Garden Grove

Let's talk about one of my favorite things about our new place.  The yard.  Obvious, I know, but I am loving it.  Yes, the boys get to play outside more, and yadda, yadda, yadda.  But let me tell you, Mama is loving it too!  It's so nice for me to get to play in the dirt.  I know I should wait and see if we can actually get some vegetables out of this, but I'm excited at the progress already.  Here's a little look at our growing vegetable garden.  

Imagine the whole side of the house, looking like that mess. Weeds fighting through pine needles. The first weekend we were in our rental, we cleared the bed and got the seeds planted. Priorities!
  

Daddy and the boys working hard to clear the bed.

Caelum working extra hard.

Yack...but getting better!

Sweet boys painting row markers for me.

A few weeks later, and we had little baby squash plants and carrot seedlings! My green thumb is extra green because I've never had a vegetable garden before this.  It took me a few days to be convinced that they were what we had planted and not weeds.

Carrot seedlings!

Squash plants! Not weeds

It helps that the boys stay amused in the backyard, and are content to play out there everyday for as long as I desire.  This provides plenty of time for me to weed and baby the crops.  Glad I'm parenting something! Here are some recent pictures.

Starting to look like actual carrot tops

Big ole squash plants

Note how Zach has constructed a rain barrel and a drip watering system. 

The boys are good helpers.  Caelum has been particularly helpful in thinning the carrots for me.  Thanks, bud.  Zach bought the boys a little set of gardening tools and they like to really get in that dirt.  Owen has recently helped get rid of "the bad weeds that want to hurt our squash!" and is great at it.  Usually dump trucks and diggers get involved in all the fun, and eventually the hose.  Ultimately, a change of clothes is in order for the boys, but I can guarantee an entertaining morning for them, which means good naps later!

Bonus pictures:

Window box begonias

Our garden stake to top it all off, made by Grandpa Gordie.

A Coda

Greetings from North Carolina!

As a part of my rededication to blogging, I am posting on this, the very first day that we are once again connected to the World Wide Intraweb.  Yes, we have moved across the country.  Yes, it's been a busy two months.   Yes, I do plan on recapping some of our adventures and showing you our sweet home.

But first, I wanted to acknowledge and mourn the passing of Zach's Grandpa Gordon.  I am so thankful to God that in His perfect timing we were able to move here when we did.  We were able to see Grandpa Gordon twice since we've been here, and that has been such a blessing. 

We certainly saw a rapid decline from our trip in May (in which he raced around on his scooter) to when we spent the day in Gastonia in July after the move.  I know his health has been declining steadily, but there seemed to be a palpable immediacy.  On that visit in July he spoke about how amazing Grandma Dean was in taking care of him, and showed off his fancy new toilet in the basement.  The kids buzzed in and out of the basement a few times, and so he was able to see and talk to them.

Then in August, it became really clear that we needed to make another trip.  Hurray for being only two hours away so we could hop in the car one Thursday evening and make a round trip.  We were able to speak to him as he slept and say our goodbyes.  Cathy, Christy, Dean, Zach, Caelum, Owen and I all sang the doxology to him, and the boys sang 10,000 Reasons with Queenie.  Caelum's getting really good at singing and carrying a tune, and it's as natural for Owen to sing as to talk, so they jumped right into the song. 

The following Saturday night, Grandpa Gordon died.  The celebration service and burial were on Tuesday, and again, I'm so grateful that we all could be there and hear children, grandchildren, and friends share what a blessing he was in their lives.  The legacy of a believing family is such a testament to Gordie's firm faith and godly example.  I know that Zach was strongly shaped by seeing his Grandpa live out his faith and boldly proclaim to the gospel to anyone and everyone.  I know also that Zach's caring, affection, and service to me is in part modeled after the love he saw between his grandparents. 

The first time I was at Gordean's house, I was nervous as all get out, but Grandpa Gordon gave me a hug right away and made me feel so welcome.  I got the tour of the yard,  saw the stained glass project that was in progress, and learned a lot about the history of Cramerton.  Some of Zach's family joked that I didn't have to let him talk my ear off, but I was sooo happy to have a grandpa (even if not officially yet) in my life again...and such a loving, hilarious one at that!  From that first visit on, going to their house felt so comfortable and easy.  I thank God that I was able to know Grandpa Gordon these past eight years. 

 One of the sweetest memories I have of Grandpa Gordon is from the Ashton/Spencer visit to Texas when Owen was about ten weeks old.  I had put fussy Owen in the swing and was in the living room talking to the rest of the family.  When I came back to check on Owen, Grandpa Gordon was sitting in there, singing to him.  It was such a precious moment, I had to snap a few pictures.  Gordie was so often singing and now he's singing praises in Christ's presence.

PS. Hannah, Owen just pointed to the last picture and said, "There's my cousin Ashton!"