Dear Reader:

This year I have decided not to try to “out-do” any previous spring/summer gardens I have planted in the four years since its existence. I have decided to let Mother Nature have more a share in the garden and let nature do what it does naturally…stay beautiful!

I remember when Hurricane Matthew threatened to hit our area (in early October)  Sam Clark came over and helped me drag garden items into the garage..I had no idea I had so much “stuff” (shortly before Tommy and Kaitlyn arrived to pick me up and take me to Asheville with them to “weather” out the storm there (So much Fun!)

As I looked around, one last time that day (back in early October last year) to see if I had gotten everything put away I noticed how stoic and serene the garden looked…more like when it first started. I didn’t realize how much bric-a brac I had added, over the years, that I didn’t need. In fact, upon closer scrutiny…I realized that it actually took away from the serenity and beauty of the garden.

This plaque, Honey made for me, sums up the problem. ” Leave room in your garden for the fairies to dance.” I want the grandchildren to have room to run up and down the garden “magical moon” path and in and out of bushes without tripping over garden decorations.

So I have started clearing out the garden. One way to keep the garden open and move-able is to have hanging baskets in strategic places. They add to the beauty and give height to the garden without taking up much place…so I plan to add more hanging baskets.

Old chairs, hung on trees or in front of trees can hold plaques or flowers…again not using up much room but displaying Welcome Signs and flowers in a more simplified fashion.

Give old flower baskets a chance to “resurrect” on their own in the “rehab” location under the tree house. Patience (on my part) is needed to wait it out and see what will return and what needs to be replaced.

Just like I am excavating the past to uncover prior plants and other living foliage just waiting for their time to shine….Squire Rushnell concludes his book (When God Winks at You) by asking us to do the same thing in our own personal past, in regard to God Winks.

Mapping: “Go back to those times in your life when you came to a cross-road. Your life changed abruptly. You lost someone you loved. You found a soul mate. You had a new baby. You moved geographically. You ran into someone that completely changed your career-or your belief system.

Revisit each of those times in your past to uncover God Winks that were sent to you even if you weren’t paying attention. Make a list of the “coincidences” and answered prayers. 

This is what you’ll discover; when there were multiple paths that your life could’ve followed, there were always signposts of reassurance- God Winks of personal communication- to you and no one else on Earth.”

“Here’s more good news! The map of winks from God will continue to unfold long into your future. Just look for them. And acknowledge that He is communicating directly with you.”

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The nice thing about God Winks is that they also can connect you to someone else. For example: Today on my way to pick up prescriptions from the Charleston Cancer Center I pulled off old Lincolnville Road onto Ladson and got behind this truck.

Linda Carson has mentioned being caught behind it too in early morning traffic and the sign always makes her smile. Now I smile because it reminds me of Linda’s “God Wink” now being shared with me. And because it is Linda’s 2017 word of the year! Smile!

So until tomorrow…

“Keep Life Simple” One thing I have learned in my life is that bigger isn’t necessarily better…just bigger…and less can be best…the best life has to offer!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh