blogs, meeting new people, sharing about A Symphony of Seasons, and having a good time!


Thank you so much for all who visited the various blogs and left such wonderful comments! There were so many to choose from for the prize drawings. I numbered each comment in order received and let Random.org choose the two winners. I wish each of you could have won a prize, but hopefully you received pleasure, joy and blessings from the posts and poems shared.


Congratulations to Lisa R, the winner of the Vivaldi Four Seasons CD, and to Carolina M, the winner of the hummingbird suncatcher wind chime!


The winner of a free copy of A Symphony of Seasons in the giveaway on Random Thoughts Blog is Carolyn V. Congratulations, Carolyn!

My great appreciation also goes to the hosts of each of the stops on the tour - Kathy Schubitz, Cherrie Hill, Lynn Mosher, Sharon Mayhew, Cathy Simpson, Kimberly Standard, Debbie Simler-Goff, Karla Meachem and Julie Arduini. Below is the list of each of their blog posts in case you missed any. I hope you will visit their blogs and show your support for these dear ladies!

If anyone would like a copy of  A Symphony of Seasons please click on the link to order from my website or email me at conarnold@gmail.com to receive the free framed photo from your choice of season with one of my verses on it. I will honor this Blog Tour Special through the end of next week.

RPJ Blog 

Journal of Faith 

Heading Home

Random Thoughts

Melodies and Hymnsongs 

Stuff Could Always Be Worse  

 Every Day With Jesus    

        
 Empowering Christian Women 

Connie Arnold, Children's Author 

The Surrendered Scribe  

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day! May the music and beauty of life fill your heart through all seasons!

Mother's Day Celebrates Love

                    

  

This has been a wonderful two weeks of introducing A Symphony of Seasons, visiting many terrific blogs and reading the special comments made at each one. I am concluding with a Mother's Day poem from the book in honor of all mothers. Hope you have an opportunity to show your love to your mother, or if, like me, your mother has passed on, to enjoy fond memories.

Mother’s Day Celebrates Love

As we journey through the year
To the second Sunday in May,
We rejoice in the love of one so dear
As we celebrate Mother’s Day.

We honor our mother’s devotion,
Her tenderness and care,
Filled with a love as deep as the ocean,
Thoughtful and willing to share.

Her guidance and gentle direction
Helped us to do what we should,
By example and with her correction
We learned that we ought to be good.

Remembering our mothers on this date,
Whether together or far apart,
We are thankful as we celebrate
Her special place in each heart.

excerpt from A Symphony of Seasons

If you missed any of the posts, here is a list of the blogs that participated and a link to each one. Please feel free to visit and leave a comment to receive entries to the prize drawings for each comment on a different blog. Be sure to contact me at conarnold@gmail.com or visit my website to order your signed copy of  A Symphony of Seasons and receive your free gift. Details of gift and prizes are on my Blog Tour beginning post.


RPJ Blog  Song of Spring

Journal of Faith  A Year's Journey

Heading Home  devotion, Seasons of Life

Random Thoughts  4 seasons photos, summer poem and giveaway

Melodies and Hymnsongs  video of seasons

Stuff Could Always Be Worse   A Song to be Sung

Every Day With Jesus  review
          
 Empowering Christian Women  For the Beauty of the Earth video and seasons scriptures

Connie Arnold, Children's Author  Children Enjoying Summer

The Surrendered Scribe  interview

I will be posting tomorrow, Saturday, May 12, the winners of the two prizes and the winner of a copy of A Symphony of Seasons on Random Thoughts blog.

A Symphony of Seasons Blog Tour

 It's my great pleasure to announce the release of my new poetry book, A Symphony of Seasons, published by RPJ and Company. It has themes of music and the seasons, like a symphony with various movements, harmoniously weaving together through the cycle of the seasons.

Each of the seasons has its harmony,
with various melodies raising,
As a natural reaction that is expressed
when lives formed by God are praising.

A two week blog book tour begins on May 1, and the blogs hosting each stop are listed below. There will be drawings at the end of the tour for two prizes.

One prize is a Vivaldi Four Seasons CD and the other is a hummingbird suncatcher windchime.

Enter the drawing for these two prizes by leaving a comment below. Additional entries can be earned for comments left on the blogs listed below during the tour, for following this blog, and for sharing this post or any of the posts during the tour on Facebook or Twitter (be sure to post a comment here when you do that so you'll get your extra entries).

You will receive a free gift with your purchase of a signed copy of A Symphony of Seasons from me during this tour, a beautiful framed season photo with one of my verses on it. A beautiful gift for Mother's Day, graduation or other special occasion! Photos are by photographer Gary Strader.

 Purchase book on my website or email me at conarnold(at)gmail(dot)com if you'd like me to send you an invoice to pay with credit card, debit card or check. Be sure to let me know how to personalize the book and which season you prefer for your free gift.

A Symphony of Seasons is also available from RPJ and Company or Amazon and ebook special offer from Smashwords through May 31 of $3.25 using coupon code QX77N. You can also view several pages of the book on Smashwords and read a few poems.

Tour Schedule:

Tuesday, May 1 - RPJ Blog  Song of Spring

Wednesday, May 2 - Journal of Faith  A Year's Journey

Thursday, May 3 - Heading Home  devotion, Seasons of Life

Friday, May 4 - Random Thoughts  4 seasons photos, summer poem and giveaway

Saturday, May 5 - Melodies and Hymnsongs  video of seasons

Monday, May 7 - Stuff Could Always Be Worse  A Song to be Sung

Tuesday, May 8 - Every Day With Jesus  review
               
 Empowering Christian Women  For the Beauty of the Earth video and seasons scriptures

Wednesday, May 9 - Connie Arnold, Children's Author  Children Enjoying Summer

Thursday, May 10 - The Surrendered Scribe  interview

Friday, May 11 - Blog conclusion, prize drawings

Saturday, May 12 - Inspirational Poetry of Joy and Peace  announcement of prize winners

A Symphony of Seasons

I'm pleased to share with you that my new poetry book, A Symphony of Seasons, is being published by RPJ & Company and is now available to pre-order! It has themes of music and the seasons, like a symphony with various movements, harmoniously weaving together through the cycle of the seasons.

Below is an excerpt I hope you will enjoy. I'd love to know how you like the cover. It was designed through the creative, artistic, detailed diligence of Kathleen Schubitz and the photos are by Gary Strader.

A Garden in Spring
 

Walking through a garden in spring
Delights the soul and makes it sing
As the silent beauty offers me
A peaceful sense of serenity,
Such joy a spring garden can bring!

As heightened awareness slowly swells,
Loving peace within me wells.

My heart and soul overflow and rejoice
When the whisper of a still, small voice
The wonder of creation tells.

To order a copy of A Symphony of Seasons and save $3 see Sharing Blessings.

I'm planning a blog book tour for early May. If anyone would like to host one of the stops with a review, interview or guest post, please let me know. Thank you!