tiny seeds... dormant plants... time...

seeds planted...
flowers moved...
given time...
sun and rain...

they
are
beautiful...

How about...
you and I?

just imagine...

Sigh...

Three gardens

A perennial bed filled with itty animals, rocks and whimsy...

A mixed bed where Mary stands watch...

Even an empty annual bed where I can plant my zinnias and sunflowers...

All stand in readiness for the warm sun to awaken them...

...for seeds to be placed..

squirrels to dig them up...

for our annual "war" to begin!

Tears came to my eyes when I looked at the fruits of so many hours of love.

I'm an emotional person.

I tend to cry when I'm happy and when I'm sad too.

To see the stones placed,

the gardens edged in small pebbles

and all the planters full of dirt,

made me stand in awe.

In silence,

with a broom in my hand,

I just stared.

Unable to believe how beautiful it has turned out...

...grateful..

...happy...

...proud...

...blessed...

Seeing the future

So many times I pause and ponder the future.

Tonight,

as I looked at the new beds of perennials I have created,

I was blessed.

Being a gardener for a while now,

I am privileged to have experienced the absolute

beauty of a garden at it's height of loveliness.

As I stood looking at the beds that now contain all my beloved flowers,

I could see the future.

In my mind,

the yellows, reds and purples are ablaze.

The butterflies are floating on the breeze

and I am smiling,

covered in dirt.

I dug the roots deep enough,

that at this time of year,

there should be little transplant shock.

I'll baby them if need be for a week or two.

Then,

I'll watch as they begin to awaken,

spread together,

and form

a carpet

of color.

I am so grateful for the flowers,

for this day,

for my children.

...my job, my friends, my family.

It is hard to let go of the past.

There is a sense of emptiness...

a little melancholy.

Sometimes my faith falters.

I quiver a little and hesitate as I step forward.

Then,

I am blessed with simple things like...

worms,

blackberry bushes,

and dirt that won't come out from under my nails....

I have to smile.

Despite my small whimper...

I know,

I don't have to form a

"Cry Baby Club".

The world will be o.k.

I pray that when your emotions overshadow your good sense,

that you will be given what you need to keep walking.

I hope you know,

that if you sometimes feel the need,

to form your own local chapter of the,

"Cry Baby Club",

you are in good company!

I hope you find peace and happiness on your journey...

and maybe,

a worm or two!

May you be blessed!

New Beginnings

Today I filled my front flower bed.

It needs a few more bags of dirt.
I'm going to let it settle and then add in a little more.

To make sure my garden is all my own,

I laid down landscape fabric before I started.

My dreams may not be the same as anyone who came before me.

I want my my garden to be my own.

It took a little extra time to move the stones and lay the barrier down.

In the long run though,

I know I will be grateful.

Starting over in life is not so easy.

My garden makes me excited.

The fresh start is a challenge.

I must confess though,

the new opportunities in my personal life

often inspire nerves

that I haven't felt since my teenage years.

I chuckle at my own uncertainty some days.

I pray that as we walk the road of life,

we do not unnecessarily fear the adventures we face.

I fervently hope that we take the lessons of our past,

wrap ourselves in the "fabric" of our faith

(hopefully it will keep out weeds!)

and

step out into the sunshine.

Life is meant to be lived.

May the garden of your life be beautiful and full of good growth!