Dog days of summer

The heat steams up from the sidewalks and the patio. One more day without a cloud in the sky, with an early sunrise and a late sunset. It allows you to put away the business of the fall and the winter and spring. It allows you to forget. Forget the schedules and the school day rush. Forget the cold and having to put on shoes before you step outside. 

We have a lovely garden this year. Normally we are overrun with strawberries, but the strange weather kept our plants from bearing much fruit this year. What we had, we enjoyed early in the morning, just me and the two little ones. 

We picked them in our pajamas and ate them before our morning Bible story. We marveled at how our Maker could bring such sweetness out of the ground. And such vibrant red! 

Now our peppers are starting to ripen. The cucumber plant and pumpkin vine that the neighbor brought over are both flourishing. We will be ready come October. Once the tomatoes start to redden on the vine, we will have enough for a lovely salad. 

Living close to the earth in this way illuminates the creativity of our Creator. He inspires, He infuses our lives with vibrancy... and intrigue... and mystery. He delights us with sweetness and the satisfaction of nurturing something as it grows out of the dirt beneath our feet. What a miracle. ​​​

Dress the little ones up, but let them get their knees covered in grass stains.