About Lavenders & Rose Gardens

Many moons ago when I was young... when things didn't quite work out, my mom would say "Nobody Promised You a Rose Garden". I guess these words stuck with me. I am a fairly spiritual person and sometimes operate in a very symbolical way, so for many years I didn't like roses at all.  Although nobody promised me a rose garden, I wouldn't get discouraged or give up when life or the world got in my way, I would get up, I would fight back and become the person I intended to be, I would realise my dreams.  As a symbol of my warrior spirit I planted Lavenders in my gardens, everywhere I went.  It was symbolic, if nobody promised me a rose garden and life didn't intend on giving me one, I wouldn't want it, I wanted Lavenders and I planted them everywhere I went.  So there... right back at you "nobody"...

And over the years and with loads of hard work, blood, sweat and tears... lot's of fun and a cup of mercy every day, I did realise my dreams. I didn't need the roses or the rose garden afterall.  Then last year I made the decision to quit my corporate job and move to Nieu-Bethesda, it was time for a new dream, new challenges and new adventures. I moved here beginning of 2012. And oh yes, the garden of my old Karoo home was definately one of those challenges as it was neglected and in a terrible state. It needed loads and loads of hard work just to get it to look neat again.  I was up for the challenge and I thought to myself, once all the old stuff has gone I'll plant Lavenders. Or so I thought.

Two weeks ago I was sitting on my back stoep after planting some seedlings, looking at the back garden.  My back garden is divided in two sections by a low stone wall and I was thinking about what I was going to do in the back part. And suddenly it hit me!! The back part of my garden is - wait for it - a ROSE GARDEN.  Neglected yes, but it is there, a rose garden.  I didn't ask God for a rose garden, I didn't look for a rose garden.  I asked God for a house in Nieu-Bethesda and after already having bought the house, moved in and cleaned up the garden, there it was right in front of me, a huge rose garden with about 55 rose bushes.  I was amazed.  I was so blessed. This was a gift from God.  A gift I certainly didn't deserve, for a saint I am not.

I decided then and there that I would restore this rose garden to it's former glory.  I have in the meantime planted 20 new rose bushes and there is now 75 of them.  I am planning to plant another 80 rose bushes over the next year and I have a long way to go in getting the roses healthy.  To me they are already beautiful, each and every rose I love. But by summer the rose garden will look spectacular!! 

So Mom... yes the world owes us nothing, but when we ask and we believe and we work hard God always gives us what we need.

True Story

GOD is legen... - wait for it - dary!!

PS: those of you who love the sitcom How I Met Your Mother as much as I do will recognise the barney talk :)