“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not labor or spin. Yet, even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed as beautifully as one of these.”
Luke 12:27 (New Living Translation)
At the end of April,
1818 Farms in Mooresville
(about 2 miles outside of Decatur) offered a curated set of 24 starter plants to create a Cut Flower Garden Collection. We are thrilled we took up this opportunity! We brought the plants home, Steve diligently dug and planted, and now we are enjoying the fruits of our labor. Every afternoon, I stroll over to our flower garden to cut a fresh, colorful bouquet. This has become such a delightful routine that I’ve told Steve we MUST continue it in the coming years.
While it’s unclear which varieties we have, according to their website, here are the types included in these collections:
Lisianthus Celebrity Rouge, Oklahoma Zinnia, Benary’s Giant Zinnia, Raspberry Ripple Zinnia, Button Box Zinnia, Gomphrena, Amaranthus, Verbena Bonariensis, Cosmos Xanthos and Double Dutch, Chief Celosia, Ageratum Red Flint, White Swan Marigold, Chedi Gold Marigold, Life Lime and Rustic Orange Coleus, Pineapple Sage, and Basil.
I’ve known about zinnias and marigolds for years, but who knew there were so many varieties?
In our small area, God’s creative handiwork creates a stunning display.
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“God has made everything beautiful in its own time.”
.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
Reflecting on beauty, diversity, and uniqueness, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to the five days spent recently with four of our granddaughters. (Can you believe we have NINE GRANDDAUGHTERS? It definitely takes time to spend quality moments with each of them.)
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“Children (which I believe extends to grandchildren) are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.”
” Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
Birtukan Elizabeth (Birti) Pearson is a 16-year-old from Thompson’s Station, TN, and will be a junior in high school this fall. Her father is a preacher, her mother a realtor, and she has two older brothers. Birti plays on the school tennis team, enjoys spending time with friends, loves shopping, babysitting, and dog-sitting, and works at Chick-Fil-A. She has a taste for Boba tea and spicy foods, especially Indian and Ethiopian cuisine. Recently, she returned from a mission trip to Belize.
Megan Rose Baggett is 15 years old and lives in Rome, GA. She is about to start her sophomore year in high school. With a father who is a prosthetist and orthotist and a mother who teaches college mathematics, she also has one older brother. Megan has received three academic awards at the end of the school year and has a passion for managing lighting in school theater productions. She has a soft spot for Dr. Pepper, chicken fingers, and fries.
Penelope Delia Rodgers is 15 years old and resides in Somerville, AL. Homeschooled, she has a father who runs an electrical testing business, a mother who is a homemaker and teacher, and a total of six siblings: two older sisters, four younger sisters, and soon-to-be four younger brothers. Penelope has acted in several local theater productions, takes violin and piano lessons, often bakes bread for her church’s communion, loves taking long walks, and is a regular babysitter for her family.
Rosemary Rebekah Rodgers is 14 years old, also being homeschooled in Somerville, AL. With a father who owns an electrical testing company, a mother who is a homemaker and teacher, and a family of three older sisters, three younger sisters, and soon-to-be four younger brothers, Rosie enjoys the outdoors and is fond of reading, often sporting a cheerful disposition. Like her sister, Rosie too has participated in several local theater productions, takes piano lessons, enjoys the show “When Calls the Heart,” and loves to browse cookbooks.
What a variety we have! They live across three Southern states, each with unique family dynamics, educational experiences, and different church affiliations, which contribute to their diverse talents and personalities. Despite these differences, they connected wonderfully and showed great respect toward their Granddaddy and me. Together, we had engaging conversations about everything from the mundane to the profound, tackling topics such as their current challenges and aspirations for the future. All four girls follow Christ and have a remarkable understanding of their Christian beliefs. We, Steve and I, marvel at the positive impact they could have on the world and their infinite potential. Daily, we keep them and our other grandchildren in our prayers.
Thus, the essence of this post is my gratitude for the blessings of this summer, especially the extra time spent with my grandchildren and the beautiful flowers adorning my yard for the first time.
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“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise!”
“Let the fields and their crops burst with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
” Psalm 96:11-12 (NLT)
What are you enjoying most this summer?
