Me, Millie and the Mountain

I've been praying to see a bear for months.  Months.  I thought maybe I'd see one here...

...but I didn't.  Leona did though.  Basically crawled right into her kitchen.  Leona is Dad's cabin neighbor.  And this is Dad's cabin.  

This is the kitchen.  You'll notice there are two "appliances" — a refrigerator and a table saw/table.  Don't be alarmed, we unplug it and blow it off with the air compressor before we have the mountain dew and peanut butter cup breaks.

Dad and I made some Philosophy Flowers delivery boxes with the table-saw/table.  Good thing we did.  The day after I got back to Virginia I got a call for a slew of centerpieces.  They got toted around in these...

Remember the bear prayer?  Well, it finally happened — the day after the centerpieces.  Meet Millie.

Millie lives at the top of Grandfather Mountain — a place that is every bit as magical as it sounds.  It is covered in rhododendrons.  And by covered, I mean, come May it will be a jungle!  Like, you might go in and never come out — jungle.  That would be alright with me though.  I love rhododendrons.  

Grandfather Mountain is also home to the extremely rare pink-shell azalea.  That's right, I learned that listening to the audio tour because that's how I roll.  Like my dad says, you only live once.

You do only live once.  

As I sat on the top of Grandfather Mountain with Millie I just had this renewed realization that today, today as in this present moment, right now, is special — really special.  The Lord had granted the quirky little desire of my heart once again and it was time to enjoy it.  I watched Millie sit on her rock.  I watched her rinse her feet off in the pond and lick them clean...several times (she's a very clean bear!).  I'm pretty sure she even shot me a smile.

I spent a lot of my pre-flower life living in the future or the past, but rarely in the moment.  I was carrying a lot of hurt and questions in my heart.  For the longest time I had this idea God "allowed" bad things to happen to me.  That it was to make me "stronger."  And some people believe that and hold that philosophy, but I don't.  It pushed me away from God.  

Truth is, God loves me.  He also walks with me, bearing my burdens.  It's a privilege to love Him through whatever comes.  I didn't feel like that at the time, but I sang my anthem over and over again, and God healed my heart.  

He is present — always present, enjoying me, Millie and the mountain.  

Attention Everyone!

Camellias are blooming in Lynchburg!!!  Wha-wooo :)  Discoveries from my trip in the hundred acre woods coming soon...

Flashback!

I went back to high school last week.  And, as usual, it was THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

I mean, look at these guys.  Who couldn't have fun with them?!

It was awesome because two things I love came colliding together - flowers & education.  I've always liked the idea of colliding interests and an always-changing work environment.  When I was a little daisy my babysitter asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. 

"When I grow up I want to be a dentist like Daddy on Monday.  On Tuesday I'll be a babysitter like you.  Wednesday I'll be a teacher like Mrs. Hostetler.  On Thursday I'll be a mommy like Mommy and on Friday I'll be a scientist like me."  

And, today I'm leaving the dream, well almost.  Everyday I do different things and I really like that.  And, ironically enough, I am a scientist (according to Myers Brigg & my college diploma!).

Needless to say, I loved being a teacher for a few days.  We baked fancy cupcakes (Warning! They are a labor of love), picked pumpkins and flowers, and if they would have let us ride the ponies at the pumpkin patch, there's no question -- I would have had those kids riding ponies.  I told them it was going to be the best day of their life and I was there to have as much fun as humanly possible!  They were happy to oblige.  Did I let them smash said cupcakes (Again, LABOR OF LOVE!) in their friend's face.  YES.  Common, live a little already.

Adventures from Bender's Potato Farm, Hope Valley Gardens and the classroom are detailed below.  Unfortunately I didn't get a single picture of the kids in the garden.  I was too busy running around finding new "weeds" to use for our project.  Gardeners call them weeds.  I say, "this is SO interesting.  I wonder if it will hold in water."  Good thing I'm not a gardener.  I'd just let it all grow!  I LOVE WEEDS and I LOVE BEING IN THE GARDEN.

I'm so proud of my students and I love them all!  I hope they grow up to do exactly what the Lord designed them to do, putting all fear and worry behind them.  I hope they remember that flowers are fleeting pleasures that remind us to celebrate today, and I pray they put their full trust in God's Word, which never withers or fades away.

P.S. I guess it's probably a good we didn't ride the ponies.  Looks like they bite.