Springtime Shenanigans

Now that it's nearly summer, it's probably time to reflect on spring.     

Adelaide has mastered sitting, and can now sit up ALL ON HER OWN.  I maybe teared up the first time she got to the sitting position on her own.  This one simple maneuver makes her seem so much more independent to me.  

Lexi helped get my square foot garden ready for planting!  She's the most enthusiastic gardening buddy. 

We planted lettuce and spinach in April.  The tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and flower seeds have also been sown.  The squirrels are staging an assault on my garden, but Lexi assures me she is monitoring the situation vigilantly. 

Definitely a future master gardener, learning the ropes. 

 Adelaide's first Easter was very memorable, and SOMEBODY had a much better attitude about Jesus this go round.  Chris and I were both glad we didn't have repeat Jesus Appreciation Probs.

Adelaide embraced her Easter basket, and the concept of the "bunny"

And seriously charmed her Uncles after Easter dinner.

We began swim lessons at the beginning of May, and our little lady is enjoying it...for the most part. 

She really likes practicing her kicks...

But She really hates being dunked.  

And if you ask her, I believe she'd tell you the water could be warmer. 

On Wednesdays after swim lessons, we often stroll the Overland Park Botanical Gardens and Arboretum.

Where we chat about our gardening adventures and admire the new blooms. 

I practice my photography skills while Adelaide snoozes.  

And we fantasize about a trip to Paris where we'd visit Monet's gardens. 

In May, Adelaide was baptized at the same church were I was baptized as an infant and Chris and I were married.

(Side note: Is my baby giving Jesus a fist pump?)  

And as an added bonus, Adelaide gave her first sermon!  

Pastor likes to walk among the congregation while preaching the sermon. This excited Adelaide, vocally, which of course attracted Pastor's attention.  Adelaide was then swooped up by Pastor, and he carried her through the sanctuary while he walked and preached.  

For 15 minutes.  

She seriously loved it, and was extraordinarily well behaved.  

I think she's got a bright future in ministry ahead of her.  

  

    

Magnolias and Mothering

If there is one hobby I hope to become truly proficient at, it's gardening.

  

Spring 2009, the beginning of my first real garden

There's something cathartic about digging your hands in soil, planting a lil bitty plant, and then watching that little bitty plant grow until it's in full bloom.

Of course the toughest part of gardening is the time between the planting and the blooming.  There's a lot of arduous work in the middle.  The watering, the weeding, the fertilizing.  You know the stuff that isn't super fun, but you have to do in order for your plant babies to even have a chance at survival.  

And then, of course, there's the waiting.  

Something like lettuce only takes a few weeks of patience to see real progress; however, if you plant a magnolia tree, you could be waiting 10+ long years for that beauty to bloom.  And that's assuming it survives. 

But to me, it's so worth the work, and the wait.     

Summer 2012, three years later, my garden in full bloom

I'm well aware that I'm not the most patient person.  Somehow gardening forces me to sloooooow down and be patient in a way no other activity can.  Gardening requires careful planning (what spot will get the most sun?), challenges any sane person's patience (why do peonies take soooooo long to actually become established and bloom after they're planted?), and definitely puts me on my knees, where I've had more then a few conversations with God.  

"A garden is a grand teacher.  It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust." -Gertrude Jekyll  

And as I planted my flowers and vegetables this year, I realized that gardening has so. many. parallels. to motherhood. 

In motherhood....

There's a lot of sowing.

As mamas we sow endless seeds of faith, kindness, honesty, gratitude, compassion, courage, strength, love, ...the list is long.

There's a lot of fertilizing, watering, tending.  

We all know those character seeds don't sprout on their own.  Children require constant tending.

 And obviously...There's a lot of waiting.

Waiting to see which of the seeds you've intentionally prepared and planted will sprout.

Will she have faith like a mustard seed?  

Will she be tough enough to deal with this fallen world, but tender enough to be compassionate?       

And with a lot of prayer, and all that tending....hopefully later, there will be a lot of blooming.