Bloom Where You are Planted . . . And Other Lessons from the Garden

A funny thing happened this summer. After planting the garden, I took all the leftover garden seeds into the house. However, I must have dropped one right at the bottom of our back steps. This is the door we use all the time, and there is gravel at the bottom of the steps. After awhile, I noticed a small plant growing up through the rocks. At first, I thought it was a weed, but upon closer examination, I discovered that it was a pea plant. I considered pulling it--certainly there wasn't any chance for survival right there--but I didn't. I decided to just leave it alone, but didn't have much hope for the poor thing. It wasn't going to get watered at all, and it would probably be stepped on numerous times. Time passed, and it grew, but just a little. It was definitely behind the pea plants in the garden, and I still thought it would just be a matter of time before it shriveled up and died. But I was a little curious to see what would happen, so I really tried to not step on it every time I passed over. It only grew to be about three inches in each direction, but in September, it produced. Yep, a single pea pod appeared and soon was full of mature peas. What a miracle! I learned from this little pea plant that no matter where you end up, even if it is accidental and far less than ideal, you can still fulfill your purpose. This was just one of several lessons I learned from my garden this year.

Lesson #2: Last summer, I bought a bush that I really like and stuck in right in the center of our front island. It was supposed to be a focal point, and I was really excited about how it thrived through the summer. However, I didn't protect it for the winter, and the deer also really liked the look (and the taste, apparently) of this poor little bush. When spring came, I was very upset to discover that every little branch had been chewed down to tiny stubs. Dead, for sure. Later in the spring, I noticed one small green leaf on one of the stubby branches. It was alive after all! Beaten down--yes--but alive. I didn't have the heart to just kill it by tossing it aside, but I also knew that it wouldn't be able to rejuvinate fast enough (if at all) to be the center bush in the island this summer, so I replaced it with a new one, and moved it to another place in another flower bed. During my rounds, I'd always check on it, and was always amazed that it was still alive and growing little by little. It is still far from the bush it once was, but it's surviving. At the same time that I transplanted this resilient bush, I bought my flowers from my mom and planted them. I was amazed at how many of them couldn't handle the simple move from the 4-pack planters where they were very happy to my soil. They looked sick almost immediately and within a week or two were completely dead. I learned that this is a lot like people. Some people can go through trials of all kinds, and be uprooted, moved, and have to struggle just to survive, and THEY MAKE IT! At the same time, some people allow one small change in circumstances to totally ruin them. I want to be like my little bush!

Lesson #3: Planting a lawn, garden, trees, bushes, flowers, etc. has given me a small glimpse of how our Heavenly Father knows each one of us. I've always wondered how--with so many billions of people that have existed on the earth--our Heavenly Father can know and care about each one. The answer is: We are his work. His sole purpose is to help us grow. Even though I spent far less time out among plants than I would have liked to, I knew the status of each plant. I knew that the third petunia from the left in the bottom tie-wall bed was suffering, and that the cosmos in the center of the island looked phenomenal. I realized that the rose bush at the end of the house needed a little more water than the sprinkler was giving it, and that if my bleeding heart was going to survive, it would need a lot of TLC. Heavenly Father also knows us, not as a whole group, but as individuals with individual strengths, weaknesses, and needs. And he cares far more than I am capable of caring for my little plants.

Lesson #4: Plants are also kind of like kids. I have a wonderful natural fertilizer that I use in my flowerbeds. Each year for our ranch's bull sale, they prepare the barn for people by laying down wood chips to cover that manure that has piled up in there during the past year. When they clean it out, they just pile up this wood chip/manure mixture and let it sit. One such pile is beautiful and black, and very close to my house. I wheel my wheelbarrow over to it several times during the summer and come back to my flowerbed with the magic ingredient for growing happy, vibrant flowers. After having much success with this fertilizer in my flower garden, I was sure it would also give me a beautiful vegetable garden. Last summer I planted peas, and found that the fertilizer was just perfect for them, too. This summer, we expanded our garden, and after planting, I laid down generous amounts of the magic manure over all of it. I had high expectations for a bountiful harvest. And it wasn't all bad, but my green beans were NOT happy. As soon as they grew up and poked through the manure mix, they burned up. I was so disappointed. How could my tried and true magic mix not work? And then it dawned on me--beans are not the same as peas. Sounds simple, right? But often I don't fully understand this in parenting. After having my first child, I had some "tried and true" methods for teaching, training, and disciplining children. But with the next child, they didn't all work. I had to try something new and discover what worked for that child. And it's the same with my garden. Next summer I'll make some adjustments and hopefully we can enjoy some hearty green beans.

Growing up, I didn't see what all the fuss was about with planting and growing things. I knew my mom was obsessed, but couldn't figure why. But I'm starting to get it. Every seed is a miracle waiting to happen, and I can't wait to learn more lessons from future gardens.

Fruits of our Labors

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL fall day, and I enjoyed it by spending a little time in the garden harvesting our root vegetables. We got some small onions, a few carrots, and three types of potatoes. Although our harvest was pretty meager, I'm excited about enjoying our home-grown vegetables. It was one of those days where you're sure you need a sweater, and you start out with one, but after working for about five minutes, you take it off and feel just right in your shirt sleeves. I just wish I could somehow blog the smell and the feel of the crisp fall air yesterday, but alas, all you get is a picture of our meager harvest and one of Mylie Jo enjoying a yummy carrot.

Renewed Motivation

Just over a month ago, I ran a half marathon that I had spent the spring and summer preparing for. I went above and beyond my goals, and was very excited about how the race went. But then the next week, I had no desire to run. I had already "done it" and now didn't know what I wanted to do. For the next couple weeks, I struggled each day to motivate myself to get outside or on the treadmill. I only ran a couple times a week, and was starting to really feel lousy. Then last week, I got out my Ensign and hopped on the treadmill. My treadmill has a ledge to prop up a book or magazine, and I really enjoy reading while I run. This morning, after stepping off the treadmill after a good run and a great read (every month's edition is PACKED with great articles), I couldn't wait to read again tomorrow. And I guess I'll get a run in while I'm at it.

Girl Party

Since school has started, there has been a lot of "girls only" time at our house. Tony and Connor head off to school, leaving just Mariah, Mylie and me to spend the day together. Mylie refers to this is a girl party almost daily. So today, we actually had a mini girl party. The girls took a bath, then got dressed in matching outfits and got their hair done so we could take some cute pictures. Mylie got her first ever french braids, and Mariah got her first pigtail, which is really a pretty sorry, albeit cute, imitation. I love these girls and am grateful for the opportunity to have "girl parties" with them every day.
**By the way, the outfits are from the Children's Place. If you have kids, you've got to check out their website. They have cute, quality clothing at great prices. I love shopping their clearance, and buying matching outfits for the girls. These particular outfits were only $8 apiece for the jacket and pants.**

I love FALL!

Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. I love the 70 degree temps, the crisp mornings, the smell in the air, and the start of school, volleyball, and football! I also love the colors of fall with the changing leaves. It's just beautiful. I only wish it could last longer! Anyway, today was just a gorgeous day, so we decided to spend some Sunday evening time down at "the river bottoms." This is a little place just about a mile or two from our house on some of the ranch's land, but it feels like you're out away from the entire world when you're there. It's just BEAUTIFUL! Here's how we enjoyed our evening:

A little game of KICK THE CAN!

Getting absolutely filthy!

A walk down to the river.

Precariously crossing the little water in order to get to the BIG water.

The BIG water! You know how kids love this.

I loved this little series of photos: (my thoughts) Mylie is so funny!

EEWWW, gross nose!

These pants are already dirty, so what's a little snot at this point?!?

Triathlon STUD Tony

Yesterday, Tony competed in a team triathlon event called 8 Hours of Triathlon in Denver. It's a one of a kind event, and this is his second year doing it. Someday, I hope to either do it with him or at least be there to see him do it, but so far, it's conflicted with volleyball both years. Tony loves doing it, and is thinking he wants to try the solo event next year--a little crazy, but cool!

The way the race works is that your team has to complete as many triathlons as you can (tag-team style) in eight hours. You can divide up the legs any way you want. So Tony did one swim, two runs, and three bikes for his team. He did it with his brother Matt, sister Haley, and a friend of hers. I wish Tony had taken a picture of their whole team, but he did get some other good pictures.

The swim is in open water, and since it IS the end of September, the water pretty cold. Thank heaven for wet suits! (By the way, if I ever do this with him, I will NOT do the swimming. I think I'd have a panic attack out in that open water and drown!)

This is their team camp where they would wait their turn, rest, and refuel.

Here's a handoff. Tony just finished swimming, and has to give the wrist band to Matt, who will swipe it at the beginning and end of his bike ride. This way they can keep track of all the teams.

An added perk of this race is the cool shoes they give to the first however many people that register. These are triathlon shoes and Tony loves them! They are a little bright, but are well-made.

Congrats, Tony!!! You are AMAZING!

The BIG 6!!

So my little boy turned 6 this month! I can hardly believe it. He's growing up so much. Right now, he LOVES kindergarten and football. When I told my dad that Connor's favorite thing about school is recess, he said, "Good." I agree.

Connor got a football and some cleats for his birthday. He was SO excited!

Connor is very easy to please with a birthday cake. He always just wants cheesecak--the jello no-bake out-of-the-box variety. Then decorate the top with a couple toys, this year: race cars! I love it! Mylie, however, has already put in an order for a barbie princess cake, and I don't have the first clue how to do that! So any cake decorators out there . . . HELP!!

Just a random photo. Connor wanted to see how big he could blow up a balloon without it popping. I never imagined it would get this big. He was pretty proud of himself.

And finally, last week I got a phone message from Connor's teacher. When I heard, "Hello Taffy, this is Mrs. Woodbury," I didn't think I wanted to hear the message. Oh great! What's the problem. But then she proceeded to tell me that Connor was going to get an award at school called "Kindergartener Caught Being Kind." Tony and I both went to school the next morning to watch him get this award. Here he is holding the award, which has a picture of him opening a milk jug for another kid that couldn't figure it out. Simple, I know, but this is the kind of thing that makes a mom SOOOO proud.