Gardens and Grace: The Tree in That Other Yard

A few weeks ago, I took a morning walk with the puppy before anyone else had gotten out of bed.  The air was crisp and clear, and the streets were still moist with dew.  It was an absolutely lovely fall morning to walk around my neighborhood.

The last couple of months have been busy, so I haven't walked as much.  Somewhere along the line, summer melted into fall, and the world came alive with color.  I was thoroughly enjoying the beauty of all the hues and textures in the neighborhood landscaping until I rounded the corner and saw it-- a glorious red tree in the front yard of a house on the next block.

Tall, stately, majestic and beautiful-- this grand, flaming-red tree.

In the midst of my admiration-- in the midst of my praise of a Creator who had the paintbrush and creativity to give us good gifts like crimson trees-- where did my fickle, weak heart want to run?

"I wish I had a red tree like that in my yard."

There it is.  I'm ashamed to admit it, but that discontentment had reared its ugly head yet again.

I thought about this all the way home.  How is it that my heart jumps so quickly to comparison, discontentment, and longing instead of thankfulness?  I've been given so much.

A few minutes later, I rounded the corner to my street and was struck by the colors in my own yard.  No, I didn't have a red tree, but the burning bushes and burgundy mums were vibrant and beautiful.

  Some white mums had actually taken on a lovely lavender tinge.

Some of the big trees had already lost their leaves, but plenty of gold remained on the other ones.  Gazing down the block, all of the colors jumped out in their glory-- one long continuous stream of fall beauty.

How is it that I see the gifts in other people's lives so much more quickly than I notice the ones in my own?  As I come to the end of the month of Thanksgiving, I'm struck again by the need to be thankful in all circumstances-- to be content with the things I have.  The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain, and I'm learning that the key to contentment is a spirit of thankfulness.

It's not even remotely productive to compare myself, my house, my yard, my children, my possessions, my husband, or my talents with the gifts God has given to others.  It is a tool of the enemy to get me to take my eyes of Christ and put them squarely on myself-- which usually just ends in disappointment and sinful attitudes.

As I pass into December-- the month of Advent and reflection on Immanuel-- I have a renewed desire to count my blessings-- to gaze intently at Christ as the first and best gift, and then be thankful for each good gift that God has given me beyond that.

The yard is now put to sleep, the lawn bags have been loaded on the truck for their composting adventure, and the time for listening in my garden has grown short, but the grace poured down continues.  Spring will come again, but for now, the winter provides time for listening in a different way.  Will I have the ears to hear?  I pray so.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

In the last few days, I've talked to several friends whose kids had a couple of days off last week due to parent-teacher conferences.  Oh, how I remember those days from when I was teaching in a traditional classroom.  They are fun for the kids, but not so much fun for the parents and teachers.

Now, when you homeschool and you're the parent and the teacher, there's really no need for a conference, right?  I mean-- I already know everything the teacher would want to say to me as a parent.  (I also know exactly what the teacher is thinking at any given moment-- which I guess could either be really helpful or really not.)

I do like the idea of the days off though.  Maybe I should schedule some parent-teacher conferences.  I can hear it now--

"Hey kids, I'll be in the family room talking to myself!"

While I'm at it, I wouldn't mind scheduling a conference with the principal when he gets home from work.  I think he's awfully nice.

And smart.

And hardworking.

And handsome.

"Hey kids, I'll be in the family room kissing the principal!"

Silly Saturday: Brown-and-Serve Rolls

This last week, our local grocery store had brown-and-serve rolls for buy one, get one free, so I bought several packages.  These rolls come 12 to a package, so with a family of six, that means 2 rolls per person at dinner.

Apparently, though, that wasn't enough one night, and the kids begged me to make some more.  I guess there's just something wonderful about a warm dinner roll on a cold night.

They were so earnest, that I finally decided to make another package.  The kids were literally standing in front of the oven counting down with the timer.  When the timer went off, Isaac, my 7-year-old, started jumping around the kitchen yelling,  "They're done.  They're done.  Let the roll-eating commence!!"

Commence. (Where do little guys get big words like that?)

Grown-up Girls and Picture Books

A grown-up girl went by herself to the library last night.  Books needed turned in, and the young ones sent a list of items they wanted her to check out.

As the girl walked through the doors into the land of children's books, a lump formed in her throat.  All those books.  Hundreds of books.  So little time. So very little time.

And there was a catch in her breath and her heart.  Picture books aren't on that list any more.  There are still hundreds of picture books left to read, even though hundreds have been read, but the requested books are now long chapter books.

"How can we be so quickly done with picture books?  How can a simple trip to the library be such a stark reminder of how quickly the time goes by?  How can these dear ones grow up so fast?  The time and days and years are flying at breakneck speed as these four tumble and stumble through the lessons that need to be taught and learned.   The children look a little less like children every day.  How does this grown-up girl redeem the time-- and redeem it without becoming overwhelmed at the enormity of the task and the flying minutes?"

Then the truth broke through the musings.

"She redeems it one book at a time, one folded shirt at a time, one dirty plate at a time, one math lesson at a time, one snuggle of a sick girl at a time, one band-aid on a boy's knee at a time, one catechism question at a time, and one "dropping-to-the-knees-to-plead-for-help" at a time.  She redeems it with a never-ending, early-morning, relentless search to find what the Great Author of Time says about numbering our days to gain a heart of wisdom as we live in a time-restricted world."

So as this grown-up girl walked past the stacks and stacks of picture books toward the stacks and stacks of chapter books, she heard her heart say, "Curious George and Pooh, stay awhile longer.  Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys will scoot down and make room.  The kids may seem to be finished with picture books for now, but none of us are ever done with good stories."

Then as she approached the first line of shelves, she remembered yet again that the innate longing for a good book and a good story is a actually a great gift from the Author of the Greatest Story of all...

...the one in which the grown-up girl is the daughter of a King whose Son died to save her life.

Of All the Funny Things...

Sometimes things happen that just make you laugh...

My kids joined a homeschool music association this year, and our oldest three are in beginning band.  I have played piano since I was a little girl, but I've never learned to play a band or orchestra instrument.  During the time I've been sitting in the band room over the last eight weeks, I have been fascinated to learn about all the different instruments.  I'm also so impressed with the fact that the band director knows how to play every single instrument!

This particular music association allows parents to take the classes for free, so I had decided that next year I would join the beginning band class and learn an instrument.  I hadn't picked an instrument yet, but I figured I would just spend the next several years in the beginning band and learn a new instrument each year-- just for the fun of it!

I was talking with the band director this last Tuesday, telling him how much I appreciate what my kids are learning.  I mentioned that I wanted to be in his band next year, and to my surprise, he said I could join now if I could find an instrument!  When I asked if he had a suggestion, he suggested trombone!

I have never pictured myself with a trombone.  French horn maybe, but trombone?

The more I thought about it, the more I thought it would be so fun to learn any instrument, including trombone.  I wrote to a friend that has played the trombone for many years to see if she had any suggestions or knew of any that I might borrow for a time.  As it turns out, she has one that I can use for awhile!

So I guess that now, for better or for worse, I'm going to learn the trombone!!  I just have to laugh.  This is going to be great fun!

Now instead of family practice sessions with a baritone, flute, and percussion (as well as the harmonica my parents sent to my youngest so he didn't feel left out), we will now have practice sessions with baritone, flute, percussion, harmonica, and trombone!

Oh, the noise and the joys!!!

I'll let you know how it goes.  This could be hilarious.

At any rate, it is another adventure for this piano teacher who is constantly preaching to her students to be life-long learners.

I guess it's time to take my own advice.

Heidi playing a trombone.  Of all the funny things!