Pruning

It's officially spring, but in Redding, it seems as though we never had winter. We bought our home in November and the roses were blooming then. As everything started to come to life in January and February, we could see that our yard was going to get out of hand. We have 10 rose bushes, all of different varieties, lavender, daffodils, iris,tulips, lilacs, grapes, a fig tree, an orange tree and 2 other trees, yet to be identified.  And grass that has had to be mowed 3 times already.  

I was out mowing the grass and pulling weeds last weekend, when my neighbor stopped by.  He said the only way to tame the roses was to cut them back.  When you think you've cut enough, cut some more.  "You just can't kill 'em," he said.  I've learned that pruning a rose bush, or any other plant, can actually make it stronger and healthier.  

I think we all see the analogy coming.  

When our family moved to Redding from Estes Park, it was painful. Branches were being cut off left and right. Ripped off. Hacked. Torn. It wasn't pretty. What had been a large, healthy bush was reduced to a few bare branches.  I felt like  a lot of me had died.   Hopes, dreams, realities--everything looked different.  After a while, though, the feeling started to come back.   Some green began to appear. New life was happening.  These new branches are a little stronger, and overall, the bush is healthier.

After hours of yard work, I ended the day by pruning the largest of our roses.  Cutting, snipping. Poking myself in the process. Although this bush was quite tall and growing quickly, it didn't have very many blooms. As I cut back a few more branches, I spotted a beautiful red rose deep inside the bush. I hadn't even seen it before. What beauty we can find when we do the sometimes painful work of pruning. 

Basketball is life...

It's a little melancholy over here.  Bear with me...Here we are, on the day of Jonathan's final high school basketball game.  He started playing ball when he was 5 with the Rec. district in Estes Park.

 He did that for years until he was old enough to play with the middle school.  Then he played Gold Crown in 7th and 8th grade, only to get sidelined mid-season with a broken collarbone.

 Then he played 2 years with Estes Park High School and now 2 years with Liberty Christian School.

  I can honestly say that I have loved every minute, and I'm pretty sure Jonathan has too.

  I wish I knew how many games that added up to.  It's been a lot of road trips, a lot of Gatorade and countless hours of practice.  Jonathan has had some good coaches and some really great coaches.

  But, now, I don't know how I feel about this chapter being over.  It's kind of odd, knowing that this is the last game.  How often in life do we get to really let it sink in that this will be the last time we get to do something?  Not often.  It seems cliche, but we hear people say, "Live every day to the fullest; you never know if it will be your last."  It's true, though.  We don't know if today will be the last day we can hug one of our friends, play catch with our kids, make dinner for our family, or hear our grandma's voice on the phone.  I don't mean to get morbid or anything, but it's just something I'm thinking about today.  I'm going to watch this game more closely than I usually do.  I'm going to take more pictures,  I'm going to cheer a little more loudly, if that's possible. (Sorry, Luke)
But it's the last time I'll get to do it.

  Life is such a gift.  Each experience is meant to strengthen, enrich and fulfill this life that we've been given.  So tonight, I'm going to put on that red shirt, camera and Colorado flag in hand, and watch a basketball game.