My Final Post

I've been overwhelmed in my personal life. I've been feeling the feelings that are described in the hymns and scriptures. (i.e. Is there no balm?, Where can I turn for peace?) Fortunately, my parents joined the church when I was a child and raised me with great zeal in the gospel. I know the Lord loves me and that's what gets me through. I also know that this is where my SGBD's come from. I've had so many. Even though I am caught up with other items on my plate, I have not forgotten to be still enough to listen and expect guidance via SGBG.

During the last two weeks, I've had a lot of the common ones like make a phone call, send a note, send a text, spend time right now with a specific child, read this book, but my most memorable experience was with "the neighbors"...you know the ones.

I just couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to do something else other than bake the bread that, obviously, only worked on me. My neighbor is great at making her yard look lovely with all the things she plants in her flower beds. I stood on my back deck and looked at my backyard full of dandelions (which I happen to like because they are such a vibrant yellow) and figured that she probably finds my yard aesthetically unappealing. If I was an avid yard-person, I'd hate looking at my backyard. I am limited in what I can do, because I've chosen to rent. (My landlord isn't interested in me doing anything permanent inside and out.) I decided that my yard was my next weapon of choice in this saga.

I built some gardening boxes that just sit on top of the bald spots of the yard, filled them with dirt and planted some fruits and veggies I got at a nursery. Then it came to me that I should buy some deck hanging baskets for flowers and herbs. I figured she's like looking at my flowers when she and her husband sat out at night on their deck. I knew that I couldn't punch holes in the deck railings, so I researched the heck outta those deck baskets and found ones that simply slide onto the railing without any hardware. When I saw them, I knew she'd just love them.

My lovely deck baskets showed up on May 18. I was outside planting them when suddenly the neighbors came out their back door to head down to plant their garden boxes. The old man just looked at me with his usual glare and the woman actually spoke to me for the first time in the 18 months I've lived here. She said, "Where did you get those baskets? I like those. They are alright!" I caught myself staring at her with my mouth hanging open. I felt like I was in the movies. It was so silly. I quickly regained my composure and was able to answer her.

From there, she starts telling me where I can buy cheap fertilized dirt and about how sad she is that she's lost her favorite rose bush this year. As I continued planting my deck baskets, I was sneaking peeks at her planting her seeds in her garden. Then I remembered that I'd accidentally bought WAY too many onion starts, so I decided to offer them to her. She accepted.

The next day, my daughter came in with a very concerned look on her face and said, "Mom, something is going on. The neighbor lady just smiled and said hi to me."

Therefore, I've determined that the way to my heart is food. They way to her's is plants. I need to remember to speak the "love language" of those around me to get the results I'm hoping for. I already knew that, but I suppose I just needed a reminder course.

Thank you, Nickie, for including me in this project. What an incredible group of women you are. I'm proud to call you my friends.

Warmly,
Jennifer