From Azaleas to Rhododendrons: Embracing Change, Growth, and Inner Beauty

A little earlier than expected, the azaleas are over — and the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

I wasn’t quite ready for that shift.
They usually take turns in the spotlight, but this year, nature had its own timing. I blinked, and just like that, one beauty faded and another opened up.

It reminded me how change doesn’t always wait for us to feel ready. Sometimes, a season ends before we’ve fully appreciated it… and the next one blooms anyway.

The Subtle Shift From Outside to In

This spring, I said something simple out loud:
“This year, I want to bring some of the beauty inside.”

At the time, I was thinking about flowers. Bringing those gorgeous rhodies from the 1.5 story bush next to my house (where they wouldn't even be missed) into a vase on the table. But as soon as I said it, I felt the sensation of stumbling into a deeper metaphor I needed to flesh out!

What would it look like to bring more beauty inside — not just into my home, but into myself?

To focus on feeling beautiful — grounded, worthy, calm — on the inside?

To me, that’s the kind of beauty that doesn’t fade with the season. It expands. It deepens. It roots.

A Season of Change

My daughter is graduating high school this year.
The end of a chapter that has defined me in the deepest way:
Homeschooling mom.
Teacher.
Her safe place.

That chapter is closing. Not in sadness — though the tears sneak up — but in fullness.
In pride.
In growth.

For her.
And for me.

This next season is going to be beautiful — but it’s different.
The daily rhythm of teaching and managing lessons has already given way to a different kind of presence. She's been taking dual enrollment classes, with real professors, so I haven't been “her teacher” anymore, not in the same way. My role has changed to copy editor (we call me MomGPT) and encourager (It's already A+ work, it's okay to turn it in without overanalyzing to make sure it's PERFECTLY perfect in EVERY way! Even Mary Poppins settles for PRACTICALLY perfect!!)

Now my role will change further. But I’ll always be her support. Her cheering section. Her home base.

Just like the flowers — what blooms next isn’t better or worse.
It’s just… different.
And still beautiful.

Growth Can Feel Like Grief

It’s strange how even good change can carry a little grief.
We want to stay in the safe, familiar space a little longer.
We want one more week of azaleas. One more slow morning snuggling on the couch, reading history together in our pajamas.

But growth is rarely convenient.
It’s rarely clean.
And it’s never truly on our schedule.

Still — it comes.
And when we make space for it, it surprises us with joy we didn’t know we were ready for.

A New Kind of Beautiful

I don’t know what’s next for me in full detail.
But I do know I want it to be full of beauty.
Not just the kind I see when I look around —
but the kind I feel when I’m still.
When I let myself bloom.
When I let go of the last flower and open up to the new one.

What’s Blooming for You?

Maybe you're in your own season of growth — or about to be.
If so, I hope this post reminds you that you’re not behind.
You’re not late.
You’re just blooming right on time.