She sheds countless tears in mourning

Rain. At death, grasps lucid blooming

Flowers.

Her time is filled with love to dream

But hands that change,

Cannot change hours.

The hardest

Realization

Of death

Is that time

And life

Are still alive.

From dust, to life, to death, then dust--what hurts the most is waste of time.

The stories and poems in this book will take you through the extraordinary experiences of an ordinary mind.

Elizabeth McCrary has a unique method of describing intricate things in a simple manner. Throughout these pages she delves into grief, humor, sadness, love, and friendship. Additionally, she shares insight gained via personal experiences. From probing questions to exploring ideas, her writing expounds how, as a child of God, she continues to find inner strength and joy amid the darkness of life.

The following quotes are from this book's first review:

They read like biographical gems that allow a peek behind the curtain to see the real person that is Elizabeth McCrary. These stories make the poems that follow all the more exquisite. Readers can know and understand where each poem came from. And all of the poems come from real-life experiences, many of which resonated with my own life.

I highly recommend This Is Your Garden, Rose to every person who wants to understand life, themselves, and faith--more truly. (Rev. Tandy Scheffler, Minister of Care and Connection, Unitarian Universalist Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee)