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Bloomin' where I'm at

Bloom where you are planted.
I’ve always taken this phrase to mean that I should find joy and contentment in our home. Lately my thoughts on this phrase have drifted deeper.
Blooming where I am planted is more than just about learning to thrive in the place I’m at physically—but it’s a good start.
How do I bloom where I’m planted physically?
I learned to love where I live. Once upon a time, when we first purchased this home I was deeply in love with it and had grand ideas about all that we would do and accomplish here. Fast forward a few years and a couple of kids . . . . . the home is old- over 100 years and repairs are always needed on something or other. We were now at a place where we had more stuff than space and after having children I found it was no longer an idyllic spot and I craved a place in the country with room to roam and grow . . . . . but finances dictated that was not possible. I began to resent where I was planted- not only was their no “new growth” or “buds” on my “plant” but instead the “plant” was withering and perhaps a bit diseased. I didn’t neglect my home, I continued to keep it neat and tidy but my heart wasn’t in it. Then reality came in the form of a surprise pregnancy and the need to make room or else! At this time, I found FlyLady through an acquaintance and slowly began to bloom again and love my home as I sifted, tossed and shuffled the “stuff” in our home. This purging and the nesting that came with pregnancy helped me to put down deeper roots, fertilized the soil of my heart and I began to again bloom in my physical surroundings. Yes, I still dream of a farm in the country and Mr. Steady and I work and plan to make that a reality some day and while I long for that “some day”, it doesn’t haunt me and disturb the love I have for the home God has given us.
Bloom where you are planted.
For this time, right now- this is my place. My physical spot. I once forgot that it was God who made the way for us to be here, to be home owners. Our home is not grand and it is still always in need of repairs but it keeps us dry when it rains, warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. It is the place where we learn and grow in schooling and as a family.
In this home is the door frame that marks my children’s growth with penciled tick marks and dates; the hallway wall with the slight gouge where a large desk “bounced” off the wall because I was trying to move it myself. My abundant herb garden (been growing for 14 years!) and the lovely old fashioned 7 Sisters Roses and Maiden’s Lilac and my Granny Smith Apple tree. It’s a home that has seen countless celebrations and frustrations. The kids getting sick on the carpet and the time Mr. Conductor opened up a 2 liter of Root Beer that he’d just gotten done rolling and kicking around (when all was said and done only about a cup or so of soda was left in the bottle). There was that time I threw a rock thru one of the window panes on the front outside door because I’d accidently locked my keys in the house and I was outside in freezing temperatures with a 7 week old baby Maiden. Then the time Mr. C broke the window to our front door and we lived with duct tape on it for a week.
Ah the memories that fill and flood this home. When put in that perspective I am boggled to remember how unhappy I was here at one time. Life has been good here. God has blessed us here and I believe He will continue to do so.
Happiness and joy and contentment DO NOT depend on where I am physically planted. It only happens if I allow it too. It was a long process- first came the day when I stopped allowing where I was physically planted to get me down and hinder me and then crept the days when I realized I really could bloom beautifully right here- just because I didn’t necessarily want to be here didn’t mean that God doesn’t want me to be here and that is the difference. God can fertilize this soil and make me bloom. My home has once again become my haven and the safe harbor for my family. It is always a joy to return home after a week-long vacation. It is always a comfort to relax and know this is home. I find myself sighing in contentment each time the journey brings me back to my spot.
So I’ve learned to bloom in my physical planting but what else have I learned?
Stay tuned as I share what I’ve learned about all the different ways God wants me to bloom in all those different circumstances.

photo- me working in my garden

a wonderful account!

5:17 PM, 2008-Jun-9 .. Posted by Illoura

Thanks so much for sharing that- it's poinant and also interesting!
What fun to read about your memorable moments -and one that also speaks to my own heart about being content where I am.

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11:58 PM, 2008-Jun-9 .. Posted by gabbie427

Wow. Sounds like me. I didn't necessarily want to be where we are when God urged us to move here. But I was trying to bloom where I was planted and I am so greatful and thankful God put us here. Now we are ready to move on, and God has given us the thumbs up, but I am so happy for the time we were here.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

Thanks for the Reminder

3:28 PM, 2008-Jun-10 .. Posted by wannabeone

Oh, I just LOVE you! Love your musings, love your writing style, love your thought processes. I can SO relate to this...

Our house is 170+ years old and ALWAYS needs something done to it. However, at one time (before our little village limits extended out another 1/4 miles) our house WAS a farmhouse...it has all those little "character" issues that old homes have, hardly any closet space and additions in odd places. But...it is the largest house we've ever had, we've been here almost 11 years so THIS is the house our girls will think of when they think of most of their growing-up years and we have a rather large yard for being just inside the "city" limits. There are still deer that come up nearly to the road in the yard across the road, raccoons, squirrels, bobcats, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, etc. that still come into our yard. I LOVE those things, so I need to remind myself, at times, to remain content. I AM BLESSED and the Lord is good enough to put reminders in my path all the time.

Thanks for being one of those reminders.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

bloom where you are planted!

9:03 PM, 2008-Jun-11 .. Posted by everfaithful

That is one of my favorite sayings!, and one that took me through some hard times. i so appreciate you sharing your thoughts this way. Will look forward to what else is on your mind. Where we used to live it took me a long time to bloom but bloom I did and then it was so hard to move. Now we are in our new house and I am determined to "bloom where I am planted' now.

Bless you