Morning thoughts from the garden...

When we closed on our house a few months ago, my mom shipped us seeds to plant a garden. I about threw them out thinking she was crazy but,  she promised she would get it all planted when she came to visit this April. I was pumped for some free garden food. It was settled. "It couldn't be to big of a project", I told myself. "Anyone can do it", I told myself.  Well, one thing led to the next and no garden was planted so it fell upon my shoulders… Little did I know!

I pretty quickly found out that gardening is for work horses! I thought you could just dig a little hole, dump some seeds in and BOOM. Nothing could have prepared me for the months of weeding, tilling, mulching, planning, pruning, planting, researching, I was getting myself into. Props to all gardeners everywhere! It was seriously like someone had handed over a prestigious research labratory to me to be in charge of. (Scary) Not even like a zoo, or something I would be good at. Me, a girl from New York, was now in charge of finding a way to grow plants out of the ground and not kill everything coming up from previous years. I had no clue what I was doing people! (Still don't) I remember literally cutting up a potato, letting it mold on the counter for 3-4 days, digging holes and throwing it in the ground. I laughed as I was doing it. I thought to myself, "If this works…it will be a miracle!" Weeks later…

Potatoes…I know, right?

Flash forward nearly three months and I am now the lady who talks to her plants and tells them to grow and that I love them. (Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I am doing this) In all seriousness, let me tell you what this experience has brought to me.

Sweet hours of talking with this girl of mine while picking weeds mixed with loads of laughs and talking about our dreams...

Visits from my little boy taking 87638763 photos of everything we're growing and me sniffing flowers…

Time talking on the phone with those I love getting advice and hearing what brought them to be master gardeners. My Father in law even put some of his own sweat into this garden while he visited. Also, reaching out to those I normally wouldn't to learn about gardening…the things that bring us together.

 Morning walks to collect flowers…

Creative sparks of great ideas...

Mostly, this sweet garden I never asked for has brought me perspective. I have cherished my time in the early morning when I wake up to tend to it. Outside, I can think clearly about my life and I feel close to God. I love that it has brought myself and my kids together. I love that all else goes away, and we just think of the task at hand, and talk, talk, talk. I am beyond thankful for these memories I never knew I needed!

I'm so excited to pop popcorn from the garden on an open campfire. Im so excited to eat fresh food from the ground, because that really is the best way. And above all, i'm so excited for the memories all this will bring. Here's hoping for a great gardening season on our frontier...