Growing and Remembering

With the late arrival of this year's spring (you don't even want to get me started on how much I dislike Punxsutawney Phil), we are getting a late start on the planting... which I'm sure is okay because it was 50 degrees a couple nights ago and it's MAY... IN LOUISIANA!

Plus the passing of Lane's sweet Maw Maw Nell and the events that followed didn't actually leave us in the gardening mood.  For the past couple of years, we have bought her a tomato plant upon her request. This year, we bought our plants while she was in the hospital just a handful of days before her passing.  Lane decided to go ahead and buy her a tomato plant- he was confident she would get to come home and tend to it.  

After her passing, I mentioned to my friend, Beth, that I was so sad about all the selfish things I wanted Maw Maw here for and that it breaks my heart that Aubrey Lane may not have any vivid memories of her.  Well Beth had the sweetest idea- to plant the tomato plant we bought for Maw Maw and talk about her to the children.  And to maybe do it every year.

So we did.  

We planted one for Maw Maw who was laid to rest Good Friday. We planted one for Paw Paw who was laid to rest Good Friday last year.  We adorned one container with a yellow pinwheel, the other with a blue.  We plan to do the same on Good Friday next year, and the next, and the next...

We talk about it to Aubrey Lane because she often asks where she is.  I don't know how much she understands, but we have explained that Maw Maw is with Jesus, and that Jesus lives in heaven and and in our heart so that is where Maw Maw lives.  So now when we walk past her house on the way to and from the mailbox,  Aubrey Lane will simply state "Maw Maw's in heaven."  It's not a complex or sad thing for her.  It just simply is.  Kinda beautiful to witness that child like faith so many of us seek for ourselves.


Okay back to planting and a lighter note before I pull out more tissue...

This year Lane built me another raised garden.  It's a little smaller than the first so I decided to use the garden for herbs and tomato plants.  I am already excited thinking of the tomato basil soup full of fresh ingredients from my garden.  

As time passes, I hope to eventually add more gardens or raised beds.  Not only do I love the idea of cooking veggies grown in my own garden, our family life seems to thrive in the outdoors.  Lane and I will actually call dibs on who gets to cut the grass.  My only worry is Jude- he loves being outdoors when we can give him undivided attention like in a swing or wagon, but since he can't play independently, being outdoors while the family is tending the garden or picking up sticks isn't appealing to him at all.  We used to pull out a pack and play and let him play while we worked, but he doesn't seem to like that anymore.  He has also outgrown the toddler swing, so Lane and I have talked about saving money and getting the children a nice swingset for Christmas and an adaptive swing for Jude. 

In the meantime, we are making sure that Aubrey Lane understands the importance of including him in her playtime: rolling the ball with him, blowing bubbles with him, even driving him around in the Power Wheels which is pretty adorable.  Any other outdoor activities or playtime ideas for Jude would be greatly appreciated.

It's truly a season of growing for us in many areas... hope it's the same for you as well.