Happy Accidents

One Sunday afternoon, way back in September, the kids and I were on our way back to Carlisle after meeting a friend in Shippensburg.  Before our outing Jode handed me some sort of lottery ticket and asked me to cash it in while we were out.  He explained how the guy at the gas station messed up an order and asked if he wanted to buy it.  He said sure and spent the 2 bucks.  So we stopped to claim our $12 winning ticket only to find that it was really worth $100. Awesome!


We decided to take a back road and stumbled upon this great little farm with a small market stand. I had been wanting some pumpkins and corn shocks for my fall decorating so naturally, we stopped. The farmer was super nice.  We bought all sorts of gourds and elements to dress our home up for fall.  

One of those elements was this bale of hay. 

That bale of hay stayed through Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and I even used it at Christmas to prop something up.  I have been meaning to throw it out but it is H-E-A-V-Y and bulk trash only comes once a month.  When that particular Monday rolls around I usually forget about the hay.  Jode has even asked me if I wanted him to put it out there and I have said no, just leave it for now.  It has been a hassle for me and when I think about it, I don't want to deal with it so I ignore that it is there.


But the weather is nicer, and we are using our front door more and more instead of going through the garage.  I like order in my life and that means that I want things put away where they belong.  I have been scolding myself for not throwing it away.  I have been upset with myself for not remembering it when bulk trash rolls around.  


And then I saw something on Pinterest!  Someone was actually using hay to garden in!! For reals!!  What?!?  One of the things I am looking forward to the most when we retire is having our own yard and a BIG GARDEN!!!  Living on post in the military life has its perks, but gardening is not one of them.  Not the way I want to garden.  We have container gardens and plant a few things here and there, but it is not our yard and we don't want to invest money on something that just isn't worth it. I grew up with gardeners and love being outside and digging in the dirt.  I dream of creating gardens with my family.  I pin things that inspire me and things I want to remember.  (seriously, if you don't know what I am talking about, you need to check out pinterest.com!  It is life changing!)  


ANYWAY...I thought, "I sure am glad I hung onto that bale of hay!" because when I am ready to start planting some things I might try that.  And I quit beating myself up about it.  Guess what?!?  It started itself for me.  I dropped that bale of hay right on the ground where I planted some spring bulbs a few years back, never imagining it would be there in the spring.  Happy Accident!

I can't wait to see what blooms...tulips, daffodils, hyacinths!  I really am thrilled!!


I believe we are all artists.  There is something within us that craves creation. We were made to create. We cook or sew or garden or paint or decorate or sing or write or whatever we do, because we have to.  My Mia sings constantly, sometimes I think without even realizing it, because she has to.  My Emily bakes beautiful things because sometimes she just has to.  There is art in the way Garrison plays, almost a choreography.  Ace is our youngest and the only one of our kids who has written and colored on the walls.  He cuts and glues and glitters and paints because he has to.  I feel that way sometimes when I just have to cook up some fabulous southern lovin for my people.  


We express ourselves by creating.  And when we create, we may plan things out.  Our creations may turn out like our original vision, but so much of the time we change the plan right in the middle.  We throw out the recipe and in the zone, feel our way through.  We embrace our "mistakes" and change them into a wonderful element. It is through these happy accidents that we are blessed.  And through these, we can be sure that the original Creator is smiling at us.


Go make something amazing...and enjoy every step of the journey!