A Little of This and That

I’ve been bitten. Bitten by the spring cleaning, gardening, yard cleaning, flower planting and painting bug.

Several weeks ago, I purchased a small picnic table that has three benches. The benches are gray -- but not for long. As soon as I can, they will each be painted a different, bright color. Each board that makes up the table will also be painted in different colors so that when I’m done, I’ll have a rainbow table and benches.

The white patio table is going to receive a new coat of paint as well. And it’s going from white to silver.

My car tire vegetable garden will soon be filled with tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cabbage, cucumbers, potatoes, green beans, peas and winter squash.

Flowers will fill all my planters and the meditation area I started will get a face-lift.

The best part of all this is that I am able - after several years of serious health issues - to once again be outside doing things I love to do.

Because of caring and good doctors, great nursing staff and uncountable prayers from family, friends and people I’ll never know or meet, I am beginning to feel like me again.

Granted, I won’t be going at full speed, but, like the turtle, I’ll keep moving and persevering towards my goals.

Once again it’s been brought home to me how something so simple can be so beautiful.

Last week I celebrated my birthday. The biggest surprise didn’t show up until Saturday when we went to a son and daughter-in-law’s home for supper.

I’d received phone calls from family members, of course. And a dear friend took me out for breakfast. Later, on the day of my birthday, a daughter-in-law and granddaughter stopped by with flowers for me along with an invitation to supper on Saturday.

After supper, two granddaughters brought a big gift-wrapped package out to the kitchen. On the top of the package, my 4-year-old granddaughter had printed, “Happy Birthday, Grandma. We love you.”

Carefully removing the paper, I discovered a small table with a round top. The three white legs had cartoon frogs decoupaged on them. But it was the top that stunned me. It was covered with each grandchild’s colorful handprint! And beside each handprint, a name of a grandchild was printed in black marker.

I found out later one of my granddaughters and one of my daughters had located the table in a second hand store. Looking at it, the idea was born to make into a gift for me. My granddaughter took the table apart, stripped off the old paint, and sanded down every piece. She then painted the legs, and with her aunt’s help, applied the frogs. She left the top plain.

At Easter, all of our family was together and it was then the handprints were put on the table. Each child picked out the color of paint they wanted for their hand.

The table now sits beside my recliner where I can constantly see it. A small table, a bit of paint, and a marker have combined to give me one of the most precious gifts I have ever received. Simple things that filled my heart to overflowing with joy and love.

Simple things - prayers, gardening, a table, paint - that bring overwhelming joy and peace and gratitude. It just doesn’t get any better.