I was on my way to speak at an engagement and just praying that God would give me the right words to say with these ladies. And I got a call from my 8 year old to tell me that he found a cucumber in the garden-”that’s as looong as my arm, mom!!!
That is a pretty huge kuke, in reality, it was over 10 inches long. (His arm is a little longer)
But I was just ecstatic to hear we were bearing fruit of any kind!!

I was at a point of almost no hope and giving up totally on the idea of having a garden in Florida. We planted late and I had no idea what I was doing, and everyone seemed to be harvesting already. We have 5 foot tall tomato plants with NO tomatoes. The weeds were overtaking, and I was having trouble coaxing any of my men out in the bugs and heat to even de-weed and clean it out.

I was praying for some evidence of my efforts, a gleam of light and merciful growth, and just to cover all my bases, I started dousing the garden with Miracle-Gro as well.

couldn’t hurt.

I was blown away with the news this morning, and not only was it so exciting to have something to EAT from our yard, but the peppers are turning orange as well!! (my last ones Wildman, my husband, picked early thinking they were jalopenos)

I was quickly reminded of all that God had already taught us about patience and faith and HIS mercies through the years, and here I am again learning the SAME DARN thing from my little garden.

When we had Joshua, my oldest son, he had serious congnitive and developmental delays for the eight years of his sweet life. As special needs parents, we were always looking for milestones, and would be so frustrated that he did not walk, or talk, or learn certain things when all the world expected him to.

When we even expected him to.

We’d go for years in therapies with special little walkers, and hearing aids, and speech therapy, and then, just as we began to question God and ourselves and feel like our faith was dimming, he would suddenly crawl across the floor.

then He would walk.

He would say “mama”. (He finally did this when he was eight, directing toward me, and it was like music)

late but IN HIS OWN TIME. and in God’s own time.

We learned to patiently accept Joshua’s life and his timetable, without comparison, and be so grateful for his sweet presence in our life.

So I thought that I had learned patience. In fact, I thought I was the queen of patience. But I realize that now, I do not have the same patience with my 2 typical-but-still-special boys, or my wild and unscheduled husband, or the crazy changes taking place in my life.

or even my garden.

no. But I am grateful for revelation and how God speaks throught the smallest of things, if we are listening.

So today I am really focusing on my patience with my family.

We are having big mercy salad tonight.
and this is going to be the best tasting cucumber we  ever had.

(Warning! This post is for those with a sense of humor)

When I am invited to speak sometimes, my topic usually will touch on the issue of control, and how very little we have of it. I have always been a strong, type A, red personality with a touch of blue, so my sons call me purple. I have so much more peace when everything around me is somewhat organized, and the red in me tends to delegate and organize others. But it never seems to go as planned. Since I married and subsequently had active boys, life has been full of surprises and unscripted, happen-stance that somehow evolves into life. All the world is a play. I am onstage. The lights are on, and I am the only one who knows the lines. Everyone else is acting out a different play. Ever had that dream?

So I find myself saying things I never thought I would say, doing things I never planned to do, and realizing that I do not have control, and God is constantly trying to teach me lessons here, to let go, trust Him, and enjoy the ride. “Be still..and know that I am God.”

I love to share with ladies, that although we do not always know the outcome, God has magnificent plans  for all of us, and remind them of their significance in every individual, unexpected, moment of thier lives.

Sometimes it is obvious. I know that God was holding us in His arms when I spent my first eight years as a mother with a frail and beautiful boy with special needs and a never-ending smile. I even felt God with me on the moment Joshua died in my arms in our van. I had no doubt. I feel His presence in so many little things in my day.

I know God blessed me with little pictures of His grace when I have had an exhausting day, and then I snuggle with my sons and they want to hear “Little Town on the Prairie” as we talk about the tough lessons of Pioneer living.

I know God is merciful, when I have had an emotional night whining to my husband (or even just whining to God) about my needs that are not being met. me-me-me. Then I wake up to my husband bringing me his wonderful vanilla cappucino in bed. He is speaking to me in the language that he knows, and always ready to start a new fresh day.

But most of the other little unexplainable,  instances in my life have been thrown in a bucket called patience. I feel sure that most of the unorganized, impulsive, and downright frustrating things that happen to me as mom are also part of God’s plan as well, and mostly to help me grow in patience, as we press on raising Godly, responsible young men.

For instance – Our dog loves to eat dirty laundry. i thought he had outgrown this habit, and am now wondering if it is related to his allergies, and needing meds. I just noticed him in the backyard this weekend walking in a sort-of squat, all over the yard. When I saw him walk/squatting back toward the house, I called Gibb-12 and said,”

Please come here! I need you to come help me pull something out of Cody.”

Then I thought, “I cannot believe I just said that.”

It was strands of fabric, which we discovered later was a new pair of Bear’s underwear. But I hopefully will not have to say that again for awhile.

I thought of some other little lines that have been part of my daily script:(notice most end with an exclamation. I am still working on soft-spoken-ness)

Get down off that roof right now!  and bring your brother!

Do you need a tissue for that?

You have to wear underwear with the school uniform!

Take all the lizards back outside!

HOW did you staple your fingers together?

Okay, go hose each other down before you come in. ..and hose down the sides of the house too.

We do NOT karate punch the sheet-rock!

where are your shoes? we just drove all the way to NC, where are your shoes?

Do you need a tissue for that?

No more body-noises at the table!

Here-on-out, all urinating WILL be done IN the house, in a bathroom!!!

My boys are NOT going to look for alligators! (when we had a boat)..(and my husband took them anyway)

go back and put on underwear for church.

Dig your brother up right now, and fill the hole!

Bear, you cannot just PUT McCain signs in other people’s yards!

Why are apple cores under your bed?

Do you need a tissue for that?

Where are your shoes?

No more drawing on the walls! (my mother is laughing at this one!)

We do not use a leaf blower to dust the house!

Why are you sticking tweezers up his nose? (My husband found a raisin, swollen to a grape size.) (Bear was a toddler.)

I am sure all of these times are small threads in the elaborate fabrics of God’s magnificent plan for us. One day I will see the bigger picture.

In the meantime, I am being called back to the stage.

And there is no dress rehearsal.

Jeremiah 29:11″For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”