It was July 4th when in my mid 50s that I started writing Life Is a Garden Party. What I wrote did not have a title at that time.
I had visited with a neighbor a couple of days before. I came away with a phrase in my head: From dust to dawn a gardener's dream is drawn. He also had the gardening bug! As I had a bit of sun poisoning that July 4th I sat outside to write that phrase down, which became my first "poem."
I kept writing non-stop for weeks as it was a very hot and humid summer. I did venture out early one morning to make a list of subjects to write about but then scurried back in where it was cooler.
In the beginning the stories were observations. Soon an application was added, applying God's principles to nature.
One day I was coming in from the garden when the title "Life Is a Garden Party" came to me. Weeks later I realized the not dear deer think my yard is a garden party also. Many attempts have been made to foil their visits.
Writing became an addiction, even writing in the middle of the night but then not able to read it in the morning.
One poem was written in my head when coming in from garden: Butterfly - way up high - in the sky - come on down - food is found - on the ground... This story is written as if floating down and up in the shape of butterfly wings.
Overtime the stories became pages long.
Currently 5 volumes have been published. Future volumes have been written and are being enhanced on rainy or snowy days. Mostly enhanced by adding paragraphs of what has been gleaned since written.
When I "enhance" I am reminded of God's past faithfulness which in turn reminds me of Lamentations 3:21-23:
Yet this I call to mind
and therefor I have hope.
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
A hymnwriter wrote:
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in magnitude witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand had provided
Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Here's a story about favorite things. You, dear readers, are also my favorites.
FAVORITE THINGS
Sunlight through curtains and birds joyful singing,
waking before the alarm starts its ringing,
a hot cup of coffee to start each morning...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Spring appearing just around the corner,
before you know it summer will join her.
Colorful flowers blooming out my back door...
these are a few of my favorite things.
A walk around to see what's a-blooming -
daffodils, tulips, alliums perfuming.
A rainbow of colors for today's viewing...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Rainbows appearing after spring showers
greening the grass and brings forth bright flowers.
Quite soon bees and butterflies will take wing...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Forsythia, magnolia and dogwood bloom,
pink peonies scenting the air with perfume,
wisteria and clematis vines cling...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Pink crab apple trees and weeping cherry,
seeing them in bloom makes me feel merry,
watching birds building their nests high within…
these are a few of my favorite things.
Birds returning to build nests in the tree tops.
Noisy babies born with no fuzz on top.
Next week a tune they will begin to sing...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Seeds bursting with new life when green growth seen,
a shower leaving the air fresh and clean,
hummingbirds in red trumpet flowers zing...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Yellow and gold blossoms seen in the garden,
soon home-grown fresh vegetables we'll be eating,
a basket full makes one feel like a queen…
these are a few of my favorite things.
Iris and hostas making a memory
for they were once gifts from friends and family,
miniature roses, lilies, columbine...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Red raspberries ripening on their canes.
Black caps warmed by the sun taste mighty fine.
Picking ripe berries leaves ones fingers stained...
these are a few of my favorite things.
A tour around turns a frown upside down,
busy bees seen from sunup to sundown.
Quite often a song you will hear me sing...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Scented herbs in bloom, where bees are seen zoom
bring much delight morning, night or noon,
fresh herbs taste good in most everything…
these are a few of my favorite things.
Red, ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers,
fresh leaf lettuce and a shiny green pepper,
picked right before lunch, a fresh salad brings...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Taking time to sit awhile in the shade
at the end of the day when I survey.
Ornamental grasses swaying in the wind...
these are a few of my favorite things.
Listening to the melodic ding dong ding
of the wind chimes now chiming in the wind
in chorus with birds who joyfully sing…
these are a few of my favorite things.
Harvesting at the end of the season.
How quickly another year has come and gone.
New memories were made to which I now cling...
these are a few of my favorite things.
If a bug bites or a bee stings,
or if I'm feeling sad,
I'll simply recall my favorite things,
and soon I'll be glad.
Based on These are a Few of my Favorite Things from The Sound of Music.
* * * * *
Do you think God has favorite things?
You are one of His favorite things.
Not because of what you do but because of who you are:
you are loved, chosen, treasured – no matter who you are
or what you might have done.
All you need do is come.
It's not the wrongs
you have done
that the Lord sees.
It's Who you believe
and then receive.
This gift is free.
The Lord is waiting to hear from you.
Today accept His plan for you.
A plan of redemption and salvation.
A plan of forgiveness and pardon.
It's made clear to understand in God's Word, the Bible,
and to everyone, everywhere it's available.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”,
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10: 9
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9
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