Charlie and I were planting carrot seeds in the garden again this past week and I was reminded of this piece Buried or Planted. Maybe a special someone out there needs this today. Wishing you a beautiful, peace-filled June weekend. XOXO allie
Hello friends, and happy weekend. Even though I have a summer cold (bleh), I’m in my little happy place. My happy place includes warm sunshine, blooming lilacs, hanging planters and my little patch of garden planted.
Watching things grow is therapeutic for me. (Plant therapy.) Ha. I pine for this all winter long. You too?
Charlie and I went to buy seedlings for the garden on Memorial Day. I love to shop at Tanglewood Gardens in Bedford, NH. It’s a local business run by the Domowy family, and I try to buy local when I can.
Their choices of tomato plants alone were absolutely dizzying. I read the tomato labels aloud to Charlie one by one as we were choosing our plants. After reading the Beefsteak label, he got a funny look on his face.
“That’s so weird they can grow beef on a tomato plant,” says Charlie.
Kids are so funny. So literal.
The one true disappointment we had was that they ran out of carrot seedlings. The man helping assured us we could grow carrots from seed and we still had plenty of time. (They didn’t have any carrot seeds there.)
So when we get home, Charlie and I plant the seedlings in the garden very methodically, in neat, organized little rows. Everything in its proper place. Tomatoes, yellow and red peppers, jalapeños, zucchini, lettuce. (Thought I bought green peppers too, but double bought yellow by accident. Grrr.)
So apparently Charlie told Jon of our carrot plight, and wheedled an envelope of organic carrot seeds out of him at Home Depot later that afternoon.
No one bothered to tell me.
That night Charlie tells me Daddy bought him the carrot seeds. He hands me the seed envelope.
Empty.
Nervously I ask where he planted the carrot seeds.
“Oh everywhere. Everywhere I could find a little space.”
Uh huh. Guess we’ll be eating orange root vegetables. Carrot sticks. Carrot souffle. Roasted carrots. Carrot pudding. Carrot muffins. Giggle. And I do wonder what my presently ordered little raised beds, my happy place, will look like in a few weeks. Less orderly. (And probably a whole lot happier.)
I was thinking about the above quote while we were planting, came across it last week. There’ve been times when I thought I was buried. Literally. And come to find out, I was just germinating. Some of us take a little longer than others.
If you’re feeling buried in a dark place today, take heart.
Maybe you’ve just been planted.
I’ve had a few times in life where I felt buried. A couple stretches were years long. When you’re in that dark place, the wait feels interminable. Crushing.
This song Blessings was instrumental in carrying me up to the surface. Helped me wait. Gave me hope. Maybe it will for you too.
2013 – Laura Story and me
I heard Laura perform this song live several years ago. Heard. Couldn’t see her. Blurry for the tears. Listened to this song a hundred times. Probably more. Hope it blesses you, buoys you up to the surface, towards Light.
Blessings by Laura Story
“We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It’s not our home
‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise”
Sharie says
Oh Allie- you can make me laugh and cry all in the same post!:) thanks for sharing – needed this reminder
nancy mcmahan says
Allie, thank you. This appeared at a perfect time.
Nancy Hammett says
Thank you for this post. Very encouraging words . Reading this was a blessing I needed today.
Tracy says
What a funny little story! That Charlie! I hope your garden is very fruitful this summer. Carrots included. Allie, I have never heard this song before. A great reminder. Such a gift to share it with us! Another gift from you! Thank you.
Karen says
Thank you, Allie!
Susie Mandel says
Allie, you have a beautiful way of taking your already wonderfully written stories to an even more meaningful level. I was thinking carrot cake recipes (yumm!) when you went to the Blessings song. We’ve been blessed to attend a Laura Story concert as well. You and Laura write from personal experiences that teach and bless the rest of us. Love you!!
Aunt Pinkie says
Love the carrot story and what a lovely song! Thanks so much!
Linda Jenkins says
I remember several years ago I told you that you always seemed to show up when I needed you most. God works in mysterious ways. Here you are again with your stories, your sense of humor, and some beautiful music. Today, I was feeling “buried”; however, I now recognize I am just germinating and waiting to bloom. Thank you for a better outlook and for a reminder of God’s ever-present love, wisdom, and blessings. Love you!!!
Christy Smith says
This song has long been a favorite of mine too after a friend introduced me to it. And really fascinating that you shared this quote too from Christine Cain who I heard speak at a Women of Faith event a couple years ago…her testimony is one of the most impactful and transformative stories ever to cross my ears. Thanks for the fresh reminder that when we feel buried, it is quite possibly a new planting that just needs some time to germinate. Love it!!
Leslie says
Ah Allie. Love you. Love this song. Love reflecting on “I was planted”. Last night with migraine I felt buried but His mercies are new every morning.
You constantly inspire me.
Karla @SmallTownRambler says
Oh, I love that song! What a nice story, Allie…so encouraging! So, can we expect more recipes here on THLG with carrots? I especially love carrot cake (hint, hint). lol
Laura Cook says
Dearest Allie~ “Blessings” is truly one of my all-time favorite songs… I cannot make it through without tears either! Your story here (like Laura Story’s story), could be this Laura’s story too… and that of all Believers everywhere, each told and sung in our own key. (Unlike you with the most gorgeous voice ever, my key can best be described as “off”, but I still love to sing!)
Barbara Child says
I remember you singing this at church. It was so hard for you to sing it, but you did, and beautifully. Thanks for the reminder of the song.
Jen says
Thank you, Allie! I needed to hear this song again…and cling to the Crucified!
Yvette says
Ah, so true! Thanks…I needed to read that.
Carina Spring says
Lovely story. Lilac blossoms make for a happy place, don’t they! I get lost in the fragrance. I mentioned them in yesterday’s post, but I hadn’t seen this yet. 🙂 Thanks for sharing that powerful quote – very helpful.
Aunt Pinkie says
A lovely reminder and funny to hear about your ‘orderly’garden with carrots sprinkled everywhere! Have never heard ‘Blessings’ but the words are inspirational!
Marilyn says
Love that song! So very true!
John Miller says
Not buried, but planted
I love that. I’ve been through many seasons of waiting (and waiting and waiting) where it seemed like I was never going to see light. Now I see that I’ve desperately needed those periods of planting. I shudder to think of what would have happen if I would have been thrust into leadership when I really needed time to be lead.
Great insight, thanks for sharing!
Allie says
Hey thanks so much for dropping by John, I can identify with every single thing you said. The waiting is the hardest place to be, but it seems to be where we grow the most.
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Such a beautiful post, Allie! My favorite one of yours to date! I love, love, love that quote – it is so true! I have had my share of times when I felt buried – but the exact opposite was true. And I LOVE “Blessings” by Laura Story – I held it in my heart during those years my dad was horribly ill and shared it with my mom too.
Looking forward to finding out ALL the places Charlie planted those carrots and looking forward to all those carrot recipes to come! Happy Monday sweet friend!
XOXO
Allie says
Thank you so much Shashi, I can only imagine how much that song meant to you and your mom during the excruciating time of your dad’s illness. I’m sure there are millions who listen to that song over and over with tears flowing – there’s a lot of pain out there for sure. Laura’s story (no pun intended) is so inspiring, and yet it’s how she chose to respond to the hardships that is so amazing. Wishing you and your sweet daughter a wonderful long 4th weekend, whatever you are doing! Hope it’s fun. XOXO
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Awe, this is such a beautiful post, Allie! Absoluelty in love with the title ‘Buried or planted’. Just wow! Laura story is wonderful. And so much in love with that beautiful song! You are an ah-mazing person inside out! Love you for that! 🙂 <3
Allie says
Dear Anu, thanks for being you and for the kind words. I’m so glad you dropped by, and I loved hearing from you. Have a wonderful weekend my dear!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I’m sorry to hear your still under the weather, girlfriend!! I hope you get better very soon! Plant therapy sounds pretty genius! Totally jealous you have a garden! The deer in our yard would eat everything, so I guess I have to make do with listening to everyone else talk about their blooming garden. 😉 I absolutely adore the way you look at life, dear. You have such a beautiful mind!! This is such a great post, like always. So true, that sometimes (most times) when we think we are buried, we are actually just planted. Love your outlook. Cheers, sweets… to a plethora of carrots. And being Planted! xoxo
Allie says
Hey thanks my friend, I loved hearing from you. I also really appreciated the article you recently posted on FB about your experiences and loss of your dad to mesothelioma – https://www.maacenter.org/blog/community/awareness-for-mesothelioma-needed-more-than-ever-remembering-william-holzworth/ It really opened my eyes to a disease I was not even aware of. You are an inspiration to me my friend. XO
Eva says
Une très belle histoire Allie!! Une très belle chanson et un très beau rencontre ! Seulement toi peut commencer un post en parlant des carottes et le transformé dans un formidable histoire ! Tu es toujours surprenant Allie! xoxoxo
allanposhel says
The only reason my business didn’t fail is that I presented it to people. It doesn’t matter if it’s local or not, it doesn’t matter what it focuses on. I immediately found investors who helped the business to expand and made it what it is now. And everything was decided by one presentation, which I tried to make myself, but then I still gave slidepeak.com/powerpoint-redesign to these guys for redesign, then powerpoint did not really succumb to me :))).