Waiting for Spring

Late February is a tricky time of year here in Boise. We enjoy increasing hours of daylight and the warmth of the sun. Tender green shoots are emerging from the long frozen ground. And then we open the door one morning and see…snow!

Yesterday’s coating of snow has melted, however, and the familiar sweet tug of spring has returned. In our garden, the rhubarb and day lilies are coming up. There’s a profusion of buds on our lilac shrub and plum tree. When I walk our dog, I scan neighborhood yards for purple crocuses, those cheerful flowers that bravely poke through the snow.

I can hardly wait for planting time, when I can plunge my hands into the soil and smell the earth. Tending the garden brings peace and joy, as many avid gardeners will tell you.

Late winter and early spring is an emotional time for many people. Witnessing the changing seasons affects us at the deepest level, in our hearts. Maybe we’re recalling that moment when our Creator reached down and formed the first human from part of the ground.

“then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7 (ESV)

Come to think of it, humanity’s first days were spent in a garden.

“And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” Genesis 2:8 (ESV)

We join with all of creation in praising God.

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 (ESV)

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy!” Psalm 96:11-12 (ESV)

Grateful that God has given us the ability to recognize the beauty of every season. I’m praying that the promise of spring reminds us all of the promise of the cross and gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!

Settling Into Fall

After living in South Central Texas for five years, I had forgotten the joys of living within the rhythms of four seasons. It’s been seven months since we moved to Idaho, and our garden is finally settling into its fall rest after months of color and fragrance. I bought some leaf bags today, and we had our sprinkler system winterized and shut off this afternoon. The squirrels are still gathering the last of the black walnuts that have fallen from the neighbor’s tree, which now bears deep golden leaves. We are reminded to slow down and savor the cooler weather and the changing angles of the sunlight.

Some of the hardier flowers are still in bloom. One of my favorite discoveries in the garden –planted by the previous owner of our home — is a bed of gaillardia. The first blooms appeared in June and persist into late October.

There are many varieties of this long-blooming flower, with blossoms that range from    reddish orange to wine red or peach. They’re hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, and produce a low, spreading bed of profuse blooms if you keep pinching off the spent flowers. In fact, the low-growing groundcovers are taking center stage as the taller perennials finish blooming.

Before we know it, we’ll be pulling weeds and deadheading rose bushes again. Meanwhile, we’ll let the changing seasons set our pace.

Wordless Wednesday: Busy Bee

 

The bees love our hollyhocks. This week we’re celebrating the Fourth of July by celebrating the Creation!

Shared with Wordless Wednesday at Create With Joy.

 

“I’ll Be in the Garden”

So nice to be able to say “I’ll be in the garden.”  The irises have bloomed and faded, and it’s time to do some deadheading and cutting back. I take out a bag and a pair of pruning shears, and step onto our patio and yard.

 

The Idaho sunshine is more direct now, and it isn’t long before some beads of sweat appear on my forehead. I can’t believe I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of something to do outdoors, to break out of the exercise doldrums. I’m so used to living in an apartment on a major highway, I have forgotten how much I love a back yard.

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 1: 2-3

I see many things I would have overlooked on any other day. As I clip back spent stems, I have a closer look at the ground covers that wind their way through the flower beds.

I look up and see the plums on our tree, and the blossoms on the Japanese honeysuckle planted by the previous owner.

 

I fill the bag with plant debris and head back to the patio, where a new bunch of daisies are blooming.

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;

and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”

Isaiah 35:1

I shrug and wipe the sweat from my forehead with my arm, and gather some of the roses to take indoors.

 

 

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Isaiah 55:12

If it’s a Saturday afternoon, I’ll be in the garden!

 

Wordless Wednesday: More Treasures

Now that the hectic pace of moving is behind us, we can enjoy the garden that was planted by our home’s previous owner. Every few days, we notice new treasures!

 

 

We’ve added some fruit trees, including cherries and these apples. The kitchen will smell amazing later on!

Shared with Wordless Wednesday at Create With Joy.

Multitude Monday: 186-193

 

A wise friend told us the other day that home-ownership is yet another opportunity to see how Jesus answers prayers. That certainly turned out to be true last week, after we discovered a slow, bubbling leak in our front yard, coming from underground. Many phone calls followed, along with price quotes and questions about water main pipes, sprinkler control valves and frost lines. This Multitude Monday, we are indeed thankful for answered prayer and many blessings, including:

186. A much more affordable pipe repair than we had feared, completed in a few hours. How Jesus carries us through again and again!

187. Carrying water to the back yard flower beds, giving the plants CPR as we wait for a sprinkler system tune-up.  Feeling the uneven, cool ground beneath the soles of my shoes. Remembering working in a garden, years ago at my grandfather’s house. Blessed to be working in our own garden now.

188. Meeting our neighbors, waving across the street, across the yard. Respecting what has already been built, taking the first tentative steps toward belonging.

189. My first morning walk through the neighborhood…the first —  I hope — of many walks and runs!

190. Quiet evenings with the sun shining through our patio door, with no sound except for wind chime in the breeze. Able to hear ourselves think, realizing how big-city traffic had drowned out our thoughts for the past two years. Watching the birds dart through the golden light, catching bugs.

191. Watching our cat Lucky stake out his favorite new places and settle into new rituals. Catnaps under the comforter, behind the couch, in front of the door.

 

192. An impromptu late-afternoon nap for us as well, not realizing how much we needed plain old rest and sleep. Feeling the mind let go of the checklist, the number-crunching, the “don’t-forget-to” and “what-do-we-do-if.”

193. Seeing Jesus working in our everyday lives, renewing our hope. Knowing that He is here now, ready to catch us, comfort us or nudge us in a better direction.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26

I hope you’ll join us at Ann Voskamp‘s blog for more Multitudes on Mondays. See you there!

 

Multitude Monday: 178-185

 

“Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.”

Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

Early spring…what a perfect time for fresh starts, including a move to a new state! The home purchase and move took place after months — years, actually — of worries and prayers. Would we ever decide where to move? Were we waiting on the Lord’s timing? Had we misread His timing? Had we waited too long? Not long enough? The prayers of friends and family saw us through the entire process, which seemed endless during the past three months.

After an exhausting trip from Texas to Idaho, we were greeted by April showers and spring flowers at our new house. We now call Idaho home, and we feel especially blessed on this Multitude Monday. So many reasons to share gratitude…

178. A house of our own, with plenty of room and light.

 

179. Looking forward to a promising future with my husband.

180. Splashes of colors and sunlight in our front and back yards. We arrived in time to enjoy the flower beds planted by the previous owner.

 

 

181. Refreshing rain showers most of the week here in Boise, an area affected by drought.

 

182. Our cat Lucky, adjusting very well and making himself at home.

183. Spectacular views of the Rocky Mountain foothills from the city and from our street. Pictures to come!

184. Going shopping in a new town with my mom.

185. A chance to make snowballs during the drive from Texas to Idaho. What a change after that balmy Texas climate! We look forward to four seasons here in Idaho.

I hope you are enjoying the promise of spring. Have a wonderful week!

 

 

 

Multitude Monday: 156-163

If we listen and watch, God teaches us through the creation. Take plants, for example. Here in the dry, hot South Central Texas summers, we can learn a lot about gratitude from plants.

156. Reaching out to friends in other states and even other parts of the world. Sensing the warmth of friendship, in spite of all the miles.

157. Resilience and hope that brings growth and healing, whether mending bones or hearts.

158. Reaching down deep, knowing that the living water will sustain us, even in dry times.

And there are many personal reasons for gratitude this week.

159. My husband John’s good report from his 8-week post-op appointment. No more neck brace!

160. A day trip with John after he was cooped up in the house for weeks.

161. Witnessing the success of a writer friend who inspires and encourages.

162. Seeing our cat asleep in the crook of John’s arm, watching me with one sleepy eye open. Not having the heart to take a picture and disturb the snoozing kitty.

163. Unexpected inspiration from a quote by Celia Thaxter (1835-1894), fellow New Hampshire native and author of An Island Garden:

“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.”

For more Multitudes on Mondays, join us at A Holy Experience. Savor the summer and have a beautiful week!

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: Garden Color

Now we have more color in our terrace garden…my husband added crape myrtle shrubs…

 …love how they always find the sun!

Shared with Wordless Wednesday at Create With Joy and My Rural Mommy.

Multitude Monday: 135-140

Happy first week of summer, friends! Some of my reasons for gratitude this week:

135. Aroma of spaghetti sauce from the kitchen…not just any sauce, but my husband John’s awesome sauce. He’s a terrific cook, and he hasn’t been able to cook since his surgery a month ago.

So we worked together to get the ingredients in the pot for lunch.

Smells amazing in here!

136. Refreshment and renewal that comes with changing seasons.

137. Answered prayers and confirmation. Hope for our future!

138. Enjoying the weekend with John, pursuing our photography interests.

Practicing with different settings to take pictures of the night sky…

…and new crape myrtles in the terrace garden.

139. Going grocery shopping with my mom. It’s always a fun day out for us…she has a way of making ordinary days fun!

140. Green grass and green trees…a very big deal now that we’ve had rain here in south Texas. Everything had been brown and crispy the previous couple of summers. We had no idea how pretty the view was from our living room window until now!

Join us at A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Mondays!