Mary, Mary Quite Contrary...

How does your garden Grow?

Speaking of gardens...
Today was the day.  We got out peet pots and seeds and the children and I went to work.  We planted 4 kinds of tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, several kinds of squash, pumpkins, basil, and probably more that I can't remember.  Most of them will grow a few weeks and be ready to put in the ground by early to mid March.  Last year was our first year of gardening, and we got a little ahead of ourselves.  We have learned a lot.  I actually took notes :)  So this year may be even better.  My son said, "Mom can we make carrots?  I really want 'homemade' carrots."  I said, "Son, we don't 'make' the carrots.  We only plant them.  God makes them.  We just help them grow."  Then his brother chimed in (he is 4) and said, "Yeah...we don't make anything, God does."  It was a cute little moment that made me smile.

There are some things though besides vegetables and fruit that we can grow.  And we have a lot of control over them.  Today my daughter was having a particularly difficult day.  I think she is starting to get a little hormonal.  Though I hate it when my husband says I am, so I probably shouldn't say that.  I asked her today if she was happy with her mad face, stomping around the house.  She was not.  But she WAS 'growing' anger as each second went by.  Tonight we had hotdogs and applesauce.  Dinner at my house usually isn't that plain or simple.  But it was a long day and that was it.  After dinner some children made PB and Honey sandwiches and one made eggs.  That was fine by me.  But what I really found interesting was when I served the meal.  They all said "Thank you mom for this WONDERFUL (they said wonderful with great emphasis) meal."  I replied, "It isn't that great, but it is food.  Thank you for thanking me."  They then said that they were glad I made it.   Then asked if they were still hungry would I mind if they got something else.  Ummm...no.  With grateful children like that, how could I mind?  Especially when nobody asked ME to make the eggs or the PB and Honey.

I have learned over the course of mind life, but in very consentrated ways over the past 3 1/2 weeks that one can GROW gratitude.  Where does it grow?  It has grown in my heart, my thoughts, my prayers, my words, my letters, my mouth.  And the more I grow gratitude, the better I feel about: Myself, my husband, my children, my relatives, my friends, even about people that might not be "my favorite" people to hang out with.  I am seeing everyone and everything through more grateful eyes and this is indeed an interesting learning experience.

My challenge to you:  Be aware of WHAT you are growing...we can grow hate or love, anger or happiness, joy or sorrow...We can't choose what is slung at us.  But we can choose how we take it!  So Make it a good day...I think that is something we can actually make.  But for today's sake, I guess we could also say... GROW a good day!

Changing the world...ONE letter at a time!