surprises

Dave's been gone all week -- off to southern California for the annual Calvary Chapel Pastors' Conference. While he's been gone, I've been busy.

I sewed a bed skirt for our bedroom.

I weeded the rose beds, and the earth between the pavers, and the garden beneath our front window ... and bedroom window ... and under the grape arbor.

I spent an afternoon in the vegetable garden tasting the first strawberries of the season and weeding between the lettuce, onions, cilantro, Brussels sprouts, celery, snap peas, beans and tomatoes.

I planted petunias, impatiens, snapdragons, rosemary, an azalea, and seeds for sweet peas, daisies, a second round of sunflowers, and more nasturtiums than is necessary.

I created a recycling area off the mudroom with four blue plastic bins I found at WalMart, and then, because that back area has always been an eyesore, I swept, hosed and scrubbed the concrete with Pine Sol. Today I may pick up some muriatic acid to finish the job.

I scrubbed the back door and the door to the hot water tank room.

I fixed a window screen that had been hanging down in an annoying and eye-catching manner.

I attached two swinging hook thingies and hung a flower basket on one and a bird feeder on the other.

Today I plan to mix up a batch of home-made, organic weed killer and tackle the weeds on the back patio. Then I'll sweep, scrub the patio set, arrange the umbrella, and cart off the debris still lingering from last fall's wood stove hearth project.

Tomorrow, I'll grind wheat and make three loaves of bread so Dave can have a warm slice with butter and honey when he comes home. If there's time, I'll make cookies.

This is four days' worth of work -- work that was actually fun, because I know Dave will love the surprise when he finally gets back. It makes me think, though: if I can accomplish this mini-mountain of projects in just four days, what has God accomplished in the two thousand years He's been preparing a place for me?