This summer I have attempted my first ever vegetable garden. The house we are currently living in has a gorgeous big back yard and is perfect for a large garden.
Lesson #1: Do not be to proud to accept help
We have had some very gracious neighbors who have helped and given lots of advice. Our next door neighbor who is a "retired farmer" has a huge meticulous garden. His wife humbly told me it was always his dream to have a big garden but he never had time when he was farming. She hesitantly after much persisting took the few dollars I offered in exchange for the corn seed they had given. But she made sure to send me home with a bag full of home-made fasnachts. I don't even really like donuts but if you have never had a true home-made fasnacht you have not lived!
Lesson #2: Be persistent
The start to my garden was a little rocky. My peas which were planted a little late never sprouted. Apparently there was some worm that was eating them this year. A few other things I planted by seed never sprouted either. But I was determined to press on. I walked down the road to the local greenhouse and bought several tomato and pepper plants. We then planted corn, green beans, cucumbers and lettuce, all of which have done great.
Lesson #3: Always let the little ones help
There is something amazing about planting seeds, watching them grow, harvesting and then preparing and eating it. Not to mention delicious. It has been wonderful for my sons to help in the process as well. They now understand that corn, green beans, tomatoes don't come from the freezer or can. I had my frustrating moments of watching them trample seedlings or pick green tomatoes but I know the value of what they were learning is irreplaceable. The other day I was preparing lunch and I told my 3 year-old son to go to the garden and pick the reddest tomato he could find and he did and we ate it for lunch. Today my 1 1/2 year-old son was kept busy for quite awhile by helping to peel off the husk from our corn.
I have a new found respect for farmers. I don't have to go very far back to find farmers on both sides of my family. In fact I only have to go to my grandparents. Both my maternal and paternal grandparents were in to some sort of farming for larger periods of their lives. But I cannot imagine having your livelihood dependent on the weather and how your crops do that year.
Thankfully my livelihood is not dependent on my garden but we have been enjoying the bounty of fresh vegetables from garden to table!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Sweet Grace of a 3 Year-old
Ok, so I know it's been almost a month since I wrote a post. What can I say, summertime is a busy time of year and it finds me outdoors away from the computer a lot. This I am not sad about as sometimes I fear the internet is a time sucker and as you all know time is the greatest gift.
But an incident that happened today between me and my 3 year-old begs to be written about. My children continue to test and teach me everyday!
It was 10a.m. and we were trying to get out the door to run a few errands. They were playing outside for a few minutes while I quickly hung a load of laundry on the wash line before we left. As I was shooing them towards the car my 3 year-old son announced that he was hungry for breakfast. I was quite irritated because like 3 year-olds can often be, he had been stubborn at 8a.m. when we all sat up to eat breakfast and refused to sit up and eat. But I felt guilty because I had not pushed the issue too much this particular morning and had not made him sit and eat. So, due to my lack of follow through earlier I knew he indeed was probably hungry and marched them back into the house so he could eat some cereal. This did not make my 18 month-old son happy because he was ready to "go bye-bye" as he says and he had indeed ate breakfast this morning at the appropriate time. So as I was trying to quiet the fussing of one and watch the other ever so slowly and non-challantly eat his cereal, I off-handedly made the comment that "I am losing my patience".
Several minutes later my 3 year-old son said "Mommy, you lost your patience, but you will find more". This stopped me cold in my tracks and I turned slowly to him and looked at his earnest and sincere face. I knew it was time to apoligize, I said "I'm sorry, you are right I did lose my patience and you are right I always do find more". He then went on to say "I like you and I love you mommy, give me a hug". So I went over to him and he sweetly wrapped his little arms around my neck and hugged me tight.
Wow, what a humbling moment. To be extended grace ever so sweetly by my 3 year-old when I was the one clearly in the wrong. He simply pointed out what I had done, reminded me I could do better, forgave me and told me he likes and loves me. He did not pout, complain, get angry and hold a grudge the way I sometimes do when someone is in the wrong against me.
The lessons we can learn from the pure hearts of children are ASTOUNDING.
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" 1 Peter 4:8
Ironincally, I had just read and copied this verse down yesterday. He showed it to me in life and breath. No wonder Jesus said we should come to him as little children.
"And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:3
Grace given to me sweetly today by my son. Grace given to me daily by my heavenly father. I do not deserve but they give. May I give the same to others undeserving in love.
But an incident that happened today between me and my 3 year-old begs to be written about. My children continue to test and teach me everyday!
It was 10a.m. and we were trying to get out the door to run a few errands. They were playing outside for a few minutes while I quickly hung a load of laundry on the wash line before we left. As I was shooing them towards the car my 3 year-old son announced that he was hungry for breakfast. I was quite irritated because like 3 year-olds can often be, he had been stubborn at 8a.m. when we all sat up to eat breakfast and refused to sit up and eat. But I felt guilty because I had not pushed the issue too much this particular morning and had not made him sit and eat. So, due to my lack of follow through earlier I knew he indeed was probably hungry and marched them back into the house so he could eat some cereal. This did not make my 18 month-old son happy because he was ready to "go bye-bye" as he says and he had indeed ate breakfast this morning at the appropriate time. So as I was trying to quiet the fussing of one and watch the other ever so slowly and non-challantly eat his cereal, I off-handedly made the comment that "I am losing my patience".
Several minutes later my 3 year-old son said "Mommy, you lost your patience, but you will find more". This stopped me cold in my tracks and I turned slowly to him and looked at his earnest and sincere face. I knew it was time to apoligize, I said "I'm sorry, you are right I did lose my patience and you are right I always do find more". He then went on to say "I like you and I love you mommy, give me a hug". So I went over to him and he sweetly wrapped his little arms around my neck and hugged me tight.
Wow, what a humbling moment. To be extended grace ever so sweetly by my 3 year-old when I was the one clearly in the wrong. He simply pointed out what I had done, reminded me I could do better, forgave me and told me he likes and loves me. He did not pout, complain, get angry and hold a grudge the way I sometimes do when someone is in the wrong against me.
The lessons we can learn from the pure hearts of children are ASTOUNDING.
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" 1 Peter 4:8
Ironincally, I had just read and copied this verse down yesterday. He showed it to me in life and breath. No wonder Jesus said we should come to him as little children.
"And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:3
Grace given to me sweetly today by my son. Grace given to me daily by my heavenly father. I do not deserve but they give. May I give the same to others undeserving in love.
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