I started tearing out
all of the landscaping around our house and pool.
It was overgrown and
had not been tended to for years.
It looked like a
daunting task, but bit by bit, the trees, shrubs and overgrown plants were
removed!
Don rented a backhoe
to remove the stumps, which was a huge help!
The project didn’t
stop there!
We purchased new Holly
Berry plants, Spirea plants and lots of Day Lilies and Hosta plants to replace
the previous landscaping!
And then added fresh
mulch to complete the project!
Though we added
several plants last year, I knew that I would need to add more plants this
summer to continue filling in the bare areas!
When I heard that Zach
and Rachel were splitting some of their Day Lilies to sell so that they could
donate the money to their church for service outreach projects, I quickly asked
if could purchase some day lilies from them.
Rachel, the boys and I
spent one morning digging and separating day lilies! We planted many of the plants that afternoon!
It was hot and dry and
I was concerned the little plants wouldn’t survive, but was hopeful!
We lost a few in the
transplanting process, but several seem to be doing well!
Rachel’s mom, Laura,
heard about this and said she had several day lilies and Hosta plants that
needed to be separated and that I was welcome to them!
I was quite excited to
learn this news and was so thankful for her offer of plants!
I told her that I
would be happy to come over and help dig and separate the plants!
However, we both have
busy schedules, so trying to find a time to meet was no easy task!
Laura sent me a text
right before she and her husband left for a mission trip, letting me know that
I was welcome to come over and get some plants while they were gone!
I was hesitant to dig
up and separate her plants, fearful that I would destroy the plants left
behind.
But we had a huge
rainfall one Sunday morning/early afternoon, so I thought this might be a good
time to separate some of her plants.
I was hoping that the
wet ground would provide me an opportunity to dig up the plants a little more
easily, while not damaging the plants left behind!
So, with shovel, spade
and a large tote in two, I headed to my friend’s house to begin this task!
I was correct. The plants dug up much more easily than they
had a few weeks ago. Also, I noticed
that they separated a little more easily, so I was encouraged to continue on!
I was trying to be
careful with each plant, making sure that I filled dirt back in around the
plant that I was working with…patting it firmly down around all of the roots,
hoping it would continue to thrive in the moist ground!
I also tried to push
their landscaping rock back around the plants, hoping that it would look
untouched!
And then I prayed that
each plant would not be traumatized by the separation and uprooting that was
taking place around them!
I wanted to leave
their yard…their landscaping…in the beautiful shape it was in when I arrived!
As I walked and worked
around their yard, I wondered what their neighbors were thinking?
Whose car was parked
in the driveway?
Who was the stranger
digging in their landscaping?
At one point, it
started pouring, so I didn’t have time to gather my tools, plants and get in
the car before getting soaked, so I jumped up on their porch and sat there
until the rain subsided!
I did smile at the
thought of the sight that I was portraying!
Muddy toes and flip
flops…muddy gloves on my hands…grass and dirt on my knees from digging…and I
can only imagine what the humidity was doing to my hair!
I’m sure I was quite
the site!
I wondered what I
would say or do if a neighbor questioned me?
Or worse yet, what if
a neighbor reported a suspicious character in my friend’s yard and called the
police?
Though I had my dear
friend’s permission, how would I explain what I was doing while they were on a
mission trip in Cuba?
Would they believe I
had permission to be there?
The thought of being
suspected of thievery or being somewhere I shouldn’t be was a little unnerving!
And though I am no
thief, there is a very real thief that continually is prowling around us!
God’s word tells us…”Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour”…1 Peter 5:8.
We need to remain
sober so that we can be vigilant – wide awake…alert, so that we can be watchful
over ourselves and others.
The devil, just as a
lion does, goes around looking for prey to devour.
Unsuspecting pray!
He is looking for
someone he may assault with the greatest likelihood of success!
When a lion is
hunting, it only roars when it springs upon his prey. The devil does the same, not giving warning
when he is approaching! So, we must
remain alert at all times.
And though the thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy, God’s word also reminds us…”I have come that they may have life, and
have it to the full”…John 10:10.
Satan comes to steal
and to kill and to destroy.
But Jesus came once
for all, that in Him we may have life!
And life to the
full! The life through HIM is full…abundant…overflowing!
All we have to do is
receive it!
I’m so thankful that I
have accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior!
And he is with
me…always!
I pray that you too
are experiencing the abundant life that HE has for you as well!
Bless you dear ones!
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