Working together...

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   A few weeks ago, I shared how Al’s vision for the landscaping of our small lot had taken shape, by removing some large trees, grinding up stumps and roots, leveling the ground in the back and bringing in a truckload of bark. That part of the project was accomplished with the help of our local landscaper and his crew, working together with Al as the overseer.

   Next he had to dig three deep holes for new trees that were replacing the old ones. Al put most of the time and energy into that effort, along with a couple of volunteers from the neighborhood and our two young grandsons. When the trees were delivered from the nursery, workers helped unload and move them into place with a forklift while he supervised.

   Slowly the landscaping began taking shape. My part was easy: all I had to do was pick out some nice cedar garden beds online and order them, so that eventually we could have a relatively dog proof vegetable and flower garden in the backyard. Of course some assembly would be required. That caused a little anxiety on my part. But how complicated could it be?

   My brother and sister in law flew in from California for a visit the same weekend that the crates containing the cedar planks arrived. The heavy boxes were quickly stored in the garage and forgotten about for the time being. We met Jack and his wife, Debbie, at the airport after they had flown most of the night on the “Red Eye Special” from Las Vegas.

   Later that afternoon, after taking a nap to catch up on much needed sleep, Jack wanted to know what jobs we had for him to do! He had always been a great help to us, doing all kinds of ‘handy man’ work around our place in Springville, California. Well, there were the garden beds…

   “Are you sure, Jack?” I asked, not wanting to take up all of our time together working. But he insisted on helping and put the planter boxes together with ease. The planks were grooved and cut to fit together, much like Lincoln Log sets. Presto! Six raised beds ready to go, with two attached trellises for growing beans or even tomatoes!

   Jack was just getting warmed up. He helped Al mow the front lawn, cleaned leaves off the rain gutters on the garage and rooftop with Al’s blower, moved extra bark and rocks in the wheelbarrow from the backyard to the front and even fixed a bathroom drain. All in one afternoon!

   The rest of Jack and Debbie’s visit went by very quickly—too quickly. It was fun showing them some of the beautiful parts of the area, including a drive along Lake Michigan to Traverse City, where they picked up a rental car. From there, they continued on through the Upper Peninsula to Wisconsin and we headed home.

   After they left, Al and I decided to go ahead and fill the raised garden beds, so that there would be bulbs blooming next spring. The two of us shoveled in many bags of potting mix, breaking up hard clumps of adobe and raking before planting an assortment of bulbs in four of the six raised beds. The last two beds were left for planting vegetables later on in the year.

   Each stage of landscaping took a lot of teamwork and involved friends and family as well as professional people. There is no way that we could have done it alone. Most likely we will continue to need help with future improvements too.

   This weekend, Al will once again be putting on his work gloves as part of a work group of men from church to help at a community center in an underprivileged area of Pontiac, Michigan. Opportunities to minister to people in need abound. Your compassion, gifts and talents are invaluable. Ready to join a team?

  “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…” Romans 12:4-6a NIV

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 NIV

Handy in the kitchen too! (at our sister's house)

Hiking with Jack and Debbie near Ventura, CA 2016