Lesson 1 (Lessons from the Garden)

Lesson One: We are precious.

I've already mentioned the care I took into planning my garden...if you care, see previous post. But once all the preparations were done, the real fun started. And by real fun I mean actually growing something. I planted my seeds the first week of April. I was scared to plant them because it was supposed to rain all week and I didn't want my seeds getting washed away. But my Dad gave me wisdom and said the rain would make the seeds sprout faster. (Hmmm. That line in itself could produce a whole lesson of its own.) So I planted them and allowed my kids to help which was painstaking because I wanted it to be perfect. And it was, but not in the world's way of perfect (outward appearance). It was the perfection that comes from time with your kids out in the world working in the dirt and passing on passion. 

The seeds were in and then began my least favorite of tasks. Waiting. I have never been abounding in patience. Fishing, not my thing. Boiling water, not my thing either. The list could go on, but you get the point. Something about waiting for plants to grow is different. It wasn't just patience, but excitement and expectation. Everyday I got up and watered my plants. I watched and I waited for the smallest sign of life. Clearly my eyes are aging because my kids were always the first to spot a new green shoot breaking through the ground. Every time a new sprout broke through I felt joy. My seeds were alive a thriving! If they made it through to the surface there was hope. Each day brought new wonder and awe. I wish I could video the garden at night because I swear something magical happens over night out there. The plants take all the energy from the sun and shoot it out through their little bodies and grow. I never marked anything so sometimes I wasn't even sure what was growing. I was so concerned over if they were going to grow and make it. Was that a cabbage? Why did those two sprouts look the same? What if my lavender doesn't come through? My 7 year old would tell me, "mom, just wait until they grow bigger, then you can tell what it is". Such patience found in her, that I didn't even have. 

I fill you in on all these mundane details because in them I found my first lesson. We are precious to God. If I, a mere human, could find such joy in the growth of a seed. If each seed's progress was precious to my heart...Then how much more does our Father find joy in our growth and find our lives and the details of our hearts and progress precious??? Much more. Much, much more.

I'll say it again, we are precious to Him. He delights in our progress and growth. If we are failing to thrive He is sees. He is concerned over our well-being. He watches over us and tends to us and waters us. He prepares the setting of our lives in His supreme, all-knowing ways. He uses the rain and storms to profit us. His goal is for our survival, for us to spread our roots deep where He places us and grow, grow, grow. Nothing escapes his notice when it comes to our lives. He sees us.

I've always known I was precious to Him, but I have found this knowledge grow in much deeper revelation each day I work in my garden. As I tend my garden, He tends to me. It is His grace and joy to speak to me while I do something that I love. Many lessons in my life have come through sorrow, but this one has come through joy. 

This is the Gardener's Heart: us.

The Heart of the Gardener

As I was working in my garden today I hummed a tune and I thought about the heart of the Gardener...Something I've done every day for the past 3 months. Working the garden that is, not the tune. The tune came later, after my sweet Uncle passed away. At his funeral I celebrated his life by singing one of his favorite hymns called "In the Garden". Whoever wrote this song knew what it was like to be alone with God in a little piece of Eden. Here are a bit of the lyrics:

1. I come to the garden alone,
   While the dew is still on the roses,
   And the voice I hear falling on my ear
   The Son of God discloses.
2. And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
3. And He tells me I am His own;
4. And the joy we share as we tarry there,
5. None other has ever known.

I love this hymn because it paints such a lovely picture of being with Jesus. And for someone like myself, who LOVES being outside with nature, it calls me closer. It makes me think of Adam and Eve and the incredible blessing they had to walk unhindered with their Creator in the most aesthetically beautiful place ever. It makes me want to be still for a moment and know that He is God. And because being still is not a forte of mine AT ALL, I love this song for how it moves me. 

I've long adored the sunshine...The way it creeps into my skin and leaves it's golden mark. My family can attest to my ridiculous attachment to tan skin and sun rays. I love the Georgia heat. I dare say I love the humidity. What about the mosquitoes you say?? Love em'. Just kidding, but I tolerate them. I'm a Georgia peach, I don't know anything else!! When I'm in the sun I feel utterly alive. It's probably just science, but I'd like to believe it's also deeper and more spiritual than that. I reserve the right to romanticize sunshine!

My love for gardening hasn't always been as clear, and it wasn't until a few months ago that I finally found within myself an undeniable green thumb. This year I had an unquenchable need to have a garden. I can't explain it, but I needed it. I tried one the summer I was first pregnant with Clara. But morning sickness stole my thunder and I couldn't maintain it the way I wanted. This year my heart was set. Financially I wasn't sure how I could afford what I wanted. No doubt my adoring husband would have made it possible because that's the man he is. But low and behold my parents blessed us with some raised beds and I was off and running. I spent hours putting them together and finding the perfect positions and spots. I leveled the ground, leveled my beds. I filled them with dirt that I lugged across the yard bucket by bucket... I made Jeremiah fill his truck with dirt from our families business. I mulled over which vegetables to grow and how to position them. I googled and researched. I got creative and re purposed old things and debris from fallen trees. I got OBSESSIVE. I drove my poor husband crazy. He finally said, "I don't care about your garden the way you do." I didn't hold it against him (nor should you...we have an open, honest relationship that way). And it was true, my love for these 32 square feet of land had grown deep roots. 

To say I love going out in my garden each day would be an understatement. I understand why I needed it because when I'm out there, I hear His voice falling on my ear and I soak in the sunshine and I smile. I'm so utterly happy. Which I know is not what life is all about and I know it cannot last forever. (A winter of some sort is always inevitable.) But for this season, I go out and stand in a physical parable of His love and get revelation on His work in His children. I'm looking forward to relaying these simple lessons He's given me. Stay tuned.

Moms Unite---It takes a village...

Unless you are like this woman (a humocotpus), then you need help. 

About 98% of the things I have done to improve my marriage, parenting or house running has come from advice from others or just my observing my friends' lives and stealing their cool ideas. And to all those who have lent me a proverbial hand, thank you!!!

As I was just attacking a massive pile of laundry I was reminded that I've been meaning to blog all my personal "life hacks" so maybe, other moms, can benefit/improve. If nothing else, you'll all leave with a smile and an internal pat on the back knowing that 1. moms of 4 are not superheroes and 2. I'm not as organized as you thought. So here goes, enjoy!!

Laundry:

1. I do laundry once a week. As it piles up around the house, I re-pile it in the basement (aka my laundry room).  Then on Friday I wash it load by load and re-pile it a few feet away in front of the dryer...Sometimes I wash a few loads during the week but it always stays piled until Saturday. On Saturday I lug it upstairs and dump it on my bed. That's my new thing (I figure I cannot go to sleep unless its done...Then again, I do have the spare mattress in the girls room). 

2. I utilize my kids. They pull their weight. Even lil ole Abz can carry her clean clothes to her room. The girls fold the towels and put away. They hang up all their shirts, match socks, put their clothes away. Irie is an organizing junkie like me so she keeps the drawers in order when I don't. 

3. I DO NOT iron anything unless its absolutely necessary...And by that I mean maybe 3 times a year. 

4. I DO NOT flip pants, socks or undies, etc. If it comes to me inside out, that's how it gets washed and reput in the drawers. The girls flip the shirts when they hang and the pants when they wear.

5. I DO NOT fold pajamas or abaleens clothes. 

6. I DO NOT fold underwear. Come on, I pray no one does this.

Housework:

1. I repeat, Kids. My girls can clean the bathrooms (I do mirrors and toilet bowls.)...they can sweep, clean table, vacuum. BUT if they are playing peacefully I just clean it myself and enjoy the peace.

2. If I start cleaning they get in the mood. 

3. Cleaning is not an option because I CANNOT function in mess. 

4. But I CAN function in dirt. I DO NOT deep clean but maybe once in...hardly ever. I am trying to get better about washing sheets and such...

5. Inviting people over is an good excuse to clean.

6. I unload and load dishwasher EVERY day. I used to have this complex about wasting water and would only run the dishwasher every two days. That was with 2 kids. I'm over it. 

7. I make cleaning the kitchen a personal race against time. I give myself a deadline and rush. 

8. I do not clean hoping it stays clean. But cleaning up before bedtime does give me 3 hours of clean.

Food/meals:

1. I make a monthly menu before the start of the month and I stick to it in terms of what I am making. Sometimes I have to revise mid month to accommodate for eating out/elsewhere or leftovers. 

2. I shop 3 times a month. The 1st, 10th, 20th. I shop at the cheapest places around: BJs and Food Depot. 

3. My big girls can make cereal :) My next goal is to teach them eggs and pancakes.

4. My big girls make sandwiches. LUNCH

5. We eat alot of beans, rice, chicken, fruits and veggies. I do not buy a lot of snacky foods. 

6. My menus are not complex and usually repeat alot from month to month, even every 10 days. I fight the cultural need to cook big fancy meals. If my kids are healthy and full, and the like it I'm good. 

7. I make my own spinach applesauce for Abaleen - and I use reusable baby food pouches (Little Green Food pouches on amazon).

8. I never buy chicken breasts. So much more expensive. I cook whole chickens and build my menu around it. Or a whole pork butt and get 4-5 meals out of it.  

9. I keep recipes for muffins, biscuits, basic casseroles in my head. Makes for fast cooking!!!

Fun:

1. reuse your foam hand soap pumps!!! just buy cheap soap and mix half soap and half water. viola!!

2. less toys = more play

3. allow a mess to keep a toddler happy. 

4. be healthy and exercise, you will be happier. 

5. don't always eat healthy, cause you gotta have some sugar sometimes!!!

6. when my kids utter the word bored, it means they do chores. 

7. if my kids say they are "like my slave"  (yes, that happened, clearly too much history has been learned) then threaten real slavery to me for a day

8. in house date nights = redbox, junk food, adult play time :) so cheap and fun

9. don't interrupt peacefully playing children unless their lives are in danger.

That's all I got for now.