Partner In Parenting

"She'll thank us one day," my husband states, his brow is furrowed and I sigh relief because I'm feeling like the bad guy again. I hear footsteps in the hall and I know the child in question is lurking just beyond the kitchen. Tears and anger--some of them mine--had swallowed up the day and I sit exhausted, but grateful to have a partner in parenting. Some days I wonder how I'm going to raise these four (five) kiddos with my own sin blaring at me loudly as I call them out on theirs. Then, he walks through the door and I remember how--with him. Together with the Lord, we are a three-stranded cord, not easily frayed, but wound up with mercy and help in times of trouble. He knows it. I know it. That's how we do this thing called parenting. 

His favourite place to be and his favourite people to be with :)

Photos below represent the beautiful workplace Terry so diligently manages and we get the benefit of enjoying the quiet and loveliness of it all on a Sunday afternoon.

Happy Father's Day to the man I love, without whom I could not do this difficult, yet rewarding occupation of motherhood.

When The Mosquitoes Have Their Way

Sugar runs through my kids' veins and that's why the mosquitoes love them. I, on the other hand, can go deep into the woods in search of interesting birds and return without too many bites--or, at least, I don't notice them. My children pick wild flowers, ride circles on the path while I stand staring into the tippy-tops of a spruce tree, and we're all happy together--that is, until they collapse in itchiness, scratching furiously and comparing mosquito-inflicted welts. It's earlier than we had hoped but it usually signals our little hike is over. Even short jaunts have treasures to be found :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Man's Trash

Doesn't the saying go, "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? Well, in this neck of the woods, when you own nurseries, dandelions are a nuisance and an ugly yellow misfortune in haphazard sprinkles on your lawn. However, for the Nursery Man's children, they're nothing short of wonderful, lovely, spectacular, golden treasures. And a whole entire field of them? Priceless.

(across the road from Auntie Julie's house)

Spring, Glorious Spring

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Creation tells of His glory and so we rejoice when we bask in what was formed when He said, "Let there be...!"

Rejoice in the glorious Spring!

When The Sign Says, "Closed"

"Closed Sundays" is what our sign reads to eager passers-by. I believe it's why God has blessed our company. They can't get in here on this special day, but we can. It's when we really get to enjoy the colour and the fragrance and the quiet. My husband checks the temperature of the greenhouse, the children run and skip and find frogs, I meander slowly with camera in hand. Everywhere, there is evidence of spring preparation but the true, over-flowing beauty of a packed nursery is yet to come. In the next week, this place will bloom into a picture-perfect garden--magazine worthy--a destination. Oh, the blessings!

Gratitude # 311-320

• "closed" days at the nursery
• "open" days at the nursery
• friends around the altar on Sunday-hungering for more of God
• fresh Monday morning schedules (like September, I begin again)
• a daughter who sees her potential at her Daddy's work
• the little party Molly put together for us this morning (complete with games, dresses, goodie bags and music)
• tadpoles and frogs
• faith in God's healing for the heads of my friends (aneurysms, migraines, depression, tumors)
• Hotwheels cars
• driving around looking at the beautiful landscapes of other homes

  "But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." (Psalm 3:3)