Writings

The Grass is Definitely Greener and Shorter!

It was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. The tall green grass in my yard had been begging for a trim for several days now. I had been ignoring its pleadings for quite some time but finally decided to heed its call and just do it. I got out the mower and it started right up, hungry for fresh cut grass. Everything was going fine and then half way through it stopped!

The gas had been completely guzzled up, its tank was bone dry. Ugh!

Oh well, I’ll take a minute and fill it back up from the container I had in the garage for situations like this. Well, so much for that. That’s empty too!

Now I’m going to have to get in the car and go fill the canister up at the nearest gas station. What a pain! But it must be done. I can’t leave the lawn looking the way it does only partly mowed. I’m sure my neighbors have been talking about how awful my lawn looks being as long as it was, already a sore site for them to see, what would they say about it now?

Wait! Speaking of neighbors. I walked next door to ask if they happened to have any extra gas I could use. What a blessing it is have such kind neighbors you can turn to in time of need!

With the tank now filled again, the mower started back up, happy and hungry for more. A few more feet mowed and then literally out of nowhere and seriously directly above my yard a big dark cloud moved in above and decided to open up and dump its wet contents below!

It was pouring rain!

Pushing a mower through extra-long grass is hard enough, pushing it through soaking wet long grass, even harder. But I was determined more than ever now to get this lawn cut. So I pushed through it.

At first I was angry and annoyed. At the stupid lawn for growing so fast. At the mower for running out of gas. At the rain. At myself for putting it off until now. But as I was being drenched in drops from the heavens and pushing through the thick wet muckiness, something inside me changed and I began to smile!

The smile quickly turned to laughter! I was now feeling grateful and full of joy for this moment. And as I kept pushing through, it seemed easier now that I wasn’t angry anymore.

The words to the song “Singing in the Rain” kept running through my mind as I kept pushing that mower across my lawn until it was all done. And when I finished the last spot and let go of the mower, it puttered to a stop, having successfully completed its job.

Then no sooner had the mower stopped, when the rain stopped too and the sun shone bright!

I laughed even harder at that moment! Seriously, rain? You couldn’t have waited ten more minutes for me to finish mowing the lawn?

But as I looked at my wet grass stained feet, and noticed the puddles of rain now drying up in the warmth of the sun, and saw the beautiful evenly mowed lawn, the rain seemed to say to me: “Are you sure you would’ve wanted me to wait? Would you have felt as you do now if I hadn’t decided to come how and when I did?”

And I smiled deeper. Grateful for the lesson learned!

Sometimes, life moves along smoothly, our tanks are full and things are clear and dry and easy to move through. But other times, life comes to a halt, and we just can’t move anymore.

At those times, often our back up plan may not work for us and we need to be open and vulnerable and ask for help.

And still, we may get hit with something else that tries to knock us off our path, tries to tell us: “You can’t do this”, “You’re not good enough or strong enough”, “It’s not worth it, just give up”.

But, as we open up and listen, and chose to learn from the lessons life sends us, as we turn inside and know of our worth and of our joy, as we plant our feet firmly and keep moving, keep pushing through, we will accomplish what we set out to do, and the light will come and shine brightly on our success!

Adventures with Little Miss & Mr. Buddy Boy

Chapter 1: The Great Backyard Expedition

Once upon a time in a quaint little town, there lived a spirited girl named Little Miss and her best friend, a lively Jack Russell Terrier named Mr. Buddy Boy. Every day was an adventure waiting to unfold for this dynamic duo.

Little Miss woke up with a sparkle in her eye on a sunny morning. She had a grand idea for a great backyard expedition, and there was only one companion she wanted by her side - her trusty Jack Russell Terrier, Mr. Buddy Boy.

She rushed to put on her special explorer hat, the one with a feather that fluttered in the breeze, and called out to Mr. Buddy Boy, who was already wagging his tail in excitement. Together they set out on their adventure, armed with a special Map little miss had drawn just for this occasion.

Their journey took them through the tall grass, where the world seemed to whisper secrets. Mr. Buddy Boy's ears perked up at every rustle, making him the perfect detective for their expedition. Little Miss giggled as they navigated through fallen leaves, imagining they were tiptoeing through a crunchy forest.

As they followed the map, they stumbled upon hidden treasures - shiny pebbles, colorful feathers, and even lost a button that became a prized possession. Little Miss carefully stowed each discovery in her backpack, and Mr. Buddy Boy eagerly sniffed around for more.

In a quiet corner of the backyard, they found a secret spot where the sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a magical dance floor for butterflies. Little Miss twirled around with joy, and Mr. Buddy Boy tried to catch the fluttering creatures, his tail wagging in delight.

The duo continued their expedition, climbing small hills made of soft soil and crossing tiny streams formed by the morning dew. They laughed, skipped, and let their imaginations soar like the birds above Little Miss and Mr. Buddy Boy discovered that the backyard held endless wonders, and every step was a new adventure waiting to happen.

As the sun reached its peak in the sky, they decided to rest under the shade of a giant oak tree. Little Miss looked at the map and smiled. "We've been on quite the adventure, Mr. Buddy Boy." She said, scratching behind his ears. "But I think our greatest treasure is the fun we've had together." And with that, they lay down on a soft patch of grass, basking in the warmth of the sun, dreaming of the many more adventures that awaited them just beyond the backyard.

Chapter 2: The Magical Forest Tea Party

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the land, Little Miss and Mr. Buddy Boy found themselves at the edge of the enchanted forest. The air was filled with the soft hum of fireflies, creating a magical dance of twinkling lights.

Excitement sparkled in Little Miss's eyes as they ventured further into the forest. The trees seemed to part, revealing a clearing bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. To their amazement, a whimsical tea party was spread out before them, complete with a sparkling purple blanket, delicate teacups, and an array of delicious treats.

Squirrels scampered down from the treetops, and birds fluttered down from their nests to join in the festivities. It was a magical gathering of woodland creatures, all eager to share tales of faraway lands and daring escapades.

Little Miss and Mr. Buddy Boy were welcomed with open arms (and paws.) the wise old owl, perched on a branch, shared stories of ancient forests and mysterious creatures. A chatty chipmunk recounted his daring adventures in search of acorns, and a blue jay sang a tune that echoed through the forest.

The tea party was filled with laughter, joy, and the sweet aroma of freshly brewed tea. Little Miss and Mr. Buddy Boy nibbled on honey cakes and listened intently to the tales that unfolded. The fireflies added their own magic, casting a gentle glow over the gathering.

As the night deepened, the creatures of the forest bid farewell to their new friends. The squirrels climbed back up to their treetop homes, and the birds soared into the night sky. Little Miss and Mr. Buddy Boy sat on the sparkling purple blanket, feeling grateful for the enchanting experience.

With a contented sigh, they gazed up at the starry sky, their hearts full of the magic of the forest tea party. It was a night they would always remember, and as they headed back home, guided by the soft glow of fireflies, they knew that the adventures with their woodland friends had only just begun.