Sharing Light Through Flowers

Today is a we’re going to talk about the hard things kind of day. Back in April, I shared in my Blooming in the Valleys post that we don’t talk about the hard stuff enough — the valleys, the unraveling, the moments when quitting feels like the only option. But maybe if we did, we’d feel a little less alone in them.

So today, I’m choosing to be vulnerable again. I want this to be a safe place on the internet — a place where the raw, heavy, and honest can live alongside the beauty. If you are walking through something right now and need prayer, please reach out. I will show up for you.

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This past week has been heavy. Between the anniversary of 9/11, the heartbreaking assassination of Charlie Kirk—a fellow brother in Christ—and yet another devastating school shooting, I’ve carried a grief that seemed to press on my chest with every headline and memory. My heart ached for his wife and children left behind, and in their loss I couldn’t help but remember my own.

That’s what a significant loss or trauma tends to do to all of us, isn’t it? It stirs up our own pain and suffering, the grief we’ve carried, and it reminds us in a raw way of what another now has to face. A new young widow. Two children who will grow up without their father.

I lost my dad when I was just four years old, and even now at 36, grief still finds me in unexpected ways. And now, two more children in the world will walk through the same heartbreak I know too well. But I’m here to tell you: there is hope. There is restoration. There is freedom. Even when, in the natural, we don’t understand.

When words fail, I often end up in the flower garden. This week was no different. I prayed, I cried, I cut blooms, and in the middle of it all the flowers held space for me. They always have—through the hardest moments of my life, through postpartum seasons, through both grief and joy. Flowers remind me that beauty and brokenness can exist together, and that hope can still bloom even in the darkest places. That you too can heal, if you take the time to process and walk through that healing.

When I began writing here, I wanted it to be a place of honesty—a space where I could process and share my experiences. Not just as a flower farmer and designer, but as a human. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend—and my story is real. I’ve walked through significant pain, loss, and trauma in my own life, and I know what it feels like to sit in the valleys. I wanted this to be a place where my testimony could shine through in a raw and authentic way. And while I don’t want to dwell on grief or heaviness—that’s where we can get stuck—I do want to speak about the freedom, healing, and joy that Jesus has given me in place of sorrow. And if a message of hope and light even touches just one person, then it was all worth it. My vulnerability was worth it.

The words of Isaiah have been on my heart since last Tuesday’s events:

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
— Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

This scripture has been foundational in my own healing and in the work I’ve pursued since 2016 to help end human trafficking. The brokenness and trauma I’ve lived through, and the healing I’ve experienced through Jesus, has shown me firsthand that God can restore anything. I am living proof that He can redeem grief, heartache, and trauma.

On Sunday, my pastor said something that pierced my heart. Reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s death, he asked: “Because I share my beliefs openly—because I think differently than some people do—are there those who believe my children don’t deserve to grow up with a father?” That question wrecked me. As a child who grew up without a father, I know the pain of that reality. And no child deserves it. The very fact that thoughts like that exist shows how desperately our world needs love, light, and healing.

I also want to be clear — this is not about politics, it’s about humanity. It’s spiritual. A man was murdered for exercising his First Amendment right to use words, not violence. That reality is heavy because it reveals how far we’ve drifted from compassion and understanding.

And it’s not just isolated tragedies—it’s the steady decline of mental health in our nation. We were never designed to witness horrific acts of violence, scroll past them a minute later, and then carry on like nothing happened—packing lunches, doing the dishes, answering emails. That weight adds up. No one is immune to the strain, and the heaviness is real.

That’s why prayer, community, and intentional care matter so much right now. We need to check in on our friends and families. We need to carve out space for rest and self-care in a digitalized world that constantly demands more of us. And we need to remind ourselves that there are ways to combat this darkness—through faith, through honest conversations, through gathering together, through serving others, and yes, sometimes even through something as simple as flowers.

And we also need to remember that everyone grieves differently. Some cry, some withdraw, some get busy, some need to talk it out. There is no single “right way” to walk through grief, so let’s not pass judgment on each other. Instead, let’s extend compassion, patience, and understanding—because we’re all carrying burdens, and kindness costs nothing.

I want you to know this: you matter. Your life has value, your story has meaning, and this world is better with you in it.

Out of all that heaviness, I felt led to cut every sunflower we had ready—about 100 stems—wrapping them into bright, golden bouquets and placing them in our stand. Free for anyone who needed them, or available by donation. My intention wasn’t to raise money, but to push back against the darkness with light. Still, the community showed up in such a beautiful way. Together we raised $55 for The House of Promise, a local organization providing safe housing and resources for survivors of trafficking. I’m deeply grateful for the way our neighbors responded and the way this small act became something bigger than I imagined.

And if you’re reading this and carrying a heavy heart, please know you don’t have to walk through it alone. If you need prayer, reach out — I would be honored to pray with you and for you. And if you’re seeking a local church home in the Holt/Lansing/Mason area, you always have a seat at Journey Life Church in Holt, under pastors who care deeply about this community and about your heart. You belong, and you are not alone.

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Maybe that’s why this phrase has been echoing in my heart lately: sharing light through flowers.

Flowers don’t erase loss, but they whisper hope. They don’t undo the darkness, but they remind us it never fully wins. On a week like this, I needed that reminder—and I believe others did too.

And in the middle of sorrow, we also found joy. Yesterday our beautiful son turned two. Celebrating his life was a blessing beyond measure. Gathering with family, hugging tighter, saying “I love you” and “I’m proud of you,” attending church and leaning into the message—all of it reminded me that even in a broken world, there is still so much to be grateful for.

That’s the heartbeat behind the blooms: there is too much evil in the world, and I refuse to let it win. I will keep planting, cutting, wrapping, and sharing light through flowers—for myself, for my community, and for anyone who needs the reminder that hope still blooms. And ultimately, that hope is always found in Jesus.

Sharing light through flowers,

Alex

💐 Behind the Stems: The Heart and Hustle of Wedding Flowers

🎂 It’s My Birthday!
Today, June 10th, I’m celebrating another trip around the sun — and what better way to mark it than by sharing a little bit of my own story? I fell in love with wedding flowers back in 2022 when I designed and grew the florals for my own September wedding. That experience was the spark that started it all. So in honor of my birthday, I’m reflecting on where this journey began — and sharing one of the most meaningful weddings I’ve had the privilege to design since.

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If you’ve ever received a wedding bouquet — or even just admired one from afar — you know how magical it can feel. But what you don’t see is everything that happens behind the stems: the early mornings, the late-night arranging, the hauling, the hydrating, the emotional weight, and the joyful tears.

This May, I had the honor of designing wedding flowers for one of my very best friends. It also happened to be just two days after the most demanding weekend of the year for flower farmers: Mother’s Day.

And yet, I said yes.

Because there was no way I could let anyone else do her flowers.

The Wedding of a Lifetime — in More Ways Than One

From the moment her mom and I picked up the flowers (Scott at Kennicott Brothers is amazing if you’re looking for a wholesaler, I cannot recomment Kennicott enough!), I knew this was going to be something special. I cried more than once — not from stress (though there was a bit of that!), but from the deep emotion of being part of something so meaningful. These weren’t just “event flowers.” These were made with love, trust, and so much care.

Designing wedding florals is always a labor of love, but when it’s someone you know deeply, it becomes something more. Every stem I placed carried memories, intention, and heart.

And, to make things even more fun? I was also the matron of honor. Balancing both roles — floral designer and MOH — was no small feat. I was switching between floral apron and formal dress, buckets and bouquets, laughter and logistics.

Picking up our floral order from Kennicott Brothers in Grand Rapids, we both cried!

The bride’s mom was the true MVP of the day—none of the flowers would’ve come together the way they did without her. I’ll always treasure the full day we spent together and her generous, helping hands.

What Really Goes Into Wedding Flowers?

A lot of folks don’t realize just how much goes into pulling off wedding florals. So here’s a little peek behind the scenes:

🌿 Planning & Vision:
It starts months — sometimes a year+ — ahead of time. I work with the couple (or in this case, my bestie) to understand their vision, color palette, vibe, and flower preferences. We consider seasonality, availability, and how to make the florals feel them.

✿ As a farmer-florist, I sometimes start planning a year in advance — growing specific varieties based on the couple’s vision and seasonal possibilities. But bloom timing is never guaranteed, which is why flexibility and a color palette-focused approach are key. In next week’s blog, I’ll share more about what it’s like to grow and design wedding flowers — and why working with a local flower farmer can make your florals that much more meaningful.

📦 Sourcing & Prepping:
There’s the sourcing — sometimes from my own fields, sometimes from other local growers, sometimes from our trusted wholesaler — and the timing has to be just right. Flowers are living things. They need to hydrate, open, and reach their perfect moment of bloom. That part is pure orchestration.

🛠 Mechanics & Movement:
From bouquets and boutonnieres to large-scale installations, wedding florals require real mechanics — chicken wire, floral foam alternatives, tape grids, water sources, clamps, zip ties, and sometimes literal ladders. It’s architecture meets art. (See below for a few of my go-to supplies for working with flowers in any setting.)

⏳ Time Pressure:
Wedding florals are created in a tiny window — often in 1–2 days before the event — so they’re fresh and vibrant. That means long hours of nonstop work leading right up to delivery and installation.

🚚 Transport & Setup:
Then comes the careful transport (hello, vehicle full of sloshing buckets) and on-site setup. You're battling wind, heat, timelines, and sometimes unplanned surprises (like needing to build a last-minute arch installation in a thunderstorm — yes, really).

💗 Emotion:
And finally, the emotion. Seeing your work on display, watching the bride walk down the aisle holding something you created — it’s overwhelming in the best way.

Designing wherever needed—yes, that’s a bowling center! The bride’s parents own it, and its giant cooler was a game-changer. One more piece of the puzzle we made work while I balanced being both the florist and a member of the wedding party.

Why I Still Say Yes — Even When It’s Hard

Was it exhausting? Yes. Would I do it again? Without a doubt.

There’s something sacred about creating florals for a wedding — especially when you know how important the day is to someone you love. It’s not just about pretty flowers. It’s about crafting something that will live in people’s memories, wedding albums, and hearts.

Photo credit: Nicole Jenrow, Details and Daydreams Photography

A Reminder to Other Creatives

If you’re a creative entrepreneur or fellow flower farmer: this work is hard, but it’s also heart work. It’s okay to honor your limits. It’s okay to say no sometimes — or to say yes because it matters that much to you.

I’m still tired, still recovering, still planting (hundreds of dahlias, thousands of annuals, new berry rows, and too many perennials to count!). But I’m also full — full of gratitude, pride, and the humbling joy of being trusted with someone’s most important day.

Here’s to what happens behind the stems — the sweat, the emotion, the love, and the beauty that blooms from it all.

Congratulations to the beautiful couple! It was such an honor to stand beside you and bring your floral vision to life. Thank you for trusting me—my hands, my heart, and my creative eye.

Bonus: 🌿 My Favorite Floral Design Tools & Supplies

Whether I’m arranging at the farm, on-site for a wedding, or designing in a borrowed space (hello, bowling alley cooler!), these are the tools I always have on hand. I’ve linked a few of my go-to items below—tried, true, and flower-farmer approved.

Essential Design Tools:

• Floral Clippers – Sharp, ergonomic, and perfect for everything from delicate stems to sturdy dahlias.

  • I love Modern Sprout’s floral shears—especially during dahlia season when I’m regularly dipping tools in a bleach solution between plants to prevent the spread of disease. When I need something quick and handy, I also reach for these basic snips (just a heads-up—they do tend to rust). If you're looking to stock up, this option is a great value!

• Floral Tape – The waterproof kind is a must for bouquets and installations.

• Chicken Wire Roll – Ideal for sustainable mechanics in centerpieces and foam-free design.

• Floral Frogs (Kenzans) – A game changer for bud vases and ikebana-style arrangements.

• Floral Wire & Green Paddle Wire – For boutonnieres, arches, and everything in between.

  • 24 guage floral wire — I use these or something similar to wire ranunculus and other delicate or top-heavy blooms such as anemones, peonies, tulips, etc. (this is a must especially for ranunculus)

• Floral Adhesive — Ideal for securing blooms in boutonnieres, corsages, and hair pieces without wire or tape.

• Crowning Glory Flower Spray — A finishing touch to add sparkle and elegance to your arrangements—perfect for weddings and special events.

• Zip ties - for heavy duty thick bridal bouquet stems

A Few Extras I Love:

• Flower food — not a necessity, but I do use it

• Gold Bullion Wire — I use this for flower crowns, I prefer Oasis bullion wire

• Corsage Elastic Wrist bands

• Pocket Boutonniere Sleeves

Thanks for being apart of our journey!

With muddy boots and a full heart,
Alex