We've Landed

We are officially Washingtonians. That is a strange statement to make. Granted, I've dreamt for years of finally calling Washington home. But the concept of actually making a life here (possibly) escaped me. Let me explain that some. Of course, before our move, I could lose hours day-dreaming of what our life here would be like. I had it all mapped out - I would wake each morning with the morning light, dawn my cowboy boots and meander out to my beautifully established garden bursting with colorful flowers, plump ripe fruit and so many vegetables I'd have to plead with neighbors to take some off my soil covered hands. Around my garden you would see my perfectly posh chickens, who, of course, only pooped where told and every day laid the most glorious eggs as gifts for my family. Can we reiterate that this was indeed a fantasy day dream and not reality?
 Poop patrol

Fast forward to the now and I am limping along the journey of my reality. Now, before I delve further, having you convinced I'm a whiner far better suited for dreaming than doing, let me say that I did know there would be a lot of work in my future if I were to ever come close to the fantasy day-dream I entertained for so long. I knew that chickens were rude and crapped anywhere and everywhere and if you don't contain them they will soil everything in their path. I knew the garden would be empty boxes that needed to be filled, planted, tended to and loved. I knew I was in for a crash course in the school of hard knocks. So, none of this is a shock to me.

What I wasn't expecting in the last almost four months of being here is the lesson's God would be delivering to me. You see, in faith, just as in life, its too easy to assume things will just work out. That the day-dream we've concocted within our minds of how we want our lives to play out will just happen - without our having to work at it. Like my garden, my faith will need me to plant seeds of trust in God and tend to them each day. If any of you have a garden or even just a house plant, you know that ignoring that plant for just one day can lead to drooping leaves, dry soil and even unwanted critters moving in on it. Don't make me mention weeds because we both can probably grasp that metaphor easily.... I will be the first to admit that where my faith is concerned, I've gotten lazy.

When we first got here I was enthusiastic about attending a new church, I dutifully turned to my bible to be filled spiritually and I prayed with a grateful and open heart. I woke up early one morning before anyone else and set out to work in the garden. All around me the birds where singing - welcoming the morning and the air was cool and perfect for the work I was doing. I pulled weeds from the abandoned garden, moved soil and filled beds. I praised God while I worked and thanked Him for bring us here. But before long, the heat set in and each day that came I found myself coming up with excuses as to why I couldn't tend to my garden. Before long the weeds took over again and now I will have to start over.
 Sad garden beds
 Sad little fruit tree

I hadn't attended church in weeks and rarely cracked open my bible. Even the daily emails I received from Proverbs 31 were going unread. I don't even want to look at how many I have unopened in my inbox. It's no wonder I was starting to feel lost. I have been lost! On Sunday I rallied the troops (by troops I mean all two of us) and we headed to church. My son adores attending Sunday school and my lack of attendance was not only not cool but was keeping him from something he genuinely loves. Not to mention he often brought up Jesus to me and how he wants to be like Jesus so if that wasn't the good Lord prodding me, well then I don't know what is. I arrived with little expectations but was met head on with a kick in the pants because the sermon of the day was on complacency and the false expectation that if you believe then, "your life will just be perfect and everything will be perfect!" If you're still with me, perhaps at this point you can guess where I'm headed next. I realized rather quickly that I had not only been complacent with my duties at home but I had also been complacent with my faith. I wasn't putting the work into either and yet here I was with an expectation that my garden would still turn out epic and my faith was just fine as is. I mean, I love God and believe in Him so I don't really need to spend time studying the word each day, right? I also, love fresh produce so I suppose if I will my garden to produce it just will, right??

Well, I took that sermon to heart and was genuinely disappointed when it was over. I would be lying if I said I walked out of there and immediately came home and hit my To Do list hard. I actually came home and continued to have excuses as to why I couldn't work in my garden yet. But I did pick up my bible and my study book. I did spend time talking with God and you know what? I felt refreshed. I felt inspired and I felt ready. Its only been two days so I can't close this post with an amazing picture of a now lush garden and give you some inspirational quote to tag it with. I have a lot of work to do before even a single bud will bloom there. But I do know that with hard work my garden will grow. What grows will depend on how well I tend it.


Proverbs 12:11 The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.

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