This week my daughters started school. The difference in the first day of school in past years’ compared to this year is that they didn’t physically go to the school building. This year they are learning online because of the Corona Virus. There was some anxiety between my youngest daughter and I as to how she would handle learning online. Her anxiety spiked just before school was scheduled to start so we prayed for a great day and for peace knowing that everything would be fine. Once her class began she found out that second grade is really fun. My anxiety was not just how she would do with online learning, but also how she would do with her reading. Thanks be to God as she is doing better than I thought.

I recently decided it was time to take better care of myself. I have put on about 15 pounds over the past six months and it’s not sitting well with me. I haven’t had to buy larger clothes, but I am also not able to fit into some of my clothes. My first attempt at weight loss began when I started running back in March. Running did wonders for my mental health and gave me lots of energy.

A few weeks ago, I decided to gain control of my eating, both nutritionally and the amount of food I eat. I have tried this many times in the past without success so I decided it was time to work with a dietitian. My first appointment was virtual since we are still under quarantine due to Corona Virus. I was pleased with how the appointment went and I think it is a very doable plan. Now for the implementation phase. This is where I typically lose interest or lack discipline. However, this time I am not only working with a dietitian, but I am also working with God. I believe He is the one who brought me to this dietitian and I believe the time is now to start taking better care of my health. It helps to have activity-based goals that will push me to do my best.

I am in a learning phase of life and my goal is to become more focused on my health and well-being as it affects more than me. My family, friends, and job depend on my taking care of myself. That aside, I simply want to live the best life I can.

Yesterday, I spent time in our chicken yard planting flowers and grasses that the chickens could eat. The purpose is to give them different treats plus to beautify their yard. As the picture above shows, they approve of the plants that I added.

While I was outside, I talked to the chickens and simply enjoyed spending time outside surrounded by God’s creation. I was outside early enough to be able to see the sun rise above the tree line. Though it was humid outside, I was done with my planting before it started to get hot.

I got the privilege of seeing a yellow-crowned night heron in the chicken yard. I frequently see the night herons and white ibis in our chicken yard. We are fortunate to have a spacious fenced-in area for our chickens to free range safely. Though there are hawks nesting or resting nearby, they have managed to stay safe.

After my time spent outside with God, I came inside for church. It was a very praise-worthy service and enhanced my worshipful mindset. I thank God for days like this where I can spend time with Him.

This morning I spent time watering my plants and trimming them back. I also transplanted several of my plants as they were either growing in the wrong space or needed a bigger pot.

The beauty of gardening is that I get a chance to prune back plants and see how they turn out with a little trimming. When I transplant a plant, I get to choose where I want it to grow or I can put it in a place where it will thrive.

Recently, I had two instances where transplanting/moving plants made a huge difference. The first was when I moved my angel trumpet plants to a shady spot in the front of the house. They were not happy at all and started to actually look sick. Once I moved them back to their original spot in my backyard, where it is sunny, they were very happy. I even managed to take cuttings and make two more pots of trumpets. They have even flowered in their new location.

The other instance was a plant a friend had given me that I had in a pot on my front porch. It was doing okay, but it looked like it would do better in a sunnier location. Turns out that I was right … the plant couldn’t be happier than where it is growing now. The plant is also very hardy as I have pruned it back a couple of times and it does not show any signs of stress. I love having plants that not only survive in the heat, but actually thrive. I consider myself to be a pretty good gardener, but I could only do so much when I don’t know what I am working with.

Today, I transplanted a flowering “weed” from a flowerbed where it did not belong into a pot. It turns out that this “weed” is an Asiatic Dayflower – a weed that is resistant to herbicides. I don’t know if the weed will survive transplanting, but if it doesn’t at least I am not out any money. 

I liken the pruning and transplant process to how God is with me. As necessary, He works with me and molds me into the person He created me to be. In other cases, He pulls me out of situations that are not healthy for me so that I can blossom into His creation. My time spent out in my garden is always profitable in that I enjoy seeing how God is using my plants to create homes for lizards, frogs, and even earthworms.