First of May

After a week of cold, rainy weather
a walk around the yard today gathers
enough rhubarb for a pie
and asparagus - surprise!

I find I've missed seeing what grows in my lot.
You can be certain much needs to be done - a lot,
for the rain has greened the weed-filled grass
where dandelions abound in mass.

Last week's cold weather brought with it frost.
I see there are lilies done in by frost.
The wisteria got hit hard.
The Sum and Substance hosta looks sad.

Other surprises along the way
are found this beginning of May.
There are buds on the day lilies already
and the neighbor's crab apple is sooooo pretty.

The bleeding hearts show off 20 hearts on a stem.
I saw extra plants I can share with my new friends.
Lilacs are ready to burst
as soon as the sun shines forth.

Sunflower seeds dropped last year by hungry birds
have turned into seedlings, I saw on my tour.
They're growing in the vegetable garden,
which needs to be tilled one day, then tend.

Yes, there are dandelions aplenty.
If only I had a shiny penny
for each one, I'd be quite rich -
though in blessings I am rich.

Songbirds and tree toads now heard in chorus,
together making quite a ruckus
saying it's the end of another day.
April has been spent.  It's already May.

Bothersome nasty gnats.
I'm thinking I'll scat.
Tonight's sprinkle turns into a shower.
You'll now find me heading for the shower.

 - - - - -

The first of May
is a glad day
for a gardener's pay
come with daily sun rays,
the caw-cawing of blue jays,
busy bees buzzing away,
later a spring shower on everything lays.
Before you know it, it will be time to cut hay.
I'll cut a tulip and lilac bouquet to give away
for fragrant flowers abound throughout the month of May.
As the season progresses there will be other bouquets.
Peonies, roses, cone flowers to brighten someone's day.
There's much to be glad about today.
I know you agree with me.  Hurray!

* * * * *

Do you keep a diary
of what makes you happy?
We tend to forget the happy days
when anxiety fills up our days.

There really are more happy days
then there are sad, worrisome days.
A diary will help you remember these
as happy memories always please.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.
Proverbs 15:13

Sunshines

On Sunday I saw the first one.
I thought to myself, "how fun!"
It reminded me of when I was young.

Monday I did not see a one
as we had an all-day rain storm.
We needed the rain more than sun.

Tuesday I saw a few.  I could count one plus one.
They looked like little smiley faces, little suns.
I told someone about them when I talked on the phone.

Wednesday I wasn't at home.
Didn't pay any attention.
I had spent the day on the run.

Thursday I thought, "where did they all come from?"
They were seen in the grass, the beds, the garden.
I needed to start removing one by one.

Friday more yellow than green did abound.
How come one was fun, but more was wrong?
It looks like they'll add up to a ton.

Saturday they were finally mowed to the ground.
Green grass appeared for a few minutes when done
before they popped up again, these little yellow suns.

Little yellow sun shines in the grass are dandelions.
Irregardless of what you might think, they can be fun.
What are your thoughts about dandelions?  Work or fun?

* * * * *

The Victorian meaning of dandelion is faithfulness.
Every time I see one I'm reminded of God's faithfulness.
So to see an dandelion has become a blessing
as God daily bestows me with many blessings.

Perhaps we should view dandelions as our blessings.
We can never have too many of God's good blessings.
For each dandelion write down a blessing
to put in a glass jar you've labeled "blessings."

It will be reminder when life is confusing
and you are prone to give in to stressings from testings.
The reminder jar will keep you from stressing
during the times you're experiencing testings.

Instead of living in much strife and guessing,
you can review your blessings and be resting
in God's promises - His many blessings,
for everyday we receive more blessings.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.
Proverbs 10:22

Robin Red Breast

Robin red breast knows just when...
every springtime to return -
when the earth's temperature warms,
and earthworms are born
(for robins eat worms
every morn,
that's just the norm).

Robin red breast knows just when...
their rounded nest to form
where safe from springtime storms.
A baby dorm
with twigs adorned
and mud walls worn.
From robins we learn.

Robin red breast knows just when...
to sit like a hen and tend
their little blue eggs attend
safe from windy storms
in their twig-nest den.
Even when the wind bends,
they will stay put and tend.

Robin red breast knows just when...
their growing young ones will learn
from their parents, sometimes stern.
They teach how to fetch worms
and sing songs in the morn.
Young ones soon fly away from home,
then never again to return.

Robin red breast knows just when...
to awaken us every morn -
for the early bird gets the worm.
Wherever it is you may roam,
or especially if you stay home,
robins waken us on many a morn.
From robin red breast we learn.

Robin red breast knows just when...
every springtime to return,
for we all have much to learn.
A song they will send
to men and women.
For robins we yearn
for their quick return.

* * * * *

How welcome it is hear the birds
when in the spring their trill can be heard.
How welcome it is to see the robins
searching for their dinner, their heads bobbing.

How unwelcome is Christ the Savior
quite often in hearts of men and women.
Despite bestowing us all with loving favor,
He is rejected by His greatest creation.

We are God the Father's greatest creation,
yet often we turn away in rejection
for we seek our own selfish will -
instead of seeking God's perfect will.

It's been so from the beginning of time,
for we all seek to have a good time,
when we could be having the best time -
if only we'd seek God all of the time.

...the birds make their nests...
Psalm 104:17

Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
Matthew 8:20

Trimming

Into my back jean pocket goes
sharp pruners to clip what grows
up too high or down too low.

Dead rose bush canes are trimmed down low.
Other shrubs are shaped to grow.
Evergreen limbs are cut just so.

Then off to get the long loppers, for wouldn't you know,
what grows is up too high to reach standing on my toes.
Then carry limbs off to the new brush pile to stow.

An afternoon storm blows
leaving behind some woes
and more branches to tow.

Piled high in a big row
are branches and limbs now stowed.
They get there by being towed.

The wheelbarrow goes
with me and helps tow.
It reduces woes.

That shrub doesn't need to be trimmed for a doe
had a late night snack standing on her toes.
I wish I had known.  I would have told her "NO!"

The brush pile grows bigger as the year quickly goes
with limbs that have been cut off - some up high, some down low.
Next year they'll be a new brush pile to stow then tow.

Trimming what grows
against the flow
is right, you know.

* * * * *

Not only does something in the yard need to be trimmed,
usually there is something in our life that needs trimmed.

It could be words that ought not.
It might be actions that hurt.
It could be our train of thought.
Are there companions that plot?
What have our bad habits brought?

Something to WATCH out for
and to teach to others:
W words
A actions
T thoughts
C companions
H habits

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil -
resist:  don't give satan an opportunity to devour.

Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith.
I Peter 5:9

When you stand firm,
God's strength will come.

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength...
II Timothy 4:17

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth
to strengthen those whose hearts
are fully committed to him.
II Chronicles 16:9

I'm Back

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day...
everyone's waking up singing -
the robins, sparrows, and blue jays,
the mourning doves, red-winged blackbirds,
cardinals, chickadees, cowbirds -
all chirp to their heart's content,
their chorus heavenward sent.

Swallows, finches, and wrens
also have a song to send.
Warblers and nuthatchers,
thrushes and thrashers
vocalize proudly.
Crows chime in loudly.
Rather red, blue, black or brown
everyone joins 'round.

Canadian geese overhead
honking, northward bound, early heard,
add to the morning chorus
sounding like a loud ruckus -
for when you try to catch a few more winks
the glee club is heard practicing hijinks
announcing "I'm back..."
The long winter is past.

* * * * *

Aren't we glad the winter is past,
to hear the birds signing - at last!
Birds announce spring is here
for each low coo coo you hear
or every loud caw caw caw
is a reminder to all
that spring has finally sprung.
With it new hope also comes.

Hope is a confidence,
a promised assurance,
that God does have a solution
to all of our earthly problems.
So when life seems upside down,
instead of wearing a frown,
be assured that the One you hope in
has all the answers to strife within.

Sometimes hope seems lost
when life seems like dross
but the hardships of life,
sometimes bringing much strife,
teach valuable lessons to us -
growing our faith and teaching us to trust.
Yes, spring brings hope of a brighter tomorrow
promising more joys and fewer sorrows.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5

Vim & Vigor

Vim & Vigor
(Exuberance and Endurance)

A gardener starts each year with vim and vigor.
This year his vegetable garden will be bigger.
Have you ever met a gardener who's a kidder?
He gets out his gardening tools, including his digger,
but not too early in the morning or all the neighbors
will let him know when they telephone and (perhaps) holler.

The gardener attacks his plot with vigor
for this year he has plans to plant much more, so
this morning the gardener's full of vim and vigor.
Is anyone more ambitious than a gardener?
Before the day is half over
he's run out of vigor
for he has plowed a quarter
of an acre,
go figure!

Tomorrow his vim has returned bigger.
He's now bursting at the seams to ensure
his garden is bigger
and better -
for sure.
At the end of the day he heads for the back door
for vim and vigor has left him for awhile, but be sure
it will soon return - for a gardener
has learned to endure.

Behold, the gardener needs more vim and vigor
for when weeding be assured, there's always one more.
His gardening exuberance will boost his endurance for
he is going to get each and every weed outside his door.
If only the neighbors
had his vim and vigor
for weed seeds blow over
from the neighbors next door.

A dedicated gardener invites you for a tour.
You will realize he's full of vim and vigor to the core.
The gardener relies on common folk lore
when he catches bad insects with stinky lure.
Of insects, there always seem to be one more
just waiting to be lured outside the back door.

Everyday the gardener does more
and to do everyday there is more.
Fortunately, the gardener's vim and vigor
returns during the night with dreams of better
ideas for his garden plot that grows bigger
each year.  Now where will he find room to store?

Life is certainly not a bore
outside the gardener's back door.
The gardener realizes he is not poor
because on him God's blessings continually pour
and because of the gardener's vim and vigor
he has many good-for-you fresh vegetables to store.

Vim is restored and so is vigor
every passing year for gardeners.
And very thankful are his neighbors
when they receive from the gardener.
It is neither one or the other.
It will always be vim and vigor.

* * * * *

Vim and vigor are needed in your spiritual life too.
Sometimes we all need exuberance and endurance anew.

When you're under attack
and it's wrong to fight back.
When prayers are not answered
when you'd like them answered.
When life isn't fair
and burdens you bear.
When the way is not clear
and each day seems more drear.
When God seems silent
and fears won't relent.
When no one is there
to say they do care.
When hardships come
though not welcome.
When there is no money
and your heart is empty.

Take heart.  Be of good cheer.
The Lord is always near.
There's no need to fear.

The Lord will fight for you
for He is with you
and on your side too.

Often when God seems to be silent,
He's working through others He has sent
to be ministering angels met.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say life would be fair.
The Bible does say we are not meant to burdens bear
for God is our burden bearer when we ask through prayer.

This is the day the Lord has made,
let us now rejoice and be glad.
There's always one reason to be glad.

A spirit of fear is from Satan.
He only spoils and makes rotten.
Trust in the Lord.  You're not forgotten.

God loves you personally and unconditionally.
Other may not say to you, "I love you", unfortunately,
but you are loved by Jesus Christ the Lord daily.

Troubles, problems, hardships are part of everyday life
and have a purpose - to teach us to be more Christ-like.
Be at peace today.  Everything will turn out all right.

Instead of counting your worries, count your blessings.
You'll be richer than you can ever imagine.
Your heart will be full when you count your many blessings.

This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice an be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Cast all your anxiety on him
because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:7

You are precious and honored in my sight,
and...I love you.
Isaiah 43:4

Green Thumb

Have you ever seen a gardener's green thumb?
I haven't yet.  I tend to have a brown one.
A brown thumb will the dry, brown earth comb.
No weeds will escape from a brown thumb - none.

A brown thumb will plant seeds and seedlings.  Green plants will come.
When this gardener is working, you might hear her hum.
She's planning for harvest and thinking "yum yum".
She knows that blessings from the Lord will soon come.

You'll receive a brown thumb when you plant flowering mums.
A brown thumb divides transplants to share with someone.
How do you clean your well-earned brown thumb?
Scrubbing it and washing dishes helps some.

I also tend to have two green and brown knees.
I don't intend for this to happen to me
but each year another pair of jeans
end up sporting green and brown stained knees.

It's so much easier to weed down on one's knees.
You can pull out the tall grass and little weeds wee.
You can listen to the bees
and grubs in the soil see.

When you're done with the weeding, you'll be pleased.
Take a moment to stand back and look, see -
your hard work paid off, and thankful you will be
you're able to get up off your knees.

A brown thumb and green knees are a sure sign
of a dedicated gardener like me.
Next time you're at the nursery, find
those who sport born thumbs and green knees.  You'll be pleased.

* * * * *

You and I are fearfully and wonderfully made -
for on the 6th day of creation plans were laid
to create male and female,
to be born without any ails.

When sin entered in,
so did aches and pains.
Sin was the original cause of pain.
It has been said there's no gain without pain.

Gardener's know this to be true,
for at the end of the day
when they finally sit down to survey,
they creak and snap and have a few aches new.

So God created man  in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

After the Rain

Raindrops falling from the sky...
a needed shower draws nigh,
offering much refreshment
and sometimes encouragement,
for oft times the earth is parched
as life can become too harsh
on God's lovely creation -
and every man and women.

Light sprinkles or spring showers,
dark storm clouds or heavy downpours -
sometimes needed, sometimes not,
sometimes too much is our lot.
Sometimes without warning
other storms are forming.
Not always gone by morning.
Beyond our understanding.

Thunder roars and lightning cracks,
then the dark rain clouds burst.
There's a downpour on the earth.
Rivers rush for all they're worth.
Too much, too fast comes forth;
earth overflows its girth.
It's beyond our understanding -
as problems are, not withstanding.

As earth goes through a pounding,
in life there is suffering.
There is no one immune.
Sometimes not over soon.
Quite often we ask why
from God who's way up high.
It's beyond our understanding.
There's silence from where we're standing.

When the sun comes out again,
after the rain has fallen,
God's rainbow is sometimes seen
promising blessings unseen.
Yes, God was there all the time
with a solution in time.
How great is God!  Outstanding!
He's beyond our understanding.

After the rain, rainbows are seen.
The flowers preen and grass is green.
After the rain, much can be gleaned
for the earth is fresh and cleaned.
After the rain, lessons are learned.
From suffering patience is formed.
Joy comes out of suffering.
It's beyond our understanding.

* * * * *

Nature is a metaphor of life.
Much can be learned about life
as on studies nature at its finest,
perhaps lessons meant to refine us.

There's the marriage and parenting skill of birds
and their lesson to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
Even how birds flock together,
teach us we need to stick together.

And today's lesson -
that behind the storm,
the sun, hidden by clouds, still shines
in the sky the entire time.

Yes, God is always with us all the time,
even when it seems the sun doesn't shine.
Many times in the womb of darkness,
God will shine forth His faithfulness.

Do take a moment to reflect
on how God does provide and protect.
You'll realize that God was there
and He sent others who care.

The clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers fall on mankind.
Job 36:28

He says to the rain shower, "Be a mighty downpour",
so that all men he has made may know his work,
he stops every man from his labor.
The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
Job 37:6-8

How great is God - beyond our understanding!
Job 36:26

He does great things beyond our understanding.
Job 37:5

Yesterday

The weatherman finally forecasted cleanup weather.
Decision to make this week regarding cleanup - rather
to move brush pile or rake pine cones forever
for last winter brought with it windy weather.

Yesterday moved the brush pile.
Think I walked more than a mile.
Fat buds on bulbs brought a smile.
Blooms soon will give the yard style.

Snowdrops and crocus'  lifted my spirits.
Soon daffodils will join the spring chorus.
Globe alliums are making progress.
Later tulips will keep their promise.

Then raked a bushel of pine cones
downed from last winter's windy storms.
Gardening gloves worn
now sport a hole torn.

From yesterday's activities
today stiff, sore and lame - poor me.
Spring cleanup still waits for me
under the autumn's dead leaves.

More raking still needs to be done.
Moving compost will feel like a ton.
There's more deadheading from last season,
then spread grass seed to grow under the sun.

Come tomorrow can say
what was done yesterday.
An indoor activity planned for today
because, unfortunately, I'm out of Ben Gay.

* * * * *

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away,
now it looks as though they're here to stay...
Yesterday you had hope.
Today you can hardly cope.

Troubles come irregardless,
leaving turmoil and a mess -
emotionally, mentally,
financially, physically.

Neither do troubles leave anytime soon
filling you with heartache, depression and doom.
It seems there are more bad days than good.
You can't find the good like you know you should.

Be sure to share your troubles with the Lord
for sharing with the Lord lightens your load.
Let the Lord know.
He's in control.

The Lord has an instruction regarding troubles.
It's:  "do not worry about tomorrow".
Just believe that with God nothing is impossible
and do not worry, it's only borrowing trouble.

"Casting down imaginations"
is another instruction
that should be tatooed on our hand
for imagining the worst is human.

One day you'll look back on what's now called 'the good old days'.
You'll realize that relying on God did pay
for He saw you through
and grew your faith anew.

Do not worry about tomorrow.
Matthew 6:34

Casting down imaginations...
II Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)