UPROOTED!
From Maryland to Texas and Back Again
In 2005, we moved, uprooting ourselves from “the Free state,” we transplanted ourselves in the Lone-Star state, thinking we would return to Maryland. Our move has lasted ten years. We found good soil there: Texas has a “can-do” spirit I admire. Family and friends tended us well here, and we flourished in many ways – grateful for our marriage, our health, and our work in Dallas.
In 2016, we returned to Maryland
But, just as transplanting flowers late in the season is risky, our moves may be risky.
Plans Change
We came to Texas, expecting a short tour of duty, helping my husband’s family care for his mom; we found other avenues of service, challenging and rewarding – but – far from our children, now grown and married with “gardens” of their own.
Ennis Texas 2014
A question I ask in different ways in several posts still nags at me: How does a woman, whose life bloomed in one soil, flourish in another? Now back in familiar soil, what’s my growth potential?
What Now?
John, the loving husband, in “Calendar Girls” tells his wife, Annie, that “. . . the last stage of the flower is most glorious.” Sweet wisdom to any woman who passed middle age a decade or so ago! I hope this stage of my garden will be glorious – reflecting the handiwork of the good and patient Gardner, who had every right to weed me from His garden – yet, showed me kindness.
Our trust is that thus far the Lord has led us – and that as He so lovingly tended us in Texas, and cared for those we loved in Maryland, He’s still at it!
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places — firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
. . . Yes! GOD says so! (Isaiah 58:11-14 from THE MESSAGE )
And my prayer remains – “I believe; help my unbelief!” ( Mark 9:24 )
Some Personal Stuff
I am a wife, mother, and grandmother, retired homeschooling mom, and a recovering English major. While, I love gardening – especially an autumn garden – my enthusiasm is not matched by ability. That’s true for many things in my life. If you feel like you have seen some of these topics elsewhere, I have been moving older posts from my former Autumn’s Garden site to this site . . . doing a wee bit of editing — and enjoying the prospect of planting a fresh “garden.”
I like to read, and write, especially about what I am learning now, wishing I had known then — or applied earlier– some of the nuggets . Here’s hoping what I am learning about topics like growing older, facing hard choices, living wisely, reconciliation and peacemaking, even at this stage of my life, are useful to you, gentle reader. I hope you will have time to share your thoughts, too.
I am grateful to God, the master Gardener, who has preserved my life thus far. My goal is to finish well the life God has lent me.
