Faster than I expected . . .

Wow! I just posted last night about our planting project, and I went today to water . . . and a bunch of them had sprouted. I'm thrilled, and my oldest boy thinks we have been given an incredible gift - and maybe we have.

If you look really close, you can see the green sprouts in the two far left pots. One of them is the sunflowers . . . and they're opening up all crazy. Big thick sprouts all kind of tangled up on each other.







I guess that's a bit hard to see, but you'll be able to tell better as they grow. I promise to post updates often.



In an effort to not lose ALL of my non-gardening readers, I do have to say that this whole project has been a bit eye-opening for me. Two months ago I would have told you I didn't have time for planting flowers. I was cramming every free moment of my life with stuff. Stuff I thought was good. People I loved and projects that seemed worthwhile, but my focus was off. I was pouring my life into bottomless pits. I was reaching for things that weren't what God had for me while ignoring things that he was repeatedly trying to bless me with. (Kind of like when your child plays with the wrapping paper instead of the real gift.)


Please don't misunderstand and think I have it all figured out because I don't. In fact the past week has been a series of impatient explosions from me and moments where I thought I might just be losing it. It got so bad one day recently my dad took over parenting for me and sent me to take a break because it was SO apparent I needed one. Yeah, I know, not so flattering, but real and authentic and honest . . . that's me.


Every day now I am honestly searching for what God has for me. I'm doing my best to surround myself with healthy relationships that push me to be who God made me to be. I'm questioning my motives and trying to eliminate the unneccesary chatter of meaningless activities and situations.


So I planted some flowers with my dad and my boys. And they're growing. And my kids love it. And I feel blessed. I feel honored to have these opportunities, and I'm praying multiple times a day for extra patience and grace and love instead of demands and threats.



Hopefully I'll be able to see myself grow as I watch my plants grow, and be reminded that sometimes the simple things in life are so much more important than the complicated things we cling to.