Shannan is an ordinary girl who finds beauty in the everyday. She is the wife of a man who thinks all of her jokes are funny, and who regularly indulges her late-night, thinking-out-loud ponderings. They have three funny babies who came to them across rivers and oceans. Together, they are embarking on a fresh adventure and they are confident that God will meet them there. To learn more about Shannan and her brood, visit her at Flower Patch Farmgirl.
I have always been drawn to stories of craggy farmers with their industrious wives at their sides. I’ve come to know them quite well. They are suntanned and serious, eyes fixed to the horizon, sniffing the air for rain. Always overalls, always apron. They are church-going, but with faith that runs deeper than the pond waters of their rebirth. Their foreheads are lined as much from heartache as from years. This is what I decided, as I plucked from the shelves, again and again, a novel with a white farmhouse on the cover.
I turned the pages and I sewed those seeds vicariously, longing for an apron and a tin of Gardener’s salve of my own.
I turned the years, and found myself living in a white farmhouse, with a slice of acreage just begging to be tilled.
Sod gave way to chocolate cake earth. Rows were staked. Hope was sewn.
We waited, brim-filled with expectation.
And then, I fell in love. With the beans and the Brandywines, of course; but also, with the weeds. Ever-persistent, they forged green. Ever-persistent, I plucked. With each pinch, my soul settled. Things made more sense. My mind exhaled. It was up to me to protect my seedlings. I was dutiful, even without the apron.
As that first summer became the second, then the third, my confidence grew. I dreamed of ranunculus – that dreamy combination of symmetrical and ruffled and cotton-candy colored, with the occasional willy-nilly stem. I balled up hope and tossed it into the sky as hard as I could. I whispered practice condolences to myself, “It’s ok if they don’t grow” and “Even if they don’t bloom, as least the leaves are pretty!”
And then.
The blooms arrived and the Sugar Snaps clapped and the spinach bowed and the honeybees delighted. My heart ached, in the best kind of way, to see the tight-fisted buds of lemon meringue and watermelon sherbet.
I set out to clear the intrusive green, always knocking, knocking still. I plucked and I dreamed. I considered what it took for them to become what they were meant to be: dirt diet, perpetual rain, sun scorching. But beauty can be hard-won, and hard-won beauty is lasting, and lasting beauty is really the only kind that matters.
My fingernails packed tight with grit, I considered the woman I have always wanted to be. It turns out it’s not the fictitious farmer’s wife with the sun bonnet and the sensible shoes. It turns out, the woman I want to be is the one who knows all the way into her heart and back out the other side that the only life worth living is the one that was decided from the Beginning. So, let the sun burn me a bit. Let the drops fall. I have learned first-hand what it means to grow. I know for a fact that there is One very near to me watching, protecting, cheering me on.
Any day now, the fuzzy claws will unfurl rows of ruffled deliciousness and we’ll host a ticker-tape parade fit for a garden queen.
I will look to the horizon and my heart will beat one less with the thought of what might lie in wait. And I will know it’s sure to be good.
“The Sugar Snaps clapped!” Y’all, I’m in love with this girl and her writing. I am blessed to have her here today, even if she does put my just-learning-to-grow-things self to shame. Her home is lovely, her photos are beautiful, and her writing is laced with humor and charm. Please welcome her and visit her at Flower Patch Farmgirl.
You are stinkin’ adorable and your words are beautiful! You write with a clarity that makes me feel like I’m in the story with you, weeds and all.
So nice to meet you, FPF!
Kristen-Moms Sharpening Moms´s last [type] ..Have Crock Pot- Will Travel
I’m first! I’m so in bloggy love with Flower Patch it’s insane! Go Flower Patch GO! I’ll follow you to the end of cyberspace. Your words are Delicious and TRUE!
Sincerely,
Your Biggest (I am sure) Fan and Imaginary friend
J-Bomb
JoAnn´s last [type] ..Reunion Recounted- Memories of a Brown Penguin
This may be the only blogger who can intrigue me with blueberries, acreage, actually get me to want to learn how to can…AND I’m just simply swoony over her gifted writing.
Erin´s last [type] ..because I can
“It turns out, the woman I want to be is the one who knows all the way into her heart and back out the other side that the only life worth living is the one that was decided from the Beginning.”
Shannan, you have given a lovely voice to exactly what I have come to long for. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And amen!
Imperfect´s last [type] ..Moments to Write
Wow. All I can say is wow. This is gorgeous writing. Thanks for sharing it.
Shelly @ Life on the Wild Side´s last [type] ..I Used to Have Dignity
Man, Emily! Your guest posters? They’ve got some serious game!! “watermelon sherbet” – oh, words to let roll around the mouth. Images to live in and by.
Delicious.
Thank you both!
“…I know for a fact that there is One very near to me watching, protecting, cheering me on.”
So true, and yet sometimes so hard to believe. Your words have poured into my soul and quenched my thirst. Thank you.
Thea´s last [type] ..The First
Shannan, you make me wish I was a farmgirl.
Your reflection is rich and poetic and dreamy. “I balled up hope and tossed it into the sky…” Funny how that relates to so much of the way we navigate through this tenuous life. I’m so glad you’re Emily’s guest…and so happy I’d already found my way to your blog.
The Scooper´s last [type] ..Productive Procrastination
Oh Shannan how I adore you! The talk of farmers reminded me SO of my greatly missed Grandpa Everett & my Dad who is always adorned in bib overalls with a hanky in his pocket! The way you described them painted a perfect picture of the farm life I so fondly enjoyed and still enjoy. I heart you – that is why you are my pretend BFF – always and forever!
~Annie
I adore this girl … and now i get to meet you, too
cityfarmer´s last [type] ..CHANGE IS IN ORDER
What a beautiful person you are Flower Patch Farmgirl. Your stories are lovely and they give great inspiration. You are amazing.
Shannan, You know I love you. You know I love your wit and personality and your beautiful way with words. Today you’ve reached a new high. I believe these are the most beautiful words I’ve ever read. Not just from you, but possibly any where. How lucky am I to call you friend?
Your words bring a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. I have been reading FPF for a while now and her charm and personality continue to delight me more and more!
Thank you for sharing!
Shannan, I adore this post! Your words are beautiful. Please write a book already! I will be the first in line.
Hello! So glad to see Shannan posting here. This piece is evidence of just why she has such a following: beautiful writing! Love this entry, very much. Thanks to both of you!
XOXO
Joni
Joni´s last [type] ..Baby Love- Levi
Shannan… one of my favorite writers, she’s ‘the real thing.’ Visit her blog.
you’ll be happy you did.
Thanks for sharing her ‘chatting at the Sky’. so happy to wonder over to your lovely blog.
Laura @ BTB´s last [type] ..Adjusting takes Time Lifetime Meds 29
Beautifully written, as usual. Shannan, you rock!
Carmen´s last [type] ..Happy Independence Day-
I’m so glad you had Shannan over to guest post for you. She is a gifted writer, I love her blog. And now I have your blog to look forward to exploring.
Again, this was another amazing post. I love reading each word, and letting the pictures form in my mind. Thank you again for sharing your life with such openness! Already looking forward to the next post!
Emily´s last [type] ..Goodbyes
“It turns out it’s not the fictitious farmer’s wife with the sun bonnet and the sensible shoes. It turns out, the woman I want to be is the one who knows all the way into her heart and back out the other side that the only life worth living is the one that was decided from the Beginning.”
Oh how rich, and so like God to bring us through and back and forward all at the same time!
Thanks for your words which when I close my eyes show me the sweetest pictures!
Blessings,
Stacey
stacey´s last [type] ..Mom -amp Me Cook
Yours is the first blog I visit daily. You are blessed with the gift of the word. Please please please share it with the world and never ever stop writing. God gives us gifts to use and you are incredibly blessed.
Think book! You have an audience!
Blessings to you and your family!