Transplanted

 I love a good analogy...especially when it relates to gardening or food.

One of the hardest things for me to leave behind when we moved from Southern California to Western Wyoming was my beloved garden. It was my place of joy and peace. My husband built all of my gardening beds and potting tables as well as the most beautiful butterfly house. 

I miss it all.

All of my plants and veggies too.

The one thing that makes it easier is knowing that my monarch and giant swallowtail butterflies and many of my plants couldn't really thrive here. So instead of bringing them, I gave them away so they could be in the environment they were accustomed to.  This was not easy! 

Shortly after we moved here, I attended a Mother's Day Luncheon at our new church.  The theme for the event was "Bloom Where You're Planted."  One of the speakers gave a message about being TRANSPLANTED in order to bloom even better. Of course this gardening idea hit home for me. I was instantly encouraged about our move. 

Whenever a plant...indoor or outdoor, is not thriving, it's telling me it doesn't like its current conditions. The best gardening tip I've learned thus far in my journey is from Monty Don, my favorite gardener. He reminds often to never plant something or force something that does not want to be there. Of course our plants tell us this when they fail to thrive. They also tell us they love their current condition when they are verdant and lush. 

I believe the same is true for us.

When we are thriving our lives are rich. We produce good fruit in our lives...faithfulness, joy, peace, patience, kindness, service to others, love, self-control, goodness, and gentleness. 

When we are in need of being transplanted, our lives sort of become stagnant. The growth stops. 

We need to be transplanted in order to bloom better.  This is exactly what I needed, but I didn't really see it until I was removed from my life in Southern California. I have bloomed here in Wyoming. 

It's easy to get comfortable in our familiar surroundings. We don't have to learn anything new. Often, we have stopped challenging ourselves and just coast along in our cushy lane. This was me. Maybe it's you. If it is, don't be afraid to change lanes and bloom.

When we transplant ourselves, the sun shines on parts of us that cause us to grow and bloom and reach our most beautiful potential. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." ~ John 15:5 

A Very New Season in the Cowboy State

 It's been  six months. Six months as a Wyoming resident after living in Southern California for forty-one years.  

 We downsized greatly...so while our home size shrunk, our life just completely expanded in every wonderful way.  Living only an hour from our daughter and son-in-love has been a huge gift! My heart was never the same after my daughter moved away when she got married three years ago, and now it feels whole again. My mother's heart is filled knowing all my children are near each other...and near me!!!

We have the most lovely neighbors who tell me they specifically prayed for Christian neighbors. How beautiful to think my family has been the answer to someone's prayer.  

The best part of our move has been our new church! We recently became members and I'm thrilled to be teaching once again! Mark and I will be able to teach God's Word each Sunday in Sunday School. The friends we have made there have made our lives so incredibly sweet. 

God the Creator has made a world in which new seasons come on a regular basis and for that I am so grateful. Too much of any one thing is never good, although we may each yearn for our favorite season to last the whole year, we would tire of it. 

Until you're forced by necessity to leave behind a lot of your precious possessions because they simply would not fit on a 26ft Penske truck, you don't really understand the adage: The most important things in life aren't things. I fully realize now that I had no idea. 

I now see that I placed too much of my identity on my things...my home...my kitchen...my garden. None of these things are wrong, but lasso-ing our identity to them sure is. Because when they are gone, the question then becomes: Who am I now?

Our true identity, and the only one that matters eternally, is who I am in Christ. I am a child of God.

God has certainly blessed me and my family and our move to Wyoming. It was one of the hardest things we've ever done, but looking back now, a full six months later...I'd say it was completely worth it and we are content. Our new town has felt like home since day one. 

 I sure do miss my friends in San Diego, and my heart is still very tender about that. But...if friends are like flowers in a garden, mine is blooming abundantly. 

Let me encourage you today...if you are faced with a change, embrace it and look for all the open doors. New seasons bring a necessary change, and often that is just what is needed. 

 PS...big bonus to being in Wyoming...Our golden boy, Romeo absolutely loves it. He embraced the snow as soon as he realized it could be eaten and rolled in.  😊